MEAL FOR SINNERS

MEAL FOR SINNERS.

1. DO I DESERVE TO BE HERE?

A big question for many people seems to be, whether or not they are worthy. When I ask people what are the biggest struggles with Eucharist, I was surprised at how many people said to me, "Believing that I am worthy, or wondering whether I have enough faith. Or, whether I deserve to be here."

2. WE DON'T DESERVE IT

One of the marvels of this gathering, to me, is that the only thing that makes a person worthy of being here is that they aren't worthy. The only criteria that matters for our gathering, I believe, is that we don't deserve it.

3. THE MEAL IS FOR SINNERS.

This meal is not for people who have it all together. This is for sinners, for the weak, for the struggling. Jesus said, "I've come to eat with sinners." And that's exactly what he did and exactly what he does now. The trick is we could never deserve to be here - we could never earn this- and the wonder is, we don't have to. God who knows how weak and sinful we are says, "I want you. Come to the table".

4. YOU ARE LOVED.

I really never ever begin to earn his love, his incredible love that we celebrate here. I couldn't make myself worthy of that. It's just sheer gift. To be loved like that here. I guess if I hear anything from the Mass to myself, it's "You are loved".

5. GOD EATS A MEAL WITH SINNERS.

At Eucharist, we bring ourselves honestly just as we are. This is not pretending about we have it all together. Our state before God is one of meekness. Please not that this is not becoming an occasion where we hate ourselves, or beat ourselves up, but to celebrate the wonder of God, who again eats a meal with sinners.

6. LORD, WE NEED YOUR MERCY.

We sing, "Kyrie Leison". Perhaps that is best translated "Lord, you are merciful, and we need you". We cry out "Lord Have Mercy", because it is so important we are aware of the truth. Our need for God's great mercy...and, our part in the suffering in the world. Our prayer for mercy is not simply that God would forgive my personal little failings but whether our common stance before God.

7. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE HERE

I have heard people say that they stay away from Church because they say that it's all just a bunch of hypocrites. The truth is the bad news about the Catholic Church is that every person gathered is sinful. Is that it is made up of weak and sinful people. therefore we compromise the truth? We hurt one another. We don't always live what we profess. The bad news about the Catholic Church is that it is made up of weak and sinful people. The good news about the Catholic Church is, it is made up of weak and sinful people. Therefore, there is room for you. There is room for me. We don't even pretend that we are not sinners. In any Catholic Church building, you'll always see confessionals - reconciliation rooms. Those are public statements of the fact that we are sinners and need God's mercy. Though we are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, we must be converted again and again. The fact is, we are not here because we are better than everybody else. We are here because we need to be here.

8. KEEP ON GOING DISREGARDING FEELING

I believe it goes something like your desire to please me, please me. Something among those lines. If you're not feeling the real presence, taking the Eucharist, it it's not moving you, and you are not feeling any connection, but you want to feel that, then keep on going.

9. GOD'S MERCY MEETS OUR SINFULNESS

The whole purpose of our gathering then, is to help remember who we are, in relation to God and one another. We remember our sinfulness and the Loving One's Great Mercy. And so, it becomes an experience of praise as we again encounter the One who loves us in our weakness.

10. CHILDREN IN SEARCH OF THEIR FATHER

There's a story told in Spain about a father and a son whose relationship had been strained and under tension. The young boy ran away from home. But the father began to search for his son and finally in Madrid, in desperation, he put an advertisement in the papers. The ad read "Dear Paco...Meet me in front of the post office at noon. All is forgiven. I love you. your father". The next day, at noon, in front o f the post office, several dozen young men named Paco showed up. They were seeking that forgiveness to that they have a father who would welcome them home. It is true that each of us yearns to know that type of forgiveness and the wonder of our God is that God is a loving parent. Ready to forgive us. Ready to take us sinners back.

Eucharistic Miracles

PASSION OF THE CHRIST (Just click on the thumbnail to see a larger view)

As I stood outside the doors.

I tried to prepare myself

for what I was about to see.

But when I entered the room

I had no idea that my life would be

changed so drastically.

I sat there in silence, as all did.

The room was filled with the flickering

light of the screen.

As I cried, only a little bit, too shocked to move.

I felt like my heart was broken inside me.

I wanted to cry , but felt it hard to breathe

I watched in silence as this man demonstrated

what Jesus did for me.

It broke my heart and tears began to flow.

I felt helpless and I wanted to make them stop.

The pain I felt was like nothing I've ever felt before.

Then I began to cry out to God.

I realized at that moment if He had not done this for me.

This love that I feel for Him now would have never have come to be.

He laid in the temple yard beaten. His face disfigured from the punches and blows

The robe he wore was covered in blood as red as a rose.

With every ounce of His strength He pulled himself to His feet.

Only to be knocked down again.

But all that He did was for me , what greater love shown by a friend?

When they led Him away, His body was weakened from the severe Pain.

The Roman soldiers had no pity on Him and began to beat Him again.

They slapped Him in the face and knocked Him to the ground.

No idea that this was all for them as well.

That this man would one day rise up and reign over all men and save many from Hell.

As He carried the cross on His back to the place where He would soon die

You could hear people weeping all over the room.

As many in the crowd cried.

We all knew what was next and it made it hard to bear.

All our eyes fixed on the screen.

All you could hear was the sobbing cries of the weeping.

The sounds of those mourning in despair.

The actor laid on the cross as they drove the nails in his hands and in his feet.

But I could see only Jesus there, giving His life for me.

The movie became real, the pain was real, the tears, and the blood.

And then it was like God spoke to me and said "There is no greater love. My son did this for you. He laid his life down so you wouldn't have too. He traded his crown in Heaven for a crown of thorns and a beating you could never endure."

I knew at that moment that this had to be.

Even though it was so clearly unfair.

But the greatest thing happened! God caused my eyes to open and see. The crucifixion became clear.

I could truly see what really happened.

No greater love was shown to me.

Than the day Christ was nailed to the tree.

Click here to see : Passion of The Christ

Written and copyrighted by Patricia Montgomery

3-12-04

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This page was last updated on 04/08/07.