Body and Blood of Christ

Title

The Sacred Elements

Outline

I do not like looking on blood, nor do I have the impulse to go to a slaughterhouse

In part this is because I have been told stories by those who have, like Bishop Taylor

In part this is because I realize that I am dealing with animate creation

In part this is the reason I generally do not eat meat, although monastic advice about avoiding the passions, the ecological knowledge of the cost of producing meat, and a desire for simplicity of life as seen in many monastic traditions all play a part

But it is also, perhaps chiefly, because there is a sacred quality to separated flesh and blood, the sacred quality of sacrifice, of life poured out, and, in the case of animals, of life poured out without their will

That is what our texts are talking about

Moses makes a sacred covenant - sealed with blood

He says, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.”

They are saying, may our lives be like the lives of these animals if we do not follow the covenant; we are set apart as a people for God

Hebrews writes of Christ entering the “heavenly tabernacle” carrying his blood

He is high priest and yet he is also victim

He bears “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.”

His blood instead of our blood; his life instead of our lives, our going into nothingness;

He brings his blood before God so that he may bring us before God without our death

“How much more” indeed!

But Mark reveals another meaning, for sacrifices were also a meal with the deity

Now in a Passover context that presented the covenant forming act in the deliverance from Egypt Jesus does something strange

Blessing bread was not strange, but saying “Take it; this is my body.” was strange indeed

Drinking a shared cup was not strange, but he said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. 25 Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

It was a covenant like Moses enacted, which set them apart for God - and many, i.e. gentiles

It was a promise, a promise of the establishment of the Kingdom of God, which they knew would be fulfilled

It was an offering of his life to them in anticipation of his taking their death on him on the cross - life instead of death, Christ in us so his life is in us, a sitting at table with the one and only deity instead of being denied access or leaving the table as in a number of parables and in Judas’ case

And since it was a family meal, the head acolyte, the head of the altar guild preparing all for the table was Mary, his mother, assisted, to be sure, by the other women in the company

Sisters, we will never fully grasp the meaning of the body and blood of Christ, but that does not keep us from letting our minds marinate in the visual reality so that some depth of spiritual meaning seeps in

The other day I saw a Pentecost worship time with the monstrance exposed among candles and a lot of flowers, but with the speaker and singer sitting with his back to the monstrance so it formed something of the backdrop. I wanted to shout, No, No, if He is there, shut up and bow in awe.

That is not us, I am sure. But we can get too used to his eucharistic presence.

Let us deliberately fill our minds with these images - those of our readings and more - and draw near in our hearts with awe. For that effort is what bears rich reward as his presence, his life seeps into us, or as we actively consume him in communion.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 6-6-2021: Body and Blood of Christ

FIRST 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 in the morning, he built at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve sacred stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then, having sent young men of the Israelites to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as communion 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 hear and do.” 8 Then he took the blood and splashed it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.”

RESPONSE

Psalm 116:13

13 I will raise the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 116:12–13, 15–16, 17–18

12 How can I repay the LORD

for all the great good done for me?

13 I will raise the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.

15 Dear in the eyes of the LORD

is the death of his devoted.

16 LORD, I am your servant,

your servant, the child of your maidservant;

you have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer a sacrifice of praise

and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,

SECOND 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.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 6:51

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

GOSPEL

Mark 14:12–16, 22–26

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. 25 Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 6-6-2021: Body and Blood of Christ

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

In dioceses where The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is observed on Sunday.

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Exodus 24:3–8

Response Psalm 116:13

Psalm Psalm 116:12–13, 15–16, 17–18

Second Reading Hebrews 9:11–15

Gospel Acclamation John 6:51

Gospel Mark 14:12–16, 22–26

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