Living Sacrifice: Growing in Faith Through Scripture and the Mass

The Corpus Christi or Body of Christ, the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, is the "source and summit" of the entire Christian life (Lumen Gentium, Ecclesia de Eucharistia).  Jesus offers Himself for the salvation of the world, but He also invited us to offer ourselves in union with Him.  We pray for the grace to make that offering and to be more united to Christ in our daily lives, be...

God's innermost secret is that He is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and He has now destined us to share in that exchange (CCC, #221).

The Gospel of St. John is a story of the re-creation, a recapitulation of Genesis in which the Evangelist is showing us the healing work of God in restoring the brokenness of creation.  The high point is Christ breathing on the disciples in the upper room and saying "Receive the Holy Spirit."  We pray, "Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth." 

Christ calls us to be one, as He and the Father are one.  This unity participates in the creative and redemptive work of God.

The Church is Apostolic in her origin, in her teaching and in her structure.  God guides and directs the Church in every age and sends us out to make Him known in the world we live in.

The road to heaven is difficult, described by Jesus as a way that is narrow and hard.  Along this road Jesus accompanies us and, even now, gives us a glimpse of His glory.  

Jesus is the lamb that shepherds us to the source of life-giving waters.   His sacrifice on the cross is precisely what guides and directs our should to new and everlasting life.  He is the Lamb of Sacrifice and the Good Shepherd.

In the Apostle's Creed we profess that we believe in the "Communion of Saints."  The Communion of Saints consists in the Church on earth or the Church Militant, the Church Suffering and the Church Triumphant.  God calls us strive and cooperate with His grace here on earth so that we can be with Him forever in heaven.  

St. Paul tells us that " God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).   Divine Mercy is living proof that God exists and that He has given us grace, forgiveness and a new beginning.  

The empty tomb sets everything in motion as we see Christ risen from the dead.  God moves us to love Him and our neighbor like never before.  In the Easter Season we embrace the movement of God in our lives and in our world. 

Christ came on the ultimate journey from heaven to earth to grant us forgiveness and renewal of life.  St. Paul tells us how "God greatly exalted him," and He now invites us to join Christ on this journey towards Easter and to everlasting life. 

Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.  God invites us to leave the past behind and to begin a new life with Christ in freedom, grace and love.  

St. Paul tells us that "Whoever is in Christ is a new creation."  God reconciles us in Christ and restores us once again to new and everlasting life.

In the mystery of suffering, and in our deepest needs, God comes down to us to bring us a new beginning and eternal life.  

God shines His divine light into our lives and gives us hope.  We remember that God will never fail or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and with hearts filled with living faith, we follow Him.

Jesus appears on Mount Tabor and is Transfigured before the Apostles Peter, James and John.  Moses and Elijah appear to Him and St. Luke says they spoke about "the exodus" He was to accomplish in Jerusalem.  Jesus leads us through a new exodus, from this life to eternal life with God.

Christ takes our human nature and enters into the desert to combat Satan and overcome temptation.  He teaches us how to give ourselves entirely to God.

God calls each of us to love and this weekend challenges us to love even our enemies.  By Christ living and loving in us we can hope follow this great commandment and truly be His disciples. 

God calls us to follow that path that leads to new and eternal life.  Practicing the presence of God allows us to find that path and to stay on it.

God calls us to a particular vocation and He also calls each of us to holiness of life.  Discovering His amazing grace, we are often overwhelmed by our own unworthiness, yet He purifies us and sends us out on mission!

Desire is an essential component in the Christians life.  We seek God, desire Him and allow Him to become the great end for which we live.

God gives us His word so that we can be strengthened and inspired to grow in life with Him and those around us.  How can we make the word of God the foundation of our spiritual lives and become more fruitful as His disciples?

Jesus is our Divine Bridegroom who comes to die for us and brings us new and everlasting life.  How can we unite ourselves more deeply to Him and bear fruit that will last?

Isaiah describes the Messiah as one who is gentle among us: "A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench."  Jesus is that wounded healer who was "wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).

God is made manifest to all the nations of the world, represented by the Magi.  They adore Him and give him gifts because He alone is king and ruler of all.