Sharing One Body

For today's scripture;

First Reading

Genesis 14:18-20

"And Mel-chiz'edek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth;and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 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." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

GOSPEL Luke 9:11-17

When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish -- unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each." And they did so, and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

COMMENTARY

The Gospel for this Sunday is the only episode in Jesus' life reported by alal evangelists. It can be found in all four accounts. It teaches something very crucial about the eucharistic value of sharing the bread. Th eword company comes from two latin words "cum" and "panis" in which the former means with and the latter bread. Th bread becomes the symbol of togetherness. It is not good to eat bread alone. To become happier, one wants to have meals with others and from there the concept of company arises.

Was Christ in the company of the chosen people of God from the beginning until today? This is the question answered by the three readings above. In the first reading is the company of Jesus and the early chosen people. In the second reading is teh assurance of Christ's company with us in the Holy Mass, and in the Gospel is the company of Jesus made present [not symbolized] by the bread he multiplied for teh people of his time. The truth that Jesus accompanied the People of God in the old times and at present is irrevocable. The first reading in the book of Genesis is teh first ever record of eucharistic sacrifice. It was Melchizedek the king of Salem and also a priest of God who officiated the thanksgiving of Abraham. Just so everyone knows, the bread and wine was there.Equally an imagery of what will happen thousands of years after when Jesus instituted the Eucharist at teh last supper before teh great suffer. It goes to show that after the blessings, the bread and wine were transubstantiated into Christ's body and blood.Jesus was shared by Abraham and the armies. The same Jesus taught by St.Paul to the Corinthians. That everytime they eat of the bread and drink from the sup, they make present again the victory of Christ over death. Similar to the victory of Abraham is the victory of Christ proclaimed in teh Eucharistic celebration happening every Sundaya round teh globe. The same Christ is in the company of God's People today.

In the Gospel, Jesus also triumphe over indifference and selfcenteredness. He did not hid the advice of a disciple but instead gently rebuked him saying "Give them food yourselves" as an assault to insensitivity and greed. Every Christian needs to take part in sharing the bread so the people fo God may be fed. Only by this can everyone suceed over indifference to the needs of others.Isn't it wonderful that the Body of Christ which is the Church is nourished by teh bread which is also said to be His body too. Every individual Christian is a part of His body. Being nourished and sanctified by the Eucharist, this body functions to be the giver of bread.