A Celebration of God's Love

            The HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS  is a CELEBRATION OF GOD’S LOVE.  This is an insight that came to me as I participated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass today, May 23, 2013.

            In my studies and in Eucharistic seminars and congresses I have participated in I have learned several descriptions of what the Holy Mass is, such as the following:  That it is a Meal, a Memorial,  a Sacrifice.  This insight that it is a Celebration of God’s Love, however, made me aware that it is also GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN that is being celebrated.  The celebration to my mind is composed of two phases: a Preparation phase and an Execution phase.

            The Preparation Phase is what is commonly called “Liturgy of the Word”, and the Execution Phase is called “Liturgy of the Eucharist”.   In a layman’s language, however, the terms ‘preparation’ and ‘execution’ may be more understandable. 

            The central figure in this celebration is, of course, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The preparation phase consists of man’s humble acknowledgment of the Presence of Jesus Christ, asking forgiveness for his sinfulness and listening to God’s Word through the prophets, through Christ Himself and through the interpretation of a homilist.  This phase concludes with some petitions of the faithful.

   The execution phase begins with a humble gesture of the faithful’s desire to unite themselves with the LOVE OFFERING of CHRIST HIMSELF.  It culminates with a RE-ENACTMENT of the SUPREME SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, which though unbloody is still as real as when it occurred on GOOD FRIDAY, more than 2,000 years ago.  This is  actually what is being celebrated during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass – CHRIST OFFERING HIMSELF TO GOD TO REDEEM MANKIND FROM HIS SINFULNESS. 

As a consequence of this Supreme Sacrifice of Christ, the Graces of Redemption can now be availed of by mankind especially through the Sacraments instituted by Christ.  Hence, the execution phase ends with an opportunity for all the faithful to receive JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF under the appearances of Bread and Wine or the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

With this insight of mine that the Holy Mass is a Celebration of God’s Love for Man,  I am greatly motivated to participate in it, if possible, daily, so as to manifest my deep gratitude to God for His Love.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

May 23, 2013

God In Control

            “GOD IS IN CONTROL.”   This is a personal viewpoint that came to my mind after reflecting on the following words of the ANAWIM WAY with reference to what happened to Paul in the custody of the Roman procurator Festus.(Acts 25:13-21)

            “Without Festus knowing it, God is using him, and the whole Roman system of government, for the sake of spreading the gospel.  This is an example of what the Church calls ‘unconscious collaborators with God’s will’ (CCC 307).  We are reminded once again that God is indeed in charge of the world and the unfolding of history.  Though men are free, and often act without concern for the will of God – and can even act against God through sin – nothing happens that is completely outside of God’s providence.  He can make use of secular authorities and unbelievers.  He can use what strikes us as quite contradictory, even evil, for the sake of spreading the gospel of salvation.  We cannot expect the secular world to understand the ways of God, or to understand us who strive to serve God.  But we at least must trust that God is in charge of all things.”

            Pondering on the foregoing words, I asked myself the following questions:

1.    How did this world begin and how will it end?

2.    How is this world being maintained in its existence?

3.    Who is the Grand Architect who conceived this world and keeps it going?

On the first question, there is no one yet who can tell with certainty

 how this world began and how it will end.

            On the second question, history is filled with the lives of human beings, great and small, who in one way or another had a significant existence in this world, but all of them have passed away, except one who claimed to be the Son of the Living God, JESUS CHRIST.  Hence, no one can exist by his own power and nothing in this world can last forever by its power.  There must be SOMEONE  who has the power to create and keep this world in its existence.

            On the third question,  all men of all ages, even the so-called ‘atheists’,  could not but look up to some SUPREME BEING, who must be the MASTER MIND of everything that exists in this world.  It is this same SUPREME BEING who keeps this world going.

            With all these reflections I am convinced that GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THIS WORLD.   Hence,  I have to acknowledge my complete dependence on God and strive to live every day according to HIS HOLY WILL.

by: Buddy Cagurangan 

May 19, 2013