May
21

All Ate and Were Satisfied (Luke 9:12-17)

The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is the second of the three feasts that are celebrated immediately after the end of the Easter season. During Holy Thursday, we celebrated the institution of the Eucharist. In this Solemnity, we focus on the new life that Christ communicates to us through His Flesh and Blood that are given to us in the bread and wine of the Mass.

Relevant Articles

Guide for the Gospel Text (Luke 9:12-17)

1. Notice that the Lucan narrative of the multiplication of the loaves is placed between a section where the identity of Jesus is inquired upon (Luke 9:7-9: "who is this man …?") and the answer to it (Luke 9:18-22: "the Messiah of God"). The one who feeds the multitude is then the Messiah. The event therefore of the feeding of the multitudes prefigures the Messianic banquet.

2. Compare the Lucan narrative to Mark 6:30-44 and note the following:

2.1. In Luke, Jesus receives the returning apostles and brings them to Bethsaida "to retire." In Mark, Jesus explicitly invites the returning missionaries to rest but no place is identified. The Lucan tradition places the event of the feeding within the district of Galilee "of the Gentiles".

2.2. When Jesus and company arrive at their destination, they discover that they have been followed by a crowd of people. Mark mentions Jesus’ compassion for them in a verse that identifies the event of the feeding as a Messianic act. Luke however underscores the content of Jesus’ teaching: the kingdom/reign of God. In God’s kingdom no one gets hungry. Thus the conclusion of the narrative: "all ate and were satisfied."

2.3. In Mark, Jesus commands the disciples to feed the multitude. In Luke, the Twelve are given the command (12.13). Thus, the feeding of the multitude is linked to the work of the Twelve (Luke 9:1-6)

3. The words "taking the bread … he pronounced a blessing over them, broke them and gave them to the disciples" echo the words of the breaking of the bread at the Last Supper (Lk. 28:19) and the meal at Emmaus (Luke 24:30)

Review of the Sunday Readings

The selection from Genesis 14:18-20 gives us a snapshot of that mysterious figure, Melchizedek, King of Salem and High Priest of El Elyon as he meets Abraham with bread and wine and blesses him. In the letter to the Hebrews, Melchizedek is identified as a prefiguration of Christ, the great High Priest (Hebrews 7:1-3). The selection was chosen for the Feast of Corpus Christi because of the mention of Melchizedek bringing bread and wine and the designation of El Elyon as "creator of heaven and earth". These evoke the bread and wine offered and consecrated in the Eucharist, "fruit of the earth and work of human hands" that will be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Given this association, the figure of Melchizedek also points us to Christ who is both Priest and Sacrifice of the new covenant (Hebrews 9:11-12)

.

For the second reading 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 is presented for reflection. Paul in correcting the abuses of the Corinthians in the liturgical assembly, declares to them the tradition received regarding the Eucharist. The words used by Paul remind us of the words of consecration in the Mass which is the memorial of the Lord’s Passion, to be continually repeated until His coming in glory. See Mag-aral Tayo for Corpus Christi — C.

Suggestions for the Lesson

The liturgy of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ provides us with a lot of materials for instruction:

1. One can take some hints from the first and second readings to talk about the second part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, with emphasis on the Offertory and the moment of consecration.

2. The sequence of the Mass — Lauda Sion — can also be used, especially those parts which were formulated for catechesis:

This is the solemn feast in which we celebrate the first sacred meal. It is the banquet of the new King, new Pasch, new Law, for the old comes to its end. The old rite gives place to the new, reality dispels the shadow, the light takes away the darkness.

What Jesus did during the supper, he left as a memorial that he commanded we should perform. Instructed in this institution, we consecrate bread and wine as the host for our salvation (in salutis … hostiam). It is a clear teaching (dogma) for us Christians that bread is transformed into flesh and wine into blood…

…

You eat the flesh, you drink the blood, and Christ remains whole in both species. Whoever eats does not break (Christ), nor separates nor divides. He receives Him whole and entire. One or a thousand may receive Him, but He is received by all equally and is never diminished.

The good may come (to communion), even the evil ones, but the destiny of both will differ. For life or death it (= the communion) may provoke. Life for the good ones, death for the bad; very different are its results.

When you break the sacrament, do not fear but remember: Christ is in the part as He is in the whole. Only the sign is divided; the substance is not affected, nothing is diminished in His person.

Behold the bread of Angels, the bread of Pilgrims, true bread for the children. Do not throw it to the dogs. The symbols are announced in Isaac offered in sacrifice, in the Paschal lamb, in the manna given to the fathers …

(From Lauda Sion, the sequence for the Mass of Corpus Christi)

Click for a complete English
translation
Luke 9:12-17
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
12Now the day began to decline. And the twelve came and said to him: Send away the multitude, that going into the towns and villages round about, they may lodge and get victuals; for we are here in a desert place.
13But he said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said: We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; unless perhaps we should go and buy food for all this multitude.
14Now there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples: Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
15And they did so; and made them all sit down.
16And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed them; and he broke, and distributed to his disciples, to set before the multitude.
17And they did all eat, and were filled. And there were taken up of fragments that remained to them, twelve baskets.
Luke 9:12-17
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
12Now the day began to decline. And the twelve came and said to him: Send away the multitude, that going into the towns and villages round about, they may lodge and get victuals; for we are here in a desert place.
13But he said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said: We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; unless perhaps we should go and buy food for all this multitude.
14Now there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples: Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
15And they did so; and made them all sit down.
16And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed them; and he broke, and distributed to his disciples, to set before the multitude.
17And they did all eat, and were filled. And there were taken up of fragments that remained to them, twelve baskets.
Luke 9:7-9
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7Now Herod, the tetrarch, heard of all things that were done by him; and he was in a doubt, because it was said
8By some, that John was risen from the dead: but by other some, that Elias had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
9And Herod said: John I have beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.
Luke 9:18-22
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18And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples also were with him: and he asked them, saying: Whom do the people say that I am?
19But they answered, and said: John the Baptist; but some say Elias; and others say that one of the former prophets is risen again.
20And he said to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answering, said: The Christ of God.
21But he strictly charging them, commanded they should tell this to no man.
22Saying: The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the ancients and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day rise again.
Mark 6:30-44
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30And the apostles coming together unto Jesus, related to him all things that they had done and taught.
31And he said to them: Come apart into a desert place, and rest a little. For there were many coming and going: and they had not so much as time to eat.
32And going up into a ship, they went into a desert place apart.
33And they saw them going away, and many knew: and they ran flocking thither on foot from all the cities, and were there before them.
34And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
35And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past:
36Send them away, that going into the next villages and towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat.
37And he answering said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said to him: Let us go and buy bread for two hundred pence, and we will give them to eat.
38And he saith to them: How many loaves have you? go and see. And when they knew, they say: Five, and two fishes.
39And he commanded them that they should make them all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
41And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes: looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave to his disciples to set before them: and the two fishes he divided among them all.
42And they all did eat, and had their fill.
43And they took up the leavings, twelve full baskets of fragments, and of the fishes.
44And they that did eat, were five thousand men.
Luke 9:1-6
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1Then calling together the twelve apostles, he gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3And he said to them: Take nothing for your journey; neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats.
4And whatsoever house you shall enter into, abide there, and depart not from thence.
5And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them.
6And going out, they went about through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
Luke 24:30
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30And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to them.
Genesis 14:18-20
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
18But Melchisedech the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the priest of the most high God,
19Blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram by the most high God, who created heaven and earth.
20And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection the enemies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all.
Hebrews 7:1-3
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1For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:
2To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation, is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace:
3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.
Hebrews 9:11-12
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11But Christ, being come an high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, that is, not of this creation:
12Neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
1 Corinthians 11:25-26
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25In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.
26For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.

Posted by angfrayle Ordinary Time, Synoptic Gospels, The Sunday Lectionary Subscribe to RSS feed Email This Post Email This Post Print This Post Print This Post

2 Comments on All Ate and Were Satisfied (Luke 9:12-17)

  1. Daily Inspirations » Post-Pentecost Articles at the Workshop says:
    May 26, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    [...] (Corpus Christi — C)All Ate and were Satisfied (Luke 9:12-17) [...]

    Reply
  2. My Flesh is Real Food (Corpus Christi — A) says:
    June 9, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    [...] from the Mystical Geek can also be of help. In addition, one can also use the catechetical parts of “Lauda Sion” as a material for the day’s lesson. Lauda Sion John 6:51-58View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek51I am the living bread which came [...]

    Reply

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