Just as Christ at the Last Supper took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it - we too are taken, blessed, broken and given. Let us explore how.
Taken
Jesus takes the bread.....
Just like he chooses the bread, you are chosen by God.
We are all called by name. You have been specifically called for a specific purpose. Do you know your purpose?
God has claimed you as his beloved son/daughter Do you feel loved by God?
Blessed
Jesus blesses the bread
We are blessed by God.
Be grateful and count your blessings. Name them.
What unique talents were you given to carry out His mission? How do you fulfill your purpose using those talents?
Broken
Jesus breaks the bread
We are all broken.
We all carry a cross that is ours specifically. Embrace it. It is yours to carry.
Tell God your sorrows. He walks with you in them.
Given
Jesus gives the bread and shares it with his disciples.
We are called to serve others. Just as Christ washed the fee of His disciples, we too must kneel down and serve others.
Do you serve those in need?
How can you better serve those that are not within your circle?
During the mass, Taken, blessed, broken and given - The gifts of bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood or our Lord Jesus Christ.
During our lives – taken, blessed, broken and given – we are transformed into the living presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER.
God – you call us, bless us and ask us to go out into the world to serve – we thank you for helping us to remember the words of your son, Jesus, who is our example of how to live. Help us to remember our baptism, count our blessings, embrace our brokenness and serve eachother. Help us to be the living church and the hands and heart of our example, our light, your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
THE MASS
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst” (Mt. 18:20). Christ is really present in the very assembly gathered in his name, in the person of the minister, in his Word, and most especially in the Eucharist.
Mass, the central act of worship of the Roman Catholic Church, which culminates in celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist. The term mass is derived from the ecclesiastical Latin formula for the dismissal of the congregation: Ite, missa est (“Go, it is the sending [dismissal]”). - Brittanica.com
The following is the Mass broken down according to the USCCB
INTRODUCTORY RITES
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Most of the Liturgy of the Word is made up of readings from Scripture.
THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
FATHER JOHN
As we gather - there are three basic elements
BLESSED
BROKEN
GIVEN
It is the life of Jesus - He was blesse, broken and given for us.
It is the story of our human life - we are all blessed, we are all broken and we are all called to give of ourselves to others.
We must claim our mission - we are called to go forth. - Do you claim yours?
Most profoud recognition of Jesus is in the Eucharist
Our life is connected to Jesus' life.
Right now we are "spiritually connected" but "physically apart". The Eucharist keeps us spiritually connected. While we can make a "spiritual communtion" it is not the same as physically recieving the Eucharist. It's a painful challenge right now.
WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AND JESUS CHRIST IS OUR CAPTAIN
We are all enlisted by Christ together on boat. Everyone has a special task in the community. What role do you play? What task is yours? Whhere do you fall?
Be not afraid because Christ is your Captain.
"The Eucharist is where heaven and earth come together - those that have passed before you join you in the Eucharist.
What can we do?
3 Key Elements of Life
1 - Scriptures
2 - Eucharist
3 - Community
- Claim your mission as a disciple.
- Share the good news to the community
- Open up the scriptures
"Keep faithful to the mission on the Road to Emmaus"
What can you do to get more involved? How can you continue your faith journey?
TRIVIA FACT - THIS PICTURE BELOW WAS GIVEN TO FATHER JOHN FROM OUR BELOVED DIANE MCGEE AND HANGS ON HIS WALL AS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE ALL IN THE BOAT TOGETHER. SHE CONTINUES TO GUIDE US IN OUR FAITH JOURNEY.