Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:59 am
THE MAIN ACT
Being the offering Himself, Jesus taught us how to worship God. He arranged a meal in community, with bread and wine transformed into his own body and blood, and bid us participate in this as the only adequate act of worship we could offer to our loving and infinite Creator, God.Yes, we do this in community. Yes, we share a meal. Yes, the words are said by a leader and we partake of his body and blood as he commanded (Do this in memory of me). But it is the totality of these actions, not any individual component, that constitutes our WORSHIP in behalf of all creation.
All of these elements combined serve to bring about a befitting act of worship. Focusing on any one of these sacred and essential elements may cause us to miss their real purpose.
As you know, the liturgy begins with confession, pardon, thanksgiving, and instruction. The gifts of bread and wine are prepared and presented. But it is when we begin speaking directly to God in remembrance that we offer Jesus' great act of love and sacrifice on behalf of the human family.
Carefully listen to the words of the Eucharistic prayers! We collectively pray them directly to God, culminating in the great proclamation, "THROUGH HIM, WITH HIM AND IN HIM IN UNITY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL HONOR AND GLORY IS YOURS ALMIGHTY GOD FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN."
What we do is join in offering to God that which Jesus offered. We are commanded by him to repeat it in memory of him. In the Eucharist we join Jesus, flesh and blood, in living his life and offering his great sacrificial act of WORSHIP.
How is it that any part, any prayer, any devotion, can distract us from the primary purpose of this act of ADORATION AND WORSHIP? Resist the temptation to be distracted from the main act, the purpose of it all, the only WORSHIP befitting and acceptable to God taking place before our very eyes. This is the cumulative enactment of Christ's life. This unity, as individuals in community, is what makes us Christians! This is what we as humans do with all the worship and acclaim we can muster. United with Christ we worship as he did, receive him in return. In receiving, we are changed, then sent to live in the world as he did.
On Sunday, don't be distracted and miss the Main Act!
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