To allow ourselves to experience and to be fully embraced by the mercy of the Lord our God is what changes us from within and transforms us more fully in His image. This only happens when we give ALL of ourselves to Him. We are given new names as we will one day be received in Heaven. So then our transformation becomes apparent when our hearts looks upon and sees our brethren who are in need of God’s mercy and love. We are able to become the wonderful instruments as we are called for, of His grace. We are tireless in this pursuit as we journey on in His strength, peace and love. In a sense we share in His mercy without sacrifice.
The new Passover from death into life, from sinfulness into Holiness has been given to us through the precious blood of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. This Supreme gift of life, the source and summit of our faith in the Holy Eucharist. In which we experience Heaven on Earth through the divine presence of the Lord our God and partake in the Heavenly Banquet in which we receive His divinity into our very being. How great indeed is Our God! To nourish and sustain us as we make our pilgrim journey back to Him. Yet many are still blind to this, God’s very own revelation. That is why there is no proper preparation of body, mind and spirit before attending the Eucharistic Celebration, no ‘dressing up’ as to put on the wedding garment. Many will mutter under their breath, “O the Lord is loving and understanding, He knows and sees my heart and He will understand.” Really? Are you not taking the Lord Your God for granted? Why do you think there were explicit details and preparation for the first passover? Who was it that gave those details for the preparation?
Jesus my saviour You want mercy not sacrifice. Let your will be done through me. Amen
St Philip Minh and companions pray for us….
First reading
Exodus 11:10-12:14
The institution of the Passover
Moses and Aaron worked many wonders in the presence of Pharaoh. But the Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn, and he did not let the sons of Israel leave his country.
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:
‘This month is to be the first of all the others for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, “On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock, one for each family: one animal for each household. If the household is too small to eat the animal, a man must join with his neighbour, the nearest to his house, as the number of persons requires. You must take into account what each can eat in deciding the number for the animal. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may take it from either sheep or goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel shall slaughter it between the two evenings. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh is to be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled, but roasted over the fire, head, feet and entrails. You must not leave any over till the morning: whatever is left till morning you are to burn. You shall eat it like this: with a girdle round your waist, sandals on your feet, a staff in your hand. You shall eat it hastily: it is a passover in honour of the Lord. That night, I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt, I am the Lord! The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt. This day is to be a day of remembrance for you, and you must celebrate it as a feast in the Lord’s honour. For all generations you are to declare it a day of festival, for ever.”’
Gospel
Matthew 12:1-8
The Son of Man is master of the sabbath
Jesus took a walk one sabbath day through the cornfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick ears of corn and eat them. The Pharisees noticed it and said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath.’ But he said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God and how they ate the loaves of offering which neither he nor his followers were allowed to eat, but which were for the priests alone? Or again, have you not read in the Law that on the sabbath day the Temple priests break the sabbath without being blamed for it? Now here, I tell you, is something greater than the Temple. And if you had understood the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’
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