Tag Archives: Mass

GOD RETURNS AT EVERY MASS

by

Tuesday 26th January – Tuesday of week 3 of the year
Reflection: 1 Samuel 6: 12-15, 17-19
GOD RETURNS AT EVERY MASS
To many the Mass has become the routine ceremony of listening to lengthy homilies, singing the same old hymns and sharing some ‘tasteless’ bread. Even to devout Catholics; it could become a colorless daily repetition of prayers. The Eucharist: a renewal of God’s covenant of love in the sacrifice of His Son, God’s majesty glorified in the simplicity of bread and wine should never become so ‘common’.
Many years before the first mass celebrated by Jesus and His disciples at the upper room; David led the whole of Israel to celebrate the return of the ark of God’s covenant with great rejoicing. In this sketchy replica of the Eucharistic celebration, they celebrated in singing and dancing; with an imperfect sacrifice of sheep, a mere shadow of the everlasting covenant we now share at every Mass. This replica represents a lesson on how we should receive God’s covenant at mass. Our hope in his power revealed in bread and wine should bring us to worship him in truth and spirit. Our faith in the mystery of the Eucharist should make us blessings to the world and to ourselves. Our love in sharing bread and wine should be taken beyond the mass to our homes and the world.
As you prepare for Mass today; rejoice that you would see God return at Mass as you prepare your heart for him. See you at mass; there we would meet God.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, come into my heart today, and may I take you with me wherever I go. Amen.
KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 216 – In what way is Christ there when the Eucharist is celebrated?
Christ is mysteriously but really present in the sacrament of the Eucharist. As often as the church fulfills Jesus’ command, “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24), breaks the bread and offers the chalice, the same thing takes place today that happened then: Christ truly gives himself for us, and we truly gain a share in him. The unique and unrepeatable sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is made present on the altar; the work of our redemption is accomplished.

HIDE A TREASURE: But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said: ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that. Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man”. John 1: 50-51 RSV-CE
Readings for Today: 2 Samuel 6: 12-15. 17-19; Psalm 23; Mark 3: 31-35.

Advertisement

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

by

Tuesday 27th January – Tuesday of week 3 of the year

Reflection: Hebrews 10: 1-10

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

“You Are What You Eat” was the theme of a dieting programme aired between 2004 and 2007 on the British Television. With the pandemic of non-infectious diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases etc, the world has become much more conscious of the impact of our diet and lifestyle choices on our health. You need not look too far to find numerous diet regimens being promoted in a bid to encourage a healthy life. We too, as Catholic Christians are what we eat; Christ invites us to eat His flesh in the discourse on the Eucharist and at the last supper, on the night He was betrayed (John 6:51; Matthew 26: 26-28).

The writer to the Hebrews tells us in today’s reading that “God’s will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 10:10). The blood of goats and bulls which were required under the old covenant for the cleansing of sin were grossly inadequate and lacked the power to truly purify the Israelites. However, the blood of Christ which was shed once and for all as He offered Himself on the cross has the power not only to take away our sins but also to purify our hearts and consciences and unite us with our Heavenly Father. Thus, the Eucharist raises us from our fallen state into union with God.

Dear friend, at every Mass you have the privilege of reliving this ultimate sacrifice. Each Mass is celebrated in obedience to Christ’s instruction: “do this in memory of me”. The Eucharist is a life giving meal; it pours out sanctifying grace – the very life of God into us and strengthens us in our journey of faith, preparing us to meet Him whom we receive face to face at the end of time. Jesus invites you and I to receive Him so we can be like Him. Let us open our hearts and minds to the Lord and approach Him with purity of heart so that the bread of life that we eat may bring us eternal life and not condemnation.

PRAYER: Thank you Jesus for the gift of your body and blood. Please help me to receive you worthily and frequently and to cooperate with the grace of holiness you give me in the Eucharist so that I may truly be Christ-like.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 221 – How does Holy Communion change me?

Every Holy Communion unites me more deeply with Christ, makes me a living member of the Body of Christ, renews the graces that I received in Baptism and Confirmation, and fortifies me for the battle against sin.

HIDE A TREASURE: “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me” John 6: 57 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: Hebrews 10: 1-10; Psalm 40: 2-4, 7-11; Mark 3: 31-35