Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 6, 2021
First Reading: Exodus 24.3-8
3Therefore, Moses went and explained to the people all the words of the Lord, as well as the judgments. And all the people responded with one voice: "We will do all the words of the Lord, which he has spoken.4Then Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And rising up in the morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel5And he sent youths from the sons of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and they immolated calves as peace-offerings to the Lord6And so Moses took one half part of the blood, and he put it into bowls. Then the remaining part he poured over the altar7And taking up the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people, who said: "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.8In truth, taking up the blood, he sprinkled it on the people, and he said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning all these words.
Psalm 116
1Alleluia. I have loved: therefore, the Lord will heed the voice of my prayer2For he has inclined his ear to me. And in my days, I will call upon him3The sorrows of death have surrounded me, and the perils of Hell have found me. I have found tribulation and sorrow4And so, I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, free my soul5Merciful is the Lord, and just. And our God is compassionate6The Lord is the keeper of little ones. I was humbled, and he freed me7Turn again, my soul, to your rest. For the Lord has done good to you8For he has rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from slipping9I will please the Lord in the land of the living10Alleluia. I had confidence, because of what I was saying, but then I was greatly humbled11I said in my excess, "Every man is a liar.12What shall I repay to the Lord, for all the things that he has repaid to me13I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord14I will repay my vows to the Lord, in the sight of all his people15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones16O Lord, because I am your servant, your servant and the son of your handmaid, you have broken my bonds17I will sacrifice to you the sacrifice of praise, and I will invoke the name of the Lord18I will repay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem
Second Reading: Hebrews 9.11-15
11But Christ, standing as the High Priest of future good things, through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, one not made by hand, that is, not of this creation12entered once into the Holy of Holies, having obtained eternal redemption, neither by the blood of goats, nor of calves, but by his own blood13For if the blood of goats and oxen, and the ashes of a calf, when these are sprinkled, sanctify those who have been defiled, in order to cleanse the flesh14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit has offered himself, immaculate, to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, in order to serve the living God15And thus he is the Mediator of the new testament, so that, by his death, he intercedes for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, so that those who have been called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance
Gospel: Mark 14.12-16, 22-26
12And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they immolate the Passover, the disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?13And he sent two of his disciples, and he said to them: "Go into the city. And you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water; follow him14And wherever he will have entered, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says: Where is my dining room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?15And he will show you a large cenacle, fully furnished. And there, you shall prepare it for us.16And his disciples departed and went into the city. And they found it just as he had told them. And they prepared the Passover22And while eating with them, Jesus took bread. And blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, and he said: "Take. This is my body.23And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank from it24And he said to them: "This is my blood of the new covenant, which shall be shed for many25Amen I say to you, that I will no longer drink from this fruit of the vine, until that day when I will drink it new in the kingdom of God.26And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives
Sermon
In today’s readings, we journey through the sacred moments of covenant-making and renewal, as God binds Himself to His people in profound ways. The First Reading from Exodus recounts the establishment of the Old Covenant, where Moses sprinkles the blood of sacrifice on the people, sealing their commitment to follow God’s laws. This act is a powerful symbol of purification and dedication, as the Israelites affirm their willingness to obey the Lord. The Second Reading from Hebrews elevates our understanding, contrasting the blood of goats and calves with the perfect sacrifice of Christ. His blood, offered once for all, cleanses our consciences and establishes a new and eternal covenant. In the Gospel, Mark vividly portrays the institution of the Eucharist, where Jesus takes bread and wine, transforming them into His body and blood. This sacred meal is the fulfillment of the old covenant, as Jesus declares, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which will be shed for many.”
These readings are deeply interconnected, revealing a beautiful progression of God’s plan of salvation. The blood of animals in Exodus prefigures the blood of Christ, the perfect Lamb of God. While the Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of sacrifices, the New Covenant is sealed with the blood of the Son of God, who offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, “This is my body… this is my blood,” draw us into the heart of this mystery. The Eucharist becomes the source and summit of our Christian life, where we participate in the sacrifice of Christ and are united to Him in a bond of love and gratitude.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we live out the new covenant in our daily lives. Just as the Israelites were called to obey God’s laws, we are called to live as disciples of Christ, shaped by His teachings and transformed by His grace. The Eucharist is not just a ritual; it is a call to conversion and to a life of love. May we approach the altar with reverence and gratitude, recognizing the immense gift of Christ’s body and blood. Let us strive to live in a way that honors this sacred covenant, offering our lives as a sacrifice of praise to the God who has loved us so deeply.