Daily Readings - Sun Jun 06 2021

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

Chapter 9

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

Chapter 14

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

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.