A Blood Bond - Missionary Commentary for Sunday, June 2, 2024 - Corpus Christi

Readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Year B

Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
Hebrews 9:11-15
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

USCCB Link to the Readings

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A Blood Bond 

Jesus takes a cup of wine, gives thanks, and gives it to us to drink. “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” 

Remember the last time you drank from the Eucharistic cup? For me, it was a silver chalice offered to me by an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. I remember the feel of the chalice in my hands – I believe it is more reverential to use two hands – the swish of the wine within the chalice, the cool, flavorful liquid on my lips, in my mouth, down my throat. In this drinking of a shared cup, Jesus gives us his precious blood. His complete and total sacrifice compels me - compels us - into the Kingdom of God. 

We have heard the expression “blood brothers.” Something very similar is at work in today’s readings. Moses gives the words and commandments of the Lord to the people, who accept these ordinances. Then Moses writes down the commandments, builds an altar, sacrifices animals, and takes the blood of the animals as a bond of the covenant between God and his people. 

Jesus is the new covenant and, in a similar way, sheds his blood “for many.” As the letter to the Hebrews teaches us, it is his blood that grants humanity eternal redemption. Jesus, during the Passover meal, gives his disciples – gives us – his body as bread and his blood as wine. He gives himself totally away. This is the Mission of the Eucharist – the total self-emptying of Jesus until “I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” With Jesus, we are a people on mission proclaiming his death, and professing his Resurrection, until he comes again.

As the Church continues the Eucharistic Revival and prepares for the National Eucharist Congress in Indianapolis in late July, four national Eucharistic Processions are already underway. This is a good way to publicly proclaim our faith in the real presence of Jesus – his body, blood, soul, and divinity – and venerate our Lord. There is also a danger. In our effort to highlight the Body of Christ, we may forget the Blood of Christ. 

Of course, the whole Christ is present in the consecrated bread and wine. In our communion, in our adoration, in our veneration, we need to remember that Jesus gave us his blood to drink. We are bonded – to Jesus and to one another – in his blood that compels us into mission in service to God’s reign of love, salvation, and justice. 

Notes on the Sunday Readings

First Reading 
Exodus 24:3-8 – Today’s feast reminds us of all those truths revealed by God. This reading asserts that the Lord is God, the unique God of Israel, the one and only God.

Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 – The psalmist reminds us that “the cup of salvation” is not just drink but a calling “on the name of the Lord,” a gift of service, and vows fulfilled “in the presence of all his people.” 

Second Reading 
Hebrews 9:11-15 – Christ, our exulted high priest passes through “the greater and more perfect tabernacle,” to enter the sanctuary “with his own blood.” His mission is our eternal redemption. 

Gospel 
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26  – Saint Mark describes the Last Supper when Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples as his body. He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and “they all drank from it.” This is the blood of the covenant, “shed for many,” fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.

Notes and Commentary by Don McCrabb, D. Min., 
USCMA Executive Director

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