Genesis 14.18-20 | 1 Corinthians 11.23-26 | Luke 9.11b-17

On the Thursday after Most Holy Trinity Sunday, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Most Holy Eucharist, the sacrament of the consecrated Bread and Wine. It is celebrated on Thursday because it was on this day of the week that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His apostles, when He instituted the Eucharist. In some countries, the solemnity is transferred to the following Sunday.

It is the only day of the year when the Blessed Sacrament is allowed to be taken from the temple to the nearby streets and avenues for the adoration of the faithful and the public demonstration of faith in the presence of Jesus in the Consecrated Host.

Only Catholics believe in the mystery of transubstantiation, that is, that the Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of the consecrated hands of priests, repeating the words and gestures of Jesus in the Holy Mass. For Catholics, the Eucharist contains the Body and Blood, the soul and divinity of Christ, which is why they bend their knees in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. For non-Catholics, these are merely symbols, signs, and a reminder of the Last Supper.

In the tabernacle, which is in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, is the Eucharistic reserve, where the consecrated hosts are placed in ciboriums to be taken to the sick or elderly who are unable to attend Sunday Mass, and also for the adoration of the faithful. A light on indicates that there are consecrated hosts in the tabernacle.

When they pass before the tabernacle, the faithful, in reverence and piety, genuflect, bending their right knee until it touches the ground.

Today, the evangelist Luke tells us about the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish by Jesus to feed approximately five thousand men. He was speaking to the crowds about the Kingdom of God and healing all who were in need. A situation arose: the crowd had nothing to eat. The twelve apostles recognized the situation but proposed to Jesus that the crowd itself resolve it. But He told the twelve to resolve the situation. Jesus asked the apostles to organize the crowd into groups. After Jesus raised His eyes to heaven, blessed and broke the five loaves and two fish, the miracle of multiplication took place, with the disciples distributing them to the crowd.

Yes, this famous episode speaks of material food to satisfy the hunger of the stomach. But this passage is a preparation for the spiritual food that satisfies the hunger of the soul, which wants love and life, which wants God. Jesus knows how to identify this situation and also how to resolve it. There is an intrinsic relationship between material food and spiritual food. 

As Christians, let us strive to satisfy both the hunger of the stomach and the hunger of the soul of the multitudes. 

Today the author of the Book of Genesis tells us about the blessing of Melchizedek to Abram, the patriarch, the father of faith. The king of Salem, who was also a priest, blessed the Most High God before the bread and wine. 

Melchizedek is an important and mysterious figure in the Jewish faith, without ancestors or descendants, who received an eternal priesthood. Christian tradition associates Melchizedek with Jesus, the High Priest and eternal King. The bread and wine, before which the patriarch Abram was blessed, are also noteworthy. 

Let us desire the blessing of Jesus Christ through the bread and wine, He who is a priest eternally according to the order of King Melchizedek (cf. Psalm 109:4).

Today, the apostle Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians about Jesus’ Last Supper, as he learned from the apostles. The apostle spoke of the Bread as the Body and the Wine as the Blood of Christ, which was the new covenant. Paul said that Jesus commanded the apostles to repeat what He did in His memory, proclaiming His death and awaiting His glorious return at the end of time.

This is the oldest account of the Last Supper. Great Catholic theologians interpret this text as the foundation of the Christian faith in the Eucharist, which has been transmitted since apostolic times.

Let us welcome faith in the Blessed Sacrament and transmit it with conviction, with biblical foundation, with joy and with holy reverence and piety.

Blessed and praised be the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar: in Heaven, on earth, and everywhere. Amen.

Local: Praia Grande - SP, Brasil

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