Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

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June 22, 2025

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Marianne

Marianne

Duddy-Burke

Duddy-Burke

The feast of Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is often a time of reflection on the sacrament of the Eucharist. This is very appropriate, as celebrating this sacrament is the way we are most frequently in union with the universal church, across time, space, and culture.  It is the way we experience the fullness of Christ in his humanity and his divinity. It is powerful and sacred, mystery and gift, transformative yet very much accessible in the moment.

As I reflect on the feast at this time in our world and our church, I am drawn to the Gospel, the well-known story of the feeding of the multitudes with five loaves and two fish. We are told that a crowd of over 5,000 families and groups had gathered to hear Jesus preach. As the day drew late the disciples became concerned about the practicalities of giving people time to disperse and get to food. It is clear that some traveled a great distance, as the disciples wanted to ensure they could seek shelter.  Jesus, however, speaks to the disciples, and across the centuries to all who consider themselves part of the Christian movement. “Give them some food yourselves,” Jesus says. This simple directive is entirely consistent with his ministry of presence and care, of moving those on the outskirts of society to the center of his circle.  Jesus tells us how to follow him. The Body of Christ has very real needs, and we are charged with addressing them.

I have childhood memories of hearing this Gospel preached as a miracle story. Jesus did his magic and multiplied the meager supplies the disciples had so bountifully that a dozen baskets were filled with leftovers. Homilies from later in my life raised the possibility that those who gathered to listen to the Rabbi acted as a community in this moment. People who had brought food for their family, their friends, shared what they had. Not only was everyone fed, but there was an abundance. This wonderful interpretation offers a beautiful model of the Christian mindset. Not only does the Body of Christ have critical needs, but it has the resources to meet them. Doing so requires attitudes that can feel very countercultural. It requires us to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of plenty, from a sense of individuality or tribalism to one of broad and deep connection, from fear to trust.  Rather than dismissing people so they can fend for themselves, as was the disciples’ first instinct, we are challenged to trust that each and all of us have been called into being by a loving Creator. We collectively steward the resources of Earth.

As we strive to live the Gospel in a nation, a world, and a church that are deeply fragmented, let us give gratitude for the Eucharistic feast that binds us to Christ and to one another. But even more, let us focus on how we enflesh the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We are the Body of Christ broken, aching, suffering in horrific ways. We are the Blood of Christ spilled through war, violence, abuse. We can feel overwhelmed by the enormity of these needs. Yet, we are also the present embodiment of Christ’s ministry of healing, of accompanying one another, of feeding each other. We provide the lifeblood of compassion and hope. To live into this call, we must constantly be willing to share whatever loaves and fishes we have with anyone, moving beyond individualism, tribalism, nationality, or the prioritization of any other identity, to model true stewardship in service to all.

First Reading

Genesis 14:18-20

PSALM

Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

GOSPEL

Luke 9:11b-17
Read texts at usccb.org

Marianne Duddy-Burke

Marianne Duddy-Burke

Marianne Duddy-Burke (She/her) is the Executive Director of DignityUSA, the world’s oldest organization of Catholics committed to justice, equality and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) people in our church and society. She has also served as DignityUSA’s President and was the first woman ever elected to that post. Marianne is also Co-Chair of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics. She has a Masters in Divinity from Weston Jesuit School of Theology (now integrated into Boston College).

Marianne has more than 35 years’ experience in leadership positions in both non-profit and corporate organizations. She is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences, and has represented Dignity in over 4,000 media stories, covering print, radio, television, and on-line media. She has spoken on LGBTQI+ issues in eight countries. She has written for The New York Times, National Catholic Reporter, The Advocate, Washington Post, Huffington Post, and numerous other publications. She is featured in the award-winning documentary film Wonderfully Made: LGBTQ+R(eligion), and is profiled in the books Redemption Stories: Unwasted Pain and Catholic Women Confront Their Church: Stories of Anger and Hope.

In October 2023, Marianne met with Pope Francis in an historic encounter between the Pope and leaders of LGBTQIA+ Catholic organizations. In 2022, she was recognized by The Tablet as one of the 50 top Catholic global leaders whose talents are lost to the institutional church. She was honored by the National LGBTQ Task Force as one of the 20 faith leaders most responsible for Queering Spaces. During the Obama Administration, Marianne served as a Special Advisor to the State Department on issues of Faith and LGBTQ+ human rights. She has testified before Congress on issues including the need for more inclusive foster care and adoption services, discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in Catholic health care, human services programming, and education, and the misuse of religious exemptions to harm LGBTQI+ people and others.

Marianne lives in Boston with Becky, her spouse of over 30 years, and their two adopted children, now young adults, one of whom is transgender.

MORE INFO/ CONNECT

Catholic Women Preach Year C Virtual Book Launch

October 17 at 7pm ET: Join Catholic Women Preach, FutureChurch, contributors to the Year C book, and co-editors Elizabeth Donnelly and Russ Petrus as we celebrate the release of the third and final volume of this ground-breaking, award winning series.

"Catholic Women Preach is one of the more inspiring collection of homilies available today. Based on the deep spirituality and insights of the various women authors, the homilies are solidly based on the scriptures and offer refreshing and engaging insights for homilists and listeners. The feminine perspective has long been absent in the preached word, and its inclusion in this work offers a long overdue and pastorally necessary resource for the liturgical life of the Church." - Catholic Media Association

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