[1]Imagine a young person on the
eve of a major life event that is both thrilling and daunting, like a
wedding. A groom or bride might be
intimidated by the anticipated pageantry, by the commitment, and by the
unfolding relationship that lies ahead.
A wise parent or friend might speak to them much as the author of
Hebrews speaks today.
Asking
them to consider a similarly thrilling but more daunting experience—going to
college, entering the military, starting a new job—the parent or friend might
say, “this is nothing like that. You had
reason to fear and even feel alone, but this is just the opposite. You have the embrace of someone who loves
you, the support of family, the experience of knowing this person with whom
you’ll now be one.”
The
author of Hebrews is making this same point as he contrasts the old covenant
made in the midst of the thunder and fire of Mt. Sinai, a sight that filled the
people with fear of God and made them want to shut their ears to block God’s
fearful voice, with the new covenant made under a wholly different
circumstance. In the new covenant, we
stand with Christ at Mt. Zion in the company of innumerable angels and
saints. Rather than fear, this setting
fills us with peace, for we see those who went before us assembled in “festal
gathering” (Heb 12:22). Though we stand before “God the judge of
all,” (Heb 12:23) we are not alone but in the
company of “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” (Heb 12:24)
who intercedes for us and turns what might be fearful into an experience of safety,
solace, and communion![2]
Clearly,
the whole meaning of participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice is union with
Christ in the outpouring of his life for love of God and of his bride the
Church, us. “The Church’s great
liturgical tradition teaches us that fruitful participation in the liturgy
requires that one be personally conformed to the mystery being celebrated,
offering one’s life to God in unity with the sacrifice of Christ for the
salvation of the whole world.”[3]
From
the beginning, the Christian community has interpreted the events of Jesus’
life and Paschal Mystery in particular, in relation to the entire history of
the Old Testament. That Jesus is the
fulfillment of all revelation, the consummation of God’s plan for
salvation. The great reality of Christ’s
Real Presence with us in the Holy Eucharist is more deeply understood in the
light of all scripture, the Old and the New.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI points out the importance of teaching the
meaning of the liturgical signs of the Mass, that these signs are more than
simply conveying information or a required action to avoid hell. The elements we use, the words we say and the
gestures we make are an invitation to enter into, not only the story of
salvation, but to be in relationship with and in the real presence of an all loving
God in the person of Jesus, leading us into a deeper understanding of how being
in His real presence transforms us more and more into effective witnesses of
Christ in the world.
It
is with this realization that we are invited to the practice of Eucharistic adoration. Eucharistic adoration “is simply the natural
consequence of the Eucharistic celebration, which is itself the Church’s
supreme act of adoration. The act of
adoration outside Mass prolongs and intensifies all that takes place during the
liturgical celebration.” Our
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ always leads us back to His Real
Presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament and, in Him, to all our brothers and
sisters for whom He gave His life. It’s
all about relationship and today’s first reading and the Gospel tell us when we
approach a relationship with humility we “will find favor with God” (Sir 3:18)
and “will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table” (Lk 14:10).
The
big questions are: Do we really know what is going on here at this table? Do we understand that we are not just
spectators in a recollection of an event that happened over 2000 years ago, but
active participants in the Paschal Mystery.
We are there when Jesus is arrested, we are part of the crowd as Jesus
is presented to Pilot, we are there on the mountain top when Jesus ascends and
charge us to go into the whole world to share the Good News. Do we really believe in his Real Presence in
this most Holy Sacrament? Do we have the
faith to grasp that within this Eucharistic liturgy that we are truly connected
in communion; I guess that’s why the Church calls it the “communion rite”, the
“communion line” that we are receiving communion that we are in communion with Jesus,
God made man, the Word Incarnate. We are
in communion with the Blessed Mother of God, we are in communion with the
apostles, the saints, the martyrs, the entire Church and each other in a very
special way. The really BIG question is:
Why wouldn’t we, who have faith and believe, not want to keep this intense and
intimate relationship alive and growing ever deeper by offering ourselves to be
in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist on a regular basis outside of
this liturgical celebration, after all He has given and desires for us?!
Eucharistic
adoration, outside of Mass, whether individually in the Adoration Chapel or in
community during regularly scheduled devotions, like the Divine Mercy Chaplet,
for me, is a very humbling experience.
To be in His presence pouring out my heart in thanksgiving for all the
gifts and graces he has showered upon me.
Pour out my heart in sorrowful laments as I realize and reconcile with
myself that I am a sinful man in need of His unfathomable Divine Mercy. As I pour out the petitions of those who have
asked for my prayers so that I could pour them out at the feet of Jesus
exposed. This is all an opportunity to
deepen my relationship with Him whom I have received, Him whom I have been
created in the likeness of, and Him who loves deeper than I could ever imagine.
I
invite all of you, young and old alike, make a loving commitment to be in His
presence for an hour on a regular basis.
When I look deeply into the Eucharist during adoration I see all of
God’s creation in communion, won’t you join the ranks of the faithful adorers
around the globe that see you in the Eucharist.
