Daily Readings - Sun Jun 02 2024
Exodus
3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.4And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.6And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.7And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.8And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
Hebrews
11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Mark
12And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?13And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.14And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?15And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.16And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.22And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.23And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.24And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.25Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.26And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the establishment of covenants, highlighting the transformative power of sacrifice and commitment. The Exodus passage shows Moses leading the Israelites in a covenant with God, sealed with the blood of animals, symbolizing their commitment to follow His laws. This act is not just a ritual but a profound moment of communal dedication, setting the stage for a relationship built on obedience and trust.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus institutes the Eucharist during the Last Supper, offering His body and blood as the new covenant. This moment redefines sacrifice, moving from animal offerings to the ultimate gift of self. Jesus' words, "This is my blood of the new covenant," resonate deeply, indicating a covenant of love and redemption that transcends the old. The letter to the Hebrews bridges these moments, explaining that Christ's sacrifice is more powerful than any before, offering eternal redemption through His own blood, thus becoming the mediator of a new and everlasting covenant.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded of the importance of trust and commitment in our relationship with God. Just as the Israelites trusted Moses and God, we are called to trust in Christ's sacrifice. The Eucharist invites us to participate in this covenant daily, transforming us and deepening our commitment to live as followers of Christ. In our lives, this means embracing sacrifice with love, trusting in God's plan, and finding strength in community. Let us approach each day with renewed dedication, allowing the power of Christ's covenant to guide and transform us.