Any questions for Fr. Ben?

Q: What is the purpose of the red candle in the church (by the Tabernacle)?

A: It is actually a white candle inside a red glass.  The ever-burning candle is a sign the Christ is truly Emmanuel, "God among us."

Q: What is the most difficult thing for you as a priest in your relationship with God?

A: I'm going to turn that around and say that relationship with God actually makes live easier!

After the 911 attacks in the US, people around the world grouped in churches to pray.  God helps us deal with every situation.  He asks us to "pick up your cross."  He says that if someone strikes you on one cheek, give them the other one.  If someone presses you into service for one mile, go an extra mile for them.

Father told of young men in Nigeria that were "pressed" into service to help someone move from one place to another.  By offering to further without being conscripted to do so, the load is actually lightened - choosing to go further lightens the load.

THE SACRAMENTS:

What is the sacrament you are preparing for?

Confirmation.  

You are now strong in your faith and ready to receive from The Church the sacrament confirming you in your faith. You are no longer young but are ready to go and give what you have received - but you cannot give what you do not have!

CCC 1131 

The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.

From <https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P35.HTM>

What are efficacious signs?

Signs you can see with your eyes - like dark clouds from the west are a sign of coming rain.

But there are also efficacious signs you cannot see with your eyes:  The Most Holy Eucharist is beyond more than tiny white bread, it is Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Beyond the waters of Baptism is a spiritual transformation, and indelible mark even if you don't see it.

So let's name the Seven Sacraments:

Baptism

Reconciliation

Eucharist

Confirmation

Holy Orders

Marriage

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacraments can be grouped into three groups:  Sacraments of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing, and Sacraments of Service.

Sacraments of Initiation

• Baptism - "to wash"

  • The Catholic Church is the Kingdom of God on earth

    • John 3:1-3

      • 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode′mus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew,[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

        • From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A1-3&version=RSVCE>

  • Three-fold Ministry

    • Priest

    • Prophet

    • King

      • This is a different type of kingdom.  Jesus is:

        • King of Righteousness

        • Prince of Peace

        • King of Truth

        • King of Life

        • King of Justice

        • King of Love

• Most Holy Eucharist

  • The Source and Summit of Christian Life

    • All works and ecclesiastical ministries stem from the Most Holy Eucharist:  Teachers, servers, office managers and so many other apostolates.

    • All other other Sacraments are bound to the Most Holy Eucharist and are oriented towards It.

    • In the Most Holy Eucharist is found the highest good of the Church, Jesus Christ Himself.  This is why the tabernacle is brought to center of the church.

  • The Body & Blood, Soul & Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine.

  • God & man become one in the Spiritual Union, a bond between God and man.

    • John 6:53-58

      • 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”

        • From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206%3A53-58&version=RSVCE>

  • The Most Holy Eucharist must be received in a state of Grace

    • Go to mass on Sunday - what do you expect to happen when God makes an appointment with you and you don't show up?

  • The Most Holy Eucharist, as with all Sacraments, is a Covenant with God so guard it jealously!  He says to us, "I will be your God and you will be my people."

  • Four ways to look at the Most Holy Eucharist:

    • Sacrifice

    • Real Food

    • Communion

    • Real Presence

  • SACRIFICE

    • Last Supper

      • Eucharist means "Thanksgiving"

  • PLEASE LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FILE BELOW FOR THE REST OF THE TALK