Rev José Mario O Mandía
jmom.honlam.org
“Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). The shedding of blood is associated with sacrifice. Hence, without sacrifice, there is no forgiveness of sins. A sacrifice is an act of atonement.
Sacrifices are also acts of worship, of thanksgiving, of petition.
What do we mean by “sacrifice”? The Catholic Encyclopedia defines it as “the offering of a sense-perceptible gift to the Deity as an outward manifestation of our veneration for Him and with the object of attaining communion with Him. Strictly speaking however, this offering does not become a sacrifice until a real change has been effected in the visible gift (e.g. by slaying it, shedding its blood. burning it, or pouring it out).”
Almost all religions, with the exception of Buddhism (it prohibits killing of animals) and Protestantism, have some kind of sacrifice. Sacrifices were offered in ancient cultures: in India, Iran, Greece, Rome, China, Egypt, among the American Indians, and the Semites.
It is enough to read the book of Leviticus to get an idea of the different kinds of sacrifices offered by the Jews in the Old Testament. These sacrifices are a figure of the one single sacrifice that the Messiah will establish in the New Testament.
BREAD AND WINE
The CCC (1334) states: “In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in sacrifice among the first fruits of the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator.” Especially significant is the offering made by Melchizedek: “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). The Letter to the Hebrews says that Christ is “a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:10).
PASSOVER
The sacrifice of the Passover Lamb and the Passover meal described in Exodus 12 is a symbol of the future sacrifice and banquet that Jesus Christ will institute.
CCC 1340 explains that these symbols are brought to reality not only in the New Testament but also in the life to come. “By celebrating the Last Supper with his apostles in the course of the Passover meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive meaning. Jesus’ passing over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfils the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final passover of the Church in the glory of the kingdom.”
PROPHECY OF MALACHI
There is a passage in the book of the prophet Malachi (1:10-11) where God tells the Levitical priests: “[10] Oh, that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire upon my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. [11] For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.”
The Lord says several things in these passages:
(1) the offering of the Levites, that is, the sacrifice of the Old Law is rejected (v 10);
(2) he speaks of a sacrifice or offering (in the Neo-vulgate, part of verse 11 reads: “sacrificatur et offertur nomini meo”);
(3) this sacrifice is not limited to a specific time (“from the rising of the sun to its setting”) or place (“in every place”);
(4) it is celebrated not only by Jews but by all peoples and nations. Note that the same line is said twice in verse 11: “my name is great among the nations.” (Image: Melchizedek, king of Salem, who offered bread and wine)
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