1 Corinthians 11:26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Today we begin the most sacred time in the Church's calendar, that of the Sacred, or Holy Triduum. Tonight is part one of the Triduum with the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. This is this time when Jesus instituted the sacrifice of the Mass.Today's Old Testament reading from Exodus tells of the sacrifice of the Passover where the Israelites sacrificed an unblemished lamb to be consumed and the sacrificial blood posted over the doors of the house so that the Lord would protect those in the house. This was to be done every year as a remembrance of God's mercy and love.
Fast forward to Jesus. It is Passover, a custom that he grew up with in his family. He now takes Passover a step further by proclaiming a new covenant with his people. He breaks the bread, eats then drinks from the cup all while giving thanks. Then he orders that this be done in remembrance of him. Jesus is that unblemished lamb from Passover. Both in John's Gospel and in 1st Corinthians, Jesus is referred to as the Pascal Lamb, the Lamb of God. Today we continue this sacrifice at every mass around the world from what Christ himself instituted more than 2000 years ago. We talk about family traditions that might last a generation. Some traditions today might be gathering for a family meal after worship on Easter Sunday, coloring and hiding Easter eggs, or some other traditional event. But the sacrifice of the Mass has been going on centuries!
Make no mistake, Jesus is coming again. Now is the time to make sure you're ready. Get to church tonight and this weekend, and while there meditate on the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus made for you and me.
