You don't have to do all of these at one time. Consider how you might do parts of it throughout the week.
ENGAGE
In Mass, and we believe that Christ is truly present in many ways.
We are going to deepen our understanding of Mass as Christ being truly present with us.
We are all growing in wisdom and understanding, and we can always deepen our participation in Mass.
We are going to deepen our understanding of Mass as Christ being truly present with us.
We are all growing in wisdom and understanding, and we can always deepen our participation in Mass.
Talk together about how Mass can be described in many ways. In ways it is like a family meal celebration (such as Thanksgiving): Family Meal Eucharistic Meal We gather We gather (Introductory Rites) We tell our stories We tell our story (Liturgy of the Word) We share a meal We share a meal (Liturgy of the Eucharist) Set the table Preparation of the Gifts Say grace Eucharistic Prayer Eat and drink Communion Rite Return home Return home (Commissioning) Mass is also described as a sacrifice. |
Giving of ourselves to be remembered
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EXPLORE
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EXPERIENCE
Consider what Jesus gave us.
by Dorothy Kosinsi Carola. Resource Publications, 2001.)
- Recall the initial activity of how they would give of themselves to keep connected to their best friend. (If your best friend gave you something that he or she used to cherish in order for you to have a piece of themselves, you would treat it with care.)
- Connect that to Jesus’ gift of himself in your own words based on this teaching:
- When Jesus was about to be arrested and crucified, he wanted to find a way to stay with his disciples forever. He wanted to give them a way to remember that would last always. So when he was eating with his disciples for the last time, he did something unique. What he did is now the central action of our Eucharistic liturgy. (From the Eucharistic Prayer III: “On the night he was betrayed, he took bread and gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this all of you and eat it, this is my body which will be given up for you. When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”) The consecration is the part of the Eucharistic prayer in which we remember and make present the words and actions of Jesus at the Last Supper.
- The bread and the wine that we offered to God now becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus. The bread still tastes like bread, and the wine still tastes like wine, but Jesus is really present under the appearances of bread and wine. When we come to communion, the priest or Eucharistic Minister says “The Body of Christ” and “The Blood of Christ.” Our “Amen” means that we believe it.
- But those words have another meaning too. When we eat the Body of Christ, we become the Body of Christ. When we drink the cup of blessing, we drink the living spirit of Jesus. Not only is the bread and wine changed; we are changed. We are changed not just as individuals but as a community. We are in communion with all the people who are at Mass with us and with everyone who shares in communion anywhere in the world. We are all the Body of Christ.
- We believe that Christ is truly present in the consecrated bread and wine. We also believe that he is truly present in the priest, in the people assembled in church, and in the words of scripture that are proclaimed among us.
- Because we believe that the bread and wine have become the Body and Blood of Jesus, we treat the consecrated bread and wine with great reverence. If any Eucharistic wine is left over, the ministers drink it. If any Eucharistic bread is left over, it may be consumed or it may be placed in the tabernacle. The Eucharistic bread remains in the tabernacle in case someone who is ill or dying wants communion. The tabernacle is also a place people come to pray. People pray by the tabernacle because the consecrated bread is still the presence of Jesus, even when Mass is over.
- Because we believe that we continually become the Body of Christ every time we share in common, we should treat each other with great respect. It makes no sense to be careful with the Eucharistic bread and wine and careless with each other. We must show reverence to all.
- Through communion, we are united with all the friends of Jesus all over the world. Some members of the Body of Christ have trouble learning to read. Some members of the Body of Christ have no one to play with in the school yard. Some members of the Body of Christ live in your house and need a kind word from you. Some members of the Body of Christ need help learning English when they come to this country. Some members of the Body of Christ can’t walk. Some members of the Body of Christ can’t afford to go to the doctor when they are sick. We are united with all these members of the Body of Christ.
by Dorothy Kosinsi Carola. Resource Publications, 2001.)
APPLY
- Consider what we do to “do this is remembrance of me,” in addition to sharing in Mass. Jesus told his disciples at the Last Supper “Love one another as I have loved you.” He tells us to love as he loved. He asks us to reach out in love and be willing to accept the sacrifices when they come as a result of loving. He gave his love unconditionally. He asks us to do the same. Usually we are willing to do something that has a “return,” at least appreciation. But he asks us to sacrifice to give love unconditionally. (adapted from Celebrating Community, by Kathleen Chesto. Liguori, 2000.)
- Have you ever let go of something dear to you? Sacrifices big and small happen in many families every day: giving up going to the movies to babysit a brother or sister; giving up a weeknight to go to help a neighbor; not attending a party to volunteer at a soup kitchen; donating a kidney to a sick brother or sister. When we do these things with love, and without expecting reward, we are making spiritual as well as physical sacrifices. We are acting like Jesus. (adapted from The Catholic Faith & Family Bible. HarperCollins, The Center for Ministry Development, Our Sunday Visitor, 2010.)
- Read together the four scenarios below and for each scenario, brainstorm five ways of dealing with the situation. Choose the solution they themselves would most likely use in real life; they should also decide what Jesus would do in each scenario. Discuss answers with everyone; make sure that they understand that sacrifice is something we do out of love, and that we all make sacrifices every day. Jesus’ sacrifice is the ultimate sacrifice, done out of love for us. Discuss if they think they could do what Jesus did.
To Live as Jesus Lived For this scenario, brainstorm five solutions; then, decide what you would be most likely to do, and what you think Jesus would do. Your family has planned a sight-seeing and learning vacation to Washington DC. However, a friend has invited you to go to Myrtle Beach with his/her family. You really like the beach, but the rest of the family wants to go to DC. You’re free to choose. What would you do? To Live as Jesus Lived For this scenario, brainstorm five solutions; then, decide what you would be most likely to do, and what you think Jesus would do. The big sports game you've been looking forward to is Friday, but your grandparents are in town for one day only to celebrate your cousin’s birthday, and they really want to see you. What do you do? |
To Live as Jesus Lived For this scenario, brainstorm five solutions; then, decide what you would be most likely to do, and what you think Jesus would do. You are supposed to use your own money to buy a gift for the giving tree, and you have just enough for the gift the person requested. But you haven’t been out with your friends in ages, and you all want to go to a movie, and out for pizza. But if you pay for this, you won’t have enough money for the gift. What do you do? To Live as Jesus Lived For this scenario, brainstorm five solutions; then, decide what you would be most likely to do, and what you think Jesus would do. There is a new kid at school who doesn’t really fit in, and is having trouble making friends. The kids in your group have started making fun of him/her. What would you do? |
Next time we gather for Mass, let’s listen for the words “This is my Body,” and “This is my Blood.”
Let’s listen also for all the times that the priest mentions “sacrifice,” both the sacrifice of Christ,
and the sacrifice that we are called to be.
Let’s listen also for all the times that the priest mentions “sacrifice,” both the sacrifice of Christ,
and the sacrifice that we are called to be.