IT IS ABOUT GOD; IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT GOD:
Scripture: “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition.” – Mark 7:9
Catechism: “Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything.” – CCC – #198
Brothers and sisters, as I was praying the Office of Readings this morning (Feb. 24), the second reading was from a treatise by St. Cyprian on the Lord’s Prayer. In it, he quoted Jesus from the Gospel of Mark (as mentioned above). And it got me thinking that in some aspects of our faith, we too have lost the reverence – the sacredness that we owe to our Lord.
As Christians, we are called to revere God above all things. As Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
However, many times God is not first in our lives. Human beings tend to put their own wants and desires ahead of the care and needs of others. Truth be told, God is more important than ashes on the forehead; He is more important than a piece of palm (even a handful of palms…you know who you are…); He is more important than a ballgame; He is more important than getting upset when someone is sitting in our pew on Christmas Eve that we were saving with our coats (again, you know who you are…). Our very lives are to be about the Lord, not us.
Brothers and sisters, when we relegate loving and serving the Lord and attending Mass only when it is convenient for us, then we are setting God aside, and living our life in order to satisfy our personal wants our desires, rather than honoring God – living out His will, His commandments. We put God on the back-bench rather than front and center.
As the Bride of Jesus Christ, the Church (which we all belong) is obligated to maintain the dignity – the sacredness of Her Spouse. This is why there are rules and regulations regarding a number of practices within our faith – within our Church. This is why there are certain steps that must be followed when receiving the sacraments – and the Eucharist is first among them. Receiving the Eucharist is the visible sign of the Church receiving and honoring Her Spouse.
As such, the Archdiocese is finalizing the ‘Norms for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.’ And, each parish is obligated to pass on the rules and regulations of the sacraments to each following generation in order that the Church continues its duty of honoring Her Spouse by maintaining the dignity and the sacredness of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This is why there is baptismal preparation required before Baptism; this is why there is required instruction before a child makes their first Confession; this is why there is required instruction before a child makes their first Communion; this is why there is required instruction before a child receives Confirmation; this is why there is a required pre-nuptial investigation and ‘pre-Cana’ workshops before Matrimony; this is why the Church Anoints those that are sick or dying; and that is why the Church educates, trains, and anoints shepherds to care and serve Her faithful.
All of this, brothers and sisters, is done to maintain the dignity and sacredness of God and each other. All of this helps feed and strengthen our salvation.
“Whatever you do, think of the Glory of God as your main goal.”
-St. John Bosco