ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2
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THE MASS: ABOUT THE MASS SERIES. |
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.
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