Corpus Christi

Moses came and told the people all the words of Yahweh and all his laws. The people

replied with one voice: "Everything that Yahweh has said, we shall do." Moses wrote

down all the words of Yahweh, 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 Yahweh. And Moses took half the blood and put it in

basins; and with the other half of the blood he sprinkled the altar. He then took the

Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. They said, "All that

Yahweh said 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 Yahweh has made with you in

accordance with all these words."

But now Christ has 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 that are called to the everlasting

inheritance.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day when the Passover Lamb

was killed, and the disciples asked him, "Where would you have us go to prepare the

Passover meal for you?" So Jesus sent two of 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

went off. 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. And he said, "Take this, it is my body."

Then he took a cup and after he had given thanks, passed it to them and they all drank

from it. And he said, "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.