Corpus Christi Year B (2024)

Mass Readings for Corpus Christi Year B

• First Reading – Exodus 24:3-8: “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 116: “I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.”
• Second Reading – Hebrews 9:11-15: “he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption”
• Gospel – Mark 14:12-16, 22-26: “Take it; this is my body.”

Themes for Corpus Christi Year B

The readings for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ – Corpus Christi Year B give background for the notion of sacrifice and explain why we call Jesus the Lamb of God. The first reading describes how the Israelites sacrificed animals to seal their covenant with God. The second reading explains Christ is our high priest, but he also demonstrates sacrificial love. And in the gospel Jesus institutes the sacrament of the Eucharist during the Passover meal.

• Eucharist
• Self-giving
• Remembering

See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for Corpus Christi Year B.

What Does Amen Mean? – Reflection and Discussion Questions

This reflection encourages youth to understand what they are saying when the Body and Blood of Christ are presented to them and they respond with an “Amen”.

Understanding the Book of Revelation

Understanding the Book of Revelation can be difficult. Every time we participate in the Eucharistic celebration we are actually taking part in a liturgy where heaven intersects with earth.

Blood and Covenants

Jeff Cavins shows how the Sunday Readings in the Old and New Testaments recount the blood covenants God entered with Israel, through Moses, and then with humanity through Christ.

The Mass and Sacrifice

From Bishop Robert Barron. “For this feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord, I reflect on the Mass as a sacrifice. Sacrificial language runs right through all of our readings for today, just as it runs through the whole of Israelite history. In Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God’s fidelity unto death finally meets a human obedience unto death–and in that meeting, the covenant is fully realized, and salvation is accomplished. The Mass is the re-presenting of that world-changing event.”

Blood of the Covenant

From Scott Hahn. “All of today’s readings are set in the context of the Passover. The First Reading recalls the old covenant celebrated at Sinai following the first Passover and the Exodus.” Continue reading.

The Christian Mime

From Fr. Richard Rohr of the Center for Action and Contemplation. “The Eucharistic mime, and that is what it is—a story enacted through motions more than words—has four main aspects that we are to imitate from Jesus’ first enactment.” Continue reading.

Jesus Shares His Last Supper

A reflection on Corpus Christi Year B from Loyola Press. “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.” Continue reading.

The Lifeblood of God

Another homily for Corpus Christi Year B from Bishop Barron of Word on Fire. “Friends, for this feast of Corpus Christi, today’s readings run red, dripping in sacrificial symbolism. When we gather together for Mass, we are not calling to mind some disconnected historical incident. Rather, we spiritually and physically participate in the re-presentation of Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.”

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”

Mark 14:22

Jesus became bread broken for us, and He asks us to give ourselves to others, no longer to live for ourselves, but for one another.

Pope Francis