The first 4:00 minutes of the homily is reading Bishop Conley's letter explaining his medical leave of absence and a short comment on it from me. This recording was given at Our Lady of Assumption in Deweese, NE. My notes are as follows:
Last Week we went through the introductory rites. Quick overview – we start out by recognizing our unworthiness to stand before God, but it crescendos to praise and thanksgiving that through Christ, we know of God’s desire for us to be here and thus we are welcomed into God’s presence.
As we transition into high point of the Liturgy of the Word, the readings, it is important to reflect on the necessity of the introductory rites. The G.I.R.M (General Instructions of the Roman Missal) says, “For in the Mass is spread the table both of God’s Word and of the Body of Christ, and from it the faithful are to be instructed and refreshed.” So, the introductory rites are “setting the table” for us – getting us ready to hear God’s Word.
These readings follow a three year cycle, Years A, B, and C. A follows mostly Matthew, B follows mostly Mark, and Year C follows mostly Luke. We just started Year A. Then the first reading usually has a connection to the Gospel – either by theme or by showing a type of Christ exemplified by Christ’s actions in the Gospel. When talking about a “type” in the Biblical language, we mean someone or something that prefigures someone or something in the New Testament. Isaac as a type of Christ – both first born sons, both carried wood up a hill, both offered as sacrifices to the Father – Isaacs was stopped, Christ’s wasn’t.
The responsorial psalm is also given to us by the Church as our response to the first reading. So, in the moments before we participate in the responsorial psalm, we should spend that time in reflection on what we heard and open ourselves to express the response of the Church, to have our minds share that same expression!
These readings are vital – they tell our story. Across cultures and societies, everybody loves a good story. Just think of some of the classic movies or plays – they are effective in relaying a story, and having us emotionally attached to a few of the characters – we care what happens to them. The problem in our current society – we don’t do enough talking about the greatest story ever told. Our story as Catholics – our story as it pertains to Salvation History and God’s journey with his people. Over the course of the three year Cycle, we hear about 90 percent of the Bible – so not knowing the Bible isn’t our issue all the time – what is our issue as Catholics is that we don’t seem to know when certain aspects of the story takes place. This is especially true in the Old Testament – so part of our preparation to come to Mass should be looking where the readings come from, especially the first reading, and orienting ourselves to where that reading is coming from – what is happening the context of what we are reading – we must know our own story.
Then we have the homily, which is meant to draw from the sacred texts and expand or explain what we heard/read. The homily could also explain any part of the Liturgy, and offer exhortations to living out our Christian faith.
The Creed is said on every Solemnity in the Church – Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation are solemnities – as are other days – Annunciation, Solemnity of St. Joseph, Birth of John the Baptist – although these latter ones are not obligated to attend Mass, they still would have the Gloria and Creed said at Mass. The Creed is the summary of our Faith. So, week after week, we confess – we declare our beliefs. And this confession is a personal confession made in the community of the believers, which is why we express it in the singular “I believe.”
To close out the Liturgy of the Word, we have the prayers of the Faithful. It is in these prayers that the faithful – the priest, religious, and lay members – join in their universal priesthood. This is because we are offering a sacrifice/a prayer for the intentions of others. That is a priestly function – and we share in Christ’s priestly role universally – the ordained priest shares in a distinct different way – to distribute the graces God grants through the Church. The CCC notes that intercessory prayer is “characteristic of a heart attuned to God’s mercy.” In other words, the closer we are to Christ, the more we will desire to pray for others.
Then starts the Liturgy of the Eucharist with Offertory. While many of us would explain this part of the Mass by saying something like, “The part where we sit down, a basket is passed around and we put money into while listening to a song.” While that is physically what we are doing, that is not all that is supposed to be happening. I want offer a reflection on the nature of Old Testament sacrifice. Before the Lamb was offered and sacrificed, you would keep it for a week – bring it into your home, care for it and protect it so that it would not become blemished, but also to allow you to become attached to it. To grow to love it – so that when it was sacrificed it was hard to let it go. Something of you was offered as well. Our giving of our riches is much the same – we have worked hard for it, we need it to survive, we “love” it (to a certain extent) and yet we are saying to God – no, you have given me all I am, the abilities I have to make this money, I am offering some back to you.
This is also the part where we want to remember our specific intention of the Mass. When I announce at the beginning of the Mass, who Mass is for, that is my particular intention – I have been asked to celebrate Mass for that reason – but you, in your universal priesthood can also offer the Mass for an intention – it can be for the intention of the priest – we can share that, but it doesn’t have to be. We want to specifically remember that intention during this time. Just an image I want to share with you on this reality of what happens when we offer the Mass for something….
Guardian Angels – three groups – 1st group: people attending Mass with love for God, and offering the Mass for someone, 2nd group: people attending Mass with love for God and a desire to be there but no intention, 3rd group: people attending Mass merely out of obligation, they feel they are forced to come and don’t really actively participate in the Mass.
As we will move into the Eucharistic Prayer next week, may we reflect on these aspect of the Mass – how does God want to encounter me through hearing his words and offering to God my sacrifices, time, and prayers to Him. May this truly open our hearts to receiving Him and His joy in our lives and may that joy bring us to eternal life, where we shall see God as He is.
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