25 May 2008 • Ordinary 8 • Body and Blood of Jesus
Abstract
REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY (RCL) LECTIONARY FOR MASS (LM) VARIATIONS (BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER) Body and Blood of Jesus Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58 Isaiah 49:8-16a Isaiah 49:14-15 Isaiah 49:8-18 Psalm 131 Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Psalm 62 or 62:6-14 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Matthew 6:24-34 Matthew 6:24-34 Matthew 6:24-34 Studying the Lectionary The Feast of Corpus Christi historically occurs on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (May 22 this year) because it is the delayed Octave of Maundy Thursday. Roman Catholics now typically observe it on the first Sunday after Trinity (second after Pentecost) as the Body and Blood of Christ. Some Anglicans and a few Lutherans have restored the observance of Corpus Christi, either on its Thursday or Sunday date, because it seems good to have a day in the church year devoted to the Eucharist. Maundy Thursday itself, of course, is the anniversary of the institution of the Lord's Supper. But the sacrament of the altar shares that day with the footwashing ( mandatum ) and the whole paschal context of the Triduum. Moreover, Corpus Christi was not simply a replication of Holy Thursday themes;