If you are reading this article, in all likelihood you attend Mass, at least once per week. Mass is where we come together as Christ’s Body the Church to offer thanksgiving . . . Eucharistia. The question is do you attend or do you become one with Christ’s Church?
Becoming one means: greeting others and seeking each other out before and after Mass, eliminating noise from cell phones or children, dressing properly to be in the presence of God, participating in mental, vocal and musical prayer, listening prayerfully to the readings and homily and only receiving communion when in a worthy state.
In addition to participating in the Mass, having an effective liturgy is part of what it means to be Church. Serving with a liturgical ministry is a way to contribute to the communal worship. We can always use more greeters, ushers, lectors, choir members, Sacristans, Alter Servers and Eucharistic ministers.
All of these roles are relatively easy and contribute greatly to the worship experience and the time required is often just the time you spend in Mass. Please, consider sharing your attitude of gratitude by joining one of the parish liturgical ministries.
Throughout the Gospels, the one disciple that is most prominent is Peter. Peter was the first to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God, Peter is the one that speaks for the others, he is also the one that Christ entrusts the Church to.
Was Peter perfect? No way. In fact, it takes a long time for Peter to "get it", Peter doesn't always know which way to go, Christ rebukes Peter, Peter denies Christ but Peter always loves Christ and Christ always loves and forgives Peter. Throughout the Gospels Peter demonstrates leadership.
To love Christ one must be able to show leadership. Some are called to serve in leadership positions either on the Parish staff or on one of the parish Finance, Stewardship or Pastoral advisory councils. Others are called to lead a particular ministry. All are called to lead by the example of our lives.
Peter wasn't always right but he was never afraid to step up in service to His Lord. He knew that leadership means being active and participating. We are all being called to lead, in our prayer, in service and in giving. Show your attitude of gratitude by generously answering your call to lead.
Over the last several weeks we have discussed how God has given us the seven sacraments as a means for sharing His Grace with us. Part of our call as Christian stewards is to share God's grace with other people.
At SJV, we have adopted a vision to be the "Hands of Christ" as the manner in which we will share the grace of God with each other and with our community. Just as there are seven sacraments, we have organized ourselves around seven "Hands". Each of these hands is a different way that we can contribute.
Our church teaches that "Faith without works is dead". This means that each of us is called to live out the faith we profess and demonstrate that faith in our actions. Over the next several weeks, we will explore each of the "Hands" and how each of them allows us to demonstrate our Attitude of Gratitude to God.
In the Catholic tradition, the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred when an individual is prepared to think and act as a mature Christian. Similar to Baptism, we are anointed in Confirmation and sealed with the mark of the Holy Spirit.
Just as when we move from adolescence to adulthood, there are new expectations and responsibilities, so too when we are confirmed there are new expectations and responsibilities. Confirmation parallels our maturation as humans and indicates that we are now able to think and act as adults in Faith.
As adults, we are responsible for our own growth and actions, so too after confirmation we are accountable to continue to learn and grow throughout the course of our lives. The grace we receive strengthens us to a new level of maturity, to take responsibility for our own spiritual growth and to enable us to lead others in the Faith.
By living our lives as adult Christians, we show our attitude of gratitude by shouldering our responsibilities and leading others to Christ.