Who Are We – What Is Our Mission?
In his book, “The Spirit of the Liturgy”, Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) writes: “The only goal of the Exodus is shown to be worship, which can only take place according to God’s measure…. The land is given to the people to be a place for the worship of the true God.” In these two sentences, we are called to see that worship of God is to be the focus of our lives. It begins with God creating the world and all that is in it – culminating in the creation of the first man and the first woman. Then, on the seventh day, God rests. As Cardinal Ratzinger says: “The Sabbath is the sign of the covenant between God and man. The Sabbath is a vision of freedom. On this day slave and master are equals. The ‘hallowing’ of the Sabbath means precisely this: a rest from all relationships of subordination and a temporary relief from all burden of work.” As we come to worship, it doesn’t matter whether we wait on tables, are president of a company, a nurse or a student, we are all accepted and loved. God calls each one of us to a fullness of life. God calls us to offer to him the greatest of all gifts – ourselves.
At the heart of the relationship between God and man is the idea of covenant; that there is a love agreement between God and man. This involves God’s gift of Himself to man, but also man’s response to God. This covenant is first put forward by God after the flood when He promises that never again would a flood destroy the earth. Many centuries later another covenant is made by God with Abraham, who is promised that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars of the sky. Years later God tests Abraham, when He asks him to sacrifice his son Isaac. In his faithful obedience he shows his devotion to God. The words of God to Abraham; “I know how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son”, call to mind the Transfiguration and Crucifixion of Jesus. More centuries pass and God sends Moses to lead the Israelites out of the slavery of
There is a story that comes from the sayings of the Desert Fathers, according to which the devil was compelled by God to show himself to a certain Abba Apollo. He looked black and ugly, with frighteningly thin limbs and no knees. The devil is unable to bend the knee which is something that our liturgy calls us to do – to bend the knee before the crucified and exalted Lord. We need to keep in mind that our worship is one of those acts that affect the whole person. If it is only an external, physical action, it becomes meaningless. If it is only spiritual it is inappropriate to the nature of man who is comprised of both body and spirit.
Just recently I ran into a gentleman who, noting that I was a pastor, proclaimed that he simply communicated directly with God. I told him my beliefs were different. They are centered on what Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” For me, being part of the church is essential to being faithful to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Keeping the new covenant, the covenant of the heart, the covenant of love, cannot be done in isolation. I have to have a relationship with God and with the other members of the community. To proclaim that one is a Catholic without celebrating the Eucharist, without praying together, without serving those in need, is an oxymoron. As Catholics we need to have a dedication to the