In this article as we continue in the series on the Mass, I will cover the main aspect of the Eucharistic Prayer, when the bread and wine become Jesus’ body and blood, soul and divinity.
The Mass brings us directly into the great mystery of Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection and ascension. We are brought to Calvary in a mystical, real, and true way. We spiritually and truly are before Christ as he sacrifices himself on the cross and is raised from the dead for the redemption of our sins. This of course ought to cause thanksgiving in our hearts for God’s tenderness, mercy, forgiveness and love towards us. Eucharist, Greek for giving thanks, is the word we call this sacrifice and sacrament. We thank God for the great gift he has given to us: the gift of himself.
When the priest calls upon the Father to send the Holy Spirit, and says the words of consecration—“For this is my body… For this is the chalice of my blood…”—the bread and wine become our crucified and resurrected Lord, they become the God who created us. If and when we realize this great reality the Lord will convert us into better Christians, into beautiful saints. When we respond to this mystery of faith with faith, we begin to meet and know a real person. This person has been willing to go through anything to save us and bring us to true happiness with him in heaven. It is no wonder that in closing the Eucharistic Prayer the priest says to the Father, “Through him, and with him, and in him, O God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours forever and ever.” It is through Christ that we grow in faith and become saints. It is through Jesus that we are capable of entering heaven and encountering God. By attending Mass we enter into the great glory of God; we honor him, we praise him, and we adore him. We give him thanks for his great glory. With faith, this mystery of faith increases our faith pointing us to eternity, to God.
“Amen” we respond. Let us continue to enter into the sacrifice of Christ on the cross so that we too can offer ourselves fully in sacrifice to God now and at the hour of our death.