Scripture Reflection – June 22, 2025

            On this feast of Corpus Christi, we give praise to Almighty God for the great gift of Christ’s Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.  This was not merely one of many “nice” things the Lord gave to His Church. The Eucharist was central — planned from all eternity, prefigured in the Old Testament, and instituted by Christ Himself in the New.

           Our reading from Genesis 14 reveals that a sacrifice under the form of bread and wine was prefigured in the days of Abraham and the priest-king Melchizedek.  Our selection from Psalm 110 reveals that fascination and expectation of this mysterious priesthood continued until the time of fulfillment had arrived.  And our Gospel from Luke 9 presents the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish – a great miracle in itself, but even that prefigured the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, which He would provide for the first time at the Last Supper, anticipating His offering on the Cross.

As St. Paul taught clearly in First Corinthians 11, this is the Body and Blood of Christ, the sign of His new and eternal covenant.  In every generation since then, the Church founded by Christ has believed and taught that at each Mass, Jesus Christ is miraculously and truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, under the appearance of simple bread and wine.

            This is an indisputable sign of the Lord’s desire to be near us — to be within us.  Take time in prayer to reflect upon this gift — to prepare well to worthily receive Him, and to give Him due praise and adoration. Join us Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8pm for Adoration of the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament!