主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(June 6, 2010)

本主日讀經︰
創世紀　14:18-20
聖詠　110[109]:1,2,3,4
格林多前書　11:23-26
路加福音　9:11-17

默想︰

今天的進堂詠，堅強我們福傳的信心說：「我要以上等的麥麵養育選民，用石縫中的野蜜飽飫他們」。耶穌更為了讓我們放心，並忠於祂許下天天同我們在一起的承諾，特意在被出賣的那一天晚上，祝聖了餅酒，讓我們在生活中藉著每次在領聖體聖血時，都能體驗祂的臨在與救恩，敢於聽從祂的吩咐，拿出自己小小的五餅二魚。

細味今天的讀經，我也有一份新的體會：亞巴郎打勝仗，接受了撒冷王的祝福，從戰利品中拿出十分之一，奉獻給王。福音中，門徒擔心跟隨的群眾太多，害怕沒有足夠的食物，耶穌卻祝聖了門徒僅有的五餅二魚。這讓我想起在堂區中，常常聽到神父呼籲教友努力福傳，多多帶領朋友加入教會；也要努力奉獻自養。他們從沒擔心教友太多，也沒要我們捐獻所有，只鼓勵我們回應教會的傳統，以「十一之獻」來分擔教會福傳的所需！

在慶祝耶穌聖體聖血節的今天，讓我們依靠聖體聖事的恩寵，勇敢回應耶穌，許下分擔祂使命的計畫，並確實的在生活中去執行。

【摘自和平六月號】

Readings (Year C) page 20:
Genesis 14: 18-20
Psalm 110: 1, 2, 3, 4 You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
Luke 9: 11b-17

Meditation

The multiplication of 5 loaves and 2 fish is concerned with the self-revelation of Jesus. It is a sign that in Jesus, God’s reign, His presence, power and concern are at work. In Lk. 9:16, we see that it is close to that of the institution of the Eucharist. In fact, the 5 verbs and actions of Jesus resemble that of the Last Supper and the formula of the early Eucharistic celebration. These verbs are ‘taking’, ‘looked up’, ‘blessed’, ‘broke’ and ‘gave’ as in Lk. 9:16 and in Lk.22:19, we have ‘took’, ‘gave thanks’, ‘broke’ and ‘gave’. This miraculous feeding is meant for the disciples and manifests that in Jesus God Himself feeds His people.

In the second reading, Paul describes how the early Christian community celebrated the Eucharistic meal. For Paul, the broken bread is a symbol of Christ’s body given for sinners (Lk. 22:19) and the cup is a symbol of the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. (Lk. 22:20, Jer. 31:31-34).

In the first reading, Melchizedek offered the food and drink as a sign of friendship and hospitality. This action is a pre-figuration of Jesus, ‘great high priest’ (Heb. 4:14) whose priesthood is thus ‘in the order of Melchizedek’. Jesus offered his whole life for us.

Today as we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, we are challenged to deepen the meaning of Eucharist for us; how his body –taken, blessed, broken and given, takes place in our daily life.

Lord, may we be taken, blessed, broken and given in Your name for others, so that our lives too be poured out in service of others.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer