Homily 421 – The Mystery of Melchizedek – Corpus Christi

Today we celebrate the the Solemnity of the Body and Blood and Christ, Corpus Christi in Latin. We might expect to find readings like our second reading from St. Paul. He describes the institution of the Eucharist. But who is this strange Melchizedek guy who is the star of our first reading and psalm? What does he have to do with the Eucharist?

Well, there’s some bad news. We don’t really know who Melchizedek is. His name means “King of Righteousness.” He is also king of Salem, that is of shalom (peace), or even Jerusalem. We also find out that he is a priest. Now there’s the connection to our feast today. But Melchizedek is not exactly a priest like we would think of Catholic priests today. Rather, priests in the Old Testament have one very important job; they offer sacrifice. It’s not surprising then that we find Melchizedek offering sacrifice. In this case, he offers bread and wine, another connection to today’s feast.

So we have a priest, who is a king, who offers bread and wine, and is even greater than Abraham. It’s not hard to see who the Church has always seen in Melchizedek a prefiguring or “type” of Christ. But there’s one more thing about Melchizedek that makes him meaningful to you and me today. Priesthood and kingship in the Old Testament would normally have been hereditary. You had to be someone special. You had to be from a special family. Melchizedek doesn’t come from any lineage that we know of. We don’t know anything about him. He seems to have this priesthood and kingship directly from God… and so do we.

Now you may be thinking, “I’m no king and definitely not a priest.” But here’s the thing, in virtue of your baptism, you are. Like Melchizedek, you don’t have to come from some hereditary line. Rather, in virtue of our baptism, we share in Christ’s threefold mission as priest, prophet and king. Here again, don’t think of “priest” as “your parish priest.” Rather, think of “priest” as “someone who offers sacrifice.” That’s you. You are called to offer sacrifice. Not the sacrifice of bread and wine in the Eucharist, like the ordained priest, but the sacrifice of your life. That’s what Jesus did, and that’s what you’re called to do as a baptized priest. Always come to Mass with some intention for which you will pray. That’s part of the exercise of your baptismal priesthood. What sacrifice will you offer to God today?