The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Cycle C
Prayer
Lord God Almighty, You are the Father of all creation. You gave us Your only begotten Son, our Redeemer. You have made us holy through the gift of the Holy Spirit. How can we make a return to you for all that you have done for us? We can only lift up the Cup of Salvation, your Son, and give you thanks. Amen.
Commentary
1st Reading: Genesis 14:18-20
Today, the Church invites us to celebrate the Mystery and purpose of our gathering at the table of the Lord. Each year, we are called to
rediscover the beauty of Corpus Christi – the Body of Christ. This year, our readings and Gospel also call us to discern how we are related to the gifts we receive at the table of the Lord.
Our First Reading and Responsorial Psalm, for example, invite us to see that we all enjoy a participation in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, according to the line of Melchizedek. In the New Testament Book of Hebrews, we read that Jesus Christ is of the line of King Melchizedek (Heb 7:13-17) who — according to Genesis — offered bread and wine and a blessing for Abraham. Hebrews holds the priesthood of Melchizedek to be greater than that of Aaron and the Levite priesthood at the time of Moses.
By virtue of our Baptism, we are all members of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. As priestly people, together with the ordained ministerial priests of our Church, we come together and — in the line of Melchizedek — we offer the Eucharistic Blessing of Jesus Christ in the form of bread and wine to God our Heavenly Father.
Question:
What does it mean to you to have a share in the priesthood of Christ?
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
In addition to our priestly life in Christ, we also share in the Prophetic nature of Christ. This means, we are called to profess and proclaim Christ in all that we do.
Saint Paul shares with us his prophetic calling in Christ with the words, “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.” With these words, we see Paul handing on to the next generation what was passed on to him. We understand from this that an effective prophet of Christ never holds back what he/ she has received. Christian Prophets pass on what God has revealed to them throughScripture and the Tradition of our Church.
The most effective way to pass on the faith is through our participation in the Holy Eucharist. Whenever we gather around the table of the Lord, we continue to share what has been passed on to us. From one generation to the next, the Church has been breaking and sharing the Body of Christ. Sharing in the Prophetic nature of Christ is as simple as gathering every Sunday at Mass, “for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.”
Question:
What does it mean for you to share in the prophetic nature of Christ?
Gospel: Luke 9:11-17
In addition to our share in the Priestly and Prophetic nature of Christ, we also share in His Kingship. Not to be confused with a king who lords over others, Jesus Christ is a Servant-King or a Shepherd-King who feeds his flock.
Certainly, as we read our Gospel, we can see our Shepherd-King at work. In a miraculous way, Jesus was able to feed the crowd of five thousand men with just five loaves and two fish. In addition, they had enough fragments left over. In other words, there is enough of the Lord’s miracle to go around.
However, there is something more profound here. Our Shepherd-King expects the Twelve Apostles to do as he would do. He says to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” He expects them to share in his life as a servant or Shepherd-King. To drive home this point, the fragments left over fills twelve baskets; one each for the Twelve Apostles to share with others.
Question:
What does it mean for you to share in the kingly (or royal) nature of Christ?
This Week’s Task
If you haven’t had the opportunity to make a donation of blood this year, consider visiting a Red Cross station near you.
It’s something you can spare and you will be an anonymous hero – in fact, you could help save more than one life with just one donation.
You may not be able to make a blood donation, but you may help to get the message out by becoming a Red Cross Ambassador.
What a perfect way to share in the Kingly mission of Christ!
Group Prayer
Pray the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Christ:
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father in Heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us. Blood of Christ, of the New Testament, save us. Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us. Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us. Blood of Christ, Eucharistic refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, river of mercy, save us. Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us. Blood of Christ, courage of martyrs, save us. Blood of Christ, strength of confessors, save us. Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins, save us. Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us. Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us. Blood of Christ, Solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us. Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us. Blood of Christ, pledge of Eternal Life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from Purgatory, save us. Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Let Us Pray: Almighty and Eternal God, You have appointed Your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood, Grant, we ask You, that we may worthily adore this Price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in Heaven. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Conclude with an Our Father