Saturday 25^th October – Saturday of week 29 of the year

Reflection: Psalm 122: 1-5

THE JOY OF HIS PRESENCE

Most of us young Catholics were born and grew up in families that attended Mass every Sunday, hence it is a routine for us to wear our best clothes on Sunday and go to Church. However, as we grow into adolescents and adults, we must have more reasons for attending Mass than it being just a routine family practice.

Today’s psalmist recalls the joy he experienced when going up to the temple at Jerusalem; the Lord’s dwelling place. Dearest friend, you cannot experience true joy at the thought of attending Mass if you do not know the significance of the Mass. The Old Testament feast of the Passover attracted all Jews to the temple in Jerusalem once a year. This feast has been fulfilled and transformed in Christ, our Passover Lamb that has been sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sins. Each Mass we celebrate is a re-enactment of the sacrifice of our Lord; and we have the privilege of receiving Him into ourselves in the Eucharist.

Do you rejoice at the thought of attending Mass? Do you seek to attend Mass on other days apart from Sunday? Only when you realise that every Mass is an opportunity to receive Christ in a unique way; in a way that guarantees eternal life (John 6:54) would you truly experience a desire to avail yourself of the privilege of the Mass regularly and be able to say with the Psalmist “I rejoice when I heard them say: Let us go to God’s house” Psalm 122:1

PRAYER: Thank you Jesus for the gift of yourself in the Eucharist. Please help me to thankfully and joyfully avail myself of the opportunity to dine with you at Mass frequently. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 211 How important is the Eucharist for the Church?

The celebration of the Eucharist is the heart of the Christian communion. In it the Church becomes Church.

We are not Church because we get along well, or because we happen to end up in the same parish community, but rather because in the Eucharist we receive the Body of Christ and are increasingly being transformed into the Body of Christ.

 HIDE A TREASURE: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in Him.” John 6:41 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: Ephesians 4: 7-16; Psalm 121: 1-5; Luke 13: 1-9