Go! Go Forth!

 This Mass has ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!

 (photo source: Traditional Roman Catholic Philippines.)

The word "Mass" means to be sent forth, says Fr. Larry Richards in The Mass Explained.

Why do we go to Mass? To get something out of it? How many times do we Catholics hear the moan, "I just don't get anything out of going to Mass."

If you utter these moans, too, then you are walking on the right path but in the wrong direction.

We should go to Mass not to get something but to give ourselves to Christ, just as Christ is giving Himself to us. Notice how Father presents this in the present tense. Christ is giving Himself, body, blood, soul, and divinity--as it was the the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end.

Jesus gives to us. We give to Jesus. When the gifts are brought to the altar, we should be bringing ourselves to the altar to make our offering. Bring everything--all our joys and sorrows--and bring our willingness to allow God's will to rule our lives. And we have an "altar call," the Holy Communion, during which we physically receive Christ so He can nurture and guide us in living out His Father's will. We lose ourselves, give ourselves.

But... this is not the end.

We say, "Go to Jesus."

True!

But then Jesus says, "Go! Go forth!"


Learn how you can receive a free copy of Fr. Richards' CD, The Mass Explained. Click here.