lectionary.com

Ordinary Time · Year B

Corpus Christi: The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Thursday After Trinity or 11 days after Pentecost · May 27, 2027

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci
The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495–1498Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
Painted in an experimental technique that began failing within Leonardo's lifetime, so most of what survives is restoration. The composition groups the twelve into four threes, all reacting at once.It is the supper, and this is the painting that decided how the West pictures it.Leonardo da VinciPainter, engineer and anatomist who finished very little, experimented constantly, and left notebooks that took centuries to read.Santa Maria delle Grazie, MilanA Dominican church whose refectory holds the Last Supper, which survived a bomb in 1943 that destroyed the wall opposite.Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
Roman Lectionary
GospelMk. 14:12-16, 22-26Mk 14:12-16, 22-26
Second ReadingHeb. 9:11-15Heb 9:11-15Alt. 2nd ReadingOptional Sequence: Lauda Sion
First ReadingExod. 24:3-8Ex 24:3-8
Responsorial PsalmPs. 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13)Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13)

Overview & Insights

“This is my body… This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” (Mark 14:22, 24)

The woman’s act of worship in anointing Jesus for burial leads to the Last Supper scene, which explains the significance of his coming death. The lengthy preparation (vv. 12–14) shows that Jesus deliberately planned this event so that he could use the Passover Seder to explain the meaning of his sacrificial death.1Then Jesus’s prophecy of his coming betrayal shows his awareness of (and God’s sovereign control of) the coming betrayal. So there is another chiasm: A Judas’s decision to betray (vv. 1–2, 10–11) B The woman’s anointing of Jesus for burial (vv. 3–9) B? Jesus’s preparation for unlocking the meaning of his death (vv. 12–14) A? Jesus’s prophecy of his coming betrayal (vv. 15–21)

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Take it further: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Commentary

Enduring Word: Mark 14Enduring Word: Mk 14 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the Passover meal and the words over the bread and cup.

BibleHub: Commentaries on Mark 14:12BibleHub: Commentaries on Mk 14:12 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the start of the Last Supper account.

Precept Austin: Mark 14 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Mk 14 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed study page gathering many commentators on Mark 14.

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Brant Pitre reads Exodus 24, Psalm 116, Hebrews 9, and Mark 14 together on the Passover and the new covenant in Christ's blood.

Corpus Christi, Year B Sunday Readings Agape Bible Study

Catholic study connecting the Last Supper with the covenant sacrifices of the first reading.

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Cycle B (Sunday Connection) Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic Sunday Connection with background and family activities for the solemnity.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: Gospel of Mark OverviewBibleProject: Gospel of Mk Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the whole Gospel of Mark's design and message.

BibleHub: Mark 14 InterlinearBibleHub: Mk 14 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek-English interlinear for word-level study of Mark 14.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Mark 14Catena: Mk 14 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Mark 14.

Sermons & Reflections

Living Space: Corpus Christi, Year B Sacred Space · Irish Jesuits

Jesuit reflection on the readings for the Body and Blood of Christ.

Corpus Christi, Year B: Resources and Reflections Young Catholics

Curated collection of prayers, activities, and reflection links for the feast.

Podcast

Bishop Barron: The Power of Eucharistic Adoration Word on Fire

Bishop Barron preaches this Sunday’s Mass readings, including Mark 14:12-16, 22-26.

Art & Music

Vanderbilt: Revised Common Lectionary Art Index Vanderbilt

Lectionary art index for visual reflection on the day's readings.

Questions preachers ask

What does Jesus give at the Last Supper?

At the Passover Jesus takes bread and cup and gives his own body and blood, the new covenant poured out for many, then goes out to the Mount of Olives.

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