6. Origin of the Two Main Parts

The two main sections of the Mass trace their roots to the Scriptures. In St. Luke's Gospel 4:14-22, after preaching and teaching, our Lord decided to go back home to Galilee. Entering the synagogue, he reads the Scriptures and explains them. Those in attendance listen and respond. It is just as in our Liturgy of the Word. It is interesting that some people say that you do not have to go to church, and yet our Lord was in the custom of attending the synagogue every week.

The Passover meal, with slight changes in it, gives us the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Further, the Hebrews sacrificed animals and grain to God, in rituals conducted at the Temple. The lamb of the Pasch is viewed in terms of sacrifice; Jesus makes himself the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Both the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist are meant to transform us. Further, the Scriptures confront and comfort us. In the story of the Good Shepherd, God tells us that he values us as individuals, that we are not lost in the herd. But, he also challenges us as in the story of the publican and the pharisee. The former is confronted by his faults and he recognizes his sinfulness. We really have to think about this passage because most of us come out of church thanking God that we were not like the self-righteous pharisee. Can we be so sure?