Commentary: Melchizedek is a mysterious figure in Scripture. This passage is the only time he appears. Then, he is referenced in Psalm 110 and the book of Hebrews in the New Testament gives a good amount of attention to him as the model for the priesthood of Jesus. Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness,” was the king of Salem, which means peace. Salem also may be an early name for what would later become Jerusalem. Melchizedek, in addition to being a king, was also a priest of the one true God. This is surprising since most of the people in the land of Canaan (i.e. Israel) at this time were polytheistic and followers of pagan religions. Abram, who had been sent to the land by God would have been unique in his faith in God Most High. Yet, Melchizedek believed and was a priest of the one, true God. He, in fact, blessed Abram (who would later be renamed Abraham) and offered bread and wine to God. The bread and wine should get our attention as a foreshadowing of the Eucharist (thus, why we have this reading today on the celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ). Abram, in turn, gave Melchizedek a tithe (“a tenth of everything”). All in all, we see that Melchizedek was a historical figure who foreshadowed Jesus Christ. Both are the “king of righteousness” and the “king of peace.” Both are priests. In fact, the book of Hebrews illustrates how Jesus is “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17, citing Psalm 110:4), which we are about to sing in today’s Psalm. And, finally, they both offer bread and wine. Jesus, in fact, offers us not just bread and wine but his body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist. We, in turn, should offer him everything, which can be represented through following the example of Abram in tithing of our resources.
Commentary: This passage is the earliest written conveyance of the Last Supper. It comes from the Apostle Paul when he was writing to the Corinthian church in about A.D. 56 (20 some years after the event). This letter was written prior to the writing of the gospels, which also record the offering of bread and wine by Jesus at the Last Supper (except the Gospel of John). Of course, we know these words from the consecration at Mass. There are some important things to note about Paul’s recounting here. First, Paul himself was not at the Last Supper. Yet, he says that he received this “from the Lord.” He likely learned of the events at the Last Supper from the apostles who were there and the liturgical tradition of the church that was heeding Jesus’ words to “Do this in remembrance of me” by celebrating the Eucharist. Also, we can note that Paul is not recounting this to the Corinthians for the first time. Rather, he is reminding them of what he had already handed on to them in person when he was in Corinth in about A.D. 51. Thus, this is evidence of the very early practice of commemorating the Lord through the Eucharist in the church. Today, we continue to worship in the same way as the early church, through celebrating the Eucharist. By doing so, we heed Jesus’ words to “do this in remembrance of me” and, as Paul said, we proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes as often as we participate in the Eucharist.
Commentary: The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is a prefigurement of the Eucharist, in which Jesus continues to miraculously feed the crowds through offering us his body, blood, soul, and divinity under the form of bread and wine. The connection is clear in the gospel of Luke because the same four verbs used here (take, bless, broke, gave) are used in Luke’s recounting of the Last Supper (Luke 22:19) and the celebration of the Eucharist on the day of the resurrection with the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:30). In the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus miraculously nourished the people, providing for their physical hunger. In the Eucharist, Jesus miraculously nourishes us with his body, blood, soul, and divinity and, therefore, provides for our spiritual hunger. We are spiritually fed every time we receive communion. Another parallel here is the role of the apostles and the role of bishops and priest, who are their successors. Just like the apostles were the intermediaries between Jesus and the people in dispersing the bread and fish, so are priests and bishops the intermediaries between Jesus and us in giving us the Eucharist.
Taking it Home:
Reflect on the miracle of the Eucharist. Do you believe that Jesus is really present—body, blood, soul, and divinity—in the Eucharist? If you struggle with this, ask God to help you believe.
After communion today, reflect on the gift of the Eucharist and thank God for His presence here. You could offer this prayer or something similar: “God, may the grace of this sacrament strengthen me to love you more faithfully.”