May 29 - The Feast of Corpus Christi: the Living bread

 

First Reading Genesis 14:18-20
Melchizedek, king of Salem, blessed Abram.

 

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 110:1-4
You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

 

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death ofthe Lord until he comes.

 

Gospel Reading
Luke 9:11b-17

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, orthe Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is true food and drinkbut at the same time it is very different from every other food and drink. Thegreat difference lies in these words of Christ which St Augustine heard inprayer, “You will not change me into yourself as you would food of yourflesh; but you will be changed into me.” We transform ordinary food intoour own bodies but the food of the Eucharist transforms us into the body ofChrist. Ludwig Feuerbach's statement that we become what we eat is never moretrue that in the Eucharistic experience.