Ave Maria Meditations
The Mass is the greatest action in the world! Through the Mass heaven and earth are drawn together, and we are united in Christ. It is the most perfect way to adore God. We know this is true, for God Himself showed us how.
It was almost 2000 years ago that the first Mass was offered. Twelve men were seated around a long white banquet table. The room was dim in the flickering candlelight. It was an ordinary room and an ordinary house and yet the occasion was not ordinary. The main figure present was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. All eyes were upon Him. Slowly, purposefully, His sacred hands broke bread and blessed. From His lips came these sacred words: “Take you all and eat of this: for this is My Body.” Obediently, eagerly, the Apostles accepted the Bread of Life.
Then, lifting a chalice of wine and blessing it, our Lord spoke again: “Take all and drink of this…“The chalice was passed from hand to hand as each Apostle sipped the life-giving Blood. Then Jesus held out His arms. He had another command to give: “As often as you shall do these things, in memory of Me shall you do them.“ With these words, the Savior completed the very first Mass and trusted His Apostles with the task of carrying on His work on earth through the Mass.
The next day our Lord offered the bloody Sacrifice of the Cross. He died to save us and give us eternal salvation. Christ came to earth to offer His whole life as a sacrifice and an example. Christ’s life was one long lesson in love.
First He showed us how to lead holy and unselfish lives as He did. Second, He showed us how to offer ourselves to God by offering His own mortal life. Third, He showed us how to worship God in the most perfect way, through the renewal of the Sacrifice at Calvary, the Mass.
From the book “My Mass”
