Meditation Thirty-seven, Third Week of November 2003

The Liturgy of Christ

Begin with prayer to the Holy Spirit

Readings: John 15:1–11; Eph. 2:4–10; 3:14–19; Gal. 2:20; Catechism §1069–1074

The word “liturgy” has many meanings and is most commonly used to indicate the liturgy of the Mass. However, the word can be confusing because of its many meanings, some of which are revealing. The word really refers to many things other than the Mass. It includes all the works that Christ, our High Priest, does in His Church. In its broadest application, liturgy includes any exercise of Christ’s own ministry as Head of the Mystical Body, the Church. This, of course, includes public worship, especially the celebration of the Mass, or the Holy Eucharist, but it also includes all the sacraments and worship, all good works done in union with Christ by His followers or members, all preaching and teaching on the Gospel, all works of true charity. The liturgy joins the action and blessing of the Son of God with the works of human beings. Interestingly, liturgy does not include all actions of Christians, for example, evangelization, faith, and conversion. These works must precede the works of Christ and prepare for them, although Christ’s grace operates through them. For instance, personal conversion and repentance are not part of the liturgy of Christ, but His grace alone makes them happen. His grace opens us to His liturgy. When we work for the conversion of others, however, this is a liturgy because it is a work of Christ. It does require a degree of maturity and spiritual insight to realize that the whole work of salvation and sanctification, the whole reason for our being Christians is that the Son of God may grow in us and that we may be transformed into Him. He alone has eternal life, and our entrance into that life depends on our incorporation with Him.

As we begin this consideration of the second section of the Catechism, we must be very clear that we are not simply studying religious services, the liturgy of the Mass or the sacraments, as the externals of our great world religion. We are meditating on the mysterious operation of the Son of God, Jesus, our eternal High Priest in the world in which we live. How much Christ’s words mean when we study them in this context: “I will be with you until the end of the world.”

Quotation for Meditation

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1069–1070

The word “liturgy” originally meant a “public work” or a “service in the name of/on behalf of the people.” In Christian tradition it means the participation of the People of God in “the work of God.” Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church.
In the New Testament the word “liturgy” refers not only to the celebration of divine worship but also to the proclamation of the Gospel and to active charity. In all of these situations it is a question of the service of God and neighbor. In a liturgical celebration the Church is servant in the image of her Lord, the one leitourgos; she shares in Christ’s priesthood (worship), which is both prophetic (proclamation) and kingly (service of charity):
The liturgy then is rightly seen as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. It involves the presentation of man’s sanctification under the guise of signs perceptible by the senses and its accomplishment in ways appropriate to each of these signs. In it full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his members. From this it follows that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of his body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree. (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7 §2–3)

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

Questions for Meditation
 

1. Do I ever think of my real life in this world as Christ living and acting in me? This is the real meaning of grace.

2. Do I see Christ in my mind when I participate in the Eucharist and the other sacraments?

3. Do I show the reverence that the presence and action Christ should inspire in us?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, how many time I have been in touch with Your presence, Your ministry to myself and to others. I pray that the Holy Spirit will awaken me from my slumber and distraction so that I may rejoice in Your work in my soul and in the souls of others. Let me come to know You every day in Your work as Savior. Amen.