_From the Mass we are sent...

The word Mass or Missa actually comes from the word for mission.  The Mass calls us to mission, at the end of Mass we are sent forth.   That is why our mission at St. Joseph’s is: To Evangelize God’s People Beginning with the Gift of the Holy Eucharist.  The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, (CCC 1324, Lumen Gentium 11).  Everything we do comes from the Eucharist and everything we do needs to be pointed to the Eucharist. Therefore, as Catholics the Mass cannot be separated from our daily lives and everything we do. 

Most often at the end of Mass we hear the priest or the deacon say:  Go fourth, the Mass has ended.  To which the people respond:  Thanks be to God.  From the new translation of the Roman Missal we have different options for the Concluding Rites.  You might hear the priest or deacon say more often:

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

In some sense the Mass does not end as the two new options above allude; we are called to take the Mass to our world, our jobs, our schools, our families, our hearts, witnessing to the love and mercy Christ has for everyone.  Perhaps ask yourself… Who can I invite to Mass who hasn’t been in awhile?  Who can I share the message of Christ’s love and mercy with this week in my workplace or school?

The gospel narrative of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke (Chapter 24) illustrates this point.  In this story two of Jesus’ disciples are on their way to Emmaus three days after Jesus had been crucified.  The Resurrected Christ appears to them and reveals Himself through the scriptures and the breaking of the bread.  Which we can see similarly to the Mass; first, we read Sacred Scripture and then we have the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  After this experience they went back in haste to Jerusalem where the other disciples were gathered, proclaiming to them how much their hearts were burning because of how they encountered Jesus. 

I pray that our hearts might burn for Jesus in the Holy Mass, through Sacred Scripture and the Eucharist, so that we go forth into our world sharing the love and mercy of Christ.  Like those disciples on the road to Emmaus, once we have an authentic encounter with Christ, in particular at the Mass and receiving Him in Holy Communion, our lives can not be the same, we are changed.   That change is not just an interior change but the way we live our lives outwardly must change.  We are called from the Mass to be sent out on a Mission to be a disciple of Christ, to live as he has taught us and to spread the Good News of God's love, peace and mercy to everyone! may these words of Christ himself, penetrate our hearts and lives. "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole of creation," (Mark16:15),

If you would like further reading about the Concluding Rites of the Mass or the other changes in the translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, check out Magnificat's Companion available in St. Joseph's bookstore.  You can also visit our webpage on Welcoming the Roman Missal, Third Edition.

_By Michael Webster
Director of Religious Education
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
mwebster@stjmod.com

THE COLLECT...

Let us pray:  O God, author of every mercy and of all goodness, who in fasting, prayer and almsgiving have shown us a remedy for sin, look graciously on this confession of our lowliness, that we who are bowed down by our conscience, may always be lifted up by your mercy.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

We are a little less than half way through Lent; perhaps, whatever we gave up for Lent is looking really good,  (the girl scout cookies being sold out in front of the grocery store look so tempting).  Resist and stay strong in your Lenten fasting.  It is precisely through fasting, prayer and almsgiving that we grow in holiness, because with these in our lives there is no room for sin.  We fast from material goods of this world, because when we experience detachment we rely completely on God.  Prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance toward heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy, (St. Therese of Lisieux).  Through almsgiving, we follow the example of Love par excellence - Christ on the Cross, which is what Lent is all about. 

Perhaps some of us have given in to our Lenten fasts.  Resist the temptation to be discouraged.  Don’t give up, start over again.  This Sunday’s collect addresses this point beautifully.  All of us are sinners, even the Saints, but they relied completely in the Mercy of God, which is what we have to do every day. We need to humbly recognize our lowliness before God, and He will indeed lift us when we fall by His Mercy. 

_By Michael Webster
Director of Religious Education
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
mwebster@stjmod.com

_THE COLLECT...

It is now three months since the English-speaking world began using the new translation of the Mass.  It is important for us to continue to reflect on the changes, the new richness of the words that we hear and say, so that we can continue to grow closer to God in the Holy Mass.  One change that has occurred that perhaps we have not noticed are the opening prayers or the Collects.  The Collect is after the Gloria and the Penitential Act, and is started by the priest saying “let us pray.” The Collect is said by the priest on behalf of the people.  This prayer is very important because it sets the tone for the Mass.  During the Sundays of Lent, we will discover their great spiritual meaning so that we all experience God’s love and mercy in a more profound way. 

The First Sunday of Lent the priest says:  Let us pray:
Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observance of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.  Amen.

Every year we go through Lent, and maybe we have the tendency to just go through the motions but this is a holy time of year.  These 40 days are set apart for us to grow closer to Christ.  Every year Lent comes around and we reflect on how we have become perhaps lazy or too comfortable in our faith.  Lent helps us to remember the great love of Christ and to renew our commitment to Him once again.  Christ’s Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension is the key to our salvation.  It is folly to those who are covered in the darkness of our world, but these mysteries are the riches hidden in Christ. During this time of Holy Lent we are called to follow Christ’s example, to be His disciples so that we enter Eternal Life with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

_By Michael Webster
Director of Religious Education
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
mwebster@stjmod.com

   All the words of Christ are important, but the words of Christ from the pulpit of the Cross, is where He teaches us some of the most profound truths.  It took a great deal of strength to speak while being crucified, so each word of Christ from the cross is  precious.  During Lent, it is beneficial for us to meditate on the seven last words of Christ.
    Jesus says in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Imagine yourself as the beloved disciple or Mary Magdalene there beneath the shadow of the cross, being angry and sad all at the same time.  Angry at those who were responsible for such a tragedy, nailing your Messiah upon the cross; sad watching your Lord slowly die before your eyes and feeling so helpless.  Then you hear the words Father, forgive them.  What?  Forgive them, how can this be?
    He is God and God is Love. How often are we like the Pharisees and Roman soldiers by abusing Christ or our neighbor with the sins we commit daily? How often do we bring Him sadness because we abandon Him or are indifferent about what He has done for us?  Yet we hear that word forgive. Embrace that forgiveness, trust in His Divine Mercy!  But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

By Michael Webster
Director of Religious Education
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
mwebster@stjmod.com

   If we truly believe what the Church teaches, that God is the author of Sacred Scripture, (CCC 105), what difference would it make in our lives?  Hebrews 4:2, states, the Word of God is living and active. Sacred Scripture should penetrate our hearts like the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32) and the people listening to Peter on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:37). When we read scripture in all its fullness and in the light of Catholic Church teaching, we experience conversion and our lives must change.
   This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  As we begin Lent, we start thinking of what we are going to give up (coffee or chocolate).  It is also important to add something to our spiritual life.  This Lent, I encourage you to delve deeper into scripture and to read it daily, whether for 10 minutes or an hour.  ARISE,  bible study and faith sharing, starts this week.  It is not too late to sign up (see left hand column for info).  When you read the Word of God, here are some practical suggestions. 
   First of all, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your reading/studying.  If you are new to reading scripture and are wondering where to start, pick one of the four Gospels.  The Gospels have a special place… they are the source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word, our Savior, (Dei Verbum 18).  Read a chapter a day.  Don’t get overwhelmed or feel rushed, if God is revealing something to you, take it at a prayerful pace.  I like praying the scriptures using, Lectio Divina, which  is Latin for “Holy Reading.”  The ancient tradition of Lectio Divina has been used by many of the saints as a way to contemplate.  Pope Benedict XVI stated that the practice of Lectio Divina will bring to the Church a new spiritual springtime (16 Sept. 2006).  Through Lectio Divina, one diligently reads a particular scripture, so that it becomes a meditation, putting one’s self in the scripture.  Thus, this prayerful reading brings about an intimate exchange between the reader and the Author, causing the reader to respond with an open heart, entering into union with Him, the Author of Life itself.

By Michael Webster
Director of Religious Education
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
mwebster@stjmod.com