Reflection by Sr. Alicia Torres
Every morning my alarm goes off, just like it does, I’m sure, for you. Each morning when I hear that alarm I have two choices: hit the snooze bar and roll over, or turn off the alarm and enter into the day where Jesus is already waiting for me. We all know that it isn’t always that simple.
Sometimes we really need the extra rest. Sometimes we’re ready to bounce right up and face the day head-on. And sometimes we just hit the snooze bar…. It is on those days that I end up scrambling to get going instead of having an orderly start to the new day.
As we enter into this new year, I know the Lord Jesus wants us to experience more order and, ultimately, more peace in our lives. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking about the Order of the Mass, and how the succession of prayers and rituals in the Mass are a wonderful model for ordering our lives
We begin with the Sign of the Cross, recalling the presence of the Trinity in our lives… and we can do the same thing every morning after we turn off that alarm by praying a Morning Offering. The next thing we do at Mass is participate in the penitential act, asking for mercy for the many times we have failed to love. Asking for forgiveness in our daily lives is sometimes difficult, but it leads to greater harmony and mutual understanding. At the end of the day, we can always pray an Act of Contrition, pleading for mercy after having looked back over all that the day has brought!
Next in the Order of Mass, we enter more deeply into the Liturgy of the Word, hearing the Word of God proclaimed to us. Every time we read the Bible at home, it enriches our lives and nourishes our relationship with God and our experience of the Mass! This is such a strong way to begin the day. The more we allow the Word of God to wash over us, the more we can hear the Lord’s still, quiet voice speaking in our hearts.
Finally, we enter into the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and participate in the one Sacrifice of Jesus… and every day, with Jesus, we can choose to make a gift of ourselves to others. I’m reminded of Mother Teresa’s words, “Charity begins at home.” How different life is when I make little sacrifices of love for those closest to me!
This, my friends, is what it looks like to live a “Eucharistic life,” allowing our minds and hearts to be transformed by Jesus in the Eucharist!
I have so much hope for all this new year has in store for us as we live this Eucharistic Revival together. Won’t you join me in allowing the pattern of the Mass to become the pattern of our lives so that we may, with Jesus, offer our very selves for the life of the world?
Originally published in “Heart of the Revival” on 1/11/2024