Ecce Agnus Dei, "Behold the Lamb of God"

Christ our Divine Shepherd becomes Himself a Lamb: one of the flock. To save the flock He "turns against Himself" upon the Cross as the one perfect Sacrifice which alone can redeem us from our sins. In the new paschal feast of His own Body and Blood, the fruit of His self-giving in death, He feeds the flock of the Church in the Eucharist. "This is My Body, take and eat. This is the cup of My Blood." Photo: Persian silk rug.

We can have no life in us unless the Lord Himself be our food. The path ahead promises hope for us because His promise to sustain us with His own divine life will never fail us. All of the baptized are called to feast forever one day in the "Supper of the Lamb" in the heavenly wedding banquet of Divine Love. We begin to experience that promise now by meeting Christ each Sunday in the Eucharistic banquet.

Meeting Christ in the Liturgy offers a reflection for the The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Photo: The shores of the Euphrates River near Juba, Iraq.