23
Oct
ORATIONS: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. In part 11 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church US Bishops’ document, I’m reflecting on the 5th of the 7 prayers used to end Benediction. The 7 ‘themes’ are: Memorial; True God/True Man; Paschal Lamb of God; Heavenly Bread of Angels; Spirit and Truth; Life-Giving Bread/Viaticum; and Paschal Mystery Renewed. Past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, are on our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org; click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles.
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Eucharistic Adoration Oration: 5 of 7 Lord, give to our hearts |
LIGHT OF FAITH. Saint Paul proclaimed that of the three great virtues: faith, hope and love (often translated as ‘charity’) – the greatest of these is love. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13) But in the New Testament, the word ‘faith’ or ‘belief’ appear some 500 times – more often than the words ‘hope’ and ‘love’ do – combined! When Jesus told a man who asked Him to cure his possessed son, “Everything is possible to one who has faith,” the man cried out: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24) In other healing accounts, Jesus asked if the person believed or had faith, as when He told those mourning the death of Jairus’ daughter: “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” (5:36c) What is ‘faith?‘
Simply put: ‘faith’ is ‘seeing beyond’ that which is ‘seen’ – or as we are warned before crossing a street: “Make sure you LOOK BOTH WAYS!” ‘Faith’ is the realization that our human ability to ‘see’ or ‘know’ things is so flawed and limited, we must have another way of ‘seeing’ or ‘knowing’ things. This oration starts by asking God to ‘enlighten’ us with the ability to ‘see beyond’ the ‘bread’ that has become Christ’s Real Presence!
FIRE OF LOVE. Anyone who has ‘fallen in love’ – even in ‘puppy-love’ – knows ‘the feeling.’ Hearts race and flutter; we get lightheaded; minds swirl; throats dry up; words stumble out of our mouths; we can even get giddy. We see all these reactions – and more – in Saint Peter. While in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, early on in their relationship, the future Pope said to Jesus after a miraculous catch of fish: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8) However, after another miraculous catch of fish – this time, provided by the Risen Lord – Saint Peter put on his clothes (for he had been lightly clad) and then jumped into the water to swim toward Jesus, where he undid his three denials by professing his love – three times – for his Lord and Savior.
Imagine how different our worship would be, both privately and communally… how different our lives would be – if we were filled with – and as willingly expressed – a similar ‘fire of love!?‘ Like Saint Peter, when we experience the Risen Lord’s loving, forgiving presence, we can be radically changed. Consider this analogy: sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, by ‘making a visit’ before a Tabernacle, or joining in Eucharistic Adoration, can be like sitting before a blazing fireplace on a cold winter’s night. We avail ourselves to the ultimate ‘Fire of Love:’ the Lord Jesus, present in the Eucharist – who can spark, kindle, and fuel the ‘fire of love’ that burns within us.
SPIRIT AND TRUTH. In His conversation with ‘The Woman at the Well,’ who – as a Samaritan – was banned from worship at Jerusalem’s Temple – Jesus assured her of a future reality: “…the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed, the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” (John 4:21, 23-24) This promise is uniquely fulfilled in the Eucharist by which God, in Jesus, is ‘made present’ at each holy Mass, in every Tabernacle, until the end of time! Jesus has certainly done HIS part in making it easy for us to worship Him, bask in His presence, and receive His graces. Do we do our part by receiving Holy Communion often and making regular ‘visits’ to the Blessed Sacrament?
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
ORATIONS: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. In part 11 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church US Bishops’ document, I’m reflecting on the 5th of the 7 prayers used to end Benediction. The 7 ‘themes’ are: Memorial; True God/True Man; Paschal Lamb of God; Heavenly Bread of Angels; Spirit and Truth; Life-Giving Bread/Viaticum; and Paschal Mystery Renewed. Past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, are on our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org; click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles.
|
Eucharistic Adoration Oration: 5 of 7 Lord, give to our hearts |
LIGHT OF FAITH. Saint Paul proclaimed that of the three great virtues: faith, hope and love (often translated as ‘charity’) – the greatest of these is love. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13) But in the New Testament, the word ‘faith’ or ‘belief’ appear some 500 times – more often than the words ‘hope’ and ‘love’ do – combined! When Jesus told a man who asked Him to cure his possessed son, “Everything is possible to one who has faith,” the man cried out: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24) In other healing accounts, Jesus asked if the person believed or had faith, as when He told those mourning the death of Jairus’ daughter: “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” (5:36c) What is ‘faith?‘
Simply put: ‘faith’ is ‘seeing beyond’ that which is ‘seen’ – or as we are warned before crossing a street: “Make sure you LOOK BOTH WAYS!” ‘Faith’ is the realization that our human ability to ‘see’ or ‘know’ things is so flawed and limited, we must have another way of ‘seeing’ or ‘knowing’ things. This oration starts by asking God to ‘enlighten’ us with the ability to ‘see beyond’ the ‘bread’ that has become Christ’s Real Presence!
FIRE OF LOVE. Anyone who has ‘fallen in love’ – even in ‘puppy-love’ – knows ‘the feeling.’ Hearts race and flutter; we get lightheaded; minds swirl; throats dry up; words stumble out of our mouths; we can even get giddy. We see all these reactions – and more – in Saint Peter. While in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, early on in their relationship, the future Pope said to Jesus after a miraculous catch of fish: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8) However, after another miraculous catch of fish – this time, provided by the Risen Lord – Saint Peter put on his clothes (for he had been lightly clad) and then jumped into the water to swim toward Jesus, where he undid his three denials by professing his love – three times – for his Lord and Savior.
Imagine how different our worship would be, both privately and communally… how different our lives would be – if we were filled with – and as willingly expressed – a similar ‘fire of love!?‘ Like Saint Peter, when we experience the Risen Lord’s loving, forgiving presence, we can be radically changed. Consider this analogy: sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, by ‘making a visit’ before a Tabernacle, or joining in Eucharistic Adoration, can be like sitting before a blazing fireplace on a cold winter’s night. We avail ourselves to the ultimate ‘Fire of Love:’ the Lord Jesus, present in the Eucharist – who can spark, kindle, and fuel the ‘fire of love’ that burns within us.
SPIRIT AND TRUTH. In His conversation with ‘The Woman at the Well,’ who – as a Samaritan – was banned from worship at Jerusalem’s Temple – Jesus assured her of a future reality: “…the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed, the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” (John 4:21, 23-24) This promise is uniquely fulfilled in the Eucharist by which God, in Jesus, is ‘made present’ at each holy Mass, in every Tabernacle, until the end of time! Jesus has certainly done HIS part in making it easy for us to worship Him, bask in His presence, and receive His graces. Do we do our part by receiving Holy Communion often and making regular ‘visits’ to the Blessed Sacrament?
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS