Reflection for Sunday – June 22, 2025

Sr. Barbara Moore, RSMSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Genesis 14: 19-20; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; Luke 9; 11b-17 
Preacher: Sr. Barbara Moore

For more than a month since Easter, the Church has and continues to celebrate pivotal feasts.  Easter moves to the Ascension and on to Pentecost, the Feast of the Holy Trinity and now, we focus on the Body and Blood of Christ.  In a way it seems like we have come full circle from the Last Supper to this weekend’s focus on the gift of the Eucharist given at that meal.

Many of us may not realize this fact but today’s letter from Paul to the Corinthians written in the 60s CE is the first account of the Last Supper and the gift of the Eucharist. This letter precedes the Gospels.  It demonstrates to us how deeply the gift of the Eucharist has taken root in the infant Christian community.

Jesus, at the Last Supper, shares the gift of himself but he also shares with us in the gift of the Holy Spirit as well as lesson after lesson of how to live and love each other.   Gift upon gift.  This reality is also present in our Gospel when “about 5,000 men (and many more including women) …all ate and were satisfied.”  In this time in history when we are so divided and when we can be so hurtful toward those with whom we differ, I was struck by a reality in this Gospel I never thought about before. Something that happened in this Gospel is beyond just the feeding of so many from so little.   

Luke tells us that the crowd today was large and Jesus’ teachings seemed to be going on for most of the day.  There was big one concern.  Food for a tired crowd.  Observations and experience moved the disciples to assist the people gathered.  But no one tried to sort out the believers from unbelievers, or Jews from Gentiles, or those who were committed to Jesus or not.  No one is asked why they had not thought ahead and brought lunch.  I am sure some did. Nor were they asked if they supported this powerful teacher.  Need was the only criteria.  Compare that attitude to our present national situation when aid and support as well as respect and understanding are needed by many folks, like those helped by USAID. Yet they may be denied what they need. When men and women are rounded up without due process and separation of families is possible, are they respected and offered assistance?

As we stand in line at the Eucharist, and hold our hands out to receive communion, it is so obvious as one observes our hands, that we come from different backgrounds, needs, ages, views, experiences, and concerns.  Jesus wants to be present to all.  The Eucharistic table is one of the few places in our society when the same gift is offered and given to such a variety of people.  Race, income, sexuality, political views, age and so many other differences fade as we approach the altar. 

May the Holy Spirit give us the grace to treat one another with such an open mind and heart.

Sr. Barbara Moore, RSM
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