The Cathedral of Saint Andrew's will be holding a biblical walk through of The Introductionary part of Mass, and The Liturgy of the Word. The Renewal of our Baptismal promises we make each Sunday when we profess the Apostles or the Nicean Creed will also be explored. This occurs just after the conclusion of The Liturgy of the Word.
After the Renewal of our Baptismal promises each Sunday (and the truth that we Renew our Baptismal promises each Sunday is one reason we need to wear appropraite attire on Sundays), a discussion of the make-up of the Church's Intercessory prayers will occur.
Focus on the biblical nature of the " Liturgy of the Eucharistic" follows. We see in this prayerful study many connections to Sacred Scripture. I will only focus on two here:
A. The neccessity to respond with the eyes of our hearts to the Truth that the essence or substance, rather than the exterior form, of bread and wine are Tranfigured through the words of concecration said by a male individual ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. He stands In Persona Christi ( In the Person of Jesus Christ) when he celebrates the Sacrement. For 600 years Western Civilization has had an acute focus on questions of "why" and "how." These are absolutely wonderful things and the Church readily accepts many advances in Science, Medicine, and Technology. Living in the mystery of Christiany, however, produces fruit upon fruit. Living in the unkown, and resting tranquil with present gifts is a peace that allows personal and spirtual growth. Trust and comfort increase when we are comfortable with the unseen, the unkown.
B. A specific example of direct biblical refrence to Sacred Scripture occurs when the priest shows the consecrated ( and in essentail nature "changed") Body of Christ. The priest says, " Behold the Lamb of God..." Ladies and gentlemen, these are direct words Sacred Scripture Reveals to us: John the Baptist said the above phrase upon seeing Jesus arriving at the Jordan River. We respond to John the Forerunner's statement with the statement of the Roman centurion, who approached Jesus with much courage to ask healing for his ailing daughter. Jesus wanted to come to his house, but the centurion replied with a statement of Faith: " Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but say the word, and my soul shall be healed." By the centurion's Faith in Jesus' Word, a member of his a member of his family was healed.
*A brief note on the nature of Jesus' healings: Yes, he healed many physical ailments. From a thourough
reflection on Saint John the Evangelist's Gospel, we know John refers to these miracles as signs. Signs of What? Signs of the Healing of Adam's first, self-inflicted wound.Jesus's miracles are signs of a tangible, tastable Truth. Through His Death and Ressurection, our inner hearts, born to fear, cry, and dwell in thoughts of permenant isolation, are interiorly healed and become Lights of the Gospel. Each day the Christian is asked to an intimate conversion to Christ, to Light Itself.
Father Almighty,
Through prayer and study
of Sacred Scripture and
Tradition, may all
increase in Your virtues of
Faith, Hope, and Charity.
We ask this through Jesus Christ
Your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For more information about the Cathedral of Saint Andrew's event, Contact Chuck Ashburn at 664-0340. He is the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock's Director of Religous Education
