Mass Readings for Corpus Christi Year C
- First Reading – Genesis 14:18-20: "In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram."
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 110: "You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek."
- Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'"
- Gospel - Luke 9:11B-17: "Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd."
Themes for Corpus Christi Year C
This day is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
The readings for Corpus Christi Year C focus on Jesus Christ, our high priest, who sustains us with is very being. In the first reading we hear about the priest Melchizedek. The psalm also sings "You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.". In the second reading, Paul reminds us of the words of institution of the Eucharist from the Last Supper. In the gospel, Jesus feeds the five thousand after breaking the bread and blessing it.
- Jesus as High Priest
- The Eucharist
- The Priesthood
- Vocations
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 C.
Resources for Corpus Christi Year C
Loaves and Fishes: Eucharist Lesson Plan
This Eucharist lesson plan will help youth understand that God provides for all of our needs. He especially cares for our spiritual needs through the gift of Himself in the Eucharist.
Does It Last? A Timely Lesson Plan on the Eucharist
The truth is, nothing in this world goes on forever. Not our possessions, not our activities, not even our lives. In the end, it is our relationship with God which will matter. Jesus is calling us to be closer to Him. And He has given us the Eucharist as a gift, to sustain us on our journey.
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”.
Litany to the Blessed Host
St. Faustina suffered greatly in this life, both physically and spiritually. Her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament helped her endure much pain. This is a litany she wrote to pray while in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Holy Orders is a sacrament of the Catholic Church by which a man is ordained to be a deacon, priest, or bishop. It is a sacrament of service.
Homilies and Reflections for Corpus Christi Year C
Sacrifice, Covenant, Banquet
The Eucharist, as Vatican II famously said, is the source and summit of the Christian life—that from which Christian life comes and that toward which it tends. It's the alpha and the omega of our Christianity. Our three marvelous readings today bring forth three key aspects of the Eucharist: re-presented sacrifice, blood covenant, and spiritual banquet.
Jesus Yesterday, Today, and Forever!
From Bishop Robert Barron. Paul tells us that whenever we eat the body and drink the blood of the Lord, we proclaim his death until he comes. This means that the Eucharist involves a wonderful compression of time, past and future meeting dynamically in the present. When we gather around the Lord’s table now, we call to mind the breakthrough moment of the Paschal Mystery and we anticipate the culminating moment of the end of time. In doing this, we charge the present with meaning and purpose.
Blessed and Given
From Scott Hahn. At the dawn of salvation history, God revealed our future in figures. That’s what’s going on in today’s first reading: A king and high priest, offering bread and wine to celebrate the victory of God’s beloved servant, Abram, over his foes. Through His priests He still feeds us in “the deserted place” of our earthly exile. And by this sign He pledges to us a glory yet to come. For as often as we share in His body and blood, we proclaim His victory over death, until He comes again to make His victory our own.
Jesus Takes Bread
Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. At one time, this day was called Corpus Christi, Latin for “the Body of Christ.” In the most recent revision of the liturgy, the name for this day is expanded to be a more complete reflection of our Eucharistic theology. Read more.
More Thoughts for Corpus Christi Year C
Today's readings mention blessings several times. The people we read about in Scripture took blessings very seriously. A blessing was not just a nice thing to say. It represented real, material benefits. For example, the blessing a father gave his son was considered a true inheritance.
Melchizedek blesses Abram through his offering of bread and wine. Shortly later, God presents Abram with a lasting covenant, promising many descendants and a land to call their own. To the ancients, this would have been connected tot the blessing.
This also foreshadows the blessings which our high priest, Jesus Christ, gives to us in the Eucharist. All of us who share in the holy meal are brought into the Kingdom of God, bringing new life and abundance. We need to trust in that.
Reflection Questions for Corpus Christi Year C
- Do I connect the Eucharist with real blessings in my life?
- How does the Eucharist transform me?
- How can I transmit God's blessing to another person today?
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