The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Date: June 14, 2009

First Reading (Exodus 24: 3-8)
A reading from the book of Exodus.
Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all his laws. The people replied in unison: "Everything that the Lord has commanded, we shall obey. Moses then wrote down all the words of the Lord, then rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve raised stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. He then sent young men from among the sons of Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice bullocks as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses took half the blood and placed it in basins; and with the other half of the blood, he sprinkled it on the altar. He then took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. They stated, "All that the Lord commanded, we shall do and obey." Moses then took the blood and sprinkled it on the people saying, "Here is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Second Reading (Hebrews 9: 11-15)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
Brothers and sisters: Now, Christ appeared as the high priest with regard to the good things of these new times. He passed through a sanctuary more noble and perfect, not made by hands, that is, not created. He did not take with himself the blood of goats and bulls but his own blood, when he entered once and for all into this sanctuary after obtaining definitive redemption. If the sprinkling of people defiled by sin with the blood of goats and bulls or with the ashes of a heifer provides them with exterior cleanness and holiness, how much more will it be with the blood of Christ? He, moved by the eternal Spirit, offered himself as an unblemished victim to God and his blood cleanses us from dead works, so that we may serve the living God. So Christ is the mediator of a new covenant or testament. His death made atonement for the sins committed under the old testament and the promise is handed over to all who are called to the everlasting inheritance.

Gospel (Mark 14: 12-16 and 22-26)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day when the Passover Lamb was killed, the disciples asked Jesus, "Where would you have us go to prepare the Passover meal for you?" So Jesus sent two his disciples with these instructions, "Go into the city and there a man will come to you carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner, 'The Master says: Where is the room where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' Then he will show you a large room upstairs, already arranged and furnished. There you will prepare for us." The disciples departed. When they reached the city, they found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. He stated, "Take this, it is my body." Then he took a cup and after he had given thanks, he passed the cup to them and they all drank from it. He stated, "This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is to be poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not taste the fruit of the vine again until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God." After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Hill of Olives.