MARCH 10, 2018
HOMILY: 8:45 AM MASS, REFLECTION: 9:45 AM
HOMILY
The Eucharist is our lifeblood – and the lifeblood of the Church.
The Second Vatican council reminds us that within the Eucharist, is contained the whole spiritual wealth of the Church.
We must always remember that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life – of our whole Christian life.
In the sacristies of the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity – Saint Mother Teresa’s sisters – all over the world, there is always a little sign hanging as a reminder for the priest. The purpose of this sign is to inspire him to offer Mass with devotion, freshness, contemplation, and enthusiasm.
The sign reads:
O Priest of God,Priest, or deacon; ordained, or lay; active, or receptive – anyone engaged in the celebration of the Eucharist in any way can approach the Mass as if it were their first time, their last time, or their only time.
say this Mass as though it were
your first Mass,
your last Mass,
your only Mass.
The Mass can be broken up into its commensurate parts. There are books, talks, charts, Missals, or Missalettes that provide instruction or guidance on the Mass. And as many of those as there are, there are probably as many ways to break up the structure or explain the elements of the Mass.
From a spiritual perspective, there can be said to be three interior movements of the Mass. These can be applied to the particular parts of the Mass in sequential order, but also can occur at any point in the liturgy.
1. The way of purification.2. The way of illumination.3. The way of union.
Returning to the Missionaries of Charity, in their chapels, as in any chapel, there is always a crucifix. Written next to the crucifix are one of the last words that Jesus said from the cross:
I thirst.Jesus thirsts for our souls … for our hearts … for our attention … for our love. And we should thirst for union with Him … for union with His most Sacred Heart … for union with His will … and for union with the Divine Love which unites Him to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
And finally, at the close of the Eucharistic Prayer is the doxology – the words of glory – that say:
Through him, and with him, and in him,And so, these are our marching orders. In the pew, in a ministry, on the altar, in the choir … in our action or our reception … to participate in the liturgy as if it our first, last, or only Mass … to seek the grace to be purged of anything that separates us from God; to hear His voice in the prayers, the hymns, the Scriptures and allow the Light of Christ to enlighten our hearts, minds, and souls; and to unite ourselves body, mind, and soul with God Almighty … as we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass … and receive the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar – Jesus Christ – Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours,
for ever and ever. Amen.
REFLECTION
