Catechism Corner | The Essence of the Mass!

We are well aware of the fact that nourishment is an expression of love. A mother nursing her baby is a vivid picture of this. Such is also the essence of the Eucharist, the sacrament of love. God so loved us that He gave His only Son, Jesus, who became man and offered his life on the cross for our salvation. But Jesus did not stop there. He went further as to give his own flesh and blood for our eternal nourishment: "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (Jn 6:55-56). "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (Jn 6:54).

This Sunday, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, the Feast of the Eucharist, let us examine our understanding and attitude towards this most august sacrament. We can discuss so many issues concerning the Eucharist. But we cannot tackle them all in one homily. Suffice it to say, however, that the Mass is not just a meal, or a fellowship, or an entertainment presentation. Rather, the Mass is the one eternal sacrifice of Jesus that he offers to the heavenly Father in atonement for our sins. From this, let me share with you two major considerations that will hopefully help us improve our understanding of and devotion to the Eucharist.

First, the Mass is all about God. It is never about the priest, or the choir, or the sponsors, or any human being. How many times have we clapped our hands during Mass for a "nice" homily, for a splendid "performance" of a choir or for the generous donors and sponsors? How many times have we heard people remark that they like to go to this or that church because it is there that they enjoyed the Mass? For many people, the Mass is not about God but about them – they expect to be entertained, and to get something from it. If not, they leave and look for another church where they will "enjoy" and have "fun"! This is a terrible mistake!

The Mass is never about us; it is all about God! We come to Mass to worship, glorify and praise God – nothing else! Whether we enjoy or not, it is not the point. After all, as Pope Benedict XVI said, "Liturgy is not a matter of 'what you please'." (Ibid., p. 22). For, indeed, liturgy is all about pleasing God. Hence, "Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord." (Ibid., p.81).

The second point: The Mass is all about giving. Failure to consider the Mass as the sacrifice of Jesus being offered to the heavenly Father gives rise to the belief that we go to Mass primarily to get something from God. While the Mass is all about giving – Jesus giving himself totally to God in sacrifice so that we may be forgiven and saved – many people who come to Mass only think of getting. This is truly absurd! No wonder they find the Mass oftentimes meaningless and fruitless – for they have totally missed the whole point.

The Mass is about giving everything to God, about offering our whole selves as we join in the sacrificial offering of Jesus. It is all about dying to self. During consecration, Jesus really dies, and we also should die with him. Then, and only then, can he raise us up to new life when we receive his Body and Blood in Holy Communion.

Obviously, then, the reason why many of us do not anymore find meaning in the celebration of Holy Mass is because we have become too self- centered. We have totally lost our focus on God, Who, by the way, is the real essence of the Mass. So, next time we come to Mass, think only about God – focus on Him, first and foremost!

And make sure we bring something that we can offer to God – not only our surplus, but everything: our crosses, our sacrifices, and our whole selves – and join Jesus in his sacrificial offering. Then, and only then, will the Mass become for us truly alive, profoundly meaningful and eternally fruitful.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.