The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Also known as the Feast of Corpus Christi, this feast celebrates the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This feast dates back to the 1200s. At the urging of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Pope Urban IV established this great feast. This is an important day for the Church and all the faithful to reflect on the great miracle of the Eucharist, the bread of life that sustains us.

The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ

Gospel - Luke 9:11b-17

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,

and he healed those who needed to be cured.

As the day was drawing to a close,

the Twelve approached him and said,

"Dismiss the crowd

so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms

and find lodging and provisions;

for we are in a deserted place here."

He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves."

They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have,

unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people."

Now the men there numbered about five thousand.

Then he said to his disciples,

"Have them sit down in groups of about fifty."

They did so and made them all sit down.

Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,

and looking up to heaven,

he said the blessing over them, broke them,

and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

They all ate and were satisfied.

And when the leftover fragments were picked up,

they filled twelve wicker baskets.

Scriptural Analysis

Jesus had just sent the twelve out, and upon their return, was going to withdraw with them to Bethsaida. However, the crowds discovered where they were going and followed them. Instead of chastising the crowds or sending them home, Jesus welcomed them, taught them, and healed those in need of healing.

As the day progresses, a problem arises. It is getting near dusk, and the people need to find food as they are in a deserted place. This likely indicates that they had not yet reached Bethsaida. The miracle likely took place in Tabgha, a little southwest of Capernaum.

Rather than dismissing the crowd, Jesus instructs his disciples to return the hospitality that they had received when he sent them out and give them some food themselves. They take stock of their provisions, which amount to five loaves and two fish. They ask if they are to go and buy food for the people themselves. They note that there are about 5000 men in the groups. This number would not have included women or children.

Jesus instructs the disciples to have the men sit down in groups of about fifty. The details of this interaction are crucial, as they are what link this event to the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament events and people. When the people needed food in the desert during the Exodus, it was God who gave them manna, bread, and quail. More than that, during the Exodus, we see Moses concerned with the burden of feeding all of these people, “Why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou dost lay the burden of all this people upon me?” (Numbers 11:12) The apostles now share in this concern.

The decision to set the men in groups of 50 also harkens back to the Old Testament in both Exodus and Deuteronomy, "commanders of fifties.” (Deuteronomy 1:15). These similarities suggest that Jesus is a prophet like Moses who is bringing about a new Exodus. In the Jewish literature of the time, there was an expectation that the manna would return in the days of the messiah.

The prophet Elisha faced a situation similar to the one faced by Jesus and the Apostles. He had 20 loaves to feed 100 men, yet he was able to do so, and there was food left over (2 Kings 4:42-44). Jesus had already compared himself to Elisha, and now he works a miracle greater than Elisha, who himself was recognized as one of the greatest miracle workers.

When David was fleeing from Saul, his men needed food. He asked the priest, Ahimelech, specifically for five loaves of bread, “Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” (1 Samuel 21:3) This is the only place in the Old Testament where the phrase ‘five loaves’ will be found. This incident occurs on the Sabbath, which Luke links to this miracle. Jesus nourishes his flock, as Ezekiel foretold: "I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them" (Ezekiel 34:23 RSV). Jesus will presently be identified as the "Messiah" (Luke 9:20), a Davidic title.

The miracle itself is a series of simple actions. Jesus looks to heaven, blesses the food, and breaks it. He then gives the food to his disciples, who serve as intermediaries in distributing it to the people gathered. The four actions he performs, takes, blesses, breaks, and gives are all found in the institution narrative at the Last Supper, “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them.” (Luke 22:19) Thus the feeding miracles points to the far great miracle of the Eucharist. Additionally, we see in the story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus the same four actions, and it was through these actions that Jesus was revealed. Similarly, in the feeding of the 5,000, his identity as the Messiah is made known.

Just as in the Exodus, the people were able to eat their fill of bread, so too were all those gathered able to eat their fill. Additionally, just as in the miracle performed by Elisha, there were leftovers, so too were there leftovers from this miracle. The twelve baskets mentioned are intended to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. This is yet another sign that Jesus is bringing about the restoration of Israel.

Daily Application

On this great feast, it is customary for parishes to hold a Eucharist Procession with Benediction at the end. This is one of the most powerful acts of public worship that the Church makes available. To walk through a neighborhood adoring Christ can and has changed lives. It has brought people back to the Church or through the Church doors for the first time. It has brought hope and joy to those who were lost. If a Corpus Christi procession is available at your parish or in your community, I encourage you to attend and participate in the procession.

Aside from that, we must never forget the great gift that the Eucharist is. Jesus, the second person of the blessed trinity, God himself, desires earnestly to remain with us that he gives us his very body and blood, under the veil of bread and wine, as our food. Through this great sacrament, we unite ourselves to him in a very real and physical way. The great saints have all come to realize this.

Take, for example, Saint Tarcisius. He was martyred in the third century, taking the Eucharist to imprisoned Christians, condemned to death. On the way, a mob wanted to take the Eucharist from him. He gave us his life rather than allow the Eucharist to fall into the hands of these pagans. Would we do the same? While we may not face death, processing through a community with the Eucharist can still be uncomfortable. People may see us adoring what to them appears to be a piece of bread in a fancy vessel. Ridicule from unbelievers may befall us. Do we have the courage to put our faith on display? Do we have the courage to defend he who is Truth? On this Feast of Corpus Christi, let us bravely share with the world the most incredible gift our Lord has given His Church. Let us adore and celebrate him in the Most Holy Eucharist.