Sunday, June 19, 2022
The readings for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ for Year C focus on Jesus Christ, our high priest, who sustains us with is very being. In the first reading (Genesis 14:18-20) we hear about the priest Melchizedek. The psalm (Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4) sings “You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.”. In the second reading (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) Paul reminds us of the words of institution of the Eucharist from the Last Supper. In the gospel (Luke 9:11B-17) Jesus feeds the five thousand after breaking the bread and blessing it.
This is a time to talk about the Eucharist and also the priesthood. Here are some ideas:
The Book of Revelation can be one of the most difficult books of the bible to understand. In his book The Lamb's Supper: The Mass As Heaven on Earth, Scott Hahn makes the case that the Book of Revelation is actually a description of the Mass. And every time we participate in the Eucharistic celebration we are actually taking part in a liturgy where heaven intersects with earth.
Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
In this video we see the words of St. Justin wrote to the Roman emperor in 155 AD to defend Christianity. He describes a Mass which would be familiar to us today – the reading from scripture, the homily, the petitions, the offertory, the praying over the gifts, the reception of communion. He even describes bringing communion to those who are not present. He explains that this is called Eucharist and that we believe it is truly the body and blood of Christ.
This is a wonderful resource to show the continuity of the order of Mass throughout the ages.
Why should we pray for more vocations to the priesthood? It is no secret that we need more priests in the Catholic Church. Giving your whole life to the service of the Church is counter-cultural and many young people do not even consider it. God calls us all to a specific vocation. So we should pray that those being called to the priesthood will hear and answer that call.
This sacrament scavenger hunt introduces some of the symbols and concepts of the sacraments in a fun way. Hide various sacrament related items around your meeting space or grounds. Here is a list and some tips. Some of the items are directly related to sacraments. Others are more "fun" to start up a conversation. Use whatever you feel is best for your group and meeting. These are just ideas.
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