About the Mass series: Preparation of the Gifts Part 6.

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES: 

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Preparation of the Gifts Part 6.

The mixing of the water and wine is an ancient practice in both eastern and western liturgies. Historically, because of the wine’s heavy texture, it became customary in secular and religious usage to dilute the wine. It has now become a symbol of the union of Christ with his people: just as the wine receives water, so Christ takes our sins and us to himself.  The eastern interpretation was that the wine and water represent the divine and human natures in Christ.

This rite was given a prayer whose text was taken from an ancient Christmas oration expressing both symbolic meanings cited above. We hear an abbreviated version of this prayer, which is as follows:

‘By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity’.

The mixing of the water and wine, recalls for us that what was initiated in the Incarnation is realized in the sacrament of the Lord’s body and blood.  Through the Eucharist we share in the divine dignity of Christ who became incarnate for us. Keeping in mind this simple, yet significant rite in the Mass, recall also, scripture which recounts the soldiers piercing Christ with a lance: ‘One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water’. (John 19:34)

At Mass, the wine becomes Christ’s blood for us. Christ shared our humanity in every way except sin.  The mixing of the water with the wine rite can easily pass our attention, or we can rejoice in the divine, which lives within each one of us.