In our Gospel reading for this Sunday, John the Baptist declares about Jesus, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” That should sound very familiar because it is said in every Mass by the priest as he holds up the consecrated host before the congregation saying, “Behold the lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb.” And the response is, “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” This declaration and response are pure Holy Scripture. The first comes from today’s Gospel. The reference to the lamb’s supper comes from the end of the Book of Revelation, referring to the great banquet of the Lord and the redeemed at the end of time. The response is from the words of the Roman Centurion whose faith is commended by Jesus when he says it is unnecessary for Jesus to come to his home to heal his servant. He only needs to say it will be done and that is enough. We make the response in the Mass as we look upon the consecrated Host, held up in the hands of the priest for all to see. It is our declaration of faith in the real presence of the Lord in the form of bread. Like the Centurion, we declare our faith in the words of Jesus when he says, “This is My Body. This is My Blood.” Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.