Daily Readings - Sun Jun 23 2019

¹⁸Then in truth, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God¹⁹he blessed him, and he said: "Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth²⁰And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands." And he gave him tithes from everything

1 Corinthians

Chapter 11

²³For I have received from the Lord what I have also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the same night that he was handed over, took bread²⁴and giving thanks, he broke it, and said: "Take and eat. This is my body, which shall be given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me.²⁵Similarly also, the cup, after he had eaten supper, saying: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he returns

Luke

Chapter 9

¹¹But when the crowd had realized this, they followed him. And he received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. And those who were in need of cures, he healed¹²Then the day began to decline. And drawing near, the twelve said to him: "Dismiss the crowds, so that, by going into the surrounding towns and villages, they may separate and find food. For we are here in a deserted place.¹³But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "There is with us no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we are to go and buy food for this entire multitude.¹⁴Now there were about five thousand men. So he said to his disciples, "Have them recline to eat in groups of fifty.¹⁵And they did so. And they caused them all to recline to eat¹⁶Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish, he gazed up to heaven, and he blessed and broke and distributed them to his disciples, in order to set them before the crowd¹⁷And they all ate and were satisfied. And twelve baskets of fragments were taken up, which were left over from them

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us toward a deeper understanding of faith, trust, and gratitude. The first reading from Genesis introduces Melchizedek, a priest-king who offers bread and wine, prefiguring the Eucharistic sacrifice. This ancient ritual underscores the theme of divine provision and the role of the priestly figure in mediating God's blessings. The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus at the Last Supper. Paul's account emphasizes the sacred nature of this meal, where bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, symbolizing the new covenant. This passage invites us to reflect on the Eucharist as a source of spiritual nourishment and a call to unity and remembrance of Christ's sacrifice. In the Gospel, Luke recounts the miracle of the feeding of the 5000, where Jesus transforms five loaves and two fish into an abundance of food. This act of multiplication not only demonstrates Jesus' divine power but also highlights His compassion and willingness to provide for those in need. The leftovers, twelve baskets, remind us of God's generosity and the call to share our resources with others. These readings weave together themes of trust in divine providence and the importance of gratitude. Just as the disciples trusted Jesus with their meager resources, we are encouraged to trust in God's plan, even in times of uncertainty. The Eucharist, as a gift from God, invites us to live with gratitude, recognizing the abundance of God's love and mercy. As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace a life of generosity and thanksgiving. May we, like Melchizedek and Jesus, be instruments of God's grace, sharing our blessings with others and trusting in His providence. Let us approach the Eucharist with reverence, remembering Christ's sacrifice, and live each day with hearts full of gratitude and hands ready to serve.