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Body and Blood of Christ
Reading I: Exodus 24:3-8 II: Hebrews 9:11-15

Gospel
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

¹² And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?"
¹³ And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him,
¹⁴ and wherever he enters, say to the householder, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?'
¹⁵ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us."
¹⁶ And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover.
²² And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."
²³ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.
²⁴ and he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
²⁵ Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
²⁶ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Interesting Details

(v.12) The Last Supper is identified as a Passover meal. Many Jewish prophets tie their teachings to dramatic actions, so that the teachings are more likely to be remembered. Jesus did the same thing here, giving new meaning to the history of Israel. The Passover meal celebrates Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt.
(v.22) Jesus "took bread," "blessed," "broke," and "gave." These are the same words used in both feeding stories (Mk 6:41,8:6). Then the disciples "did not understand about the loaves"(8:17). Now, at the Last Supper, the mystery was revealed: after his death, Christ would be the "one loaf" that will feed the multitude. This was alluded to also in the Lord's Prayer "give us this day our daily bread."
(v.23) In the course of a Passover meal, 4 cups of wine were drunk, to remind the participants of the 4 promises of God in Exodus 6:6-7
- 1st cup: "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians"
- 2nd cup:"I will rid you of their bondage"
- 3rd cup:"I will redeem you with outstretched arm"
- 4th cup:"I will take you to me for a people, and I will be your God"
The cup in v.23 was the 3rd cup, taken after given thanks.
(v.24) The word "covenant" is used often in the Jewish religion. It means a contract, a relationship. In Exodus 24:3-8, God entered into a relationship with Israel. If the people keep God's law, then Israel "would be a kingdom of priests"(Ex 19:6), mediator between God and all nations. If the law is broken, then the contract is broken. It was a relationship dependent on obedience of the law. Jesus said "This is the blood of the (new) covenant." It is not dependent on obedience of the law, but on Jesus dying for us. That is, the new relationship between God and man is dependent only on Jesus' love. This is echoed in the promise in Ex. 6, "I will redeem you with outstretched arm." Blood is used in antiquity to seal a contract. Moses sealed the first covenant with the blood of sacrificial animals. God now seals the new covenant with the blood of Christ! "poured out for many" alludes to the Suffering Servant passage in Is.53:12, adding a sacrificial tone to this action of shedding blood. The phrase "for many" is from Hebrew, which means for all, not just for one or a few.
(v.25) Jesus' 4th cup will be drunk after the redemption is completed. The Eucharistic meal is not just the Last Supper but also connects to the glorious banquet in heaven. This is hope for all who share at his table.

One Main Point

Jesus let the disciples participate in the preparation of his passover meal. Likewise, by giving us the gift of his Body, he has given us the food that we need to participate in his salvation plan.

Reflections

What is my usual attitude when I receive communion at Mass? Let the next time be a real encounter: as I receive his Body, may I grow in oneness of mind with my Lord and his words.
When I take the Lord's Body and his Blood, I take in his spirit, his mission--all of him. As I am part of his body, everyone else is. Do I accept others as my brothers and sisters? Who are the people that I cannot accept as my spiritual family? I ask Jesus to help me see them in a new light.