Dear brothers and sisters, We partake in the life of Jesus when we participate in the eucharist. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
7 June 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: Exodus 24:3-8
 3 When Moses came to the people and related all the
words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with
one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told
us." 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD
and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the
mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of
Israel. 5 Then, having sent certain young men of the
Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as
peace offerings to the LORD, 6 Moses took half of the
blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed
on the altar. 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it
aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has
said, we will heed and do." 8 Then he took the blood and
sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the
covenant which the LORD has made with you in
accordance with all these words of his."

3. 1st reading: Exodus 24:3-8
 3 When Moses came to the people and related all the
words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with
one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told
us." 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD
and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the
mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of
Israel. 5 Then, having sent certain young men of the
Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as
peace offerings to the LORD, 6 Moses took half of the
blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed
on the altar. 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it
aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has
said, we will heed and do." 8 Then he took the blood and
sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the
covenant which the LORD has made with you in
accordance with all these words of his."

4. 1st reading: Exodus 24:3-8
Words and response
 3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and
ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do
everything that the LORD has told us."
Words written and the altar
 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early
the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve
pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel
Preparation for the ratification
 5 Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer
holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD,
6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half
he splashed on the altar.
Ratification of the covenant
 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who
answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." 8 Then
he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the
blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in
accordance with all these words of his."
A simple outline!

5. 1st reading: Exodus 24:3-8
Words and response
 3 When Moses came to the people and
related all the words and ordinances of
the LORD, they all answered with one
voice, "We will do everything that the
LORD has told us."
Words written and altar
 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of
the LORD and, rising early the next day,
he erected at the foot of the mountain an
altar and twelve pillars for the twelve
tribes of Israel
Preparation for the ratification
 5 Then, having sent certain young men of
the Israelites to offer holocausts and
sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to
the LORD, 6 Moses took half of the
blood and put it in large bowls; the other
half he splashed on the altar.
Ratification of the covenant
 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he
read it aloud to the people, who
answered, "All that the LORD has said,
we will heed and do." 8 Then he took the
blood and sprinkled it on the people,
saying, "This is the blood of the covenant
which the LORD has made with you in
accordance with all these words of his."
Commentary
 This reading belongs to the covenant section of
the book of Exodus, chapters 19,1-24,18.
Moses does a lot of things for Israel:
 Related words and ordinances to the people, v.3
 Wrote down words of the Lord, v.4
 Erected an altar and 12 pillars, v.4
 Sent young men, took half of blood and put in
large bowls, v.5
 Other half he splashed on the altar, v.6
 Took book of covenant, read it, v.7
 Took the blood and sprinkled, v.7
 The blood sprinkled on the people is specified
as the blood of the covenant, v. 8
People’s response
 We will do…. V.3
 All that the Lord has said…we will do… v.7
 The covenant is a relationship between God
and Israel. God asks Israel to keep his words;
Israel responds positively.
 The sprinkling of blood ratifies the covenant.
(Everything is in order. Israel is willing to obey
God.)

6. Commentary, con’t
 Moses is God’s instrument in establishing the
covenant between God and Israel.
 Moses knows how to represent God. He
faithfully communicates God’s words and
ordinances to the people. The people, in turn,
without arguments, agree to keep God’s words.
 God enters into a relationship with his people,
by revealing himself to them through his words
and commandments.
 The people enter into a relationship with God by
positively and wholistically (all that the Lord has
said…) accepting and doing God’s word.

7. Commentary, con’t
 The blood of animals is sprinkled on the people
upon agreement, to show that the covenant is
sealed / agreed upon / conformed / accepted.
 The people of Israel, who marched from Egypt
to Sinai, are not just a liberated people now, but
most of all, a covenanted people, a people in a
special relationship with God.
 They are more than beneficiaries of God’s
mighty deeds. Now they take responsibilities.
The people take the higher spiritual stage of
maturation in relationship with God.

8. Reflections on the 1st reading
 Are we capable of representing God to the people and
vice versa?
 Are we exercising the priestly, prophetic and kingly
ministries we share with Jesus?
 We cannot make a commitment, if we are devoid of
respect of the Other.
 Entering into a relationship is a commitment.
 It has established rules or unwritten rules to follow.
 Without following any rule, we cannot establish a
relationship and cannot make any long lasting
commitment.
 What are the signs or the gestures we show when we
enter into a covenant? What are the signs that we accept
(agree) a covenant with another party?
 In our case as Christians, we enter into a relationship with
God through the blood of Christ.

9. Resp. Ps 116:12-13. 15-16. 17-18
 R. (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the
Lord.
 How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
 Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.

10. Resp. Ps 116:12-13. 15-16. 17-18
 R. (13) I will take the cup of
salvation, and call on the name
of the Lord.
 12 How shall I make a return to the
LORD
for all the good he has done for
me?
13 The cup of salvation I will take
up,
and I will call upon the name of the
LORD.
 15 Precious in the eyes of the
LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
16 I am your servant, the son of
your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
 17 To you will I offer sacrifice of
thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the
LORD.
18 My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Commentary
 The response comes from v.13. The phrase
“cup of salvation” may be the cup of wine
poured in thanksgiving for God’s salvation.
 V.12 expresses thanksgiving to God for all he
has done for the psalmist.
 It is similar to our expression “words cannot
express…”
 V.13 is the expression of thanksgiving, not
only to drink of the cup of wine (to celebrate),
but also to pray.
 V.15 focuses on the death of the God-fearing
ones.
 In v.16, the psalmist believes in his identity as
a servant of God. As such God has saved
him.
 In v.17, the psalmist makes a promise to go to
the Temple to offer sacrifice and to pray.
 In v.18, the psalmist promises to honor his
vows in public.

11. 2nd reading: Hebrews 9:11-15
 11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things
that have come to be, passing through the greater and
more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not
belonging to this creation, 12 he entered once for all
into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and
calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal
redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and
the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who
are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, 14 how much
more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our
consciences from dead works to worship the living God.
15 For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place for deliverance from
transgressions under the first covenant, those who are
called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

12. 2nd reading: Hebrews 9:11-15
 11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good
things that have come to be, passing through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by
hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, 12 he
entered once for all into the sanctuary,
 not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats
and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify
those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed,
 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to
God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to
worship the living God. 15 For this reason he is
mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken
place for deliverance from transgressions under the first
covenant, those who are called may receive the
promised eternal inheritance.
The focus is the blood of the new covenant.

13. 2nd reading: Hebrews 9:11-15
 11 But when Christ came as high
priest of the good things that
have come to be, passing
through the greater and more
perfect tabernacle not made by
hands, that is, not belonging to
this creation, 12 he entered
once for all into the sanctuary,
 not with the blood of goats
and calves but with his own
blood, thus obtaining
eternal redemption. 13 For
if the blood of goats and
bulls and the sprinkling of a
heifer's ashes can sanctify
those who are defiled so
that their flesh is cleansed,
 14 how much more will the
blood of Christ, who through the
eternal spirit offered himself
unblemished to God, cleanse our
consciences from dead works to
worship the living God. 15 For
this reason he is mediator of a
new covenant: since a death has
taken place for deliverance from
transgressions under the first
covenant, those who are called
may receive the promised eternal
inheritance.
Commentary
 It is only in the book of Hebrews that Jesus
is addressed the high priest.
 In v.11, the high priesthood of Christ does
not pass through a tabernacle made by
humans.
 Instead Christ enters a sanctuary so
different from that of the OT (in v.12).
 His sacrifice does away with the blood of
animals, but uses his own precious blood
to save us.
 V.13 recognizes the function or effectivity
of the blood of animals, but much more
with the blood of Christ in v.14
 The blood of Christ cleanses our minds
(consciences) from dead works, so that we
can truly worship God.
 V.15 affirms Christ as the mediator of the
new covenant that gives life, unlike in the
first covenant (OT).

14. Further commentary
 We cannot understand the New Testament without the
Old Testament.
 We can appreciate the imagery of Christ as the high
priest, when it is put into contrast with that of the OT.
 In the OT, animals are sacrificed; in the NT, Christ is
sacrificed.
 In the OT, the blood of animals cleanses; in the NT, the
blood of Christ assures everlasting life.
 In the OT, the high priest is the mediator between God
and the people; in the NT, it is Jesus Christ.
 The letter to the Hebrews (whose author is not St. Paul,
although categorized as part of Pauline corpus) tells of
the superiority of Christ’s covenant over the old
covenant.

15. Reflections on the 2nd reading
 We Christians must learn how to make offerings to God.
 We do not just pray quietly without parting away with
anything from us (money, some resource for works of
charity).
 We do not just pray for special intentions, like success in
business, good health of our family members.
 Most of all, we pray for our purification from sins.
 It sounds pious but sin is the root cause of many of our
problems and woes.
 If we are living in the grace of God, we will spend more
time doing good, advancing the cause of God, than
trouble-shooting or shooting the trouble maker,
managing conflicts, going to courts, etc.

16. Gospel reading: Mark 14:12-16.22-24
 12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they
sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do
you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city
and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher
says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover
with my disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a large upper
room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there."
16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just
as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
 22 While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke
it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all
drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the
covenant, which will be shed for many.

17. Gospel reading: Mark 14:12-16.22-24
The Passover
 12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they
sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do
you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city
and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher
says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover
with my disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a large upper
room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there."
16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just
as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Last Supper
 22 While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke
it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." 23
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all
drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the
covenant, which will be shed for many.
The focus is the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

18. Gospel reading: Mark 14:12-16.22-24
The Passover
 12 On the first day of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed
the Passover lamb, his disciples said to
him, "Where do you want us to go and
prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13
He sent two of his disciples and said to
them, "Go into the city and a man will
meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow
him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the
master of the house, 'The Teacher says,
"Where is my guest room where I may
eat the Passover with my disciples?"' 15
Then he will show you a large upper
room furnished and ready. Make the
preparations for us there." 16 The
disciples then went off, entered the city,
and found it just as he had told them; and
they prepared the Passover.
The Last Supper
 22 While they were eating, he took
bread, said the blessing, broke it, and
gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is
my body." 23 Then he took a cup, gave
thanks, and gave it to them, and they all
drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This
is my blood of the covenant, which will
be shed for many.
Commentary
 Vv.12-16 tells where the
disciples are to prepare for
the Passover Meal.
 The Passover is to be held,
as the law prescribes, in the
city of Jerusalem, but where
exactly? According to the
man carrying a jar of water,
it is in the “upper room.”
v.15(Cenacle)
 The Feast of the
Unleavened Bread or the
Passover celebrates the
liberation of the Israelites in
Egypt, when they went in
haste, hurriedly prepared
food. There was no more time to
bake bread with a dough. Read
Exodus 12.

19. Gospel reading: Mark 14:12-16.22-24
The Passover
 12 On the first day of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed
the Passover lamb, his disciples said to
him, "Where do you want us to go and
prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13
He sent two of his disciples and said to
them, "Go into the city and a man will
meet you, carrying a jar of water.
Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say
to the master of the house, 'The Teacher
says, "Where is my guest room where I
may eat the Passover with my
disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a
large upper room furnished and ready.
Make the preparations for us there." 16
The disciples then went off, entered the
city, and found it just as he had told
them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Last Supper
 22 While they were eating, he took
bread, said the blessing, broke it, and
gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this
is my body." 23 Then he took a cup,
gave thanks, and gave it to them, and
they all drank from it. 24 He said to
them, "This is my blood of the
covenant, which will be shed for many.
Vv.22-24 tells about the Last Supper
where Jesus takes an unleavened
bread and offers it as his body,
and takes a cup (of wine, it is
understood) and offers it as his
blood.
 Jesus takes the feast of the
unleavened bread and passover
to institute what we call the
sacrament of the eucharist.
 The first eucharistic meal is done
in the context of the passover
meal.
 Jesus is conscious of himself as
the bread to be eaten by the
disciples and the blood to be
drunk.
 The OT passover is given a new
meaning; it is the passover of
Jesus from passion and death to
resurrection.

20. Reflections on the gospel reading
 Christians should make no mistake that it can be OK if
we don’t receive holy communion.
 If there is an impediment, it must be removed right away.
Go to confession, reconcile with your brother or sister
now. Don’t tarry. Don’t do it only when you are dying.
You don’t even know when you are going to die.
 Christians must be conscious of what is to be avoided,
so that we can approach Jesus with a clean and pure
heart.
 Meaningless is Christian life without receiving the body
and blood of Christ.

21. Tying up the 3 readings
 The first reading talks about the ratification of the
covenant through the blood of animals.
 The responsorial psalm is a promise to pay our vows (to
thank God) by sharing in the cup of wine.
 The second reading recognizes Christ as the high priest
whose blood cleanses consciences and leads to eternal
inheritance.
 The gospel reading tells about the blood of Christ as the
blood of the new covenant, shed for all.
We may have difficulty explaining the choice of our readings since they
emphasize on the blood. Only the gospel talks about the bread and the
wine (body and blood).

22. How to develop your homily / sharing
 Begin by saying something about the painting of
Leonardo da Vinci on the Last Supper. Say something
also about how Dan Brown made use of this painting to
write a controversial fiction “Da Vinci Code” and movie.
 But be careful when we pay attention more to Dan
Brown, we lose tract of what the painting wants to
portray, the eucharist.
 If you do not like to mention Da Vinci Code, talk about
the first communion of children (catechists preparing
the children, sending them first to confession, parents
accompanying the children, etc., the difficulty in
following up).

23.  The first reading tells us how the covenant between
Israel and the Lord was ratified.
 There was a ritual of pouring blood of animals.
 We Christians are also covenanted with God.
 We are covenanted through the blood of Christ.
 But we can be covenanted only if we assent to do the
will of the Father.
 There is no such thing as a covenant if we don’t follow
rules.
 Once we break rules, we become unfaithful to the
covenant.
 How many Christians claim they belong to his
organization, but do not keep the rules?

24.  The second reading considers Jesus as High Priest, the
offerer of the sacrifice.
 At the same time, he is the “victim” whose blood is
poured out to us to purify us.
 To be worthy of offering sacrifices to God, we must be
purified.
 We can’t truly offer sacrifices or prayers to the Lord, if
we live or soaked in sin. (We can’t forgive our sisters or
brothers, we hurt them so much, we are unjust and oppressive to
them, we are selfish, etc.).

25.  The gospel reading tells of the original story of the Last
Supper.
 The Last Supper is done in the context of the Passover
Feast of the Jews.
 There was a preparation.
 In the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the Holy Eucharist.
 He gives himself to his apostles in the form of bread
and wine.
 Each Christian disciple must receive the body and
blood of Christ.
 If you have no intention of receiving communion, you
are gravely mistaken.
 If you receive it, you must prepare yourself.

26.  The psalm encourages us to take the cup, meaning, to
be in communion with God.
 It helps us thank God by sharing in his meal and in
calling upon him (in prayer).
 The eucharist is a celebration. It is a thanksgiving for
God’s goodness to us.
 Our gesture of thanksgiving is to fulfill our vow to share
in his life.

27.  Each parish or Christian community has the
obligation to catechize people or foster the
proper reception of the eucharist.
 Deportment for the Mass:
 proper decorum; dress code;
 cellphones switched off;
 eucharistic fast;
 lectors, acolytes, choirs, commentators,
collectors, not distractive, no unnecessary
movements;
 Children should be taught how to behave in the
mass.

28.  The eucharist is the center of Christian life,
without which, we do not attain full communion
with Jesus Christ.
 The consecrated bread and wine are the
sacramental signs of Jesus’ presence among
us.
 In the eucharist, Jesus offers himself to the
Father. We accompany him in his prayers.
 In the eucharistic meal, we Christians bond
together in faith and fraternal love.
 We unite to remember Jesus’ passion, death
and resurrection until the end of time.

29. Our Context
 Goes to mass without
receiving holy
communion
 Irreverent reception of
the holy eucharist
 Sacrilege
 Ringing of cellphones
during the mass
 Display of pomp in the
mass
 Regular reception of the
eucharist
 Visit to the Blessed
Sacrament
 Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament
 Trained choirs, ministers
in the mass

30. Suggested Songs
 The Blessed Sacrament by Sebastian Temple
 One Bread, One Body by John Foley, SJ
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo3EDGreAXk
 Lord I know, by Fr. Cielo Almazan, OFM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulqjOjYZOns
 Sharing by Fr. Gene Pastidio, OFM
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ij6D6EyeI