PEACEFUL OFFERING - C: Solemnity of the Corpus Christi

First Reading: Gen 14:17-20 (19 June 2022)

“And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine” (Gen 14:18).

The text of Genesis 14:18-20 presents the narrative character of King Melchizedek of Salem. The name Melchizedek is the combination of the two Hebrew words melek (literally: “king”) and ṣedeq (literally: “righteousness, justice, acting according to a proper standard” [cf. Kohlenberger/Mounce Hebrew Lexicon]). As this is the only biblical episode that Melchizedek plays a direct role, it will be interesting to inquire whether he is a historical character or is just mentioned in the story to elevate Abram’s status as a revered patriarch. Remember that the name Abram may have been derived from the combination of the Hebrew words ab (literally: “father”) and ram (literally: “exalted”; cf. ibid.), which turns his name to mean “exalted father.”

Some biblical commentators propose that this episode of Melchizedek’s benevolence may have just been inserted in Abraham’s life-story to legitimize the sacrificial offering of gifts and tithes in a Yahwistic worship. This infers that this narrative was written in a later time (i.e., from the 10th century BCE onwards) when temple-worship was already being practiced in Jerusalem.

Regardless of the historicity of the figure of Melchizedek, the biblical writers intently portrayed him as a certain priest, who rendered a special gift to God and his representative Abram.

Particularly, Melchizedek “brought out bread and wine … [saying] ‘Blessed be Abram to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, And blessed be the most high God …” This blessing came after Abram had just defeated king Chedorlaomer and had met King Bera of Sodom (cf. v. 17). This benediction is concluded by his tithe-offering, making Melchizedek as a kind of mediator between the people and the authorities. In the New Testament, we read in the Letter to the Hebrews that Melchizedek has been long revered as a high priest and stands as the model of all priests and administrators of worship (cf. Heb 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17, 21). In this light, Jesus’ role of mediation between God and man is patterned after Melchizedek’s mediatory role as a priest, which only confirms the exaltation of the Psalmist:

“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psa 110:4; cf. Heb 5:6; 7:17).

A key in understanding the role of Melchizedek in the Genesis story is his association with the land of Salem, which in Hebrew is a word that can mean peace, well-being, welfare, good health, and even alliance. Interesting is the Samaritan Pentateuch’s rendition of Gen 14:18, which features the phrase “King Melchizedek his ally”. This reading is on account of its additional consonant (i.e., vav) to the word salem, making it a substantive with a third-person possessive pronoun. What this translation communicates is that any form of worship or cultic expression should always be in the context of friendship and brotherhood. The narrative supports this assumption as Abram and Melchizedek never battled with each other. Abram was only against Chedorlaomer and company in order to rescue his nephew Lot, whom they had held captive (cf. vv. 12, 14, 16). Outside this context, Abram was a peaceful father of a tribe.

In relation to today’s solemnity of the Corpus Christi, we are called not only to focus on the liturgical celebration and adoration of Jesus who is present in the Eucharist.

Before rendering an offering at the Lord’s altar, we must be at peace with everyone or, at least, have removed any grudge against another (cf. Mt 5:23), making our sacrifice a true peaceful offering.

- Rex Fortes, CM