The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Last week in part 1 of a 4 part series on the Eucharist, I spoke of the Mass in the context of the traditional “family meal.” Jesus wants to share an intimate meal with us and to build up our family, the body of Christ. This week I offer the image of the Mass as sacrifice. What do we mean when we refer to the “Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?” God spent thousands of years forming his chosen people in the practice of sacrifice. This context is just as important for us today if we are going to understand what happens at Mass and what our role is.