Daily Readings for May 29, 2016

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

1ST READING

 

The practice of tithing is found in the Old Testament. Giving 10 percent of the fruits of our labors to God and the work of His Kingdom was seen as a necessary part of one’s faith. Personally, I believe we should listen carefully to how the Spirit of God wants us to support the work of the Kingdom today. Some may be led to give less than 10 percent. However, for others it will perhaps be more, and at times considerably more.

Genesis 14:18-20

18 In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: 19 “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4

R: You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

1 The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.” (R) 2 The scepter of your power the Lord will stretch forth from Zion: “Rule in the midst of your enemies.” (R) 3 “Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor; before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.” (R) 4 The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (R)

 

2ND READING

We are called to drink of the cup of Christ in the Eucharist. More than receiving the Lord into our lives, we must be able to accept the crosses as disciples of Jesus, follow where He leads us, and do what He asks of us. There is no such thing as comfortable Christianity. The Holy Spirit always leads us into a deeper expression of our faith — deeper into the mysteries of God that we show to the world today.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23 Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, 24 and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

GOSPEL

The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is the same as the pattern of action in the Eucharist. Jesus takes, blesses, breaks and gives. This is also how the Spirit works in our lives — He takes us for the work of the Kingdom of God and blesses us in this purpose. He breaks our self-sufficiency so we can be fully and freely given for God’s work. Let us live according to the pattern of the Eucharist.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Luke 9:11-17

11 Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. 12 As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” 13 He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” 14 Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.” 15 They did so and made them all sit down. 16 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. 17 They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.