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By Bishop John, May 2, 2013 4:00 am

Most Catholics are quite familiar with the actions that take place around the altar at mass- after all, most of us have been going for years and years. Nevertheless, it saddens me that there are so many people who see with their eyes, but do not follow deeply enough with the symbolism that is present there.

I’ve been teaching about the Catholic Church for approximately 60 years, and anyone who knows me well knows that I always push simplicity. If the Church uses a symbol (and it uses many) the viewers ought to be able to effortlessly comprehend the meaning and the message. Did you know that there are only two essential movements or actions within the mass? But each of those movements is duplicated so there are four: From the opening sign of the cross at the beginning of mass, we begin to talk TO God. And it is a good beginning, because we start off by saying we are sorry. Why are we sorry? Because He is so wonderful. That’s why we glide into the Gloria. We are exuberant. We are exalted! We are thrilled, because our God is so wonderful. The response? God talks to us. Just as we prepare to sit, we hear the priest say “let us listen thoughtfully to God’s Holy Word”. Then, with awe, we listen to a very specific message from God, coming through the inspired authors of the Bible, teaching us about life and God’s love for us. That’s the first half of the conversation.

The second half is about giving. From the back of the church, two or more people suddenly appear coming down the center aisle, bringing bread, wine, and frequently, money. Together those instruments represent ourselves, our talents and our work of the last seven days. They are carried forward and laid upon the altar. In our name, the priest raises the bread and wine and prays that God will accept our simple, inadequate gift. But, with them, we present also our hearts. Sursum cuerda (lift up your hearts).

Then, we move to the center of everything, whereby the power of ordination, Jesus Christ changes the bread and wine into the real presence of Jesus Christ, once again giving to us. Very shortly thereafter, we come forward as people on a journey to receive the bread of life and be one with our Brother, Jesus.

So we talk to God, and He responds. We give to God, and He gives back in the most awesome manner. Back and forth flows this beautiful current.

Next Sunday morning, mentally step back from the altar as mass proceeds, and try and grasp these two simple movements as you celebrate mass.

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By Bishop John, December 27, 2011 5:07 am

A little over a month ago, some very minor changes were made in the way that we all prayed at Sunday Mass. Since they were very minor for the most part, the changes were much ado about nothing. However, this would be a good time to stop and think about the overall structure of the Mass. It virtually has not changed since the second century. It is essentially very simple and when we have that structure clearly in our mind, it makes us appreciate our Sunday celebration more easily and with greater clarity.

The Mass has two major actions that take place during its celebration. The first action is CONVERSATION and the second action is THE EXCHANGE OF GIFTS. The first half of Mass is a conversation between God and ourselves. We start by telling God that we are sorry for the failures of the past week and, for that matter, for the failures of our lives (the Confiteor) and then we express the awe that we have for God’s majesty by the praying of the Gloria. That is us talking to God. Next comes the Scripture readings and the homily and that involves us listening to God’s Word and some commentator on God’s Word. Overall, this first half of the Mass is a learning experience and very important for each one of us if celebrated properly.

Then you come to giving and receiving. On the altar is located bread and wine which was brought forward by the people. These gifts are very symbolic. They symbolize the work and the effort that the people put into their lives and, of course, their worship. They dramatically symbolize the lives of the congregation. Priest and people together take these gifts and present them to God, imploring him to accept them despite our weaknesses and limitations. Thus, ends our gift to God. God’s response occurs in the canon of the Mass as the ordained priest, having presented bread and wine from the congregation, now consecrates these simple gifts into the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, true God and true man. So in this phase of the Mass, giving and receiving are balanced off, just as they are balanced off in the part of the Mass which centered on conversation.

All in all, there is a long build up to that marvelous moment when the congregation comes forward to receive the Eucharist. Ideally, they come in procession to receive bread from heaven. The procession symbolizes the journey of God’s people in the desert. When all have received the Eucharist the whole congregation is holy, the whole congregation is united; every individual is now a brother and sister to Jesus of Nazareth, and then suddenly the Mass ends with the celebrant commissioning us to go out into the world and bring the message of Jesus Christ to that world.

It is very simple and very profound. It is a two-way interaction between God and his people – talking and listening, giving and receiving – Ita, missa est – go, the Mass has ended.

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By Bishop John, September 6, 2011 5:12 am

For several days, I have been talking about the agonizing reality of hunger in America. Over one-third of the country, 17 states, have more than 20% of their children living in food insecure households. This means inadequate learning ability, poor health and lives that are not properly developed. This is very sad but let me turn to something more positive – the need for prayer.

Most Americans believe in God but we are all over the place when it comes to our conversations with him. Most Americans would not consider themselves and many protest that it is rather difficult to talk to God since so often it seems to be a one-sided conversation. God is our friend. God loves each one of us individually with an infinite, all consuming love. If we can grasp that wonderful fact, that conversation with God should not be difficult at all. We should talk to Him about what it is that we are happy about, what causes us our distress, what we need to do in order to get through the next week or the next month, and about our concern for that high school nephew who is suspected of having cancer. While this conversation should take place rather easily, because it is based on love and acceptance by God. However, it is necessary to try to discipline ourselves to keep this conversation ongoing in our life. We should try to think about God and talk to Him briefly as we awaken in the morning and the same when we are shutting ourselves down at the end of the day. When wonderful things happen in the course of the day – we see a new grandchild, an extraordinary movie, make the right turn on the freeway thus avoiding a back traffic jam – we should try to instinctively thank God for his blessings and his gifts. When things go wrong, we should almost instantly turn to God who has created, who sustains us, who loves us and will carry us through life’s difficulties.

Prayer is necessary and prayer is easy. As the priest says repeatedly at Sunday Mass, “Let us pray.”

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