The Breaking of the Host at Mass and the “Lamb of God”

 (Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter)

There is a moment at Mass in which we begin to sing, “Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” It is right before Communion, and it is meant to prepare us for receiving Jesus’ Body and Blood with humility. At that very moment, the priest breaks the Host, remembering the passion, the sufferings of Jesus’ body for our sins. Jesus is the Lamb sacrificed on the cross for our personal sins: for this reason, we ask Him to have mercy on us.

We say it three times. The first time we ask mercy so that our sins may be forgiven. The second time we ask mercy so that we may grow in virtue and in the life of grace. The third time we ask, not for mercy, but for peace, the perfect peace of Heaven: “Grant us peace.” At about that moment, the priest breaks a little piece of the Host and lets it fall into the chalice. This is to remember Jesus’ resurrection, where the Body and Blood of Jesus were united again, after having been separated on the cross. One day, after our own dying to sin and passing through death, we also will rejoice on the perfect peace of the Resurrection, with Jesus, like Jesus, in Heaven.

Jesus says to Peter in today’s Gospel: “Feed my lambs.” Jesus is both Shepherd and Lamb. Some of us are shepherds of Jesus’ flock, but all of us are lambs. Some of us are like “extensions” of the only one Shepherd who is Jesus; but all of us are lambs in the one Lamb of God.

In Holy Communion, we eat what we are, and we become more and more what we eat. We eat what we are: like the Lamb of God, before receiving Holy Communion we must be both slain and risen (cf. Revelation 5:6), dead to sin and alive with the life of grace. But then, in receiving the Eucharist, we become more and more what we eat: we purify even more our soul from sin and gain new strength to live and love as God’s children. By the worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist, we become more and more one with Jesus, the Lamb of God, both in purity and holiness.

If you feel broken, remember that Jesus knows what it is to be broken… At mass, when the Host is broken, look at the Lamb of God and ask Him for mercy! Then, do not forget to follow Jesus into the chalice. One day, He and you will swim together in the joys of God’s House. May our Holy Communions be an anticipation of Heaven. – Fr. Andrew

 

 

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