THE EUCHARIST IS A SACRIFICE (Part – 4)

In John’s Gospel, which is rich in symbolism, it says that when the Crucified Christ was thirsty, “they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.” (John 19:29b). Hyssop is a flimsy, short twig that could never hold a wet sponge so high, but Moses directed the people to use a stick of hyssop to mark their doors with the Passover Lamb’s blood. And it is cited in one of the Bible’s greatest penitential hymns: “Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:9). So, as the Bible notes, the Eucharist, ‘makes present’ for us Christ’s Sacrifice so that we can be joined to it and share in the forgiveness of all our sins and all graces He won for us! How could we ‘pass over’ this weekly dose of grace? God Bless!

Father Maris Joseph Kodiganti