The Feast of Corpus Christi - June 22, 2025 (Year C)

This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or the Feast of Corpus Christi.  The readings this week center on the Holy Eucharist, as we hear of Melchizedek's offering alongside Abram, St. Paul's summation of Jesus's Last Supper to the Corinthians, and Jesus's multiplication of the fish and loaves for the crowds.  And in these readings, one common thread runs through them all, that of a faithful sacrifice.  The Eucharist is a faithful sacrifice, that of Jesus's body given to us, as St Paul, and our priest at each mass, recount.  Beyond that, we also need to look to the apostles and Abram for how we are to live.

A key way for us to show the strength of our convictions is this faithful sacrifice.  We see Abram giving a tenth of his possessions to the High Priest Melchizedek in appreciation of the sacrifice offered and following a great victory.  The apostles sacrifice their food and devoutly follow their instructions, as Jesus performs a miracle to feed the multitudes from the meager offerings they had.  In these examples, we see how we are to live out our faith, whether in happiness (after a great victory) or in distress (stuck with thousands to feed and no food to provide).  We offer what we are able to and present it reverently to the Lord, in good times and in bad.  Whether our offering is meager or robust, or if it is only our time and attention, we must have the reasons and motives behind our sacrifices rooted in obedience and praise.  


Disclaimer: This will be at the bottom of all reflections, but I’m not intending to put out any sort of professional critique, attempt at a homily, or investigation into the historicity of the readings, but will “let the Spirit move me” as some say, to share what has spoken to me in my reading and reflection on the set of Readings for each week.  

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