December 31, 2010 – Leviticus 9-10

Congratulations.  If you have been following all year, you are now 1/4 of the way through the Bible and the Catechism.  On one hand it seems like this is a lot, and on the other it feels like we have a long way to go.  If you have joined us somewhere in the middle, remember you can always go back through the archives on the blog.  Nothing gets deleted, so they are all still there.  Tomorrow we start year 2. 

Very similar to this, the priest takes part in the sacrifice before he offers it to the people, the priest in a Mass will consume the body and blood before distributing it to the people.  Here, the priest offers it to cleanse himself and make himself pure so that he can better offer the offering for the community.  Similarly, in receiving the Body and Blood first, a priest is not only has venial sins wiped away but is given God’s Grace to them distribute the Body and Blood to the Community in a more pure manner.  Likewise, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion also receive before distributing.  If you have the honor to do this, keep this in mind, that you receive first to prepare yourself to distribute.  It may seem like a convenience thing, but in reading this reading, it appears to be purposeful.  A preparation for your task that you will be performing.