Theme: GRACE
Matthew 26:27-28
A covenant or testament is an agreement, and in scripture it is between God and man. Tonight in the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus speaks to us about his Covenant with us, which is best understood through the old testament.
The Covenant that God made with Israel as a nation was done through Moses as the Mediator. It was sealed with blood, because blood was considered as a sign of life; those who mixed their blood or plunged their hands into the same blood were thought to have a common spirit.
In delivering the Israelites from the bondage to Egypt, The Israelites were to save themselves by offering a lamb, then dipping some hyssop in the blood, and marking their doorways with blood. The Angel of God seeing the blood would pass by. The Lamb was therefore the Passover of the destroying angel, that is, a pass which secured safety.
In the implementation of the covenant with Moses in which God made Israel a nation; it was the birth of the Israelites as the chosen people of God. The covenant was concluded by various sacrifices. Moses erected an altar with twelve pillars. Taking the blood of the sacrifice, he poured one half of it on the altar, and the other half on the twelve tribes and the people with the words: (Sacramental union)
“This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you.” Exodus 24:8
The institution of the Last supper and the Crucifixion took place during the Passover, when the Eternal Son of the Father mediated a New Testament or Covenant, as the Old Testament was mediated through Moses. As Moses ratified the Old Testament with the blood of animals, so Christ now ratified the New testament with His own Blood, He Who is the true Paschal Lamb.
Tonight, He declared that he was marking the beginning of the New Testament or Covenant ratified by His sacrificial death.
On the cross, he would die by the separation of His blood from His Body. Hence He did not consecrate the bread and wine together, but separately, to show forth the manner of His death by separation of Body and Blood. In this act, Our Lord was what He would be on the cross the next day: both Priest and Victim. In the old Testament and among pagans, the victim, such as goat or a sheep, was apart from the priest who offered it. In this Eucharistic action and on the cross, He, the priest, offered Himself; therefore He was also victim.
Let us all stand to receive this abundant Grace as we listen to the proclamation of this institution of the sacrifice offered for the sins of the world !
Matthew 26:27-28
A covenant or testament is an agreement, and in scripture it is between God and man. Tonight in the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus speaks to us about his Covenant with us, which is best understood through the old testament.
The Covenant that God made with Israel as a nation was done through Moses as the Mediator. It was sealed with blood, because blood was considered as a sign of life; those who mixed their blood or plunged their hands into the same blood were thought to have a common spirit.
In delivering the Israelites from the bondage to Egypt, The Israelites were to save themselves by offering a lamb, then dipping some hyssop in the blood, and marking their doorways with blood. The Angel of God seeing the blood would pass by. The Lamb was therefore the Passover of the destroying angel, that is, a pass which secured safety.
In the implementation of the covenant with Moses in which God made Israel a nation; it was the birth of the Israelites as the chosen people of God. The covenant was concluded by various sacrifices. Moses erected an altar with twelve pillars. Taking the blood of the sacrifice, he poured one half of it on the altar, and the other half on the twelve tribes and the people with the words: (Sacramental union)
“This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you.” Exodus 24:8
The institution of the Last supper and the Crucifixion took place during the Passover, when the Eternal Son of the Father mediated a New Testament or Covenant, as the Old Testament was mediated through Moses. As Moses ratified the Old Testament with the blood of animals, so Christ now ratified the New testament with His own Blood, He Who is the true Paschal Lamb.
Tonight, He declared that he was marking the beginning of the New Testament or Covenant ratified by His sacrificial death.
On the cross, he would die by the separation of His blood from His Body. Hence He did not consecrate the bread and wine together, but separately, to show forth the manner of His death by separation of Body and Blood. In this act, Our Lord was what He would be on the cross the next day: both Priest and Victim. In the old Testament and among pagans, the victim, such as goat or a sheep, was apart from the priest who offered it. In this Eucharistic action and on the cross, He, the priest, offered Himself; therefore He was also victim.
Let us all stand to receive this abundant Grace as we listen to the proclamation of this institution of the sacrifice offered for the sins of the world !
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