Eucharistic Prayer in Pieces

We've talked about the Eucharist, sacrifice, and all the whys, but what about what we actually say during the Eucharistic Celebration?

There are different variations and parts to the entire Eucharistic celebration, but I thought we could break down the one we say every time, right before actually receiving Christ. Not too long ago, many pieces of the Eucharistic Rite changed, but one in particular has resonated with me, and I think, most of us. 

"Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." 

This prayer comes from the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 8, when a centurion begs Jesus to heal one of his servants. He tells Jesus that He doesn't need to enter his home, only speak and heal the servant. The centurion admits a deep understanding of authority, not just his own, but also Christ's authority over the servant and himself. This acknowledgement of authority is similar to the woman who believed she need to only touch Jesus's cloak or the mother of James and John, who trusted that Jesus could give the best to her sons in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The centurion is admitting that Christ is the True Authority, and that faith is all that is needed for Christ to heal his servant, but what are we saying when we repeat his words?

Firstly, we are addressing Jesus in the Eucharist when we state "Lord", claiming faith in the True Presence each time before receiving Him. The second phrase is a little less literal. What is our roof? The centurion is talking about his actual home, but when say roof, we mean our physical shells, our human bodies. We are not worthy for Jesus to actually, physically enter us when we receive communion in a few moments. But that's okay, because the second half of that prayer is, again, similar to the centurion's.

We trust that Christ needs to only say the word, and healing will take place. Our trust in Christ as we say this prayer helps us to prepare ourselves for Him, and cleanse our soul. God abhors sin, thus we before we receive God in the form of Christ, we ask for the chance to be made ready, and that were the last little bit comes in. Healed. Just by faith, by trusting in God, our soul is healed and ready to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, cleansing ourselves of any venial sins and prepared for the next week and walk of faith before we return to the altar for our next chance to become better and closer to God.

Tota tua.

But why Sacrifice?

In an effort to better understand the need for the Final Sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb, we need to understand the call for sacrifices prior. And while God no longer calls for a physical offering, there is something to be considered about the worship centered on offering to the Lord. 

Have you ever attempted to read Leviticus for your own personal spiritual journey? It can be one of the most dry, tedious reads-a bunch of rules, to-dos, not-to-dos, handed down to the Israelite people that we don't even follow anymore, so why is it important to have in our Bible? Leviticus teaches us plenty about our God. Firstly, it is a reminder that this God that we worship is not just our God or our Bible. This it truly the God of Jacob, Isaac, and of today's Jewish descendants. Leviticus taught the young nation of Israel how their God wanted to be worshiped and solidified God's desire for sacrifices as atonement and promises to do better.

Sacrifice is not new to Leviticus. Even Cain and Abel prepared offerings to the Lord as the children of Adam and Eve. Jacob was prepared to offer Isaac. Leviticus provided specific instruction as to what could or should be sacrificed to God.

 “Now this is what you shall offer upon the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening..." Exodus 29:38-42. 

Lambs, goats, birds, and even grain was all acceptable to God as a sacrifice in atonement of sin or celebration of the Lord.  But why sacrifice? What did it mean or provide to God and God's people?

God did not "need" the blood of His own creations nor did God need the grain of His people. But sacrifice is more than just what is being offered, the sacrifice offered a strong symbolism of dying for his or her own sins through the animal, recognizing that their sins deserved death. Sacrifice also acknowledged the sovereignty of God over all creation and made a gift of the people's very selves. By giving up the perfect lamb of their flock or the first fruits of their cultivated earth, it was an ultimate labor of love that was being given to the Lord.

The sacrifices that were given to God then help us to better understand what to offer to God now. The
Final Sacrifice, the last blood that God has asked for from us was given by God's own Son, a perfect and living sacrifice. And while that does eliminate a need for sacrifice to atone for our sins and humanity, that does not completely eliminate the need for sacrifice in our worship. We recall the ultimate sacrifice with praise and thanksgiving each Sunday in the Eucharist (translated to Greek to Hebrew, meaning thanksgiving), thus sacrifice remains an integral part of our worship of God.

While God doesn't still ask for a lamb from us or the first part of our harvest, God still wishes for us to make sacrifices, to recognize that our sin is detestable, to see God as sovereign, and to give God our very selves. This is where the idea of Lenten abstention shows up most often, but Lent is not the only season we can make sacrifices for our faith. Try to reflect on your life and ask God what you can give to help better feel God's love and sovereign nature over us.

Tota tua.

Sharing the Joy

A while back, I mentioned how evangelizing is one of the things that I really am bad at outside of writing this blog. I feel uncomfortable putting my beliefs out there, as if everyone needs to believe what I believe. I get frustrated when others do it to me, when they catch me off-guard in my home or at school wanting to talk. And I need to just get over it, because this is something I have been called to do as a child of God. I am supposed to tell people about wonderful God is, how good God is, and how blessed we all are to have such a loving God.

While providing a reference for someone last evening, I was overcome by the interviewer's very casual conversation about God. Sure, he knew that I ran a church camp, making me fair game for any kind of religious conversation, but his faith and testimony to it was as tangible as seeing him leading worship in a church-setting. This man was evangelizing in a way I wish I could, so naturally that it was just part of our conversations about his potential employee, our camps, and how he is a full-time camp director (jealous!!).

In the book of Acts, we see the joy that can come from evangelizing, as the Apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin despite warnings that they needed to stop teaching about Christ in Jerusalem. And instead of stopping or going elsewhere, the Apostles rejoiced that they were worthy of enough to be suffer in their Lord's name. (Acts 5 27:32) Can you imagine rejoicing because you've been arrested for talking about God? Probably not.

I think the more important thing here is how much they wanted to share about God and God's Son. That this was something they truly wanted to do, and did. Regardless of how people felt about it, or how they felt about it, they were answering God's call to share with their peers, to evangelize despite what they had been told by others in positions of power. And this doesn't have to be aggressive or rude, it can be as simple as a phone conversation mid-interview.

God is good all the time, but how would people know if we don't share that with them? This isn't about being #blessed on Instagram or Facebook. It's about authentic conversations that give God credit when God moves in your life, like finding you a job that allows you to law and camp this summer. Or that as the wedding draws closer, more and more offers to help keep coming up, just in time to save you frustration and struggle. And we should share that in our day-top-day lives.

Tota tua.

Sunday Special: Happy Easter

Easter Vigil is one of the longest masses at the Catholic Church. Originally lasting all night, literally a vigil for Easter Sunday, it now ranges between three and seven readings from the Old Testament, an epistle, Gospel, baptisms, confirmations, and first communions of those joining the church. Starting outside in the dark, and ending some two and half hours later, it is no small undertaking. And it's hard to focus on.

"Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus"
Rom. 6:3-11

I have attended many Easter Vigil masses with my family, but there was something special about this one. And that quote from Romans really stayed with me, and I kept reading it over and over, trying to commit it to memory. And throughout the rest of the mass, as people receivered various sacraments of initiation, I felt those words close to my heart.

In baptism, we die and are born again, in our Lord's light and love, washed clean of original sin. When confirmed, we are blessed with the grace to consciously turn towards Christ each and every day. And the living bread and wine of Holy Communion sustains us like no mortal food or drink ever could, helping us through our day-to-day struggles, so that we can live in and for the Lord.

It's hard to see the joy in every day events or in sacraments we were raised into. The church I have been a part of my whole life can seem stuffy and boring at times. As I mentioned earlier this month, my prayer life seems to lack joy during its day-to-day routines. But there is joy and beauty in the simple things. We must be dead to sin and alive in Christ; we must push past the dangerous monotony that temptsus to sleep in instead of wake up and pray

The Easter season is for joy and celebration in the church, a sort of new year, an opportunity for a fresh start, resolutions, and to find joy in this littugical season, and the ordinary times to follow.

Tota tua.

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Thrive not Survive

The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want PS 23:1-3A

I think oftentimes, when we hear that infamous Psalm, the thought is that because we have God, we should not want for anything. We should be well-fed and well-rested, we should not be afraid or anxious. Only good stuff will happen to us, because God is our Shepherd. All because we believe in God.That doesn't sound quite right to me; this idea that because we believe, we are never going to want.

That passive attitude that by believing, things are all going to be okay is a dangerous one. To have the faith of a child, to have the ability to truly rely on the Lord is an important one, but God is not there to do everything for us. We are called to work and to persevere with God beside us every day. In Paul's letter to the Philippians, we are reminded that we can do all. But there is more context to that quote than just the thirteenth line.

 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. Philippians 4:11-14

What is being taught is a further, deeper understanding of the Lord's providence. There is more to it than just being provided for, but the reality is we can survive it all through God, the good or the bad. We may want all kinds of things, we may desire the world, but with God walking beside us through that dark valley, we can do more than survive it, we can thrive in it.

We have greater goals than not wanting for anything. There is more to achieve, more to want than just not being in humble circumstances. Abundance or suffering does not matter, as long as you trust in the Lord to help you survive whatever is in front of you.

We are Seen

As I update my resume after one semester of law school, I pause and debate what should or should not be added. I did pass all of my classes, and although I am not a Dean's List student (3.0 or higher), I did not do poorly. But my past academic experiences weigh on me, saying that this GPA is no good, and that I should have worked harder, should have done better. The overall resume looks sparse, I have little legal experience; I keep reminding myself that I am only a 1L and this is normal, but again, it weighs on me. I feel like I've let myself, and more importantly, God down by not taking more initiative to gain experience and earn better grades.

But this morning I was reminded that God does not see us through human eyes.

And I was reminded that God really does not give a damn about resume or my cover letter. If I have been called to serve God and God's children through this, and if I put my trust in god, it will happen. That's not to say that I won't have to work, because I will, but God's got my back so to speak, and God is not judging me for such trivial human things. That ultimate goal, that truly big picture, is that whatever we do, we shall serve the Lord.

So stop berating yourself because your grades aren't quite what you wanted, your worth is not based on your As.
Stop kicking yourself because you didn't get the internship you wanted, keep trying, you'll eventually end up where you belong because tenacity truly pays off.
Don't become angry because the first job you apply for doesn't hire you, keep looking.

Ultimately, remember that your worth and value is not determined by how humanity perceives you, but how you make yourself available to God, the Son, and the Spirit. With that being said, as social creatures we crave human approval, we crave success, and we desire to be valued. And you can do all of those things, but along the way, do not forget that God is with you, loves you, and will continue to love you in a way no human can.

Tota tua,

LeAnn

Joy of the Holy Spirit

Wth finals weeks done and out of the way,  and no classes for a few weeks, posting uplifting things suddenly seems more possible. I don't have to read a case for at least two weeks, how great is that!

With Christmas a few days away, I wanted to just take a few seconds and ask how your Advent is going? Have you prepared for the Lord the way we talked about four short weeks ago?

I definitely made the effort to pick up my Bible more, and make more of an effort to apply it to each day. And I found myself in a more Christmasy spirit than I normally have. December held some intersting interactions for me, starting with attending a good friend's small, intimate wedding, where an ex (who hasn't been seen in years) would be. To say we ended ok good terms would be inaccurate at the least, and I was so anxious about it, after all,  the last thing I wanted was my personal nonsense to influence my friend's big day. So before I walked into the venue, I reflected on what I had read earlier that day, about the Lord's peace and about forgiveness, and I walked in.

Just like that, I felt the Holy Spirit fill me up. Suddenly, I was just joyful for the wedding I was about to attend, for the vocation and vows that were about to take place. And I felt more prepared for Christ's birth than I had in years.

This is what it means  to be prepared for His birthday, this is what it feels like to by joyful in Christ, I kept thinking.

We have five more days to find that joy- put yourself out there. Stop stressing about presents, holiday parties, and the over trivial things of the holidays and rejoice and be glad, because unto us will soon be born a Saviorc, Christ the King

Tota tua,

LeAnn

I Missed That Memo...

Sunday's Gospel, the one about the young man who wanted to know what more to do and was then dismayed at the idea is one of the most disheartening Gospels to me. The last half, about how it would be easier for a camel to fit into the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Well. Shoot. I don't know about you- but to me that is just a downer. If it's this difficult then what can I possibly do to earn my place in the Kingdom?

The Gospel goes on and Jesus warns the Disciples that no one can enter the Kingdom, ."..it is impossible..."

Darn.

"But all is possible through God."

Until yesterday, I had never noticed that this line was paired with the lines above it, and suddenly that Gospel became one of the most hopeful stories I have heard in a long time. The point of this tale is not to tell us how impossible things are, but how possible they are with God!

I don't know how in many years of Mass that I missed this key part of the Gospel, or how I had just put this last piece of the puzzle together, but suddenly Christ's message made infinitely more sense in the context of the Gospel. He was telling his men, and reminding us, that we cannot do it alone. You can anyone or anything, but without God, you will not accomplish your final and most important task; to join Him in Heaven.

We all have vocations, callings, and dreams, but when it is all said and done, we have one goal in life, because this is not our final place, this is not our home.

Ask God for help; become closer to Christ. Reach out the Holy Spirit and let it wrap itself around you. Make one small change, you don't have to give away all of your possessions, just make a little more room for God in your life.

Tota tua,

LeAnn

Ostranenie

Defamiliarizing During Lent

I've been asked many times if I get bored at Mass. "It's the same thing every time," they point out, "do those words mean anything to you?" 

The answer is yes those words mean something to me, but only because I make sure that they do, but this is a struggle. The traditions of the Church are rich and beautiful, but if you are not actively participating in them, they are just words, no different than greetings we exchange without giving actual thoughts to the conversations happening. They are just reactions, not communicating.

Mass should be all about communicating, not a routine, but a treasured conversation between God and you. If you aren't actually focused on the conversation, what good is that conversation?

Try to de-familiarize yourself with Mass over the remaining weeks of Lent. Try to see it as something unfamiliar so that you can look at it differently and more deeply, not just as part of your Sunday routine, but as a precious moment, different from all the others you have throughout the week. Let Lent be an ostranenie to you, encouraging you see the Holy Mass in an entirely new light and prepare yourself for Jesus' return this Easter.

Don't just go through the motions, immerse yourself in God's Light each Sunday, whether at Mass or a different celebration. We could all benefit from a little more attention to our time with God.

Totus tuus,

LeAnn