Gospel Reflections for November 19 2017
Your big return on investment
There is a moment at every Mass, when parishioners walk down the center aisle bringing gifts of bread and wine, and your donations, to the altar.
The priest accepts them, and then says two very ancient Offertory Prayers as he prepares them for the consecration. These Prayers help us understand today’s Gospel…
“Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation, through your goodness, we have this bread to offer, which earth has given, and human hands have made, it will become for us the Bread of Life.
“Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation, through your goodness we have this wine to offer; fruit of the vine, and work of human hands, it will become for us our Spiritual Drink.”
Notice we do not consecrate wheat or grapes but rather bread and wine, both of which require our efforts to make. The Mass is not only the action of God, but involves “our human hands” to make it happen as well. These prayers affirm our participation is necessary for the consecration to even take place. While God designed wheat and grapes to grow naturally from the earth, we turn them into bread and wine by our efforts. The Mass is a combination of what God does …and what we do.
The Gospel affirms any work you do that produces a positive effect …a good “return on your investment” of time and effort, will be blessed by God. If you have talents, skills, or special gifts, you will want to use them to accomplish something beautiful for your family, society, and especially for God. When you do, God designed you to feel enormously satisfied and happy.
Our Lord designed the Mass to continue this beautiful sequence of ever increasing value. From wheat and grapes, to bread and wine, and then to the real presence of Jesus Christ, we experience an increasing goodness
Finally, at the end of Mass comes the two most events…you receive this real presence of Jesus at communion. That should immediately impel you to sit or kneel in contemplation of His powerful presence within you. Our Lord can fill you with grace and courage to offer your new self for the good others. You then leave Mass and make a positive difference in your world outside.
This is Our Lord’s business plan of life that you can be assured will shower you with blessings!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Fr. Dave, this brings to mind a quote I love to use;
What you are is your gift FROM God… What you do with what you are is your gift TO God!
Well said!
Thank you Father Dave. I forwarded this to my children. Thank you for reaffirming our power In Jesus and our willingness to partake in what Jesus did and appreciate all that God has given us in his name, for we are nothing without HIM. I send you a bible study buddy , Mary Jo, who is interested in your pilgrimage.
-Filomena
Thanks for sending on the article. I hope your children like it.
well stated
There is something I hadn’t noticed before. Bread and wine is consecrated Not just grapes and wheat. The work of human hands helps God transform into the Real Presence of the eucharist.
That God dwells within us all the time, and receiving the Eucharist increases his goodness within us is very beautiful.
Than to go out and transform the world as we have been transformed is also a joy and evalgalizing the good news. Is it not?
May Jesus help us trust in him, and the gifts (modern day talents) that he has given us to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ with the work of our hands. Joy Joy Joy
Father Dave, I feel so moved in my heart and elevated after reading your commentary.
It tells a story about how God uses our gifts, raises them and then infuses them into the hearts and minds, hands and feet of all who receive him. Thank you, Joanne
I am honored that you are so moved. Thank you for writing.
Thanks for the explanation of the consecration and the fullness of its meaning!
You are welcome!
Dear Father Dave,
Thank you so much for your weekly message, which as always … is profound.
I hope you have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!
God bless.
Kathleen
I am happy to say that Thanksgiving was great. Big turnout for our parish mass as well.
I like your explanation of heaven and earth coming together in the celebration
of the Eucharist!
The bread and the wine being the base for the Presence of Jesus, and we the
participants offering praise and thanks to Him.
What a friend we have in Jesus!
My thanks to Pope John Paul as well!
The presence of God touches our hearts during Holy Communion; once the Holy Eucharist is inside us, it’s like a charge of electricity that just ran through our nerves and felt through our veins. Was a unique experience to me since I seldom go to communion, or even if I’ve been receiving the Eucharist regularly in the past, there was nothing quite like it in one Saturday in May 2016. I wonder why?
Perhaps, everyone has a unique experience with God, and if there is one that stands out among our common encounters with the Lord–we seldom forget it. But still wonder how God really feels when He’s in touch with each and everyone of us; we’re talking about billions of believers all over the world. How wonderful the Eucharist really is……
I like you reflections very much. Thoughtful ideas.
Amen! Fr Dave. What a beautiful message. Thank you for the reflection!
You are very welcome!