 |
|
| Encountering Christ in the Mass
Patrick Gorman |
Third in a series.
Last week’s article addressed the Catholic belief of Christ’s presence in the celebration of the Eucharist (Mass) and in the Body and Blood of Christ that we receive. This week we look at other ways we can encounter Christ in the Mass.
Christ is present in the word and sacraments
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Jesus Christ — the Word-Made-Flesh — has been, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, since the beginning.
When the word of God is proclaimed during Mass, Christ himself is speaking to us today!
While the words of the Scripture contain detailed narratives, poetry, exhortations, proclamations, and many other literary forms, the words are not descriptive only of something that has happened in the past.
After all, God is “not the God of the dead but of the living” (Matthew 22:32).
These are words that speak to us today.
Pope Francis instituted Sunday of the Word of God to focus on the Scripture during Mass.
In so doing he said, Scripture “belongs above all to those called to hear its message and to recognize themselves in its words.” (emphasis added)
When Scripture is proclaimed during Mass, we need to listen with ears of faith.
It may sound like a regular reader who is reading a story that I’ve heard a dozen times before.
Look beyond the lector and listen for Christ speaking the words of Scripture. I’m not sure if Christ is speaking to us as individuals, as a parish, as a nation, or even as the world.
It’s our job to listen in faith, expecting to hear Christ speaking to us, and to discern, with the help of the homily and prayer, how this encounter with Christ can change our lives.
Christ is present in the priest and people
Christ also is present in the Sacraments, for “when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 7).
The priest often acts “in the person of Christ.” For example, as Christ forgave sins, the priest offers absolution in the Sacrament of Penance; as Christ healed the sick, the priest anoints the sick.
He gathers and leads a parish community just as Jesus led the disciples. Catholic theology teaches that through ordination the priest’s soul takes on the imprint of Christ, and he is ontologically changed.
In other words, through ordination he has a change in being so he is not just Christ-like, but he becomes another Christ when he exercises his ministry.
Finally, Christ is present “when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them'” (Matthew 20:18). (It’s comforting to remember in these COVID-19 days, that Christ is present even when the Church on earth can’t sing aloud. The Holy Spirit, dwelling within us, sings on our behalf!)
The priest takes on the person of Christ, head of the Body, the community is the Body of Christ.
The two parts complement each other — you can’t have a body without a head and a head won’t function without a body. When the Church gathers for Mass, Christ — head and body — prays to God the Father through the Holy Spirit.
Encountering Christ’s presence
The Church tells us that Christ is present at Mass in the word, Sacrament, priest, and people. We encounter him. We are part of him.
Our job is to look and listen with eyes and ears of faith.
Christ is always veiled behind something, whether that veil be Scripture, bread and wine, or priest and people.
The reality is that Christ is present whether or not we have great music or a life-changing homily or profound Scripture.
Christ always is there!
Whether or not the Mass makes us feel something or is boring or exciting, Christ always is there!
It is our job to seek him out, to listen for him, and to encounter him in a life-changing way!
Patrick Gorman is the director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Madison.