The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Year C
May 29, 2016
Gospel: Lk 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 (1)
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 (2) 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 (3). And when the leftover fragments (4)
were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
(http://www.usccb.org)
The difficult words
(1)The Twelve are the twelve apostles of
Jesus.
(2)Loaves refers to loaves of bread.
(3)Satisfied means full.
(4) The fragments were the pieces of bread left
over.
This week’s spotlight
The body and blood of Christ
When we offer bread and wine at Mass, we thank God for his care, and we
offer God our lives. Through the priest, God changes our gifts and gives them
back as Jesus. God feeds and strengthens us to love and be holy. The Eucharist
makes us one with God and one another. Though it still looks like bread and
wine, the Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ.
Do this in memory of me
Have you ever seen a science fiction movie where
people travel through time and space? Well, at Mass, we really do experience a
kind of “time travel.” When the priest uses the same words and gestures that
Jesus used at the Last Supper; something very real happens: Jesus becomes truly
present by the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not just remember the past. We
are mystically present at the Last Supper, at the foot of the cross, at the
resurrection, and even at the “heavenly banquet" of the saints and angels.
Reflection
The Body of Christ
The Church celebrates a great feast this week: the feast
of the Body and Blood of Christ. At Mass, we may receive Holy Communion, the
body, blood, soul, and divinity of the risen Christ. Though what we receive
looks like bread, it is really Jesus, and really has the power to make us one
with him. If you look around after you receive communion, think about how God
is uniting the many Christians in your church and throughout the world into one
living Body of Jesus Christ. When we receive communion, we receive the life
that God gives us through grace. This communion gives us a preview of heaven,
of the eternal life where we will be united to Jesus and to one another. The
Eucharist gives us a reason to be filled with joy!
Discussion questions
1.Why do the crowds follow Jesus?
2.What are the disciples concerned about?
3.How much food do they start out with?
4.What does Jesus tell the disciples to do?
5.What happens to the five loaves of bread and the two fish?
6. What does the miracle of the loaves and fishes tell us about God?
7.Why is it important to share with others?
Praying after Communion
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. I
believe that Jesus is really here with me in the Holy Eucharist, and that he is
present inside everyone else at church who has received communion today. Help
me to recognize all the people at church with me as my brothers and sisters.
Keep all of us close to you so that we can one day be together with you in
heaven.
This week…
Live in communion
This week, suggest that your family say a prayer
before each meal that you eat together. For
example, you can say: “Lord, we are happy to join together for this
meal; keep us all united in your love.” At each meal, a different family member
can take a turn leading the prayer.
Support the community
This week, you and your parents could volunteer to do
something in your parish. For example, you could straighten things up after
Mass, pick up trash that has fallen on the floor, or plant some flowers outside
the church.
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