Father Mike Schmitz

And the beginning of the week is marked by the lamb coming into their home. They're circumcised, they're healing. And by the end of the week, when they have the roast lamb and they sacrifice it and whatnot, they will be healed enough to move in flight. Now, why would they have to be circumcised?

And the beginning of the week is marked by the lamb coming into their home. They're circumcised, they're healing. And by the end of the week, when they have the roast lamb and they sacrifice it and whatnot, they will be healed enough to move in flight. Now, why would they have to be circumcised?

Well, because it says at the very end of chapter 12, it says, unless you're brought into the covenant via circumcision, you actually cannot, you may not, you must not partake circumcision. of the sacrificial lamb. And this is really important for us as well, because that's one of the things that we believe.

Well, because it says at the very end of chapter 12, it says, unless you're brought into the covenant via circumcision, you actually cannot, you may not, you must not partake circumcision. of the sacrificial lamb. And this is really important for us as well, because that's one of the things that we believe.

In fact, there is Justin Martyr who wrote a basically description, the first description we have of the Catholic mass in the year 140 to 150.

In fact, there is Justin Martyr who wrote a basically description, the first description we have of the Catholic mass in the year 140 to 150.

And in it, one of the things he notes is that not all can partake of the Eucharist, not all can partake of Jesus, the Lamb of God, but only those who are of our number, only those who have been brought into the covenant via baptism and are part of the number that profess what we profess, which leads to what we believe right now as Catholic Christians, that while Jesus Christ is the savior of the world,

And in it, one of the things he notes is that not all can partake of the Eucharist, not all can partake of Jesus, the Lamb of God, but only those who are of our number, only those who have been brought into the covenant via baptism and are part of the number that profess what we profess, which leads to what we believe right now as Catholic Christians, that while Jesus Christ is the savior of the world,

That unless someone is brought into communion with the church, they may not partake of the Eucharist. And this isn't just a church rule. This goes all the way back to even the type of the Eucharist, where unless you're brought into that covenant, unless you're brought into the family of the people of God, you may not participate in the sacrificial meal. Okay. So not only that.

That unless someone is brought into communion with the church, they may not partake of the Eucharist. And this isn't just a church rule. This goes all the way back to even the type of the Eucharist, where unless you're brought into that covenant, unless you're brought into the family of the people of God, you may not participate in the sacrificial meal. Okay. So not only that.

So here's the lamb possibly brought in for a whole week because of circumcision. but also here's what I like to think. Here is a lamb that is brought into your house and you're caring for the lamb, right? Because it has to be unblemished. So you have to keep it inside so that the lamb doesn't become blemished, doesn't get hurt, doesn't get damaged in any way. Have you ever had the situation where

So here's the lamb possibly brought in for a whole week because of circumcision. but also here's what I like to think. Here is a lamb that is brought into your house and you're caring for the lamb, right? Because it has to be unblemished. So you have to keep it inside so that the lamb doesn't become blemished, doesn't get hurt, doesn't get damaged in any way. Have you ever had the situation where

One of the kids brings home a stray pet and maybe one of the adults is like, nope, get that thing out of here. I don't want any pets. I don't want that dog. I don't want that cat. And then by the end of the week, they're the ones who are like sneaking the food to the pet. They're sneaking the food to the animal that was brought in.

One of the kids brings home a stray pet and maybe one of the adults is like, nope, get that thing out of here. I don't want any pets. I don't want that dog. I don't want that cat. And then by the end of the week, they're the ones who are like sneaking the food to the pet. They're sneaking the food to the animal that was brought in.

This is kind of part of the idea is that the lamb has value on its own, but it lives with you for a week and then it becomes precious to you. The sacrificial lamb has value on its own, but when it lives with you for a week, then it becomes precious to you. When you sacrifice it, when you offer it, it is a sign of that trust, a sign of that gift that actually means something.

This is kind of part of the idea is that the lamb has value on its own, but it lives with you for a week and then it becomes precious to you. The sacrificial lamb has value on its own, but when it lives with you for a week, then it becomes precious to you. When you sacrifice it, when you offer it, it is a sign of that trust, a sign of that gift that actually means something.

And something there is true when it comes to us for our participation in the mass is, is the Lord Jesus, who is the sacrificial lamb, is he precious to us? When we have the preparation for the altar, do we put down on the altar that thing, those things that are precious to us?

And something there is true when it comes to us for our participation in the mass is, is the Lord Jesus, who is the sacrificial lamb, is he precious to us? When we have the preparation for the altar, do we put down on the altar that thing, those things that are precious to us?

Or do we just kind of approach the Lord knowing that, yep, he has value in and of himself, like ultimate value, but there's no value in our own hearts? Something to think about. Last thing, last thing, because there's so much to say. They mark their homes, the doorposts and the lintel with the blood of the lamb. And you can see this for three reasons.

Or do we just kind of approach the Lord knowing that, yep, he has value in and of himself, like ultimate value, but there's no value in our own hearts? Something to think about. Last thing, last thing, because there's so much to say. They mark their homes, the doorposts and the lintel with the blood of the lamb. And you can see this for three reasons.