Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 19, 2022
First Reading: Genesis 14.18-20
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
Psalm 110
1A Psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.2The Lord will send forth the scepter of your virtue from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies3It is with you from the beginning, in the day of your virtue, in the splendor of the saints. From conception, before the light-bearer, I begot you4The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.5The Lord is at your right hand. He has broken kings in the day of his wrath6He will judge between the nations; he will fill up ruination. He will shatter heads in the land of the many7He will drink from the torrent on the way. Because of this, he will exalt the head
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26
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
Gospel: Luke 9.11b-17
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 powerful narratives that weave together themes of trust, divine provision, and the sacred meal. The story of Melchizedek in Genesis introduces us to a priest-king who offers bread and wine, prefiguring the Eucharistic sacrifice. This ancient ritual points to the deeper reality of God's presence and provision, setting the stage for the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul recounts the institution of the Eucharist, where Jesus takes bread and wine, giving them new meaning as His body and blood. This sacred meal is not just a remembrance but a living encounter with Christ, sustaining us on our journey. It calls us to gratitude and recognition of God's abiding presence in our lives.
The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus' compassion and power as He feeds the multitude with scarce resources. This miracle is more than a display of might; it's an invitation to trust in God's providence. Just as the disciples learned to rely on Jesus, we too are called to trust in His abundance, even in times of scarcity. Let us approach each day with faith, remembering that God's grace can transform our meager offerings into abundant life.