Daily Readings - Sun Jun 03 2018
Exodus
3When Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do."4Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel.5Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD.6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar.7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey."8Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."
Hebrews
11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Mark
12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"13So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.14Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'15He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."16The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.24"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."26When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Sermon
The readings today guide us through a journey from the old covenant to the new, highlighting the profound shift brought by Christ's sacrifice. In Exodus, we witness Moses establishing a covenant with the Israelites, sealed with the blood of animals, symbolizing their commitment to God. This act was a sacred ritual, binding the people to follow God's laws and establishing a holy nation. The context of this reading is the giving of the Law at Sinai, where the Israelites agree to obey God, and Moses mediates this covenant through sacrifice.
Hebrews then elevates our understanding by introducing Christ as the ultimate High Priest. His sacrifice transcends the temporary rituals of the old covenant, offering eternal redemption through His own blood. This reading emphasizes the superiority of Christ's sacrifice, which purifies our consciences and enables us to serve God in a new way. The context here is the early Christian community, reassuring them of the lasting power of Christ's sacrifice compared to the repeated offerings of the old covenant.
In Mark's Gospel, we see the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. Jesus transforms the Passover meal, declaring the bread as His body and the wine as His blood, ushering in the new covenant. This act reinterprets the old covenant, making His sacrifice the foundation of a new relationship with God. The context is Jesus preparing His disciples for His departure, leaving them with a sacrament that unites them with Him and with each other.
These readings connect by showing the progression from the old covenant, mediated by Moses and animal sacrifices, to the new covenant through Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The old covenant was a shadow of what was to come, fulfilled in Christ's offering. This transition invites us to reflect on how we live out the new covenant in our daily lives. Just as the Israelites were called to obedience, we are called to live in accordance with Christ's teachings, serving others and maintaining unity through the Eucharist.
In our daily lives, this means embracing a life of love and service, recognizing that our actions reflect our commitment to the new covenant. We are to be the body of Christ, working towards justice and compassion. The moral lesson here is the call to live as a community bound by love, just as Christ's blood binds us to Himself and to each other. Let us respond to this gift by living with gratitude, humility, and a deep commitment to our faith, remembering that we are part of a covenant that transcends time and space.