Jesus is the Passover Lamb: Daily Mass Homily--Friday, July 19th, 2013

            Today we hear God’s instructions to Moses about preparing the Passover Lamb.  Obviously these go much deeper than preparing a dish of mutton.

            The Passover Lamb was to be pure and undefiled.  It was to be slaughtered and its blood spread on the lintels of the doors in order for the angel of death to pass over an Israelite’s home.  It was to be eaten.

            Jesus is the true Passover Lamb.  As an innocent man his blood was spread on the cross in order for us to pass from sin and death to virtue and life.  God has kept His promise to Abraham: “This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.”  He has indeed insured that all generations celebrate this perpetual institution through the Eucharist.  We take part in the feast of the Lamb every time we come to Mass.

            At every Mass a priest will raise the Body and Blood of Christ and declare, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Happy are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”  Once more we will respond, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my roof, but only say the words and my soul shall be healed.”