Father Mike Schmitz

One, because as it explicitly says in scripture in Exodus chapter 12, it says when the destroyer, when the angel of death comes by, he will see the blood and pass over those houses. That's why it's called Passover, number one. Number two, because of the fact that lambs in Egypt were considered sacred.

One, because as it explicitly says in scripture in Exodus chapter 12, it says when the destroyer, when the angel of death comes by, he will see the blood and pass over those houses. That's why it's called Passover, number one. Number two, because of the fact that lambs in Egypt were considered sacred.

And so here are these people of Israel who have taken a sacred object, sacred animal, to the Egyptians at least, and they have now sacrificed them as part of their worship of the Lord God. And now they have not just done that in their homes privately.

And so here are these people of Israel who have taken a sacred object, sacred animal, to the Egyptians at least, and they have now sacrificed them as part of their worship of the Lord God. And now they have not just done that in their homes privately.

They have then marked their outside of their homes, their lintel and the two doorposts with the blood of lambs that in Egypt would be considered sacred. One of the things that they're doing there is they're burning their ships, right? They're burning their bridges.

They have then marked their outside of their homes, their lintel and the two doorposts with the blood of lambs that in Egypt would be considered sacred. One of the things that they're doing there is they're burning their ships, right? They're burning their bridges.

They're saying like, we can't go back here because you've just kind of done this thing that is possibly considered blasphemy, sacrilegious or worse to the people of Egypt. And so it actually kind of helps them on their way out the door and to not come back because as we are going to hear later on, they're going to want to come back.

They're saying like, we can't go back here because you've just kind of done this thing that is possibly considered blasphemy, sacrilegious or worse to the people of Egypt. And so it actually kind of helps them on their way out the door and to not come back because as we are going to hear later on, they're going to want to come back.

But the last reason possibly for marking their homes, not just their homes, marking their doorposts and lintel with the blood of the lamb is something I came across relatively recently. It's an archeological studies that have happened in Egypt. Egyptian houses were built of this brick, right? But the brick was made out of mud.

But the last reason possibly for marking their homes, not just their homes, marking their doorposts and lintel with the blood of the lamb is something I came across relatively recently. It's an archeological studies that have happened in Egypt. Egyptian houses were built of this brick, right? But the brick was made out of mud.

and wasn't kind of lasting, but the doorposts and the lintel were made out of stone. And so what the Egyptians would do is since they believed that one of the things that kept the person living even after death was their name. So what they would do is they would inscribe their own names on the stone of their homes. You wouldn't do it on the mud bricks because those would pass away.

and wasn't kind of lasting, but the doorposts and the lintel were made out of stone. And so what the Egyptians would do is since they believed that one of the things that kept the person living even after death was their name. So what they would do is they would inscribe their own names on the stone of their homes. You wouldn't do it on the mud bricks because those would pass away.

But you would inscribe your name on the doorpost made of stone or on the lintel made of stone. And so if the Israelites who had lived here for 430 years kind of were influenced by the Egyptians, most likely their homes would have stone lintel and stone doorposts with their names inscribed on them. And so here they are covering their names with the blood of the lamb. And what is that?

But you would inscribe your name on the doorpost made of stone or on the lintel made of stone. And so if the Israelites who had lived here for 430 years kind of were influenced by the Egyptians, most likely their homes would have stone lintel and stone doorposts with their names inscribed on them. And so here they are covering their names with the blood of the lamb. And what is that?

Here we have been covered by the blood of the Lamb. As Christians, here we are not just marked by the Lord, but are being covered by the Lord, being transformed by the Lord and his sacrifice on the cross. And the type of this is seen in Exodus chapter 12, when the people of Israel cover their own names with the blood of the lamb.

Here we have been covered by the blood of the Lamb. As Christians, here we are not just marked by the Lord, but are being covered by the Lord, being transformed by the Lord and his sacrifice on the cross. And the type of this is seen in Exodus chapter 12, when the people of Israel cover their own names with the blood of the lamb.

And it's those things, eating the flesh of the lamb and being marked by its blood that give them freedom and give them life. And this is the exact same thing that happens to us in the Eucharist. We receive the Eucharist. We eat the flesh of this lamb of God and we drink the blood of the lamb of God. And it gives us freedom and it gives us life. What a gift.

And it's those things, eating the flesh of the lamb and being marked by its blood that give them freedom and give them life. And this is the exact same thing that happens to us in the Eucharist. We receive the Eucharist. We eat the flesh of this lamb of God and we drink the blood of the lamb of God. And it gives us freedom and it gives us life. What a gift.

I know this is a longer podcast, but wow, what a gift and what a connection with the way in which we can go to Mass from now on. Oh my gosh, I cannot wait to keep on going and journeying with the people of Israel because things get even dicier. I mean, they've been dicey, but they get even dicier. But that's kind of like life. Our lives have been dicey.

I know this is a longer podcast, but wow, what a gift and what a connection with the way in which we can go to Mass from now on. Oh my gosh, I cannot wait to keep on going and journeying with the people of Israel because things get even dicier. I mean, they've been dicey, but they get even dicier. But that's kind of like life. Our lives have been dicey.