The Mass
June 19, 2022
Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~
This Sunday we celebrate Corpus Christi, a Solemnity of the Church in which we focus in a special way on the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Admittedly, this is something I feel I don’t do enough of. I reference the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist enough for regular Mass goers to hear from time to time, but only on this Sunday every year do I make my homily about the Eucharist or Mass. By comparison, I know a priest, and of priests, who reference the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist in almost every Sunday homily.
In reflecting on this, I ask myself the question “why don’t I speak more often about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist or the sacrifice of the Mass?” I suppose for me it is more of a catechetical topic, along the lines of the Holy Trinity, or Incarnation, or Communion of Saints, etc. – very important but not a preoccupation. If I were holier, I’m pretty sure you’d be hearing more about this from me. Why? Because the preoccupation in this regard is none other than Christ Himself, the source and summit of our faith, the grace of our lives, and the means of our salvation.
In the past six months or so, I have become more personally focused on the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist and what that means for me, or could mean for me if I were to incorporate that reality more into my conscious life. I’m still a long way away from where the Lord would like me to be in this regard. As I read through the lives of the saints (not the short biography types but the book length ones) their devotion to the Mass and Christ in the Eucharist is profoundly stronger than mine. This is primarily how I know I’ve got a long way to go.
Religious orders have charisms, spirituality, and works that they do that give their members an identity, something to focus on and to grow in holiness by. For example, the Franciscans have the spirituality of St. Francis, or the Dominicans of St. Dominic and St. Thomas Aquinas, the Benedictines of St. Benedict. Along with those spiritualties they also have what they do: the Franciscans help the poor, the Dominicans teach, the Benedictines pray (all big generalizations). But what about us parish priests? What about the laity in the pews? What is our charism?
We don’t have a founder’s spirituality, or one or a few special things we do, like the religious orders; but we do have Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and we have His true presence in the Eucharistic host. This is what we have access to. We are able to worship and adore the living God Himself, as sure as if we were in heaven; and by His grace, to be strengthened and directed by Him here on earth. This is super powerful stuff, life changing and challenging.
I finish by giving you six things to consider when you attend Mass to help you grow in your love of Christ and receive His grace: 1) Adoration of God; 2) Communion with the Word of God made flesh; 3) the Sacrifice of the Mass and Expiation; 4) The Love of God for us; 5) The Grace of God upon us; 6) and Mission – “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21). To “do” these six things we need to work hard at preparing ourselves for Mass, and work hard during Mass to stay focused on them. God blesses those who show up and try. That blessing is eternally priceless and right in front of us at Mass.
In the Love of Our Eucharistic Lord,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
