A Journey through the Mass
-
Holy indeed! Following the Sanctus, the Eucharistic Prayers expresses much depth with few words and using poetic and noble language the priest petitions the Holy Spirit to come down upon the Church’s gifts of bread and wine so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The priest takes bread, blesses it, gives it to us and says, “Take this all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.” The priest uses the present tense since at that moment he is in the person of Christ and this sacrifice reaches into the eternal sacrifice in heaven. The priest raises the Body so that all can adore but also presents it before God the Father. Similarly, the priest takes the cup saying, “This is the chalice of my Blood.” What Jesus did at the Last Supper – and what he still does now in this moment – does not pass away. Jesus uses bread and wine, basic symbols of human life together, in the context of a meal - a sacrificial Passover meal when God brought salvation to the Israelites. The Mass reveals Jesus’ death at Calvary and we are present. We join with Christ in coming to the Father. Our declaration of the Mystery of Faith underscores our faith. The rest of the Eucharistic Prayer remembers that Jesus told us to “do this in memory of me”. Thus, we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. Then we pray, “Look, we pray, upon the oblation of your Church...” and offer the Body and Blood, to which the Church is joined, to the Father. We pray again to the Holy Spirit to transform us into what receive - the Body and Blood of Christ and, “May he make of us an eternal offering to you.” The entire assembly and community of saints are offered as a universal sacrifice to God through the High Priest who offered himself...” Nothing like Christian Eucharist happens in any other ritual of any other religion. The Eucharistic Prayer identifies our Pope, our bishop, all the clergy and all who have died. We align ourselves with Mary, Joseph and all the saints. It all leads to the great climax where the priest holds up the Body and Blood reciting the great doxology where we offer this sacrifice to the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Our response is a resounding AMEN!