Mary, Mother of God, the 1st Christian Tabernacle

“Biblical Roots of the Eucharist” was the theme for Ascension Catholic Church’s Lenten Parish Mission presented by Monsignor Stephen Bosso during Holy Week. This three-day event occurred at 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM on April 14, 15, and 16, 2025.

Our distinctive Catholic biblical worldview is that human nature is essentially good (Gen. 1:31)! As Catholics, we are anointed and commissioned to be the living Menorah (the Golden Lampstand within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle [Exod. 25:31-40, 26:35]) and, thus, the light of the world (John 12:46; 1 John 1:17).

Monsignor Bosso invited the community to imagine a seesaw and asked, “Who keeps the Old Testament and the New Testament in balance?” The answer is, “Mary, Mother of God, because she becomes the first Christian Tabernacle.” In her womb, she contains the holy presence of God (Luke 1:26-38), as did the Ark of the Covenant (where God resided) in the Old Testament (Exod. 25:10, 14-16, 22). Thus, Monsignor Bosso emboldens us to never “feel apologetic or embarrassed about our understanding, devotion and love for Mary.” We should be proud because Mary is God’s most trusted person and servant (handmaid) to fulfill God’s plan of salvation (Luke 1:39-56).

Monsignor Bosso also reminded us that we celebrate the same Mass as the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-23). In the account of the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), the Gospel of Luke is truthful in its proclamation (Luke 1:1-4) that we, the Catholic Church, have been celebrating the Word and Eucharist (as both sacrifice and meal [Exod. 27:1-8; John 6:47-48, 53-56; Rom. 4:24-25; Heb. 10:9-10]) since day one!

Fr. John Bosco invited Monsignor Bosso to preside over the daily Masses during each day of the Lenten Parish Mission as well. He reminded us that “the Church will respond in every age to the needs that are being presented to us.” During Mass, when he held up the Host, the congregation heard him pray, “Behold the Lamb of God. I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” A prayer he translated from an ancient Syriac text from the early Church during the 4th or 5th century, that was said during the Mass by Syriac bishops as a message to Christians who did not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. “Sound familiar?” he asked. All laughed.

Together, as joyful brothers and sisters in Christ, we renewed our spiritual heritage with profound biblical understanding of the Eucharist and our love for Christ.