XXIV
Last Sunday we
saw that the breaking of the bread symbolizes the death of Jesus and the commingling
symbolizes his resurrection.
Why do we
pray the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), and where does it come from?
As the priest performs the Fraction Rite, the choir immediately intones the threefold Agnus Dei, “Lamb of God.” St.John the Baptist pointing Jesus to his disciples said, this is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (1.29). This lamb is the pascal lamb, originally killed and eaten just before the Hebrews were delivered from Egypt. The blood of the lamb was smeared on the door posts so the angel who slew the firstborn of Egypt would Passover the Hebrew homes. This symbolism presents Jesus as the one whose blood is shed for the saving and deliverance of his people from evil and from death. The lamb is also mentioned in the Suffering servant Song of Isaiah 53. Here the main idea is that the servant of Yahweh takes upon himself the sins of the people, giving his life as an offering for their sin. John’s gospel records that Jesus was crucified at the very time the Lamb of God was sacrificed in the temple on the day of atonement, for the expiation of sins. The words of this great prayer should focus us on the Book of Revelation, a connection that becomes more explicit when the priest, after the Agnus Dei, says, “Behold the Lamb of God…” We have already seen the connection of our Lord to the Lamb of Passover, but here we see the connection to the Book of Revelation – a vision of the heavenly Jerusalem – which declares, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12). Here, in this vision, the angels praise the Lamb of God and we, who join in this heavenly liturgy by our own earthly liturgy, do the same and join with them in this praise, but also plead with him that he may show us mercy as we prepare to receive him in Communion. The priest then elevates the Body and Blood of Christ, proclaiming to all the faithful in words drawn from the Book of Revelation that truly this is the Body and Blood of Christ! How blessed are we truly to be invited to this foretaste of heaven (Revelation 19:1-9)!
Why do we say, “Lord, I am not worthy…?”
Now, we can truly understand the reason for our response to this bold proclamation. Here before us is the glory and grandeur of Jesus Christ, present in the Blessed Sacrament, and we have the same reaction as the Israelites when they are faced with the sight of God’s glory – we dare not look, lest we die! Our words echo the sentiments of the Roman Centurion who realizes the true nature of Christ: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8). Why roof? Here we have a reference to our own bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit – we are not worthy that our Lord should enter under the roof of our own souls, the temple of the Holy Spirit. But with one word, he pours out his mercy upon us and draws us close to himself that we may be made worthy in his sight.
As the priest performs the Fraction Rite, the choir immediately intones the threefold Agnus Dei, “Lamb of God.” St.John the Baptist pointing Jesus to his disciples said, this is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (1.29). This lamb is the pascal lamb, originally killed and eaten just before the Hebrews were delivered from Egypt. The blood of the lamb was smeared on the door posts so the angel who slew the firstborn of Egypt would Passover the Hebrew homes. This symbolism presents Jesus as the one whose blood is shed for the saving and deliverance of his people from evil and from death. The lamb is also mentioned in the Suffering servant Song of Isaiah 53. Here the main idea is that the servant of Yahweh takes upon himself the sins of the people, giving his life as an offering for their sin. John’s gospel records that Jesus was crucified at the very time the Lamb of God was sacrificed in the temple on the day of atonement, for the expiation of sins. The words of this great prayer should focus us on the Book of Revelation, a connection that becomes more explicit when the priest, after the Agnus Dei, says, “Behold the Lamb of God…” We have already seen the connection of our Lord to the Lamb of Passover, but here we see the connection to the Book of Revelation – a vision of the heavenly Jerusalem – which declares, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12). Here, in this vision, the angels praise the Lamb of God and we, who join in this heavenly liturgy by our own earthly liturgy, do the same and join with them in this praise, but also plead with him that he may show us mercy as we prepare to receive him in Communion. The priest then elevates the Body and Blood of Christ, proclaiming to all the faithful in words drawn from the Book of Revelation that truly this is the Body and Blood of Christ! How blessed are we truly to be invited to this foretaste of heaven (Revelation 19:1-9)!
Why do we say, “Lord, I am not worthy…?”
Now, we can truly understand the reason for our response to this bold proclamation. Here before us is the glory and grandeur of Jesus Christ, present in the Blessed Sacrament, and we have the same reaction as the Israelites when they are faced with the sight of God’s glory – we dare not look, lest we die! Our words echo the sentiments of the Roman Centurion who realizes the true nature of Christ: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8). Why roof? Here we have a reference to our own bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit – we are not worthy that our Lord should enter under the roof of our own souls, the temple of the Holy Spirit. But with one word, he pours out his mercy upon us and draws us close to himself that we may be made worthy in his sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment