This terrible coronavirus has clarified something important about the adoration of God: Mass still goes on. The one sacrifice God commands is that of Calvary, and it goes on. Strictly speaking, we don't need to be in attendance. Our obligation in normal times is truly a gift of thanks, that we can join the sacrifice of our lives to that Sacrifice. Made in a bloody manner once, and in an unbloody manner in the Mass thereafter until the end of time.
It is crucial that we understand that when the priest refers to "my sacrifice and yours," there are two distinct sacrifices, and they are not the same. Quite honestly, when things go bad in Catholic thinking, it's right here. We lose the sense that the relationship is one of verticality firstly and primarily. I think we get envious of our Protestant brethren in some ways, and rightly so. They are generally better at loving each other than we are. I went to one parish 3 years, and I think only my small circle of friends knew my name.
But even if they ban public Masses for safety and public health, the Mass goes on. Jesus said, "And after I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself." And He is faithful to do it.
All manner of confusion and error creeps in, when we think Mass is about us, instead of Him.
At the risk of putting words in the mouth of Jesus, recall what the Sacrifice means: I don't have to die again, but if I did, I'd do it again, just for you.
There's no relationship more personal than that. It's almost silly to call them "Holy Days of Obligation," because the "obligation" is to let Jesus show me and tell me he loves me! I think I can handle that!
Once I understand that Jesus has never stopped loving me, that the "problem" in the relationship is me, and that the Holy Trinity loves me more than I dare imagine, a whole bunch of things that seem like impositions at first become joyful. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." On the worst ever day of your walk with Christ, Jesus said, "I will die to bring that one back, Father." We can know this in our heads, but until we stop hating ourselves, it can't penetrate our hearts.
I pray that you let the love of Christ penetrate your hearts. Let it overwhelm your self-image. When you confess your sins, perhaps add in, "I'm sorry that I don't understand your love for me, deep inside. Help me to understand."
It is crucial that we understand that when the priest refers to "my sacrifice and yours," there are two distinct sacrifices, and they are not the same. Quite honestly, when things go bad in Catholic thinking, it's right here. We lose the sense that the relationship is one of verticality firstly and primarily. I think we get envious of our Protestant brethren in some ways, and rightly so. They are generally better at loving each other than we are. I went to one parish 3 years, and I think only my small circle of friends knew my name.
But even if they ban public Masses for safety and public health, the Mass goes on. Jesus said, "And after I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself." And He is faithful to do it.
All manner of confusion and error creeps in, when we think Mass is about us, instead of Him.
At the risk of putting words in the mouth of Jesus, recall what the Sacrifice means: I don't have to die again, but if I did, I'd do it again, just for you.
There's no relationship more personal than that. It's almost silly to call them "Holy Days of Obligation," because the "obligation" is to let Jesus show me and tell me he loves me! I think I can handle that!
Once I understand that Jesus has never stopped loving me, that the "problem" in the relationship is me, and that the Holy Trinity loves me more than I dare imagine, a whole bunch of things that seem like impositions at first become joyful. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." On the worst ever day of your walk with Christ, Jesus said, "I will die to bring that one back, Father." We can know this in our heads, but until we stop hating ourselves, it can't penetrate our hearts.
I pray that you let the love of Christ penetrate your hearts. Let it overwhelm your self-image. When you confess your sins, perhaps add in, "I'm sorry that I don't understand your love for me, deep inside. Help me to understand."
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