Worship

Jesus said “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh”. (John 6:51).

            When I was growing up, my Parish would host a Holy Hour to which my parents would often bring me. After the Priest exposed the Host, those gathered would pray the Rosary in which I would participate. The forty minutes between the end of the Rosary and the start of Benediction seemed to last forty years. Since I understood making any noise would not be a good idea, I just sat there bored. As we left the Church one time, I complained to my father about it. He replied by asking me “If Jesus ever came into the Church would you have anything to tell him?” I answered “Of course”. “Well the next time we go to Eucharistic Worship”, he continued, “just tell him all those things in your mind”. The experience taught me how this devotion gives me an opportunity to simply talk to Jesus.

            In this passage from John, Jesus instructs the crowd he is the living bread that came down from heaven. By doing so, he points towards a way individuals can have a more personal form of Worship to God.

            Within the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament Worship consisted of Rituals which defined the relationship between God and the Jewish people. Prayer, Sabbath Observance, Sacrifices and the Celebration of Festivals reminded Jews of the central beliefs of their faith and deepened their commitment to them. Passover, the most important act of Worship during the year, recalled how God liberated them from slavery in Egypt. The blood sprinkled on the Door Posts and Lintels of Jewish homes was a reminder of how God protected the Israelites on the night when all first born males in Egypt died. As they ate the flesh of the Lamb they remembered how God gave them the strength needed to begin their journey back to the land of Abraham. Whenever the Jewish people celebrated Passover they recalled but also renewed their trust in God. While there were occasions when some Jews worshipped other gods, the strong and repeated condemnation of these actions demonstrated the importance of true Worship.

            John’s Bread of Life Discourse pointed towards a new focal point of Worship for Christ’s Disciples. When Jesus spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his blood he probably offended many in the crowd because the Jewish Law prohibited human sacrifice and cannibalism. Yet, he foretold how his sacrifice on the Cross would exceed the effects of the Passover Lamb. Through offering his flesh and blood, Jesus would redeem Humanity from Sin and open the way for it to achieve Eternal Life. This would do more than just extend earthly existence. His sacrifice would also set a standard of commitment which would strengthen his Disciples for life and not simply their journey to a new land. For Christ’s Disciples, Worship now focused on what his flesh and blood obtained on Calvary. Although not recorded in John’s Gospel, the words used during the Institution of the Eucharist indicated the flesh and blood of Jesus would remain with the Church through that Sacrament. With Christ being physically present in the Eucharist, Worship of God, whether by receiving Communion or in Eucharist Adoration, becomes a more personal devotion.

            Christ’s teaching about Worship questions the tendency to focus on its communal rather than personal dimension. Many people see Religious Rituals, especially those which gather large crowds, as public expressions of Faith. They forget each individual in the crowd has a different experience of Worship. While the Eucharist is a communal celebration of the fact Christ’s Body and Blood redeemed everyone, it recognizes this Redemption is experienced personally. Through providing quiet time alone with Christ, Eucharistic Worship enhances this personal dimension of the devotion. The Consecrated Host in the Monstrance provides a focal point for our Prayer. It is a reminder Jesus is physically present on the earth. Between the Opening Prayers of Exposition and Closing Prayers of Benediction we have time to simply be with Christ. We can communicate our gratitude for what we have received; frustrations at the challenges of life; and petitions for what we need. Although they may already be known by Jesus, we need to express them in order to deepen our relationship with him. Eucharistic Worship assists this process.

            Among the ways to more fully appreciate the value of Eucharistic Worship is to develop a conversational form of Prayer. Many individuals are challenged by this kind of Prayer because they need the structure of Formal Prayers or think it shows disrespect towards God. Others find it hard because they are afraid they will run out of things to say after five or ten minutes. However, experience teaches us as conversations develop they often include several topics. How often have you telephoned someone to just ask one simple question and remained on the phone for an hour? Our relationship with Jesus encompasses every part of our life. Conversational Prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament lets us share our thoughts, feelings, joys and frustrations with the one who knows and loves us best. Let our use of Conversational Prayer during Eucharistic Worship bring us to a more intimate and personal relationship with Christ.

 

August 18, 2024