JESUS, THE LAMB OF GOD IN THE MASS
At every Mass during the Communion Rite, we say three times, "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." And then again the Priest raises the eucharistic species and says aloud: ‘’Behold the Lamb of God; behold him who takes away the sins of the world.’’ In less than a minute, we say four times, "Lamb of God.”
Why is this title "Lamb of God" important enough to be mentioned here in the Communion Rite of the Mass? It is for two reasons: 1) The Eucharist is a meal, but it is also a sacrifice of the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ, and 2) The title "Lamb of God" has the connotation of sacrifice from the Old Testament.
1) Eucharist as both a Meal and a Sacrifice
The Eucharist is both a meal and the sacrifice of Jesus. It is to emphasise the sacrificial and salvific dimension of the Eucharist. The sacrificed body of Jesus Christ, the lamb sacrificed for our sins, is given to us as nourishment in the Eucharist. It combines the Eucharistic meal and sacrifice dimensions. In this way, Jesus Christ makes of Himself a sacrificed body to be eaten in the Eucharist.
2. The significance of the title 'Lamb of God' in the Scriptures
To get a better understanding of the title Lamb of God, we must see the Scriptures. In the entire New Testament, Jesus is called the Lamb of God only in the Gospel of John and in the Book of Revelation. In the Gospel of John, it is mentioned twice. It is John the Baptist who addresses Jesus with this title, and it is from here the phrase is borrowed in the Mass. And in the Book of Revelation, it is mentioned 28 times. No other title except this one is mentioned 28 times in the Book of Revelation.
When John used the title "Lamb of God" for Jesus, the Jewish people understood instantly because of the sacrifices of the Old Testament, particularly the Sacrifice of Passover. At the Passover, the blood of a lamb protected the faithful Israelites from the Angel of Death. For John, Jesus is now the Lamb of the New Passover. He is truly the Lamb of God. To this title, John adds the universality of the purpose: "Who takes away the sins of the world," and not alone of Israel.
Later, in Isaiah 53:7, the prophet Isaiah used this image of the lamb to describe the Messiah. The Messiah would be both the sacrificial lamb to atone for sin and the suffering servant. John identifies Jesus as "the lamb of God" in the sense of both the sacrificial offering for sin and the suffering servant.
Interestingly, when speaking to the Ethiopian eunuch, who was reading this same passage from Isaiah, St. Philip explained how it referred to Christ and how He fulfilled it (Acts 8:26ff).
In St. John's gospel, Jesus was condemned to death by Pilate on the preparation day for Passover at noon (Jn 18:28, 19:14), the hour when the priests began to slaughter Passover lambs in the temple. Also, the Gospel records that after the crucifixion, the soldiers did not break any of Jesus' bones in fulfilment of Scripture in the Old Testament where none of the Passover lamb's bones were broken. But the soldier thrust forward his lance, piercing the heart of our Lord; out flowed blood and water (Jn 19:34), always interpreted as signs of the life-giving sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Baptism.
In the book of Revelation, the Lamb of God used for Jesus is mentioned 28 times. John sees in the vision of heaven Jesus as the Lamb in the liturgical worship of the heavenly assembly. He is the Passover Lamb of the New Covenant. This image of the Lamb of God in the Book of Revelation is one of victory. It is highlighting this notion by picturing the Lamb surrounded by angels, the "living creatures," and elders, who cried out, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honour and glory, and praise!" (Rev 5:12)
Invitation to “Behold”
In the Communion Rite, when the Priest invites people to partake of the meal, he says, "Behold." To look and really see who Jesus Christ is and what his Paschal Mystery is all about, behold the man! Look at the wood of the cross, where our Savior is hung! Also, it is a reminder of Jesus’ invitation in the Book of Revelation: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. I'll come in and eat with him if anyone hears my voice and opens the door." And then the Priest adds the words, "Blessed are those who are called to his supper." He is saying, according to the Apocalypse, "Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb." (cf. Apoc. 19:1–9)
The faithful then reply with the words of the Roman centurion, who was awestruck by Christ’s humility and daring trust: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say a word and I shall be healed." (Mt. 8:8-10)
May this understanding of the title Lamb of God help us to enter into deeper communion with the Lord and help us to focus on the Lamb who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. As we gather around the altar of the Lamb, offering to Him our own hearts and pledging to be His servants, we may welcome him and become wedded to him in the Holy Eucharist.
God bless you.
Fr. Vincent Barboza