The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Cycle B June 3, 2018

FIRST READING
Exodus 24:3-8
The covenant is established between God and the people.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
God brings salvation.

SECOND READING
Hebrews 9:11-15
Christ is the mediator of the new covenant.

GOSPEL READING
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
Jesus shares his Last Supper with his disciples.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,
Jesus' disciples said to him,
"Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them,
"Go into the city and a man will meet you,
carrying a jar of water.
Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,
'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.
Make the preparations for us there."
The disciples then went off, entered the city,
and found it just as he had told them;
and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
"Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.
Amen, I say to you,
I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine
until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Then, after singing a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today, the second Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate a second
solemnity, which marks our return to Ordinary Time in the liturgical
calendar. Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of
Christ. At one time, this day was called Corpus Christi, the Latin
words for "the Body of Christ." In the most recent revision of our
liturgical rites, the name for this day is expanded to be a more
complete reflection of our Eucharistic theology.

In our reading for today, we read the account of the Last Supper found
in the Gospel of Mark. It begins with the instructions that Jesus gave
to his disciples to prepare their Passover celebration. It then goes on
to give an account of the Last Supper. On this Sunday, however, our
Lectionary reading omits the verses between these two passages; in those
omitted verses we hear Jesus predict his betrayal by one of his
disciples.

The Gospel of Mark describes Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples as a
celebration of the Jewish feast of Passover. The Jewish celebration of
Passover is a memorial to and a ritual participation in the defining
moment of Israel's history. It celebrates God's deliverance of his
people from slavery in Egypt. The Passover meal includes many ritually
important elements, such as unleavened bread, lamb, and bitter herbs.
Each food item recalls an aspect of the Exodus event. The instructions
for the preparation of this meal are carefully prescribed in the Law of
Moses. It is a central obligation of the Jewish faith tradition to
celebrate this meal and to give thanks to God for his deliverance and
protection.

In the description of the Passover meal found in today's Gospel,
however, Mark omits many elements of the Jewish Passover meal. Instead
he describes only those elements he believes to be most essential to the
Christian Eucharist: Jesus took bread, blessed the bread, broke the
bread, and shared it with his disciples. Similar words and actions
follow as Jesus shares the chalice with his disciples. This bread now
shared is Jesus' own body. Those who drink from the chalice are invited
to share in a new covenant which will be sealed by Jesus' own blood.
Mark's Eucharistic theology looks forward to the Kingdom of God that
Jesus inaugurates.

The Gospel for today reminds us that the Eucharist is a memorial of
Christ's sacrifice on the cross. We believe that Jesus is truly present
to us in the elements of bread and wine. Each time we celebrate this
sacrament, we prepare for the Kingdom of God. This celebration, as the
Second Vatican Council taught us, is the source and summit of the
Christian life.

Family Connection

In the beginning of today's Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples to
make preparations for the Passover meal. Like most meals, the Passover
meal required planning and preparation. Our celebration of the Sunday
Eucharist also requires planning and preparation. Certainly the
ministers at the Eucharist prepare for their roles: the person presiding
prays and prepares the homily; the prayers of petition are written; the
music ministers prayerfully select music and practice it before Mass;
Eucharistic ministers, lectors and altar servers prepare carefully for
their roles. As the worshiping assembly, we can also prepare for the
Mass through our prayer during the week, by reading the Scripture before
Mass, and by making ourselves present to the Eucharistic celebration.

As you gather as a family, talk about some of the things that are
required to prepare for your family meals. Plan together a special
Sunday meal by choosing the menu, preparing the shopping list, and
assigning duties for cooking, setting the table, preparing decorations,
leading the prayers, and cleaning. Read together today's Gospel, Mark
14:12-16, 22-26. Notice how Jesus instructed his disciples to prepare for
their Passover meal. All meals require some kind of planning and
preparation; so, too, our Sunday Eucharist requires planning. What might
we do as a family to better prepare for our celebration of the
Eucharist? Choose one or more ideas to begin to implement together as a
family. Pray together that God will help your family make your
celebration of the Eucharist the highlight of your week. Pray together
the Lord's Prayer.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings