A Tour through the Mass!

Account of the Last Supper

At the core of the Eucharistic Prayers, we have the recounting of what Jesus did and said at the Last Supper.

This week let us look at the words he says more closely.  You will have noticed that the words over the bread and those over the cup are quite different.  The words over the bread are very simple.  They express quite directly the gift that Jesus is making of himself to his first disciples and now to us: “This is my body which will be given up for you”.  We listen to his words and take them to ourselves precisely as the expression of Jesus giving himself to us and for us.  And notice that they refer to his death the next day – my body which WILL be given up for you, that is, on the cross.

The words over the cup of wine are longer and more complex: “This is the cup (chalice) of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.  It will be shed for you and for all (the many) so that sins may be forgiven.”

These words break out beyond the first disciples or the community gathered for Mass.  They speak of the ‘covenant’, that is the relationship between God and his people.  There was the covenant of the Old Testament, but now there is a ‘new’ covenant or relationship with God which is brought about in Christ’s death and resurrection.  This is new and so refers to the old, it is the fulfillment of the old.  It is not only new but it is everlasting, that is it stretches on into the future without end.  This is the ultimate and unchanging commitment of God to his people and to all humankind.

And whereas the words over the bread just mention that the gift is ‘for you’, the words over the cup extend that to all humankind – for you and for all (or the many).  The death of Jesus is not just for those who believe in him but is for all humankind.  These words take in all of history (new and everlasting) and all of the world.

It is these words which call for our greatest attention at Mass.  They express his gift to us, his relationship with us and call for our response to him.

By Fr Frank O’Loughlin