Reflection 

The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (By Greg Sunter)

Gospel Reflection

The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ celebrates the central celebration of Christianity – the Eucharist. All three readings relate to this Eucharistic theme. In the second reading, we have the first written account of the Last Supper and what came to be seen as Jesus instigating the Eucharist. Paul’s account, written well before the gospels, was entrenched in the tradition by the time the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke echoed these words of Jesus at the Last Supper. Of course, it is these same words that are spoken by the priest at the consecration in the Eucharistic Prayer each Mass. The words used today are the very same words that have been used in the Church for two millennia.

Rather than a gospel account of the Last Supper to celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are presented with what is widely regarded as another ‘eucharistic’ story from the gospel of Luke. The feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish is regarded as a eucharistic story because it was a clear example of God’s presence in a miraculous meal. All of the meal stories in the gospel of Luke are instructive for the audience. Whenever the gospel writer refers to a meal, the meal is used to teach about the reign of God. The gospel writer uses meals to demonstrate who is welcome in the reign of God. Like in today’s gospel, the author of Luke’s gospel was keen to show that the reign of God is available to anyone who wishes to be a part of it. The reign of God is inclusive and welcoming; no one will be turned away.

Historical context – Table fellowship

In 1st Century Palestine, who you shared a meal with was a very political act. Your status in society was judged by who you kept company with and particularly with whom you shared food. At times, Jesus broke these rules and practised open table fellowship – sharing meals with people of all stations in life and often being criticised for his actions by the Scribes and Pharisees. Part of Jesus’ open table fellowship meant that he also ate with dignitaries and religious leaders, but he used these occasions to remind them of the inclusive message of God that they were ignoring.

Gospel focus – Give them something yourselves

In the gospel, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the crowds away to find food for themselves. Jesus tells the disciples, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” This is a challenge and a test of the disciples – a chance for them to be like Jesus. He calls them to act with compassion and do what he would do to feed the people. But the disciples fail to grasp either his meaning or the opportunity and the miracle is left to Jesus. Jesus believed that they could feed the people if they tried but the disciples didn’t have that same faith in themselves.

Have you thought – Twelve baskets?

The gospel passage tells us that after the five thousand people had eaten as much as they wanted, the remaining scraps filled twelve baskets. What is significant about twelve baskets of left-overs? Twelve was an important number – it represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Whenever the gospels mention twelve things they are symbolically talking about the nation of Israel. In this case, the message is that no matter how many people feast on the message of Jesus and accept the reign of God, there will still be enough to ‘feed’ the twelve tribes of Israel. No one need be left out!