This evening we come to commemorate the Lord’s Supper. On this evening we remember the great gifts which Christ extended unto the church, the priesthood and the Eucharist. These two sacraments are inseparable. We cannot have the Eucharist if we do not have priests. Thus may we pray for our priests, may parents come to foster the beauty of this vocation to their children, may children remain open through the discernment of prayer to God’s call, and finally may we as a community of faith pray that more will come to serve in the abundant harvest of the Lord.
The Lord’s supper was a participation in the Passover meal. Through the Passover one enters into the events of the Israelites who were led out of their slavery. When we gather together for the celebration of the Mass we come to enter into the events of our Lord’s Passion. This is not a mere representation, but is to enter into that point when Christ offered Himself upon the cross.
At the Passover meal there is to be a lamb which is to be found perfect and without blemish; not even a bone of its body is to be broken. This lamb is to be sacrificed, but even that is not enough for it must also be consumed if the sacrifice is to be found complete. In the Mass we proclaim “Lamb of God” for the one whom we address is Christ who becomes this sacrificial lamb for us.
Today we hear from Saint John’s Gospel which interestingly enough is the only of the four evangelists to not include the account of the Last Supper. Not only that, but in this account Christ dies before the Passover meal is even celebrated. Saint John does this on purpose because in doing so he is showing us that Christ is the Passover Lamb. It is according to this Gospel account that Christ’s crucifixion takes place at the same time that the lamb is to be sacrificed.
Not only was there to be eating at this meal, but there would also to be drinking. Throughout the course of the Passover meal four cups of wine are to be consumed. One of these cups is the chalice in which Christ takes into His holy and venerable hands saying: “Take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me.” The fourth cup is not offered at this table, but rather it is offered from the altar of the cross. It was here at the conclusion of Christ’s earthly life that He utters the words: “I thirst.” A sponge is then soaked into wine, which He rejected before, and after consuming this final cup He expired.
Therefore let us understand how important the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is for us. This is not just some meal which is offered among many, but rather to assist at the Mass is to enter into these events of our Lord’s passion. He is the Sacrificial Lamb who is offered in order that we may be set free from the burden of sin and death.
In the Mass we encounter Christ as the Israelites continue to encounter God’s covenant with them through the Passover meal. What is offered here is most special and thus we should never come empty handed, but rather bring with us our prayers and petitions to offer to the priest as he joins them to Christ’s perfect offering of self upon the wood of the cross.
Today may we come to encounter the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and allow Him to enter into our life through the gift of the Eucharist in order that we may be sent forth from here to be better disciples of the Lord.
