The New Passover
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ (B)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 - On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 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. 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?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take I; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many…’”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
We are familiar with these words from the Gospel of Mark. St. Mark spent a good deal of time with St. Paul and then later with St. Peter. It is typically thought and taught that his Gospel records much of Peter’s account of the ministry, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. Peter would have been present, of course, at the Last Supper when Jesus first gave His followers His Body and His Blood. Later, Peter also would have celebrated many, many Masses at which Mark would have been present. Mark would have heard these words of Jesus from the mouth of Peter. Today we hear these very same words from our pope, bishops, and priests at every single Mass we attend.
There is an unbroken line of holy Masses from Jesus, to Peter and the Apostles, to every pope, bishop, and priest after them, down to the present day. The Passover event was first celebrated as a “perpetual ordinance” (Exodus 12:14) for the Jews. When Jesus establishes the new Passover here at the Last Supper, it fulfills and replaces the first Passover. Now the new Passover feast of Christ’s Body and Blood is a celebration that continues today and will continue until the end of time, and even into eternity.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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