Consequently, the Mass is more than a mere celebration or preaching of the Word of God; it is the celebration of the Eucharist. As many of us know, the term originates from the Greek word “eucharistia,” which means “thanksgiving.” Whose thanksgiving? Ours and Christ’s: the Church’s offering of praise, sacrifice, and gratitude to God for the gifts of creation, redemption, and eternal life. It is a participation in the original thanksgiving of Jesus Christ, who “gave thanks” to God the Father at the Last Supper before offering His life on the Cross.
The homily should lead us to a deeper appreciation of the Mass as the Memorial Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. The insights and inspiration we gain from the homily should motivate us to say “Amen” and allow us to joyfully but solemnly enter into the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist is not limited to the reception of the Body and Blood of Jesus, known as the Rite of Communion. The USCCB document on liturgy explains: “The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts and the altar. As the ministers prepare the altar, representatives of the people bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ. The celebrant blesses and praises God for these gifts and places them on the altar, the place of the Eucharistic sacrifice. The Eucharistic Prayer is the heart of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In this prayer, the celebrant acts in the person of Christ as head of His body, the Church. He gathers not only the bread and the wine, but also the substance of our lives, joining them to Christ’s perfect sacrifice and offering them to the Father… The Eucharistic Prayers make clear that these prayers are offered not to Christ, but to the Father. It is worship offered to the Father by Christ, as it was at the moment of His passion, death, and resurrection; but now it is offered through the priest acting in the person of Christ, and it is offered as well by all the baptized, who are part of Christ’s Body, the Church. This is the action of Christ’s Body, the Church at Mass.”
Another important aspect of the Mass is its connection to the works of evangelization. Cardinal Tagle’s homily during the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis provides valuable insights in this regard.
Cardinal Tagle emphasized that the word “Mass” stems from the Latin “missa,” meaning “to be sent.” He explained that receiving the Eucharist is not just a moment to keep Jesus for oneself but a commission to bring His love into the world. He called on Catholics to become “Eucharistic missionaries,” urging the congregation to share Jesus’ tenderness with the weary, His compassion with the lost, and His peace with the divided. He noted that the Eucharist is a gift of Jesus’s very self and cautioned that a weakening in missionary zeal often stems from failing to appreciate God’s gifts, stating: “The gift we have received, we should give as a gift.”
On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus, traditionally referred to as Corpus Christi, may we gain a deeper understanding of the Mass, so that we continually look forward to celebrating it as the People of God, Sunday after Sunday.
With much love,
Fr. Rodel Balagtas
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California