A reflection on the spiritual significance of being the Eucharistic

minister?

Called to be ministers!

Introduction

• You must have attended these kind of ‘days of Recollection’ many times. You must have heard a lot about:

• what is Mass?• What happens when you take part in Mass?• What do you gain out of it?• What is you role as extra-ordinary ministers of

Holy Communion?

Repetition

• These questions; I believe were asked and answered many times in the past.

• In fact these are the questions that need to be asked again and again?

• These are the questions that need to be answered again and again.

• Why? Because,• The more you reflect on these question the

more you become aware of who you are and what you are called to be.

John 21:15-17 Do you love me?

Called to love or Called to feed?

• Jesus asked Peter after his resurrection, ‘Simon, son of John! Do you love me more than these others do?’

• Peter answered “Yes Lord, you know I love you”.

• Jesus said to him, “Feed my Lambs”• He asked him the same question three times

before asking him to feed his lambs.

Called to feed?

• So also those of you who are chosen specially to help the priests to feed the lambs

• Are asked the same question again and again• Do you know ‘what is the spiritual significance

of the mass and Holy Communion’?• So that you may grow in love for the Eucharist

first and be the ministers of the Eucharist.• Because,

St. John Maria Vianney

• "If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy."

• If we really understood mass, we would die of joy for being a special minister in that celebration

St. Padre Pio

• "If we only knew how God regards this Sacrifice, we would risk our lives to be present at a single Mass."

• Yes! Dear brothers and sisters,

• Mass is such an important thing for our Christian life that Vatican II document on liturgy calls it as

• “The source and summit of Christian life”

• Therefore it is important to understand more and more the spiritual significance of the mass and your role in it.

What is Mass or Eucharist?

• Definition: Read CCC 1322-1323• The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body

and Blood of the Lord Jesus • which he instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice

of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory.

• Thus he entrusted to his Church this memorial of his death and Resurrection.

What is mass?

• It is a sign of unity, • a bond of charity,• a paschal banquet, – in which Christ is consumed, –the mind and heart is filled with grace, –and a pledge of future glory is given to

us. ( confer C.C.C 1322 – 1323)

Highlight three points from the definition

• Mass as a Sacrifice

• Mass as meal

• Mass as Communion

First: Mass as sacrifice• Look at what Catechism says:• The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body

and Blood of the Lord Jesus • which he instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice

of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory.

• Thus he entrusted to his Church this memorial of his death and Resurrection.

Mass is a Sacrifice• The Mass makes present

the sacrifice of the Cross

• it does not add to that sacrifice nor does it multiply it

• But it makes it present to us

• That is what it means when Catechism says,

• ‘it is the very sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ.’

• Or ‘perpetuation of the sacrifice of the cross.’

Understand well• It’s important to know

what the Church means by the “ very sacrifice" of the cross.

• The term is easily misunderstood and has caused much strife among Christians.

• Our separated brethren say

• Quoting Hebrews 10:10 that Christ "offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins.”

• So you need not do it again.

• You need not crucify him again and again

“commemorative representation”• What we need to know

is• its “commemorative

representation” (memorialis demonstratio),

• which makes Christ's one, definitive redemptive sacrifice

• always present in time.

Only one sacrifice• Church teaching

reiterates what Scripture states very clearly:

• That there is no other sacrifice except the one offered by Jesus on Calvary.

Re-presented• That sacrifice cannot be

repeated.

• The Mass, therefore, is not a repetition;

• it is a re-presentation of that sacrifice.

Sacrifice beyond time and space• It is Christ who is God

made man,

• Made his one sacrifice of the cross

• To be represented beyond time and space

Sacrifice beyond time and space• Because Christ was a

unique human being,

• the sacrifice He offered on the cross once and for all is a unique act.

• That which cannot be lost in time

As man• He lived in a

particular place and time

• His sacrifice was an act that took place in history

• At a particular place• At a particular time• and is therefore

past.

As God• He is God, who is outside

of time: past and future are always present to Him.

• This means that His death and resurrection are eternal acts

• Acts that can be made present by the power of the Spirit for all ages.

At the last supper

• That is what he did at the last Supper

• He made that one sacrifice of the cross

• To be present to believers of all times and all places

He made it a Sacrament• At the last supper

• He took the bread, said the blessing and said,

• ‘Take this all of you and eat it, this is my body given up for you’

• Later He took the cup and said the blessing and gave it to his disciples and said:

• Take this, all of you, and drink from it; this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.

Asked us to continue

• He also commanded them saying

• Do this in memory of me.

• Asking us to bring to memory his death all the time.

So, you need to understand that • Holy mass is not a

repetition• But a representation of

that one sacrifice• The sacrifice that was

offered 2000 years ago • It is made present for you

and me• Here and now

At foot of the Calvary• And Every time the

mass is celebrated, • the priest , • together with the

Christian community which takes part in it,

• is led back in spirit to that place and that hour at Calvary

And When you participate in Mass

• You along with the priest join the multitude of angels and saints in re-living that one sacrifice of Christ

• And ask the Father for the forgiveness of your sins

• At the foot of the cross

II. Mass is a meal• Holy mass is a Holy

meal you attend

• It is the Holy Banquet you are participating in

• And it here your role as the minister comes in

In the Old Testament

• In the old testament, after every sacrifice there was a meal.

• Every holy gathering ended up with a meal

• And Jesus offered the first mass as a part of the pass-over meal

Luke 22:15

• And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer”

Pass-over meal

• In the Old testament, Israelites ate the pass-over meal before the passed-over from bondage to freedom

• It was the pass-over lamb that was sacrificed that they ate

Pass-over

• And they sprinkled their house with the blood of the lamb

• And the angel of death passed over them

• And they were saved

Mass a pass-over meal

• So also when we participate in the holy meal at mass

• The angel of death passes over us

Covenantal meal

• In the O T, God entered into covenant with Israel

• And it was ratified by a meal

• By that They became his specially chosen people

New covenant in Jesus

• Referring to his blood Jesus said, “this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” That means:

• With his blood he established a new covenant

Renew our covenant• So every time we

participate in the covenantal meal of Mass

• We renew our promises to him

• That we will be his people and his children always

Mass as a meal• So when we gather

for Mass• We gather for a meal• And we are fed• And it is a spiritual

nourishment that is given

• And you are Christ’s hands as Eucharistic minister

Double nourishment• Sola scriptura people has

to be envious of this because

• At Mass we are fed double

• We are fed with his WORD

• And we are fed with his body and blood

Jesus’ teaching

• Jesus speaking about spiritual nourishment

• Spoke about two kinds of nourishment:

• Spoke about two types of spiritual food

God’ word• Quoting Deuteronomy

to the devil who came to tempt him He said, “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”(Dt 8:3)

• God’s word is our food; our nourishment

Bible quotes• When your words came, I ate them; they were my

joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15/16

• Ezekiel 3:3 Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

• Revelation 10:9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."

At Mass: Fed with the WORD

• Word of God is our spiritual food

• and we are fed with that food in the liturgy of the word

• That is the first part of the Mass

2. Body and blood of Christ

• In the second part i.e. Liturgy of the Eucharist,

• We are fed with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which again are our spiritual nourishment

John 6

• In St. John’s gospel in his discourse about Eucharist in 6:53

• Jesus says "Truly I tell you, unless you eat my body and drink my blood, you will have no life”

John 6• And He is the bread

from heaven• His flesh is the true

food • If anyone eats of this

bread, he will live forever.

• This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

• Jesus promised that he has come give life, life in abundance. Jn.10:10

• How was he going to give life in abundance?

• By giving his body and blood as our food.

• How did he give us his body and blood then?

• He gave it in the form of bread and wine

Institution of the Eucharist• At the Last supper• He celebrated the

first mass• Changed the bread

and wine into his body and blood and gave it to his disciples to eat

• And he asked them to continue doing this un till he comes

Eucharist today

• So when we come for mass,

• In the second part, i.e., the liturgy of the Eucharist we eat his body and drink his blood

• So that we may have life

Complete food• So Mass provides

complete nourishment for our souls

• With all the proteins and vitamins,

• Word and the sacrament

• That is the richness of the Mass

You and lectors

• You ask Eucharistic ministers play your important role

• In the second part of the Eucharist

• Lectors play their role in the first part by distributing the word.

Eat well

• As we eat at least three times a day to keep our bodies healthy and fit

• We need to eat this spiritual food to keep our souls healthy

Your importance

• So if mass is the Pascal banquet where Christ is served

• You then serve Christ to the people

Communion to the sick

• When you take communion to the sick

• You are taking Christ to them

• You are feeding them with the body of Christ

• You are giving them the spiritual nourishment

It will come with you

• On the judgement day• Our judgment will also

depend on this• Mathew 25: 33• He will ask, “I was

hungry, did you feed me’

• It is not just physical hunger

• It also refers to the spiritual hunger

• So don’t neglect your duty as the ministers of communion to the sick

• If possible feed them also with the WORD

• Read that day’s gospel for them.

III. Mass is a Holy Communion• You are also called

as ministers of communion.

• What is the meaning of the “communion”?

• Often we equate it with ‘sacred host’

Act or object?

• But Communion is not so much an object but it is an act,

• it is the act of coming into union with the Lord and with each other

Vertical and horizontal union

• At Mass we deepen our communion with the whole church, as well as with the Lord

1.Coming together and his presence• Jesus said He’s there

whenever two or three are gathered in His name (Mt 18:20),

• and usually the Sunday Mass congregation numbers more than two or three!

• Even when it’s hard to see Christ in our fellow Mass-goers, He’s really there.

People may arrive distracted and preoccupied, but as they enter that church they’re no longer just scattered individuals, but members of Christ’s body. Whether conscious of it or not, they’re being drawn together into the Body of Christ.

Body Christ in communion

• We are drawn together as on body of Christ at Mass

• That’s what the sign of peace is about.

Community reconciled

• It also emphases what Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24: “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.”

Community in love

• It means we renounce all bitterness, resentment, and jealousy as we come as one body to receive the Lord together.

Mass as a communion of people

• So, that is it. At Mass we come into union together as one body of Christ

• And Holy mass and holy meal fosters that union

Coming into union with Christ

• When we receive the body of Christ

• We come into close union with Him

• His body becomes part of our body

• As Mary carried him in her womb

• We carry him in our heart

• Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, we become living tabernacles of God after Communion

• Note:

• In every culture I know,

• sharing a meal with someone is a way of expressing and deepening a relational bond.

• The Eucharist does this in a way no other meal can. • We eat with God,

• He gives Himself as our food, and we’re transformed into Him.

• When we receive Him and consume Him under these signs of bread and wine, we become Him.

Agents of peace

• So as ministers of communion

• You are the agents of union

• Within your parish community as the body of Christ

• And your prayer should be that of St. Francis Assisi

Make me a channel• Lord, make me an instrument of your

peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.

• O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console;to be understood as to understand;to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

• You are a channel of peace and unity in your church

• You sow love where there is hatred• You sow faith, hope, joy in your parish• You are a beacon of light in the parish• Your role extents even outside the mass• You are an example for everyone to look

up to.

When you visit the sick and housebound.

• Remember• You are the only person they may see apart

from the carers• And you are the only contact they have with

the church, the body of Christ.• You represent the church, the body of Christ

for them• You keep them in touch with the church

You bring Christ

• You bring Christ for them• You bring them into union with Christ, when

you give them communion.• It is a matter of great joy • And serious commitment• Its not a joke• Everything you do or say matters.

The call to be a Eucharistic minister.• Eucharistic ministers are a sign of the fact that

they are constantly striving to be of greater service to the church and the world. To be an embodiment of the community’s hope for itself.

• An Eucharistic minister sets an example as one whose life is governed by the fullness of the Eucharist.

• Eucharistic ministers do not stand as perfect examples but as a sign that our struggle to live the Christian life is not in vain.

Earthen vessels

• God chose us in our humanness as frail earthen vessels.

• God calls us in our brokenness to share in the mission of His only Son.

• We are conscious of our sinfulness and weakness but rely on God's grace to be the instruments He wants us to be.

• We are not above those in the assembly but identify ourselves with the assembly and act along with and for the assembly.

• We come forward as Eucharistic ministers not because we deserve this or are superior to others but because of the mystery of God’s call.

• Whether we are the Pope or the bishop or a priest we all declare our unworthiness to receive this gift of Eucharist. It is only because the 'Lord says the word that we are healed.'

Sign of his presence

• As public servants, we do not put on a show for anyone,

• but rather humbly try to be authentic signs of Christ's presence and compassion

• by being fully human channels of grace for all those entrusted to our care.

Examples

• The Eucharistic minister is called to exemplify the life of service and charity to which the Christian community commits itself in the celebration of the Eucharist.

• We will depend on God's grace to fulfill this call.

Questions for Reflection

• 1.) How does being an Eucharistic minister affect how I now look at myself?

• 2.) What do you think is the most difficult point for people to grasp about being an Eucharistic minister?

3.) What difference has (or will) being an Eucharistic minister made (make) in your life and in your relationship to the Lord and others? How has this changed since you first begun?

• 4.) How do you think others will feel about you being an Eucharistic minister?

• 5.) What do you find most challenging about being an Eucharistic minister?

• 6.) Do you feel the role of an Eucharistic minister could become routine-how would you deal with that?

• 7.) What do you feel is the connection between this liturgical ministry and your daily life?

• 8.) What is your single greatest hope and expectation in being an Eucharistic minister?

• 9.) How is it possible in the very administration of the Eucharist to challenge others to become the Body of Christ?

• 10.) How will your role as Eucharistic minister influence your ability to accept others?

• 11.) How do you minister?

• 12.) How do you find Christ more clearly in others as a result of being an Eucharistic minister?

• 13.) What goes through your mind as you are distributing Holy Communion?

• 14.) What aspect of distributing Holy Communion still leaves you most uncomfortable and why?

• 15.) How do you find yourself praying during Mass when you are serving as an Eucharistic minister?

• 16.) What nourishes or detracts from that prayer?