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The ancient Jewish people worshiped God within a cloth tent (“Tabernacle”) and a solid stone temple between roughly 1400 B.C. to A.D. 70. Within them were lots of odd furniture items, such as an altar, an incense altar, a lamp, and a water basin.
From a Catholic perspective, these items fit perfectly into a Catholic Mass. So it can be helpful to look at these things for greater depth of understanding at Mass. But from a non-Catholic perspective, these things look like a bunch of superstitious nonsense. Non-Catholics also would benefit from understanding their background
The bronze altar (Exod. 27:1-8). Within the outer court, there was an altar of ascension or sacrifice. This is comparable with the Catholic altar. The Jewish sacrificial altar was like a box with four horns on the top ends. It was made from acacia wood and plated with bronze. Within the altar was a fire that had been lit by God (Lev. 9:24). Just as God had appeared like a consuming fire on Sinai, so the fire of the altar symbolized his presence in the new Sinai (Exod. 24:17).
On top of the altar was a bronze grating, and the priests would sacrifice dead animals to God by burning them on top of this grating. The priestly duty to “till and keep” the Tabernacle (Num. 3:7-8, 8:26, 18:5-6) was fulfilled through the sacrifices. Those two words (till and keep) were commanded of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15), indicating that the Tabernacle was a new Garden of Eden.
The bronze basin (Exod. 30:17-21). Next to the altar was a water bowl or laver called the bronze basin. It was comparable to a Catholic holy water font. The Aaronic priests would cleanse their hands and feet in this basin as a ritual cleansing, for they were interacting with God’s invisible presence on God’s property. God’s presence was lethal, and the way to prevent themselves from dying was to cleanse themselves in the water (Exod. 30:20-21).
Continued below.
www.catholic.com
From a Catholic perspective, these items fit perfectly into a Catholic Mass. So it can be helpful to look at these things for greater depth of understanding at Mass. But from a non-Catholic perspective, these things look like a bunch of superstitious nonsense. Non-Catholics also would benefit from understanding their background
The outer courtyard
Within the outer court of the Tabernacle and the Temple were two pieces of holy furniture: the bronze altar and the bronze basin.The bronze altar (Exod. 27:1-8). Within the outer court, there was an altar of ascension or sacrifice. This is comparable with the Catholic altar. The Jewish sacrificial altar was like a box with four horns on the top ends. It was made from acacia wood and plated with bronze. Within the altar was a fire that had been lit by God (Lev. 9:24). Just as God had appeared like a consuming fire on Sinai, so the fire of the altar symbolized his presence in the new Sinai (Exod. 24:17).
On top of the altar was a bronze grating, and the priests would sacrifice dead animals to God by burning them on top of this grating. The priestly duty to “till and keep” the Tabernacle (Num. 3:7-8, 8:26, 18:5-6) was fulfilled through the sacrifices. Those two words (till and keep) were commanded of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15), indicating that the Tabernacle was a new Garden of Eden.
The bronze basin (Exod. 30:17-21). Next to the altar was a water bowl or laver called the bronze basin. It was comparable to a Catholic holy water font. The Aaronic priests would cleanse their hands and feet in this basin as a ritual cleansing, for they were interacting with God’s invisible presence on God’s property. God’s presence was lethal, and the way to prevent themselves from dying was to cleanse themselves in the water (Exod. 30:20-21).
Continued below.
The Jewish Mass
The Catholic Mass is not just pulled out of a hat. Believe it or not, it has much in common with ancient Jewish temple worship.
