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Body and blood

Gospel
Mark 14:12-16,22-26
This is my body; this is my blood

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to Jesus, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, “The Master says: Where is my dining room in which I can eat the passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there.’ The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover.
    And as they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. ‘Take it,’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, ‘This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.’
    After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives.

Reflection 
The reflection on this passage invites us to contemplate the profound mystery of the Eucharist. Through the bread and wine, Jesus offers himself to us, giving us his body and blood as a means of grace and communion with him. It is a powerful reminder of his sacrificial love and the new covenant he established through his death and resurrection.
As we reflect on this passage, we are called to remember the significance of the Eucharist in our lives. It is a sacred moment of encounter with Christ, where we are nourished spiritually and united with him and with one another as the body of Christ.

Let us pray 
Dear Lord, we thank you for the gift of the Eucharist, where you offer yourself to us in the form of bread and wine. Help us to approach this sacrament with reverence and gratitude, recognizing the depth of your love and sacrifice. May the Eucharist strengthen our faith, deepen our relationship with you, and empower us to live as your disciples in the world. We ask this in your holy name.

 Amen.

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