18
Sep
COMMUNION WITH CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. In part 6 of my series on the US Catholic Bishops’ The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church document, I reflect on the third essential truth about the Eucharist: it is Communion with Christ and the Church. In past articles, I reflected on Eucharist as the Sacrifice of Christ and the Real Presence of Christ. To read past articles on this Revival, the whole document, or the free study guide, go to our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org and click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles. We begin with a quote from the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium (Light of the World) on the importance of ALL the Sacraments, but in a uniquely particular way, the Most Blessed Sacrament: the Eucharist.
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The Eucharist is the Source and Summit. “Taking part in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, |
SOME THINGS CANNOT BE DONE ALONE. A common response to the question, “Why don’t you go to church?” is a variation of these words: “I can pray at home!” I usually reply by saying something like: “That’s great; I hope – and pray – you DO pray at home, in the car, at the beach, up the mountains, or wherever you go! For we cannot be spiritually healthy if we only pray once a week, for just one hour, in church.” (Let’s be honest: how many people even do that much!) But among the many reasons we call it ‘Holy Communion’ is that the holy Mass unites us to the Lord AND to one another – which we cannot do alone! As they say: no one can be a ‘Lone Ranger’ Christian for many, many reasons!
The Risen Lord primarily works through those He chooses to lead His Church and her Sacraments. Between His Resurrection and Ascension, He delegated the Apostles to baptize, confirm, forgive sins, drive out demons and heal the sick. He revealed Himself in the Breaking of Bread, the Eucharist; which requires us to join the Church in prayer! As Eucharistic Prayer III says, “Listen graciously to the prayers of this family, whom you have SUMMONED before you: in your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.” If we face consequences for ignoring an earthly judge’s summons, what will the Judge of Heaven and Earth do if we ignore His summons!
Coming together for holy Mass, at least weekly, empowers us, by the one Sacrament that literally enters us, to be changed from the inside out into another Christ: the Eucharist. This intimate union with God also extends to all who gather for this sacred meal: our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our presence at – or absence from – holy Mass has far-reaching effects. Is it possible that few young people come to Mass because their parents and grandparents – especially the men – do not do so? In Jewish and Moslem rites, men usually lead communal and ‘home-based’ rites … so what’s up with Christian men? Come on, guys; step up to the plate… the Ciborium or Communion Plate, that is!
This intimate union with our God also reaches beyond the bounds of time and space, for the holy Mass joins us with all our brothers and sisters worldwide. That’s one reason our main pastor – the Pope – and local Bishop are always mentioned by name. So, too, are our greatest Saints: our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, and in a general way, all the Apostles and Saints. How sad that so many face life without the help from heaven available to us through the Communion of Saints.
WE ARE OBLIGATED FOR OUR OWN GOOD! While the above-mentioned realities are reason enough for the Church to mandate that we “Keep holy the Lord’s Day” – which, from apostolic times, was moved to the day of the Lord’s Resurrection: Sunday – there’s still more! It is one of the primary ways we ‘identify’ ourselves as Christians, so it also becomes our ‘identity.’ We become what, or rather, Who we receive! When we are absent, we deprive the Church, our family, of her unity. It’s like missing a family wedding reception or funeral repast, birthday or graduation party. It’s just not the same when anyone misses the holy Mass!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
COMMUNION WITH CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. In part 6 of my series on the US Catholic Bishops’ The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church document, I reflect on the third essential truth about the Eucharist: it is Communion with Christ and the Church. In past articles, I reflected on Eucharist as the Sacrifice of Christ and the Real Presence of Christ. To read past articles on this Revival, the whole document, or the free study guide, go to our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org and click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles. We begin with a quote from the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium (Light of the World) on the importance of ALL the Sacraments, but in a uniquely particular way, the Most Blessed Sacrament: the Eucharist.
|
The Eucharist is the Source and Summit. “Taking part in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, |
SOME THINGS CANNOT BE DONE ALONE. A common response to the question, “Why don’t you go to church?” is a variation of these words: “I can pray at home!” I usually reply by saying something like: “That’s great; I hope – and pray – you DO pray at home, in the car, at the beach, up the mountains, or wherever you go! For we cannot be spiritually healthy if we only pray once a week, for just one hour, in church.” (Let’s be honest: how many people even do that much!) But among the many reasons we call it ‘Holy Communion’ is that the holy Mass unites us to the Lord AND to one another – which we cannot do alone! As they say: no one can be a ‘Lone Ranger’ Christian for many, many reasons!
The Risen Lord primarily works through those He chooses to lead His Church and her Sacraments. Between His Resurrection and Ascension, He delegated the Apostles to baptize, confirm, forgive sins, drive out demons and heal the sick. He revealed Himself in the Breaking of Bread, the Eucharist; which requires us to join the Church in prayer! As Eucharistic Prayer III says, “Listen graciously to the prayers of this family, whom you have SUMMONED before you: in your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.” If we face consequences for ignoring an earthly judge’s summons, what will the Judge of Heaven and Earth do if we ignore His summons!
Coming together for holy Mass, at least weekly, empowers us, by the one Sacrament that literally enters us, to be changed from the inside out into another Christ: the Eucharist. This intimate union with God also extends to all who gather for this sacred meal: our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our presence at – or absence from – holy Mass has far-reaching effects. Is it possible that few young people come to Mass because their parents and grandparents – especially the men – do not do so? In Jewish and Moslem rites, men usually lead communal and ‘home-based’ rites … so what’s up with Christian men? Come on, guys; step up to the plate… the Ciborium or Communion Plate, that is!
This intimate union with our God also reaches beyond the bounds of time and space, for the holy Mass joins us with all our brothers and sisters worldwide. That’s one reason our main pastor – the Pope – and local Bishop are always mentioned by name. So, too, are our greatest Saints: our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, and in a general way, all the Apostles and Saints. How sad that so many face life without the help from heaven available to us through the Communion of Saints.
WE ARE OBLIGATED FOR OUR OWN GOOD! While the above-mentioned realities are reason enough for the Church to mandate that we “Keep holy the Lord’s Day” – which, from apostolic times, was moved to the day of the Lord’s Resurrection: Sunday – there’s still more! It is one of the primary ways we ‘identify’ ourselves as Christians, so it also becomes our ‘identity.’ We become what, or rather, Who we receive! When we are absent, we deprive the Church, our family, of her unity. It’s like missing a family wedding reception or funeral repast, birthday or graduation party. It’s just not the same when anyone misses the holy Mass!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS