Daily Readings - Sun Jun 23 2019
Genesis
18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
1 Corinthians
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Luke
11And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.12And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.13But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.14For they 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.16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
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.