Today, I want you to use your imagination.
Imagine that each time you go to church that you will receive $1000. Every time you walk through the doors you get $1000. It doesn’t matter if it is the weekend Mass, a weekday Mass or spending time in Adoration. In fact, you can even get $1000 each time you receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
At each Mass the basket is passed up and down the pews and instead of you placing money inside, you actually get to take out a crisp $1000 bill.
Now,If this were truly the case, I bet people would line up for church long before the doors opened. The pews would be full for Mass and Adoration with lines wrapped around the church for Reconciliation as people wait for hours to enter the Confessional. The priests would probably be exhausted from trying to keep up with the demand.
So, ask yourself, if you received $1000 to go to Mass would it change what you do now? Would attending church become a priority? Would you plan your schedule around going to Mass rather than hoping Mass will fit into your busy life.
Let’s think about the reasons why $1000 would be so enticing.
First, $1000 can give you freedom. Money gives you the ability to explore different opportunities. You can pursue an education, start a business, travel or explore hobbies. With money you can support yourself and are free to live life on your own terms. You aren’t dependent on someone else.
Next, having $1000 can provide feelings of peace and security in your life. As you accumulate money in your savings account, you have the peace of mind knowing that you can handle problems that come up. Money can be a safety net for when life doesn’t go as expected. It can make you feel like you are protected and safe from outside threats so you can lay your head on your pillow and sleep at night.
The $1000 allows you to buy a house for your family and to put food on the table. Food and shelter are basic needs for everyone. With money you can heat your house and buy items for comfort and ease. Money can help you create a home to love and nurture your family.
You might associate the $1000 with happiness. It is often believed that money makes you happy. The more money you have the happier you are. With money you can buy MORE clothes, shoes, purses, toys, gadgets or whatever you want with the hopes that your life will be easy and carefree. You may look at other people who seem happy and relate their happiness to the size of their house, the car they drive, their salary or the jewelry they wear. You want what they have so you secretly envy their possessions and desire the money to buy them so you can feel happy too.
Finally, $1000 can mean receiving the approval of others. Money is known to bring prestige and power. Rich people are often placed on a pedestal as an example of what is possible. Earning money might be a way that you seek and find approval from those around you.
Ok, I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but you aren’t going to get $1000 for going to Mass. But what if I told you that what you will receive at Mass is so much more valuable than $1000. That the gift you are given is priceless each and every time you enter the church doors.
That gift is Jesus.
Mass is where you go to encounter Jesus.
All of those things you might believe that $1000 could provide, Jesus can provide even more. The gifts that you receive you attend Mass are the greatest gifts on earth.
This past weekend in the homily, Fr. Dan shared that there are four ways Jesus is present in the Holy Mass. The four ways are in the Eucharist, through the priest, in the Word of God and within the people. Each time you attend Mass, Jesus is present in all four of these ways. At times you are aware of his presence. You can feel his presence through worship, a message in the homily, the songs or the rituals. You leave with a full heart ready to share the Gospel with your family and all of those you encounter on your journey. Maybe you feel hope in knowing that God is always beside you. Then, there are other times that you arrive at Mass and then leave without feeling God’s presence. You might blame it on the priest, the music or being distracted. Either way Jesus is present and waiting for you to walk through those doors.
Let’s look at each of the 4 ways.
The first presence of Christ is that of his presence in the assembled people of God (GIRM #27). Christ is present as parishioners gather in his name. Jesus promised in Matthew, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Therefore, every time we come together to pray, worship, give thanks and sing during the liturgy Christ is present in and with us.
Here are some reasons that show why it is important to create a Christian community at church. First, our Christian brothers and sisters help you to grow closer to Christ. They give you encouragement for your spiritual journey. Connecting with others allows you to see life from a different perspective, to offer prayers for those who are suffering and to celebrate life’s joys.
Next, it is important to become part of a christian community because it helps keep you committed and grounded in your faith. Knowing that others will gather to celebrate Mass and share prayers keeps you consistent in faith life. You count on them and they know that they can count on you. Think about those people at your church who are always consistent. You know when they go to Mass and which pew they sit in each day. When they aren’t there you wonder if something is wrong.
Next, a christian community provides support in times of need. When life throws you a curve ball and doesn’t go as expected, having a faith based community means that others will offer encouragement and prayer.
Lastly, a christian community is where you learn love and mercy. Through the examples of others you learn what it means to be a Christin in your daily life. You see examples of forgiveness and deep belief as you hear the stories of other believers.
So, Christ is present in the community of believers that make up the church family.
A second way in which Christ is present in the liturgy is in the person of the priest. In the Holy Mass the priest proclaims the Word of God and helps the congregation to internalize the Gospel message. The priest acts in the person of Christ. The Catechism states, the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his body, shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This what the church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona christi capitis.
It is the same priest, Christ Jesus, whose sacred person the priest truly represents. The priest through the consecration he has received is truly made like the high priest and possesses the authority to act in the power and place of the person of Christ himself in the sacraments. At Mass we encounter Jesus as he works through the hands, actions and words of the priest.
Several years ago, I was blessed to go on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. One day we visited the home of Patrick and Nancy, a married couple who left their lavish lifestyle behind in search of a deeper connection with God in their everyday lives. Patrick and Nancy built a castle to be used as a retreat place for priests, nuns, seminarians and religious who visit the village. It is always uplifting to visit the castle and hear the couple share their conversion story. Patrick’s conversion occurred when Nancy shared some of our Lady’s Messages from Medjugorje. Uninterested, Patrick turned to the shortest message and read, “for the last time, I am calling you to conversion.” This was the nudge that Patick needed to return to Christ and the Catholic Church. One of the first things he did upon returning to the church was to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a gift from Jesus that we receive through the priest.
Jesus carefully chose his apostles and called them to participate in his priesthood in a special way. He imparted to them his own power to forgive sins and granted them the authority to reconcile sinners with the church. The priest is an essential part of our reconciliation because it is through him that God has chosen to grant us forgiveness and to reconcile us to himself.
As we sat and listened to Nancy and Patrick talk, I’ll never forget that Nancy grabbed the hands of a priest standing near her and raised them in the air. She said that these were the hands of Christ. I can vividly remember the impact of her words. The hands of the priest are those of Christ in the Eucharist and Reconciliation. One of the greatest fruits of Medjugorje can be found in the many confessions that take place each day around the church. In the evening priests from all over the world gather to hear confessions from the many pilgrims. It is a moving sight to see priests sitting on benches, in chairs, in the confessionals or leaning against the church walls acting in the person of Christ. Those priests are the hands and feet of Jesus on Earth.
The third way that Christ is present through the Liturgy is in the Word of God. John tells us at the beginning of his Gospel, that Christ IS the Word of God. In John 1 we read, In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. A little further along In chapter 14 Joahn writes, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
When you read Scripture, God is speaking to you. Anytime you hear God’s Word, from the law, a prophet, a psalm, a gospel, a letter, or any other Scripture passage, Christ is there for you and around you.
Pope Francis said it is in the Mass readings that God speaks to each person through the power of the Holy Spirit. He said, “let us ask the Holy Spirit to make the word sown in our hearts, bear abundant fruit and guide our steps, day by day.” God has a unique message for each person sitting in the pews.
The Word of God is a call to action in your life. The Gospels are examples of how you are called to live your life through the example of Jesus and the disciples. Once you receive the Word of God you can use it as a GPS for your life. You can measure your actions against the teachings of Christ.
The Word of God comes before the Eucharist so that your heart and soul are prepared for the Body and Blood of Christ. As you look up towards the lectern and hear the Word proclaimed you turn your attention to Christ and his presence in your life.
The final and most important way Christ is present in the Mass is through the Eucharist. This is the source and summit of the Catholic faith.
Christ is present in the bread and wine as it becomes the Body and Blood of Christ through the hands of the priest. What looks like bread and wine has truly become Christ’s Body and Blood by the “taking, blessing, breaking and sharing” of the priest in front of all of those gathered to worship. Was it not in the “breaking of the bread” that the disciples at Emmaus recognized Jesus present with them? In Luke 24 we read, When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. The Eucharist is where you come face to face with God.
St Augustine said, “What you see is the bread and the chalice; that is what your own eyes report to you. But what your faith obliges you to accept is that the bread is the body of Christ, and the chalice is the blood of Christ.”
Last March, I had the honor of interviewing Sr. Briege McKenna for my podcast. Sr. Briege is an Irish nun who loves the Lord and travels around the world to proclaim Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Sister is a dynamic speaker and shares so many stories of healing and deliverance in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. In her book Miracles Do Happen she says, “ we catholics often forget that we can do much more than merely touch Jesus. As Catholics we believe we actually receive Jesus. We put out our hand and we receive the body of and blood of Jesus.” She goes on to say, “the Lord comes, through the power of the ordained priest, and takes possession of the bread and wine. Then, at the Lord’s invitation to “take and eat,” we receive the Eucharist and the Lord takes possession of us.”
So the four ways you encounter Christ in Mass, through the congregation, through the priest, in the The Word of God and in the Eucharist are the greatest gifts we could ever receive. They are more precious and valuable than money, yet our churches aren’t packed each time the doors open.
Like I said at the beginning, receiving $1000 each time you go to Mass, would draw many people because of what they believe that the money could do for them.
Instead of needing money to provide freedom, Christ provides real freedom. We live in a broken world which means that sin, failures and wounds are all a part of it. God sent his Son to redeem us, to save us. Christ’s freedom offers the opportunity for a new way of living. You are free to make your own choices and create a life in Christ. Christ will free you from the weight of worldly expectations, false pleasures and temptations so that you can walk in confidence and hope.
Rather than needing money for peace and security, how about the peace of mind and heart that only Christ can offer. In Philippians 4, we read “The Lord is Near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
This is a gift from Christ that is greater than any amount of money.
The human body has a basic need for food, but the soul has a need for the Body of Christ. Each time you attend Mass, Christ is present in the Eucharist. As you consume the Eucharist he is within you. You become one. The Eucharist nourishes your body, mind and spirit so that you are strengthened in your daily life. Money may buy you delicious foods or yummy treats, but only in the Liturgy can Christ can provide the food for eternal life. This is worth more than all the gold in the world. It is a treasure and a gift from God.
Finally, money might make your life easier and your material goods might make you happy, but happiness can be short-lived. In the mass, you will find that Christ is the ultimate source of joy. Material goods come and go, but Christ is constant. His love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness are all fountains where joy pours into your life. When you receive the Sacraments you gain a joy that isn't available in the world, one that only comes from a deep relationship with Christ. A joy that lasts in times of great happiness and celebrations in your life, but a joy that is also present in times of sorrow and grief. Many people spend their entire lives trying to buy happiness by accumulating wealth and material possessions, if they only knew that true joy comes from an intimate relationship with Christ. One that can be found within the people gathered to worship, in the hands of the priest, in the Word of God and in the Holy Eucharist. This is where the world’s most valuable can be found…in the church.
So, how can you truly experience Jesus in the Mass.
First, get there early. Spend time in quiet prayer before Mass begins. The world is busy and noisy, so it takes a few minutes to quiet your soul. You may want to read the Mass readings ahead of time and see if any phrases or words stand out. You are preparing your heart to hear God’s message from the priest in the homily.
Second, actively participate. Take out the hymnal and sing. Follow along with the readings. Stay present in what is happening before you. Use all of your senses to experience the Mass. Place yourself in the readings as a bystander. What would you have seen, felt or heard? Imagine Jesus standing in the front of the church waiting for you as you come forward for communion.
Third, take your faith life home with you. During the week spend time in prayer or with the Word of God. Your faith pours over into all areas of your life; your family, your marriage, your friendships, your work, how you interact with strangers. A life of faith is more than just an hour of your time on Sunday mornings. Study the Catholic faith, learn more about the traditions and the teachings so that Mass has more meaning.
When you go to Mass, there won’t be a basket passed around with $1000 bills, but you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, Connected with Christ and Loved by the Father. This is the best gift we could ever hope to receive.
Alright friends, till next week stay happy, healthy and holy.
