Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
Theme: Eucharist, Sacramentum, and Covenant. The Eucharist is the cause of our salvation and the life of Christ within us. To be faithful to this sacramentum we must recognize the implicit vows to live in accord with the life and word of Christ.
The sealing of the Mosaic covenant in blood
The book of Exodus is the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. By chapter 24 they had already had the plagues, parting of the sea, and the Ten Commandments have been given.
This a formal acceptance of the covenant, the words and ordinances of God.
Blood and life were synonymous concepts in the ancient world.
The covenant is a proto sacrament (sacramentum in Latin/Rome was a sacred oath.
"May His blood be upon us and upon our children" Matthew 27:25 said by the people at Jesus trial before pilate.
Similar to the animal sacrifice of Abraham, the blood of ritually expressed, "may this be my blood if I break the oath of the covenant"
RTT: the "blood of the covenant" was a sign of solemnity, a recognition that the covenant was a matter of life and death. This is a typology of the blood of Christ. By receiving communion there is an implied oath to live according to the words and ordinances of God.
Responsorial Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
Response: I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
The “cup” or “chalice” is a symbol for the fortunes (or lack thereof) in life. A cup “overflowing” is a sign of abundance and plenty, a good state of affairs.
To drink from a cup was a sign of commitment, embracing all that the specific cup signifies. In this case it is the cup of salvation.
The ritual gesture of drinking can express many things but it comes down to an act of acceptance and thanksgiving.
RTT: Notice the juxtaposition of the cup and calling on the Lord’s name. There is also frequent reference to oaths and vows. It is a psalm that expresses the act of accepting God’s offer of salvation.
Second Reading: Heb 9:11-15
This section of Hebrews explains the power of the blood of Christ.
Uses a rhetorical argument to give force to the power of Christ’s blood to forgive sin and sanctify. (If the blood of goats and calves can do such, what about the blood of Christ?)
Christ enters the sanctuary of the “heavenly” temple as high priest, not to offer the blood of animals, but His own blood(!) for the sanctification of those who have been “called“
RTT: The blood of Christ is our life and salvation and we choose salvation when we choose to drink of this chalice.
Gospel: Mk 14:12-16, 22-26
The Last Supper According to Mark
RTT: The Last Supper is the New Paschal/Passover supper in which we eat and drink the flesh and blood of the Lamb of God. We, the Church, now carry on this tradition daily as the “perpetual institution” until the end of time.
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