An Arab sheikh, once gave a banquet for his son.
>> He invited his friends to share his hospitality.
His one request was that each guest bring a small skin of wine as his contribution to the feast.
On the appointed day the skins were emptied.
>> However, the further discovery caused immense embarrassment for the host as well as the like: most of them contained water!
Each guest had reasoned that, since everyone else would bring wine, he might be able to make a substitution and not be detected.
<> They were entrusted fully with the taking care of the vineyard.
The Master placed a lot of trust in the servants.
He gave the freedom… a responsible freedom…
…which could be meaningfully used and nurtured
…or which could be woefully misused and manipulated.
However, the tenants, who were trusted immensely…probably lost their focus on the real trust and diminished in their commitment and responsibility to their Master as well as their duty.
>> Their personal interests gained greater prominence over their entrusted duties.
>> Their selfish agenda gained the upper hand over the faithfulness to the Master.
This led to them to a total denial of all the emissaries and servants of the Master, who were sent to collect the produce.
>> This denial was extended even to the Master’s own Son!
This denial of the Son led to the letting loose of the anger and fury of the Just Master!
>> A squandering away of the responsible freedom, led to the downfall of the tenants!
>> A failure to give heed to the emissaries and servants caused them to face the Master’s rage!
>> A denial and rejection of the Master’s own Son, with a cruel intent, caused their destruction!
Are we also, as Christians, as tenants of the Heavenly Master failing in our responsibilities and duties?
The Lord has entrusted us with many responsibilities…
>> To promote and grow in our faith…
…. by a faithful prayer-life, co-operation with the graces of God, keeping away from a life of sin etc.
>> To be faithful to the vocation and works we are called to do…
… by constantly renewing our resolve in the works we do, remaining focussed on our calling etc.
>> To encourage others to increase in faith and in love of life…
… by being interested In their well-being, supporting them, teaching them etc.
The Lord presents Himself as the cornerstone…
… “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..” (Mk 12: 10)
Jesus is the cornerstone…of Salvation.. of the Church.. of His People!
>> We need to find strength and support in this Cornerstone…
… the cornerstone to build a wonderful life in God and grow in holiness…
… the cornerstone to stand firm and strong in faith to withstand every storm of life…
Let us come to understand that the price of enjoyment always comes at a price: of responsibility.
>> And it is “freedom with responsibility” that ensures valid enjoyment and proper satisfaction.
May the intercession of the Saint of the Day, St Joan of Ark who said…
“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying”
…. be an inspiration for us.
Chapel of the Corporal, Orvieto Cathedral, the Eucharistic miracle that inspired the Institution of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi
(A): THE RITE OF THE DISMISSAL
Having been nourished with the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation, we spend a few quiet moments, enjoying and relishing the sweetness of the Lord.
We are busy in the world with too many things… umpteen engagements, different activities, varied tensions and concerns, difficult dealings, crazy disturbances, bothering problems, strained relationships, acute financial difficulties, turbulent job affairs, disorderly lifestyles, instable existence etc…. the list can go on and on….
In this midst of all this jumble and mishmash….. in the post-communion moments during the Holy Mass, we are allowed to experience a calmness and a stillness…a joy which is beyond limits and a peace, which is unparalleled.
Sometimes, in life, to escape the grinds and hardships, we get involved into many “escapist” techniques….some resort to being workaholic; some become alcoholic; some involve in character assassination and image-disfiguring; some get a kick in life with drugs or other addictions…etc
But the Lord, the lover of our souls and the caregiver of our hearts, in the Most Holy Eucharist, blesses us with His peace and His grace…. We need to dwell in Him, in these precious moments, after having received Him.
As a lover in the loving embrace of the Beloved…as a child in the consoling care of the mother…as a tender lamb in the gentle arms of the Shepherd…so we are .. in the Presence and Love of the Eucharistic Lord.
In the final prayer, and the blessing, we once again affirm our thanks and gratitude, to the Lord, for His magnanimous love.
The apostles were called to “be with the Lord” and to “be sent out”. In the Gospels, Jesus invites His followers, to first “follow Him”..and once they have been schooled with Him, He says, ” to go out..“
The Holy Eucharist follows the same formula… after having been with the Lord and been nourished, we are invited to go out, to become sharers of the Word and give food and life to a starved and broken world. We bless ourselves with the Blessing of the Trinity and give a Yes to the call of the Lord, to go and glorify the Lord, by our lives!
To Reflect
Do I continue to be aware of the Eucharistic Lord in the post-communion moments, and offer Him my bouquet of thanks and praise?
Am I able to pronounce with joy and conviction, the Call of the Lord, to go and live the Holy Eucharist? I need to realise, that what I have worshipped, what I have heard in the Word of God and what I have experienced in the Holy Eucharist, now needs to be lived, in my daily life.
Do I continue to be aware of the Eucharistic Lord, in me, during other times of the day?
Prayer
Blessed Jesus, you nurture us with Your living presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. Help us to continually live in your presence, that our works may have the Divine touch. Help us that we become a Sacrament, a Sign of Your Love and Joy to all in our lives, Amen.
(B): THE POST-MASS REFLECTIONS
In life, there are many experiences, which leaves a great impression on our minds and in our hearts. Some of these, as time passes, are forgotten..but some….some remain deeply impressed, and have an intense bearing on our life thereafter. The most sublime and the highest of such experiences, ought to be the Celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist.
It may sound theoretical….it may be written off as impractical…it may even be condemned as not being credible and unbelievable and unreliable and unrealizable… but the fact is that……..The Holy Eucharist can make us saints… the Holy Eucharist can make our lives a litany of true joy and peace!
After having been nourished by the Word of the Lord in the Liturgy of the Word, and strengthened by the Body and Blood of the Lord, in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we are now invited and challenged, to give this nourishment and this strength to other people in our life.
The Eucharist that we have celebrated, now needs to be lived….
the Eucharist that we have relished now needs to be actualized in our daily lives…
ery often, I fail to see the treasure hidden in my home, and run after other “transient” sources of joy, alternative modes of spirituality, variant methods of lifestyle, unconventional techniques of philosophy and healing… but little do I see the treasure in our own Catholic Church – especially the treasure of the Most Holy Eucharist!
• There can be no better gift than the Holy Eucharist…
• There can be no lasting healing than the Holy Eucharist…
• There can be no higher challenge than the Holy Eucharist…
• There can be no supreme consolation than the Holy Eucharist…
Has the Eucharist, really become, the Centre of my Christian Life?
To reflect
The Holy Mass challenges & invites us to offer our lives completely to the Will of God. Am I willing to surrender myself to His Will, though sometimes, it can be painful & agonizing?
The Holy Mass requires me to be in good harmony and peaceful relation with other people. Am I becoming worthy of the forgiveness and mercy that I have received from the Lord? Or do I continue to keep grudge, anger or unforgiveness towards people?
The Holy Mass invites to break my body in service of others, to shed my blood in love, to suppress my evil inclinations & egoistic mentality. Am I willing to take up this hard task?
Perhaps, many times in the past, we have celebrated and participated in the Holy Mass.. But has it really become a Reality and a Mighty Force in my Life?
Prayer
Most Holy God, who fill our lives with Your Life in the Holy Mass, give us the grace and the courage, to live out the Holy Mass in our daily lives. We realize that participation in the Eucharist is not a mere, unrealistic spiritual act; rather it is real and a life-transforming experience. Help us to live in You always, and may all our actions and deeds, be a participation, in the sacrifice which you have offered at Calvary, and which we have commemorated at the Holy Mass, Amen!
The initial years of the 20th Century saw communists seizing a Catholic parish and imprisoning the priest in his own rectory near the church.
After being locked up in his own house, the priest looked out the window and was horrified to see the anti-Catholic militants enter the church.
Once inside, they went into the sanctuary, broke open the tabernacle and in an act of desecration, threw down the ciborium – scattering the Sacred Hosts on the floor.
>> The priest knew exactly how many Hosts had been in the ciborium: Thirty Two.
However, the communists either failed to notice, or didn’t pay any attention to a small girl who had been praying in the back of the Church.
>> She saw everything.
That night the girl returned, and slipping past the guard at the rectory, entered the Church where she made a Holy Hour.
After her Holy Hour, she went into the sanctuary, and kneeling down, bent over and received Jesus in the Holy Communion with her tongue (Since at that time, it was not permissible lay-people to touch the Sacred Host with their hands)
Each night, the girl returned to the church to make her Holy Hour and received Jesus in Holy Communion on her tongue, just as she did the first night.
On the thirty- second night, after having consumed the last Host, she accidentally made a noise that awoke the guard who was asleep at his post by the priest’s residence.
From his bedroom window, the priest could only watch in horror as the heartrending scene unfolded before his eyes:
>> The girl tried to run away…
…. But the guard chased her, grabbed her, and beat her to death with the butt of his rifle!
The little girl had a heroic martyrdom – all because of her tender and deep love for the Holy Eucharist!
It was this incident that would inspire Archbishop Fulton Sheen – one of the greatest 20th century proponents of the Catholic Church – to spend one hour each, daily, before the Holy Eucharist!
>> The daring action of that little girl, inspired the heart of another fervent soul, Fulton Sheen, who would go on to influence millions to love Jesus in the Holy Eucharist!
Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, Raphael, 1510, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
Today is the great Solemnity of the Corpus Christi – the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The Catechism of the Church declares that “the mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique”
The Catechism teaches, “In the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained” (#1374).
The Holy Mass is not another sacrifice nor a repetition of the sacrifice of Calvary.
Instead,
• The Holy Mass is the same sacrifice of Jesus – the perpetual continuation and adoration of the sacrifice of Calvary.
The Priest at the Holy Mass is Jesus Himself, the High Priest and Victim of the Sacrifice.
The Holy Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Jesus – is the greatest treasure that the Church offers to Her children…
>> Yet, the Holy Eucharist sometimes, also becomes the great barrier for people to misunderstand and misinterpret the Church.
The same was true even in the time of Jesus.
>> The mention of His Body and Blood caused great division, misunderstanding and led to the misinterpretation of Jesus.
After having provided physical nourishment for the crowd (Lk 9: 11-17), Jesus had declared Himself as “The Bread Of Life” (Jn 6: 35).
The Greek word that is used for “bread” is “artos”.
>> This “artos”….
… refers to food composed of flour mixed with water, and baked.
… also refers to food of any kind or food in general.
As “bread” or “food” is essential for the physical life
… Jesus as “the bread of life” is required for the spiritual life!
Without bread, physical life would perish….
… Without Jesus, the bread, spiritual life would perish!
The Lord surprised His hearers by saying that “the bread that I give is my flesh for the world” (Jn 6:51b)
>> This saying had caused a dispute among the people, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (Jn 6:52)
The bold declaration of the Lord that He would give His Flesh and His Blood as food and drink, caused a huge scandal among His listeners and it caused deep divisions and disputes.
>> The same is so much true in our own world – when the Church declares the Holy Eucharist to be the True and Real Body and Blood of the Lord, there are so many disputes and divisions.
On this great Feast day, there are questions that arise before us…
>> What is my belief and understanding of this most Treasured Gift of the Holy Eucharist – “the source and summit of Christian Life”
… Do I believe with conviction that Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Eucharist?
… Do I celebrate and participate in the Holy Mass with this Divine Fervour?
>> What is the effect that this Sacrament of Total Self-giving on me?
… Does the reception of Jesus – the Love Incarnate, make me in turn to be more loving towards others and do I make deliberate choices to extend love to all?
… Does the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist impel me also to make sacrifices – even tiny, insignificant, unnoticed – for the cause and good of others?
>> What is my contribution to spread the good news of the Holy Eucharist to others?
… Am I being a person who radiates the love of the Eucharist to others, by my conscious efforts to be respectful, reverent and devoted in the Chapel or Church and also become aware of the Lord’s Presence, when passing by Churches or handling Sacred objects?
… Do I tell to other people about this exciting, real presence of God in the Holy Eucharist – especially the sick, the suffering and those in distress, that they may experience the real healing presence of the Lord?
Jesus – the Bread of Life – in the Holy Eucharist…
… eagerly longs for our reception and our adoration
The tragedy in our life, however, is that very often, this “magnetic” Eucharistic presence remains abandoned and forsaken!
It’s a pity that the Living Lord is hardly visited in the Blessed Sacrament!
>> Chapels and Churches often remain empty and forlorn!
>> Hardly any say “Hello” to the Lord in the Eucharist!
We sometimes are reducing ourselves to a generation seeking only after mighty wonders,
fascinating miracles and attracted only to external sensations!
>> But the Holy Eucharist – the greatest miracle of the world often remains unnoticed!
We need to come to experience that…
>> There is nothing more sublime in this world than the Holy Eucharistic Presence!
>> There is nothing more beautiful than moments spent before the Eucharistic Lord!
>> The Lord waits for us…every moment…every day!
>> The Lord seeks for us…every second…every hour!
We may have different excuses to evade and avoid time before His presence…
>> Maybe too many works and occupations…
>> Maybe a feeling that it is too dry and boring to be with Him…
>> Maybe an attitude that social works suffice and go beyond all such pious devotions…
But no excuse and no theory can give justification to miss the Presence of the Lord!
>> The more we remain with Him, the more we become like Him!
In the midst of daily scuffles and struggles of life, the Holy Eucharist ought to be the strength and support of our lives.
The Holy Eucharist may not give us…
… perfect answers or solutions in the way we expect.
… us immediate responses and remedies in the manner we want.
But the Holy Eucharist will most certainly…
… strengthen us with grace and power to face the challenges with courage.
… infuse us with a deep and intense authority to defy any difficulties that we meet.
… empower us with immense joy and peace in order to withstand the storms of life.
May we grow in the love of the Holy Eucharist, for, as Bishop Fulton Sheen says, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host”!
And, in turn, may we become a magnetic Presence of the Lord to others!
… Seeking the Eucharist, to be a Eucharist to the other!
… Loving the Eucharist to break and share oneself to the other!
Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Eucharist!
May our Blessed Mamma of the Holy Eucharist, help & intercede for us, to love the Lord more!
Once, a preacher was speaking the Word of God to a great crowd.
As was his practice, he was concentrating more on the content of his message and of its effect upon the hearts of people, for transformation, rather than the precise literary form of it.
Among his audience, was seated a certain fussy gentleman.
He had been known for making extremely critical remarks and comments.
At the end of the prayer service, this person went up to the preacher and said, “By the way, I noticed that you made eleven mistakes of grammar in your sermon.”
“Very likely,” replied the preacher, very coolly, “I don’t doubt it for a minute.
My early education was faulty. I often wished that I had received more schooling.
But I am using all the grammar I know in the service of Christ.
How is it with you?”
Well, we don’t know how did the fussy gentleman react to this bold and true reply of the preacher.
(Hopefully, he went home and read a chapter of the Bible and prayed for a humbler heart rather than just revising his skills of grammar!)
When the heart is closed to God’s spirit, the focus dwells only external and peripheral factors…
>> The heart gets closed to spiritual appreciation…
>> The mind remains curious only for rhetorical arguments!
The Gospel of the Day presents such a critically harsh and uncharitably closed attitude of the chief priests and scribes and elders towards the person and ministry of Jesus.
This is expressed in their volatile question to Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mk 11: 28)
The context of today’s Gospel is the presence of Jesus in the city of Jerusalem.
Chapter 11 of St Mark’s Gospel has a progressive sequence…
1. The entry into Jerusalem (Mk 11: 1-10)
2. The entry to Bethany and cursing of the fig tree (Mk 11: 11-14)
3. The re-entry to Jerusalem and cleansing of the Temple (Mk 11: 15-18)
4. The re-entry to Bethany, observation of withered tree and teaching on faith (Mk 11: 19-26)
5. The third entry into Jerusalem and questioning of Jesus’ authority (Mk 11: 27-33)
>> The popularity of Jesus was on the rise…
… He had a rousing welcome to the city of Jerusalem
>> The impact of Jesus was also on the rise…
… He had performed a daring cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple
These factors had greatly disturbed the religious leaders.
>> In Jesus, they perceived a threat.
… a threat to their attitude of subjugating people to their yoke than to service of God
>> In Jesus, they sensed a danger.
… a danger to their personal wishes and agenda of having a monopoly over religion
>> In Jesus, they identified a menace.
… a menace to their comfort-rendering style of spirituality and way of life.
And so, they – the chief priests and scribes and the elders – seek to put Jesus to the task and question His authority on doing such deeds and performing such actions.
Their eyes are closed to see the goodness of the Lord
> Their hearts become clogged to examine their own maligned conscience
>> Their lives are rendered blocked to be willing to make necessary changes for the good.
Instead…
… they only find fault with the Lord
… they only become critical of the ways of the Lord
When the heart is closed to God’s spirit, the focus dwells only external and peripheral factors…
>> The heart gets closed to spiritual appreciation…
>> The mind remains curious only for rhetorical arguments!
Is such an attitude prevalent among us also?
> A mentality of harshly criticising…
>> A tendency to inhumanly condemn…
… without any consideration to humanness or acceptance or self-examination etc.
May we be able to root out all such pessimistic mind-sets and focus instead of self-growth in holiness and humility.
Mass at Bolsena, Raphael, 1512, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
(A) : THE COMMUNION RITE
Our Christian Prayers are oriented towards assimilating more and more, the Spirit of Christ, till we slowly bear more and more the Image of Christ..and we become Alter Christu – another Christ!
In this transformation, we seek to imitate Christ in all things. Christ, when he lived on earth, formed a filial and affectionate relationship with His Father, and invited us to experience the same bond. Giving heed to this call, we begin the Immediate Preparation for Communion, in the Liturgy, with the recital of the Our Father- the model of all prayers.
The Our Father leads into the exchange of peace. The prayer that we prayed in the Our Father…”forgive us…..as we forgive those who trespass against us”, is symbolically actualized in our exchanging of the peace with our neighbours.
The Priest then breaks the Blessed Host, signifying the broken body of Christ. Meanwhile the Lamb of God is recited, proclaiming, Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb who takes away our sins.
A small piece of the host is mingled with the Sacred Wine signifying the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, and also the Unity of the Body of Christ, the Church.
The Lord is then presented as the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World and we are invited to this Sacred Feast. We express our unworthiness to Receive the Most Holy of Holies.
These are precious and sacred moments as we make an immediate preparation for the majestic entry of the Lord into our hearts….
To reflect
Do I Recite the Our Father, slowly, devoutly and meaningfully?
Do I really seek to do His Will in my life….pray for His Kingdom to come…forgive the trespasses of others?
Does the exchange of sign of peace, really symbolise that I have forgiven ALL people in my life?
Do I prepare earnestly, while reciting the Lamb of God, to be prepared to receive the Sacred Body of Christ?
Prayer
Jesus, the Lamb of God, Our Saviour, help us to also acclaim, God as our Father and experience His filial affection. Help us as we prepare our hearts to receive You, that we may truly cleanse our hearts from all stains. May your grace which makes us worthy to receive you, constantly increase our longing and desire to be united with you forever, Amen!
Hmmmmm.. We are not enlisting a family of synonyms.. Rather, we are entering the most blessed moments of the Liturgy…. when the Lord enters into our hearts, as His own Body and Blood….and we are given an opportunity to experience all those above-mentioned emotions and sentiments and much more…
Heaven is a grand experience of joy and bliss and harmonious acclamations….
… but there comes a split moment
… when heaven stands still
… the Angels rejoice in silence
… Blessed Mamma contemplates in beauty
… the Saints gaze in happiness
… Its the moment of Divine Silence and Serenity
… when……the Body and Blood of Jesus is received in the Holy Communion!
A moment when heaven touches the earth…when the Divine lowers itself to embrace the fallen Humanity, to raise it up to Divine status…
These are blessed and divine moments.
To reflect
The Holy Communion is a Graceful time. Am I able to calm my external disturbances, and really focus and give my full attention to the Lord, who is in me?
He is a jealous God…a passionate lover…a demanding King. He has given Himself wholly. Can I also not spend meaningful moments with Him, in this Divine Exchange?
The time of Communion sometimes gets distracting because of some external factors of people lining up, benches or chairs being moved, choir and mike settings, bad selection of hymns or music etc…but besides all these.. Am I just able to focus more on the Jesus, who is present in the Blessed Host… ?
The Lord who is present in me, deserves my highest praise and honour. We may of course, have our mind filled with many concerns, worries, petitions etc….but in the midst of all that, Can I make this time of Communion, a time of inner praise and worship and thanksgiving and adoration?
The Lord says.. BE still and know, that I am God. He is our creator. He is our Saviour. He is our Everything. Nothing in this world happens beyond His knowledge and beyond His power. Yes..everything in life, happens for good… So let’s, make it a time of wonderful praise and adoration…in the sanctuary of our hearts!
Prayer
Loving Jesus, who make yourself present within me in the Most Holy Eucharist, help me to experience your gentle love and peaceful presence. Give me the grace, to make the time of the Holy Communion, as a sacred time of renewal, transformation , rejuvenation and revitalization. May I grow in your love, that I too may be able to break my body and shed my blood, in service of humanity and Your Kingdom, Amen!
The Gospel of St Mark has many “sandwich” passages.
“Sandwich” stories are a literary technique in which the narration of one story begins, but is interrupted by another story, before finishing the first one.
Some of the examples of these “sandwich stories” are…
In Mk 3: 20-35, we have…
>> Mk 3:20-22: Jesus’ family members set out to seize Him
>Mk 3: 23-30: Jesus speaks to the Pharisees on their accusation of Him
>> Mk 3: 31-35: Jesus family comes to meet Him
In Mk 5: 21-43, we have…
>> Mk 5: 21-24: Jesus is pleaded by Jairus to heal his daughter
> Mk 5: 25-34: The woman suffering from haemorrhage is healed
>> Mk 5: 35-43: Jesus heals the daughter of Jairus
In Mk 6: 7-33, we have…
>> Mk 6: 7-13: The disciples sent on a mission
> Mk 6: 14-29: Herod’s opinion on John the Baptist and the narrative of the beheading.
>> Mk 6: 30-33: The disciples return from the mission
In Mk 14: 1-11, we have…
>> Mk 14: 1-2: The Conspiracy against Jesus
> Mk 14: 3-9: The anointing of Jesus at Bethany
>> Mk 14: 10-11: The conspiracy plan by Judas to betray Jesus
Such kind of “sandwich” layers illustrates points for reflection by showing ..
… similarities and contrasts between the outside and the inside layers.
… the first and the last as “the bread”‘ and the centre one as the “filling” of the sandwich!
Today’s Gospel also follows this “sandwich-story” structure: Mk 11: 12-25
>> Mk 11: 12-14: Jesus cursing the fig tree
> Mk 11: 15-19: Jesus cleansing the Temple
>> Mk 11: 20-24: Jesus’ teaching on the withered fig tree
There are many similarities and contrasts between the “bread” – the outside layers and the “filling” – the inside layers in this ‘sandwich’ passage…
Symbols:
The fig tree represents the people of Israel
The Temple was the symbol of the worship and faith of the people of Israel
Reaction of Jesus is “at the entry”
The fig tree was cursed when “Jesus was nearing”… on His way to Jerusalem
The Temple was cleansed as Jesus “entered” the temple
“Leaves seen, but no fruit”
The fig tree bore only leaves, but no fruits were found on it
The Temple had many activities (leaves) but no faith or religiosity was seen (fruits)
Jesus performs an action of fury and rage
The fig tree is cursed and it withers
The Temple is cursed and cleansed
Some of the key messages of both these stories invite us to reflect on our own life…
1. God’s demand to be fruit-bearing
The fig tree as well as the Temple failed to bear fruits…
>> As Christians, we are expected and demanded by God to bear fruits and be co-operative to the graces that God has blessed us with
2. Importance of repentance and cleansing
The fig tree is judged for its fruitlessness while the Temple is cleansed due to its uncleanness
>> As Christians, we are to repent and cleanse our hearts of all defilements, lethargy and sluggishness and become relevant and effective people of God
3. Harsh consequences are in store for the unfaithful and unfruitful
The fig tree is cursed while the Temple undergoes the wrath of the Zealous Jesus
>> As Christians, we are to realise that strong consequences are for sure, if we fail in our duties and responsibilities
The Gospel of the Day is a strong exhortation by Jesus…
… to become aware of our Christian duties
… the need to be faithful and ever watchful
… and become zealous in bearing fruits for the Kingdom of God.
May we give heed to the warnings and exhortations of the Lord, and build our lives co-operating with the Grace of God…
…so that we become persons of “Faith and Fruitfulness!”
Gratitude is an attitude of the heart that makes life a beatitude! Our whole life is meant to be a continual act of praising and thanking the Lord.
Eucharist comes from the word, “Eucharistia”, which means thanksgiving. The whole Liturgy is oriented towards praising, adoring and thanking the Lord. After having offered the petitions and gifts to the Lord, we now come in humble thanksgiving to the Lord.
Have we ever tried to make a list of the blessings and gifts, we have received from the Lord? Right from our birth, to the present moment….? This list will be too long, isn’t it? This analogy will help us to understand this part of the Mass called the Preface.
The Church enlists (as per the Liturgical Season or the theme) the various and manifold ways in which the Lord has worked in human history. In this Holy Act, we find that the list is endless, and so we also call upon the Angels and Saints.
Thus We (the Church Militant), seeking intercession for the Faithful Departed (the Church Suffering) join the beautiful choir of the saints (Church Triumphant) and angels, in a wonderful communion, singing Holy Holy, Holy to the Most High God! Yes, its a moment of intense praise and Divine worship!
Let’s grow in understanding the various phases of this Beautiful Preface:
1.The Lord be with you: The Priest invokes the Lord’s presence, and the people of God, in fellowship, pray for the Priest
2. Lift up your hearts: Our minds and hearts need to transcend our human worries, concerns and troubles, and be raised in heavenly contemplation.
3. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God: An ancient prayer, which renders the highest praise and thanks to God, who is the source of all things in our life!
To Reflect:
The long prayer of the Preface often goes unnoticed and without attention; and yet, it is a treasure of deep meditation and worship. Is it possible for me to try to reflect or meditate on any of the Prefaces, which can be found in the Holy Missal? This can make the Liturgy more meaningful and personal.
Do I really lift up my heart to the Lord and render Him my thanks, or is it mere lip-service that I engage myself in?
Can I become more aware of the heavenly Angels and Saints, along with Blessed Mamma, as we approach the crescendo of our Eucharistic Celebration?
Prayer
Most Glorious Lord, we delight in the manifold graces you bestow on us. You give us the privilege to have a foretaste of Your Heavenly Glory, during the moments of the Preface. Stir our hearts in devotion, that your spectacular magnificence, that we celebrate in these moments of the Liturgy, may spur us on to live a committed Christian Life, Amen!
(B) : THE CONSECRATION
The Consecration during the Liturgy , is the most solemn and intense moment of the Sacrifice.
Phil 2:6 says, ” Though He was in the form of God, He emptied Himself….” The Lord, now empties Himself, and takes the form of the Bread and Wine…really, wholly and substantially present!
This is the Eucharist.
The Sacrifice of the Last Supper.
The Last Supper, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1480, Cenacolo di Ognissanti, Florence
And to understand, appreciate and grow deeper in this intense action, we need to get united with the Spirit at the Last Supper and the Redeeming Moments of Mount Calvary!
Lets dwell on the parts of these beautiful moments:
1. Epiclesis: The portion where the power of the Holy Spirit is invoked, so that the gifts of bread and wine, may be transformed into Divine Species.
2. The Words of the Institution: The words of Christ Himself, wherein the bread and wine, are transformed to His Body and Blood.
3. The Proclamation: The Church joyfully proclaims the wonders and providence of the Lord’s works of Salvation, in the mystery of the Faith.
4. Anamnesis and Offering to the Father. : The Church recalls the memory of Christ, especially His Blessed Passion, Death and Resurrection. Christ, the Spotless Victim, is offered to the Father, and the people also pledge their lives, in union with the Redeemer.
5. Intercessions: The Priest offers the prayers of Intercession for the entire Church Militant and the Church Suffering and for , in union with the Church Triumphant – our Blessed Mamma and all the saints
6. Doxology: A solemn moment of praise and adoration to the Triune God, concluded by a triumphant and affirming shout of Amen – so let it be!
To reflect
Am I able to unite myself with the Spirit of the Last Supper and join with the suffering and agony that Jesus – the priest and victim, underwent, through the moments from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Mount Calvary?
Do I pray during the Epiclesis, that the Holy Spirit may fill my mind and heart and life, that I too may be transformed, like the bread and wine, into the life and likeness of Jesus, our Saviour?
Am I able to unite myself more intensely with the Words of the Consecration..”This is my body”, and “This is my blood”, and be willing to pledge my life too, in sacrifice & in love?
Do I, while reciting the Mystery of Faith, proclaim with conviction God’s saving mystery,?
The time after the proclamation, when the Priest says the words of Anamnesis and Intercessions, is often lost in our thoughts and concerns. Am I able to keep up the spirit of intense prayer and offering ourselves entirely to God’s loving hands?
Do I pray the Doxology and Amen with a deep sense of certainty, passion and fervour, with a sense of deep joy and elation in the heart?
Prayer
O Awesome God, who make yourself present on human altars, give us the grace, to prepare our hearts more fervently for the moments of Consecration. Help us to pledge our lives, with the host and the wine, that we too may be transformed into a living Eucharist, giving life and love to our brothers and sisters, Amen.
Every spiritual endeavour ought to have its basis in an experience of the Divine.
This experience becomes the launching-pad to nurture a life-long relationship with the Divine.
The contrast is also true…
A lack of experience of the Divine makes the spiritual journey a lethargic one…
…sometimes makes it even non-existent!
The greater the experience that one has of the Divine, the higher will be one’s enthusiasm and interest in spiritual matters.
The Gospel of the Day presents the experience of the Divine by a blind person and his consequent expression of happiness and delight in the Lord.
Blind Bartimaeus experiences the Divine healing power and gives vent to his deep joy in the Lord by ‘following Him on the way’.
Jesus was passing through the land of Jericho.
>> As he was leaving Jericho, with His disciples, the news reached the ears of Bartimaeus.
He was blind.
>> We do not know how long was he so.
>> We do not know what was the reason for being so.
But we know one thing.. that he would have heard about the wonders and fame of Jesus.
And the very mention that “Jesus of Nazareth” was passing that way, made him to spring into pleading for mercy.
>> Just as the steps of the lover sounds sweet to the Beloved…
>> Just as the strains of music sound sweet to the singer…
So, the mention of the name, “Jesus” sounded healing and wholeness for Blind Bartimaeus!
With his might and strength, he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy” (Mk 10:47)
>> The crowd tried to dissuade him.
>> The people surrounding made efforts to silence him.
But nothing of this could prevent this determined person to cry out to his God!
This persevering and passionate pleading of Bartimaeus was amply rewarded.
Jesus called him, and said to him, ” Go your way, your faith has saved you!” (Mk 10: 52a)
This tremendous healing experience, fanned to flame the sparks of Divine Love within blind Bartimaeus!
>> He immediately received his sight and followed Jesus on the way (Mk 10: 52b)
This experience became a launching-pad to nurture a life-long relationship with the Divine!
We too are in need of an deeper experience of the Lord, in order to nurture and strengthen our spiritual life.
We sometimes remain blind to things of the spiritual dimension.
>> We sometimes rejected in our lack of progress in a holy living.
Yet, we are invited to cry out with full intensity, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Surely, this act of faith from our part, would meet with a lot of oppositions…
… we may hear voices telling us that it is useless to cry to God and rely on His power
… we may be told that it is illogical and unreasonable to be banking on Divine assistance
But like Blind Bartimaeus, are we willing to transgress and traverse all such negative voices, and drown them with a wave of mightier faith, crying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me?”
Unless we undergo such a healing experience, our faith will remain shallow and our spiritual following will remain dispirited.
>> This healing is not just of the physical nature; rather it could be healing of the mind, healing of the spirit or a social healing or an emotional healing.
>> The fact of being healed, would make me more passionate about the Divine Healer!
>> The fact of being cleansed, would make me more zealous about the Divine Sanctifier!
May our hearts be opened, in perseverance and passion, to seek the wonderful experience of the Divine.
Many of us , at some time or the other, would have received love letters – letters from our parents, siblings, relatives, friends etc A love letter carries some unique specialties – there is much eagerness to read it…there is much joy while reading it…and there is much contentment after having read it…
Hmmm….here is a well-known secret….shhh… the Lord is a great “lover”, though sometimes He is too shy a lover! He loves to talk to us through love-letters. The Word of God is God’s love letter to each one of us.. and the Liturgy of the Word, during the Holy Mass, celebrates this loving conversation.
Lets give a better attention as God speaks to us, In His Word. Often, the time of sitting, while listening to the Readings, is when we gaze around the Church/Chapel, looking at others, being distracted with our thoughts etc. Let’s seek to focus our attention greater, on the Lord, who talks to us…IN HIS WORD!
Let’s be aware of the greatness of this Liturgy of the Word:
1. The 1st and 2nd Readings: God’s mysterious works of Salvation and Love are proclaimed. Let’s seek to strike a chord of these readings with our own lives.
2. The Responsorial: We give an affirmation to the Reading, we heard, and express our gratitude and petition to our Life-Giver.
3. The Alleluia: Praising the Lord, we welcome Him with joyful shouts and signing ourselves on the forehead, lips and the chest, we seek His Help to cleanse our minds, lips & hearts, that we may worthily receive Jesus, the Word into our lives!
4. The Sermon: Often considered to be the boring part, the avoidable section, the relaxing phase, the Sermon should, in fact, seek to connect the hearts of the Faithful, with Jesus- the Divine Word, and strengthen our Christian living in this world.
To reflect
Do I give enough attention while listening to the Readings?
Do I, make the sign of the Cross, with awareness, and welcome the Lord, by seeking to cleanse our minds, our lips and our hearts?
Do I prepare devoutly to preach the sermon/ to listen to the sermon, and seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit, who is the Author of the Word of God?
Am I able to recall the Readings, during the course of the Day, and make the Word of God, a real and practical dimension of my life?
Prayer
Oh Divine Word, who became flesh and dwelt amidst us, give us the grace and the wisdom to understand You, in the Holy Word. May the Liturgy of the Word, that we celebrate in the Eucharist, become a dynamic inspiration and force in our everyday lives, and may we in turn, become a Gospel- the good news, to the poor, the oppressed and all peoples in our lives, Amen!
(B): THE OFFERTORY
After having been nourished by His Word, we profess our Faith in the Holy Catholic Church, and we offer our petitions and gifts to the Lord.
The Lord has blessed our lives with innumerable gifts and graces. As the Psalmist says, ” If I were to count your blessings, I would have to be eternal like You, O Lord!”
The Eucharist is a thanksgiving meal.. When we come to the Mass, we are not to come empty-handed. Rather, we give ourselves, wholly to the Lord. All what we are and all what we have belongs to the Lord, who is the Source and End of all. And to Him, we offer everything – our blessings, our plans, our feelings, our concerns, our heart and our lives!
Along with ourselves, we also offer all the people in our lives – our family, community, our nation, our world… The Eucharist is a moment of healing and grace for the entire creation..and we bring all to His feet.
Lets bring to consciousness the various dimensions in this part of the Mass:
1. The Creed: With much devotion and deep love, we express and affirm the teachings and faith of our Holy Mother, the Church
2. The Prayer of the Faithful: The Community as a family, offer petitions, and thus, the entire creation becomes part of this Divine Action of the Holy Mass
3. The Offering of Bread and Wine: The Gifts, which soon, will become the Body and Blood of Christ, represent fruits of our labour. As the gifts, we pray, that we too be changed into His Body and Blood
4. The mingling of a drop of water in the wine by the Priest: The water represents, our littleness, which is totally mingled with the wine, signifying, our intention to be one with the Divine Lord
5. The washing of the hands: The Priest – the representative of the People of God, cleanses himself and prepares, for the Most Holy Sacrifice of Calvary.
To Reflect
Am I fervent and zealous in expressing my love for my mother, the Church, as I recite the Creed?
Do I offer everything to the Lord, and be ready to accept His will in my life?
Prayer
Most Merciful Lord, I come to you, in humble praise, to offer you myself. All what I have is given by you, and to you, I offer everything. Make the offerings that I make, be for me, a channel to accept your Holy Will in my life, and thus, I may be able to truly experience the power of Your Body and Blood..Amen.
Spending time along little streams can be a fascinating pastime.
When along these stams, one can observe tiny flies that come and bathe in it.
If one notices carefully, it can be seen that while they plunge their bodies, they keep their wings high out of the water and fly away, with their wings unwet!
The wings are kept safe from getting wet, so that there is no hindrance in flying again!
How beautiful a lesson is this for us Christians…
…. who live in the world, yet are called to be out of the world.
… who live amidst possibilities of wealth, yet are called to be detached from them.
… who live with the prospect of gaining immense power, yet are exhorted to not be attached
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus highlighting this essential element of Christian living : Being in the world, but living out of the world, with eyes firmly set on heavenly realms.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee approach Jesus and ask for a favour: “Grant to us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mk 10:37)
They sought for a prime place in the future Kingdom of the Lord.
They probably had the conception and understanding, that Jesus would rule in glory, and they being His chosen ones, sought for esteemed positions in this Glorious Kingdom.
They were certainly right that the Lord would surely one day rule in glory.
But they got it totally wrong in their understanding and perspective of the nature of this rule.
>> His was not to be a kingdom of arrogant display of power…
… rather one of serene majesty and mercy
>> His was not to be a rule of aggression and pomp…
… rather one of gentle splendour and grace.
The Lord had, as per St Mark’s Gospel, just made His third prediction, regarding His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
>> He was revealing the true nature and character of the victory that He was to gain.
>> He was exposing the manner in which His glory would be stamped upon all ages to come.
However, the disciples fell short in grasping these words of the Lord.
>> St Mark says that “they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid” (Mk 10: 32b)
Our lives are very often no different, from the ignorance that the disciples had and the wrong notion that was expressed by James and John.
>> We fall prey to seeking great honour and fame in being a Christian…
… but are unable to grasp the fact that ‘to be a Christian is to be living a life of simplicity’.
>> We yield to temptations of being obsessed to seek power and positions of futile vanity…
… and fail time and again to live up to the Christian virtues of humility and modesty
>> We often become victims of engaging in dirty politics and authority-grabbing games…
… and become an anti-witness to the Lord who ‘came to serve, rather than be served’
We need to give heed to the words of the Lord who prayed that “we are in the world, but do not belong to this world” (Jn 17: 15)
A Christian life…. ought to be hallmarked by detachment and separation…
… detachment from too much of worldly distractions and vain glory
… separation from sinful ways and evil tendencies
A Christian life… ought to be radiated with total focus and complete dedication…
… total focus on the Lord who ‘walked the talk’ by giving up His life in service
… complete dedication to the Kingdom of God which calls for a humble way of life
Reflection Capsules 