Active Participation at Mass
Feb
8
Written by:
Sunday, February 08, 2009
5th Sunday Ordinary Time
February 8, 2009
Vatican II called for active participation by the laity in the Mass. How do we do this?
Speaking and singing. Active participation, of course, includes speaking when we are supposed to speak and (hopefully) singing! But it includes much more than this.
Listening. Attentiveness to the Word of God is crucial to fully entering into the Mass. What word does the Lord wish to speak to me during this Mass? He will have a message for me, if I am open to hearing it. The best preparation for Mass is to have looked at the Sunday readings in advance, or to pray over them afterwards. This is why we include them in each week's bulletin!
Silence. Notice that at key moments, no one says anything – neither the priest nor the people. These times occur after the readings, after the homily, after communion, and sometimes during the offertory. Here, we are silent together; we ponder the words and prayers we have heard and spoken together, that they may become a part of us.
Gestures. Try paying attention to how prayerfully you perform the gestures at Mass. What gestures? Take the time to sign yourself with holy water before and after mass slowly and reverently, as you thank God for your baptism and the gift of eternal life. Genuflect toward the tabernacle, and go a little slower – this little action expresses our faith. We sign ourselves on the forehead, mouth and heart at the gospel, that the Lord will truly enter us in these three ways. Each change of posture is a different prayer: we are praying with our bodies in this way throughout the service! Don't just go through the motions, but turn these movements into the prayers they were meant to be.
The offering. As we bring up the gifts of bread and wine, we are offering our lives to Christ at this moment. These gifts represent ourselves, as well as our sacrificial giving that we place before the Lord.
Communion. Before receiving the Eucharist, I will make a small bow of reverence toward the host and then the cup. This simple gesture expresses the profound humility and faith we hope to have as we receive Jesus into our bodies and our lives once again!
The sending. We don't leave from Mass; the mass leaves with us. We have committed ourselves to be Christ's eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet for another week as we take him out to the world we live in!
Father Gary