Dear friends,
Hello again everyone! We are still in the midst of the Eucharistic Revival emphasis in our country. I know Fr. John has mentioned this revival before, and I only echo his emphasis. I want to use these next two weeks for working toward a deeper appreciation for the Eucharist.
The Mass is the most important thing that we will participate in during the week. The Mass is our opportunity to receive the Eucharist. The reason why there is so much around the Eucharist is that it is the Body of Christ. It is actually Jesus’ flesh. It is not a representation or a symbol of his flesh. It is the Body of Christ. That’s what we confirm when we respond “Amen” to the person who holds up the Host before us and says “the Body of Christ.” Our response “Amen” means “Yes, I am receiving the Body of Christ.”
Before we can really reflect on the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we need to start with everything that leads up to the Eucharist. Mass begins with the Sign of the Cross, but there is much that can happen for Mass before the Sign of the Cross. We can prepare for what we will celebrate. One good practice is to review and reflect on the week’s readings before Mass begins. The readings are listed our bulletin, they are available in multiple places online (I recommend the USCCB’s website), we sell missals with the readings, there are apps for the readings on our phones – they are all over the place. Spending some time with the readings we will hear at Mass before Mass begins will allow us to receive the Word of God more deeply as it is proclaimed. In addition to preparing for Mass by reviewing the Mass readings in advance, a second good practice is to come to the Church early for a bit of private prayer, if possible. If it’s not quiet enough for you in Church before Mass begins, then consider lingering after Mass for that quiet prayer time.
Another very important aspect of the Mass is that it is a public prayer. The Mass is not private. One of the beauties of the Mass is that it is full of others. A healthy Mass is one where those in the pews represent the diversity of the Church. All baptized Catholics have a right to be at Mass. All Catholics should feel at home during Mass. Therefore, the way we interact with those around us in the pews and those entering the Church building needs to be rooted in the fact that everyone is a beloved child of God. (Yes, even those children who sometimes remind us quite loudly of their presence at Mass!).
All of this reflection on the Mass and we haven’t gotten past the Sign of the Cross yet! That’s why I said this reflection will have two parts. Next week we will reflect on some of the parts of the Mass.
In Holy Cross,
Fr. Vincent