14 June 2009
First reading Exodus 24:3-8
Moses went and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.’ Moses put all the commands of the Lord into writing, and early next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve standing-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he directed certain young Israelites to offer holocausts and to immolate bullocks to the Lord as communion sacrifices. Half of the blood Moses took up and put into basins, the other half he cast on the altar. And taking the Book of the Covenant he read it to the listening people, and they said, ‘We will observe all that the Lord has decreed; we will obey.’ Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. This’ he said ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 115:12-13,15-18
Second reading Hebrews 9:11-15
Now Christ has come, as the high priest of all the blessings which were to come. He has passed through the greater, the more perfect tent, which is better than the one made by men’s hands because it is not of this created order; and he has entered the sanctuary once and for all, taking with him not the blood of goats and bull calves, but his own blood, having won an eternal redemption for us. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer are sprinkled on those who have incurred defilement and they restore the holiness of their outward lives; how much more effectively the blood of Christ, who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, can purify our inner self from dead actions so that we do our service to the living God.
He brings a new covenant, as the mediator, only so that the people who were called to an eternal inheritance may actually receive what was promised: his death took place to cancel the sins that infringed the earlier covenant.
Gospel Mark 14:12-16,22-26
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to Jesus, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, “The Master says: Where is my dining room in which I can eat the passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there,’ The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover.
And as they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. ‘Take it,’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, ‘This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.’
After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives.
Reflection
By Grace Madrinan
I love our Catholic faith. I love the colorful traditions, the different festivities and most of all, the Eucharist. The way we celebrate Mass is universal and distinct. One time, I read a fellow Catholic who wrote that he loved it that he was able to attend a Mass in Italy, as if he understood the language. The same exact feeling of warmth came to him each time the host is raised up during communion. He felt God’s love and commitment to His promise as he receives Jesus’ body and blood through communion.
I admit that I did not feel as involved in the Mass before as I am today. Like any other random Catholic Christian, I attended the Mass like an obligation. But when I attended a Mass in another country with a different setting a few years back, it opened my eyes to the beauty of the Eucharist. At that time, the consecration rite was sung all through out. The ceremony was so solemn that it broke me to tears. I was introduced to that feeling of awe, and I realized that the whole Mass is a celebration of love. It is like a serenade of God to His beloved Church. And the offering of bread and wine is the center of His love. Each time His body and blood are raised, it is a reminder of His covenant that Jesus already died for our sins. All we need to do is to receive His offer of salvation.
It pinched my heart that all that time, I was attending the Mass like a zombie – lifeless and clueless of the beauty of the celebration. Good thing, I still have all the chances to savor His vow through every Mass from then on. I agree that attending it may be a bit of a struggle at times. Often our hearts may not be attuned at the moment, or maybe the homily is boring and most of the times, the activities have grown too familiar. I remembered one priest who said that during the Eucharist especially when the host is raised up, you should look at it as if it is Christ Himself who is offering His body and blood to you. All it takes is a fresh set of eyes and an open heart, witnessing it all as if seeing it for the first time.
Father, we thank You for giving us Your Son, Jesus who offered His own body and blood for the salvation of mankind. May we remember His sacrifice at the Eucharist with utmost reverence and love. Amen.
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