Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ June 7, 2015 In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1 st reading: Exodus 24,3-8  3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us." 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." 8 Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his."

1 st reading: Exodus 24,3-8  3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us." 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." 8 Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his." The focus is the blood of the covenant.

1 st reading: Exodus 24,3-8 Words and response  3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us." Words written and the altar  4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel Preparation for the ratification  5 Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Ratification of the covenant  7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." 8 Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his." A simple outline!

1 st reading: Exodus 24,3-8 Words and response  3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us." Words written and altar  4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel Preparation for the ratification  5 Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Ratification of the covenant  7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." 8 Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his." Commentary  This reading belongs to the covenant section of the book of Exodus, chapters 19,1-24,18. Moses does a lot of things for Israel: Related words and ordinances to the people, v.3 Wrote down words of the Lord, v.4 Erected an altar and 12 pillars, v.4 Sent young men, took half of blood and put in large bowls, v.5 Other half he splashed on the altar, v.6 Took book of covenant, read it, v.7 Took the blood and sprinkled, v.7  The blood sprinkled on the people is specified as the blood of the covenant, v. 8 People’s response  We will do…. V.3  All that the Lord has said…we will do… v.7  The covenant is a relationship between God and Israel. God asks Israel to keep his words; Israel responds positively.  The sprinkling of blood ratifies the covenant. (Everything is in order. Israel is willing to obey God.)

Commentary, con’t  Moses is God’s instrument in establishing the covenant between God and Israel.  Moses knows how to represent God. He faithfully communicates God’s words and ordinances to the people. The people, in turn, without arguments, agree to keep God’s words.  God enters into a relationship with his people, by revealing himself to them through his words and commandments.  The people enter into a relationship with God by positively and wholistically (all that the Lord has said…) accepting and doing God’s word.

Commentary, con’t  The blood of animals is sprinkled on the people upon agreement, to show that the covenant is sealed / agreed upon / conformed / accepted.  The people of Israel, who marched from Egypt to Sinai, are not just a liberated people now, but more importantly, a covenanted people, a people in a special relationship with God.  They are more than just beneficiaries of God’s mighty deeds. Now they take responsibilities. The people take the higher spiritual stage of maturation in relationship with God.

Reflections on the 1 st reading  Are we capable of representing God to the people and vice versa?  Are we exercising the priestly, prophetic and kingly ministries we share with Jesus?  We cannot make a commitment, if we are devoid of respect of the Other.  Entering into a relationship is a commitment.  It has established rules or unwritten rules to follow.  Without following any rule, we cannot establish a relationship and cannot make any long lasting commitment.  What are the signs or the gestures we show when we enter into a covenant? What are the signs that we accept (agree) a covenant with another party?  In our case as Christians, we enter into a relationship with God through the blood of Christ.

Resp. Ps 116:12-13, 15-16,  R. (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.  How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.  Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds.  To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people.

Resp. Ps 116:12-13, 15-16,  R. (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.  12 How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? 13 The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.  15 Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. 16 I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds.  17 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. 18 My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people. Commentary  The response comes from v.13. The phrase “cup of salvation” may be the cup of wine poured in thanksgiving for God’s salvation.  V.12 expresses thanksgiving to God for all he has done for the psalmist.  It is similar to our expression “words cannot express…”  V.13 is the expression of thanksgiving, not only to drink of the cup of wine (to celebrate), but also to pray.  V.15 focuses on the death of the God-fearing ones.  In v.16, the psalmist believes in his identity as a servant of God. Thus, God has saved him.  In v.17, the psalmist makes a promise to go to the Temple to offer sacrifice and to pray.  In v.18, the psalmist promises to honor his vows in public.

2 nd reading: Hebrews 9,11-15  11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, 12 he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. 15 For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

2 nd reading: Hebrews 9,11-15  11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, 12 he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed,  14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. 15 For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. The focus is the blood of the new covenant.

2 nd reading: Hebrews 9,11-15  11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, 12 he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed,  14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. 15 For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. Commentary  It is only in the book of Hebrews that Jesus is addressed the high priest.  In v.11, the high priesthood of Christ does not pass through a tabernacle made by humans.  Instead Christ enters a sanctuary so different from that of the OT (in v.12).  His sacrifice does away with the blood of animals, but uses his own precious blood to save us.  V.13 recognizes the function or effectivity of the blood of animals, but much more with the blood of Christ in v.14  The blood of Christ cleanses our minds (consciences) from dead works, so that we can truly worship God.  V.15 affirms Christ as the mediator of the new covenant that gives life, unlike in the first covenant (OT).

Further commentary  We cannot understand the New Testament without the Old Testament.  We can appreciate the imagery of Christ as the high priest, when it is put into contrast with that of the OT.  In the OT, animals are sacrificed; in the NT, Christ is sacrificed.  In the OT, the blood of animals cleanses; in the NT, the blood of Christ assures everlasting life.  In the OT, the high priest is the mediator between God and the people; in the NT, it is Jesus Christ.  The letter to the Hebrews (whose author is not St. Paul, although categorized as part of Pauline corpus) tells of the superiority of Christ’s covenant over the old covenant.

Reflections on the 2 nd reading  We, Christians, must learn how to make offerings to God.  We do not just pray quietly without parting away with anything from us (money, some resource for works of charity).  We do not just pray for special intentions, like success in business, good health of our family members.  Most of all, we pray for our purification from sins.  It sounds pious but sin is the root cause of many of our problems and woes.  If we are living in the grace of God, we will spend more time doing good, advancing the cause of God, than trouble-shooting or shooting the trouble maker, managing conflicts, going to courts, etc.

Gospel reading: Mark 14,  12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." 16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.  22 While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.

Gospel reading: Mark 14, The Passover  12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." 16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. The Last Supper  22 While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. The focus is the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Gospel reading: Mark 14, The Passover  12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." 16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. The Last Supper  22 While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Commentary  Vv tell where the disciples are to prepare for the Passover Meal.  The Passover is to be held, as the law prescribes, in the city of Jerusalem, but where exactly? According to the man carrying a jar of water, it is in the “upper room.” v.15(Cenacle)  The Feast of the Unleavened Bread, or, the Passover, celebrates the liberation of the Israelites in Egypt, when they went in haste, hurriedly prepared food. There was no more time to bake bread with a dough. Read Exodus 12.

Gospel reading: Mark 14, The Passover  12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." 16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. The Last Supper  22 While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Vv tell about the Last Supper, where Jesus takes an unleavened bread and offers it as his body, and takes a cup (of wine, it is understood) and offers it as his blood.  Jesus takes the feast of the unleavened bread and passover to institute what we call the sacrament of the eucharist.  The first eucharistic meal is done in the context of the passover meal.  Jesus is conscious of himself as the bread to be eaten by the disciples and the blood to be drunk.  The OT passover is given a new meaning; it is the passover of Jesus from passion and death to resurrection.

Reflections on the gospel reading  Christians should make no mistake in believing that it can be OK if we don’t receive holy communion.  If there is an impediment, it must be removed right away. Go to confession, reconcile with your brother or sister now. Don’t tarry. Don’t do it only when you are dying. You don’t even know when you are going to die.  Christians must be conscious of what is to be avoided, so that we can approach Jesus with a clean and pure heart.  Meaningless is Christian life without receiving the body and blood of Christ.

Tying up the 3 readings and Psalm  The first reading talks about the ratification of the covenant through the blood of animals.  The responsorial psalm is a promise to pay our vows (to thank God) by sharing in the cup of wine.  The second reading recognizes Christ as the high priest, whose blood cleanses consciences and leads to eternal inheritance.  The gospel reading tells about the blood of Christ as the blood of the new covenant, shed for all. We may have difficulty explaining the choice of our readings since they emphasize on the blood. Only the gospel talks about the bread and the wine (body and blood).

How to develop your homily / sharing  Begin by saying something about the painting of Leonardo da Vinci on the Last Supper. Say something also about how Dan Brown made use of this painting to write a controversial fiction “Da Vinci Code” and movie.  But be careful when we pay attention more to Dan Brown, we lose tract of what the painting wants to portray, the eucharist.  If you do not like to mention Da Vinci Code, talk about the first communion of children (catechists preparing the children, sending them first to confession, parents accompanying the children, etc., the difficulty in following up).

 The first reading tells us how the covenant between Israel and the Lord was ratified.  There was a ritual of pouring blood of animals.  We, Christians, are also covenanted with God.  We are covenanted through the blood of Christ.  But we can be covenanted only if we assent to do the will of the Father.  There is no such thing as a covenant if we don’t follow rules.  Once we break rules, we become unfaithful to the covenant.  How many Christians claim they belong to his organization, but do not keep the rules?

 The second reading considers Jesus as High Priest, the offerer of the sacrifice.  At the same time, he is the “victim” whose blood is poured out to purify us.  To be worthy of offering sacrifices to God, we must be purified.  We can’t truly offer sacrifices or prayers to the Lord, if we live in sin or we are soaked in sin. (We can’t forgive our sisters or brothers, we hurt them so much, we are unjust and oppressive to them, we are selfish, etc.).

 The gospel reading tells of the original story of the Last Supper.  The Last Supper is done in the context of the Passover Feast of the Jews.  There was a preparation.  In the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the Holy Eucharist.  He gives himself to his apostles in the form of bread and wine.  Each Christian disciple must receive the body and blood of Christ.  If you have no intention of receiving communion, you are gravely mistaken.  But if you receive it, you must be in the state of grace.

 The psalm encourages us to take the cup, meaning, to be in communion with God.  It helps us thank God by sharing in his meal and in calling upon him (in prayer).  The eucharist is a celebration. It is a thanksgiving for God’s goodness to us.  Our gesture of thanksgiving is to fulfill our vow to share in his life.

 Each parish or Christian community has the obligation to catechize people or foster the proper reception of the eucharist.  Deportment for the Mass: proper decorum; dress code; cellphones switched off; eucharistic fast; lectors, acolytes, choirs, commentators, collectors, not distractive, no unnecessary movements;  Children should be taught how to behave in the mass.

 The eucharist is the center of Christian life, without which, we do not attain full communion with Jesus Christ.  The consecrated bread and wine are the sacramental signs of Jesus’ presence among us.  In the eucharist, Jesus offers himself to the Father. We accompany him in his prayers.  In the eucharistic meal, we, Christians, bond together in faith and fraternal love.  We unite to remember Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection until the end of time.

Our Context of Sin and Grace  Goes to mass without receiving holy communion  Irreverent reception of the holy eucharist  Sacrilege  Ringing of cellphones during the mass  Display of pomp in the mass  Regular reception of the eucharist  Visit to the Blessed Sacrament  Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament  Trained choirs, ministers in the mass

Suggested Songs  The Blessed Sacrament by Sebastian Temple  One Bread, One Body by John Foley, SJ Lord I know, by Fr. Cielo Almazan, OFM  Sharing by Fr. Gene Pastidio, OFM