HOLY FOR THE FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI - LUGANDA. YR B 2021

THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST (Solemnity) Theme of the Feast: The Blood of the New Covenant. The three readings of today present the Eucharist as the sacrifice of the New Covenant. The first describes a ceremony in the Old Covenant. To understand what happened at the foot of Mount Sinai is indispensable for an understanding of the full meaning of the Eucharist. The gospel presents Christ giving his life as the sacrifice of the New Covenant. It is through his blood that the new covenant between God and humanity is enacted. The second reading shows the superiority of the New Covenant over the old. the first reading “Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you.” A reading from the Book of Exodus (Exodus 24:3-8) In those days: Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took thez book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it upon the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” The word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 116:12-13.15 and 16bc.17-18 (R. 13) R/. The cup of salvation I will raise, I will call on the name of the Lord. Or: Alleluia. How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the name of the Lord. R. How precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Your servant am I, the son of your handmaid; you have loosened my bonds. R. A thanksgiving sacrifice I make; s I will call on the name of the Lord. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people. R. second reading The blood of Christ will purify our conscience. A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 9:11-15) Brethren: When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. Gospel. “This is my body. This is my blood. ” A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 14:12-16.22-26) On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to Jesus, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a chalice, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. The Gospel of the Lord.