Grassroots Liturgist

We have already considered the connection of both the Passover and the Manna from heaven with the Last Supper and the Eucharist.   Let’s look at one more Old Testament connection. While the Jews were in the desert searching for the promised land, their worship centred on a sanctuary called the Tabernacle - a tent that served as a portable temple. In the Tabernacle were three key symbols: the Ark of the Covenant that contained the Commandments given by God; a golden lampstand with seven branches, each lit, called an Menorah; and a golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence or ‘lehem ha pannim’ in Hebrew.   (Exodus 25) Incidentally, Christians can see in these three symbols a representation of the Triune God: the Ark of the invisible God, the tongues of flame and the Bread of the Presence. There were 12 cakes of this bread on the table, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and these were offered by the priests on each Sabbath day; so, the bread was a...

We have already reflected on how New Testament mysteries are often prefigured in the Old Testament – the Old Testament shines a light so that we can better understand our celebration of holy Mass.   Let’s look at some more of these and how they relate to the Eucharist. After the Jews had escaped from Egypt, they very quickly began to complain that they had no food; whereas, even as slaves, their bellies were full.   So God performed the twofold miracle in the wilderness – they collected manna in the morning and quail in the evening, both of which God provided.   In other words…bread from heaven and flesh from heaven. We are told that the manna tasted like wafers made with honey.   This detail is significant for they were heading for a land flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 26:9) – the manna from heaven can be seen to be a foretaste of the Promised Land. The Jews took some of the manna and placed it in the Tabernacle, the portable temple in which they wor...