We go to BE SENT!

In our consumerist culture of today it can be assumed that we go to Mass to be a

receiver. And while this is true, we do and should go to receive Jesus in the

Eucharist, our mindset needs to be changed a bit. We go to receive Jesus and then

BE SENT!

The word Eucharist is derived from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning

thanksgiving. So what if we, for this one hour a week, or a bit more if you go to

daily Mass, changed our mindset to be the giver instead?

What if we spend this time at Mass in Thanksgiving? In thankfulness of all the gifts

God has given us, but most importantly, in thankfulness for the gift of His son.

Thankful for the gift of the Eucharist, the gift of His body and His blood poured out

for us and our salvation. Thankfulness and gratitude is what changes us from the

inside out.

But what good is this change, if we do not do anything with it? The term mass

is derived from the dismissal of the congregation: Ite, missa est (“Go, it is the

sending [dismissal]”). It is in thankfulness and reception of the Eucharist that then

from Mass we are being sent. The “Go” at the close of the Mass is the same in

meaning as the “Go” at the close of Christ’s earthly ministry. “Go; it is the dismissal.”

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I

have commanded you.”

Our Bishop, Donald DeGrood has stressed that we are all to be Missionary Disciples

through God’s love. All of us are to be sent near, in our homes, our neighborhoods,

our cities and to make disciples. Each month St Michael Parish volunteers go out

and serve in missionary discipleship in our city at the BDHH, Banquet and MoW.

Some are called to take that further and go to other cities, other nations. Each June

we take a youth mission trip here somewhere in the US and each January and July St

Michael Parish takes people on a Love is the Mission trip to the village of Playa de

Oro, Guatemala. Are you being sent?