We are back into our usual ritual at this point in the Mass. We are a community that gathers to give thanks, not just a community that gathers to receive Eucharist. Eucharist is an activity we do, not just something we receive passively. The primary activity is to thank and praise God, and we do this most explicitly in the Eucharistic Prayer.
Tonight, for the first time, those newly initiated into the Church join in the Eucharistic feast and dine at the Lord’s table. The “rich fare” promised by Isaiah is shared with them for the first time with the rest of the community. Beyond the transformation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, it is we who are to be consecrated in the Eucharist. We are to be made holy in this sacrificial meal. We are to be shaped into the Body of Christ, to be the hands, the feet, and the voice of Jesus in the world.
Finally, we are sent forth: to be light for those in darkness; to be story for those without hope; to be rebirth and resurrection for those in death and decay; to be bread and wine for those who are starving for food, for love, and for God.
Prepare for Mass by reflecting on the meaning of these titles for Jesus: Light of the World; Word of God; Living Water; Bread of Life. These titles refer to the four parts of the Vigil.
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Vicki Klima
Vicki, a retired liturgist and parish administrator, is passionate about enriching Catholic worship. She authored
Participation of the Heart to help Catholics engage more deeply in the Mass. With a Master’s in Pastoral Liturgy, she has led workshops, written for liturgical publications, and continues to inspire through speaking, writing, and her love of music and theater.
