Daily Readings - Sun Jun 06 2021

³Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do."⁴And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.⁵And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.⁶And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.⁷Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient."⁸And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Hebrews

Chapter 9

¹¹But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)¹²he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.¹³For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh,¹⁴how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.¹⁵Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Mark

Chapter 14

¹²And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"¹³And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,¹⁴and 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?'¹⁵And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us."¹⁶And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.²²And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."²³And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.²⁴And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.²⁵Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."²⁶And when they had 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.