Daily Mass Readings – Sunday, 18 June 2028

18 But Melchisedech the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the priest of the most high God,

19 Blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram by the most high God, who created heaven and earth.

20 And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection the enemies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all.

R. (4b) You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

1 The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool.

R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

2 The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.

R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

3 With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot thee.

R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

4 The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.

24 And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me.

25 In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.

26 For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

11b Jesus spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed them who had need of healing.

12 Now the day began to decline. And the twelve came and said to him: Send away the multitude, that going into the towns and villages round about, they may lodge and get victuals; for we are here in a desert place.

13 But he said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said: We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; unless perhaps we should go and buy food for all this multitude.

14 Now there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples: Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

15 And they did so; and made them all sit down.

16 And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed them; and he broke, and distributed to his disciples, to set before the multitude.

17 And they did all eat, and were filled. And there were taken up of fragments that remained to them, twelve baskets.

In the wilderness, Jesus does more than speak about the kingdom and heal those who come to him. He sees the hungry multitude and takes responsibility for their need: “Give you them to eat.” What the disciples possess seems painfully small—five loaves and two fish—yet placed in Jesus’ hands, it becomes food for thousands. The twelve baskets left over reveal the abundance of the Lord, whose care is never measured by human resources.

The bread and wine brought by Melchizedek, and the priesthood proclaimed in the psalm, point toward Christ, the eternal Priest who offers himself for the life of the world. At the table of the Last Supper, he gives his Body and Blood and commands his disciples to continue this memorial until he comes. The Eucharist is therefore both Christ’s gift and the source of our own service. We receive the living Bread so that we may bring his care to others. A small offering, a patient presence, or a simple act of mercy may seem insufficient, but Christ can bless it, break it open, and make it fruitful.

Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Priest and living Bread, thank you for giving yourself to us in the mystery of your Body and Blood. Teach us to recognize your compassion wherever there is hunger, loneliness, or need. Take the little we can offer and bless it for the good of your people. Keep us faithful to your table, grateful for your sacrifice, and ready to serve those you place before us. May the Eucharist deepen our trust in your abundance and make our lives a humble continuation of your loving care. Amen.