Jesus died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice, the sinless one in the sinner's stead who took all of humanity's sin upon his spotless self to make satisfaction to the Father for us. In this same way, we can give over our worries and concerns to God. For it is in letting go and letting God that we can take the most effective action. That isn't to say that we must forgo all of our personal agency, but we must have the faith and trust to put anything from our lives in God's hands.
I am really enthralled by the power of the mass in enabling this for us. The bread and wine on the altar are transformed into the Body and Blood before us, so that we might share in the glory and salvation of Christ. So, too, are we invited to put ourselves on the altar so that each time we celebrate the liturgy we can be transformed and conformed more closely to Christ.
On Kairos in high school, for mass, Fr. Van Wiel, a beloved priest from my high school, offered us a cool chance to seize this potential in Christ's mass. He passed around the bowl of unconsecrated hosts and invited each of us to say aloud someone for whom we wished to offer the mass. It was a cool way for each member of the community, the Body of Christ, to state an intention for his/herself and for every one to get a sense of the things their brothers and sisters brought to the Eucharist.
What if during mass, we had the opportunity for everyone to share at least a glimpse of the intentions and burdens and hopes and struggles that we brought into the mass?
This is one of the many ways the depths of the Eucharistic mystery comes alive for me in the mass. I enjoy looking around at the other people gathered and considering the magnitude and quantities of things that they are carrying with them to the mass-- not necessarily playing a guessing game but appreciating the diversity and volume of things brewing within everyone. For as many things as I have in my heart, so, too, do each of these people bring their hopes and concerns to the table.
We all walk up to our Eucharistic ministers together, in community, bringing the concerns that we have prayed over together to the Lord and saying Amen to so much all at once.
Christ is present with us in the Eucharist. Christ is present with us in the Word. Christ is present in we, the Body of Christ, the Church founded by Jesus and led by His Holy Spirit.
And this Amen covers so much more: that we trust the Lord to take those things we have offered to Him on the altar in ourselves; that we will answer the call to support one another in His Church; that we will let Jesus help us in facing and carrying these burdens.
The mass offers us beautiful opportunities to realize and celebrate our faith. Let us remain focused on the Word and Sacrament while not losing sight of all the people walking this same journey together with us.
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