The Catholic Mass

The Catholic Mass is the most sacred event and act of worship one can participate in on earth.

Its origins are rooted in the Last Supper in which Jesus reveals himself in a new and eternal gift to His disciples.  It is this gift, in which common bread and wine become for us the sacred Body and Blood of Jesus.

The Mass is that sacred moment in time where the human and the Divine come together in a unique and profound way.  You and I have the unworthy privilege to step out of our everyday living and touch the Divine; to look upon the face of God.

The Mass renews the Last Supper, but it is also the continuation of the traditions of God’s people and their experience of God throughout time and history.

Therefore, everyone, EVERYONE who comes to this holy place is seeking GOD in their life.  We have only to respond to that need by opening our doors and our hearts in welcome.  They must be provided with an environment, free of chaos, disorder, corruption, and sin in order that they might BEHOLD the majesty and mystery of God.

Does my demeanor bespeak the presence of God?  Does it invite someone in or close them out?  Do I reverence the very blessedness of this man, woman, teen or child, created in the image and likeness of God? 

As the faithful gather, the presence of God and family becomes evident.  God visits his people; we know him and he loves us.  The music swells our voices ring out.  Our spiritual father calls us together and leads us to the throne of God.  God’s mercy is desired and His glory is acclaimed.  We are in His holy place and ready to meet him.  Jesus himself, when entering the synagogue opened the scroll and read the words of the prophet Isaiah and tells us the word he speaks is fulfilled in our hearing.

God speaks to us in His word, written through those chosen ones who would speak of God by His very inspiration.  Those words have been and are spoken through history.

In the proclamation of the Word…those who proclaim it, bring to life the very words of God.  The assembly does not merely read along…but is allowed to have the voice of God ring in their ears and grasp at their heart, so holy and powerful is God’s word.

In the proclamation of the Gospel, Jesus himself speaks to us and instructs us for our life journey.  This moment of grace causes us to make those three small gestures, signing our self with the cross on our forehead, mouth and heart, so that we might UNDERSTAND his word, PROCLAIM his word and LOVE his word…so that we might LIVE his word!  Do I believe what I proclaim?  Moreover, do I try to live it?

The homily, a Greek word meaning conversation assists us in understanding the word and its meaning for our daily living.  In our own family our parents teach and instruct us as children; nurturing within us love and faith.  So too have we been instructed throughout the ages by our Fathers in faith and the holy women of ages past.  Now, our spiritual father breaks open the word and instructs us in faith, so we too might grow in holiness.

Christ himself chose to spread his kingdom by preaching.  St. Paul teaches us that if people are to believe they must hear the faith preached.  God knows our needs so well that he wants us to have some words from a father-figure within our faith family who knows our lives and our struggles so that we might understand and live the gospel more deeply….in the world.

Jesus Christ came into this world to bring all humankind back to the Father.  His whole life from incarnation through resurrection is for our redemption.

At Mass the culminating moment comes NOW when the priest repeats Jesus very words and gestures at the last supper.  The priest carries forward the priesthood Jesus instituted that Holy Thursday night, he acts in persona Christi, in the person of Christ.

Common and simple gifts of bread and wine become for us the actual, real Body and Blood of Christ.  This reality we call transubstantiation.  Its form may remain but its reality and purpose has changed.  Now we are one with Christ as he comes into us!

When God delivered the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, he commanded that the people sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle its blood on the doorpost.  This would be a sign that the angel of death should Passover their household; hence the feast of Passover.

But it was not enough for them to sacrifice the lamb…they had to consume it.  The meal ended with a final cup of wine and the pronouncement, “it is finished.”  On the cross Jesus expressing his thirst for souls asked for one final cup and said, “It is finished.”

Holy Communion is the very same meal Christ shared with his disciples.  We all consume the same Lamb who is Christ himself.  It is also a sharing in his sacrifice on the cross.

But Communion means more than receiving…it means UNITING!  We receive Christ in his body and blood, soul and divinity.  We share his very life.  He becomes the very food of our soul; the life of our life.

Words fall short for the depth of this mystery.  This union is the closest and most intense we can have with God on earth.  The innocent victim embraces his executioners.  The Lord becomes the food of the servant.  Heaven comes to earth!  We are changed!

Do I believe this mystery I behold?  Can I as a minister of the cup and a minister of the body of Christ say “Amen” to the statement of faith in which I invoke for the response of the communicant?  Do I allow myself to be properly disposed in order to receive this mystery?  Do I allow it to change me? 

In this great celebration when earth and heaven unite for one splendid moment of grace, what we do and how we do it matters! 

Some may remark there are too many rules and regulations that govern the Mass; that there should be more freedom; that it’s no big deal.  God is pleased that we just showed up!  In this day and age, I’m not sure we’d feel the same about God…just showing up!

The fact remains, the guidelines we are given, the rules that govern how we do what we do are the boundaries by which we can more fully enter into this mystery of our faith, free from distraction and worry in order that we might fully enter into this moment…not just as ministers, but as receivers of Gods grace. 

The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.  The Mass is the source and summit of our life of the Church.  We draw from the life of Christ that we may become more like him.  What we do and say, how we move and gesture, when we respond and sing, all matters because we do it in union with the whole Church.  And not any one of us has the right to change it or even participate in it…but everyone of us has the responsibility to reverence and preserve this mystery we celebrate and to do so with great love!