The Body and Blood of Christ

I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO GIVE YOU

Genesis 14:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11b-17

Readings for the Body and Blood of Christ

In 1967, Robert Sténuit—the Belgian underwater archaeologist—discovered the wreck of the Spanish Armada ship, the Girona, off the coast of Ireland. Among the many treasures he recovered was a wedding ring. The top of the ring had a hand holding a heart; the band had these words etched on it: “no tengo mas que dar te” (I have nothing more to give you).

The same image and words could be used to describe today’s Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus. The feast (and every Eucharist) is Jesus symbolically saying to us: “I have nothing more to give you.” 

There are three aspects to today’s celebration: self-gift; sacrifice; service.

Self-gift: Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything he has. Jesus challenges the apostles: “Give the people something to eat yourselves.” All they have is five loaves and two fish. For Jesus, this meagre contribution is enough to satiate the hunger of the five thousand… with enough left over to feed another crowd. Luke does not say that Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish; Luke uses words associated with the Eucharist in narrating the miracle! In the second reading, Paul describes Jesus’ total self-gift of his body and blood at the Last Supper; he has nothing more to give us. 

Sacrifice: At the Last Supper, Jesus symbolically and sacramentally gave himself to his apostles. On Calvary, he broke his body and shed his blood for his people; Jesus could truly say: “I have nothing more to give you.”

Service: At the Last Supper, Jesus did more than break bread and share the cup; he washed the feet of his disciples. In his gospel, St John does not have the institution narrative; he has rather a description of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. For John, the towel and basin are Eucharistic symbols. 

Self-gift, sacrifice, service! This is what we celebrate. This is our challenge.

Am I willing to give myself for others? What are the “five loaves and two fish” I am called to share with others? 

How can I be body broken and blood shed for others? 

In what way will I serve and love others in the week ahead?

May we relive Jesus’ self-gift, sacrifice and service so that we too can say: “I have nothing more to give you.”