The apex of what Jesus Christ has done

Ruben and Renato became good friends since Grade 1. They were more than brothers, swearing eternal friendship. Ruben came from a very rich family. Renato’s were very poor but the intimacy of children is not based on economics. They separated ways when they graduated high school. Ruben continued studying in the city.

Renato stopped schooling and joined a violent gang. They killed somebody. Tumultuous affray. The rest went into hiding. Renato was easily caught, easily brought to trial and easily meted with the death penalty. He had no lawyer. There was no appeal. Ruben heard about it and visited him.

They chatted about the good times and the promises they made to each other. The rich young man told his friend, he would take his place. ‘Why?’ Because you have a wife and you have children. ‘Why?’ Because that’s what friends are for ! ‘Why?’ Because we swore to each other. The two of them cried. They were young again remembering. They held their hands as they renewed their oaths.

To take his place, Ruben wore Renato’s prison clothes and Renato, Ruben’s. Renato signed the visitor’s log and exited. Ruben, to make the story short, was executed in Renato’s place. Then somebody who listened to that part of the homily could not help himself, and mumbled loudly, ‘That is impossible. Nobody does that.’

The priest hearing, said, ‘That is precisely what he did!’ and he pointed at the crucifix. We were sinners meted with death but he took our place and was executed in our stead. He died so that we will be able to live!

That is why in every Catholic Church there is always a crucifix so that we will be reminded that this Son of God died an ignominious death to save us. All over the world Catholic Churches always has a crucifix. It it does not have a crucifix, it is not Catholic.

Every Catholic Church also has an altar of sacrifice to remind us that we are offering the sacrifice that our Lord has commanded us to do in remembrance of him. If it does not have an altar of sacrifice, then it is not Catholic.

In the celebration of this most Holy Sacrament, you can see the cross and you can see the altar. And you are supposed to recall with remorse and repentance, remember and reflect what the Son of God has done, and how he has saved us from death. St. Peter reminds us, “He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.” [1 Pt 2:20b-25] How can you not?

You can hear the story of our salvation as it is narrated at the lectern. From the passion of our Lord to his resurrection and his ascension as well as the descent of his Holy Spirit … They are read and sang by the lectors and cantors. And then the priest proclaims, solemnly, the Good News of our salvation.

You can smell the sweet fragrance of incense rising up to God in the celebration of every High Mass during solemnities and feasts. To remind us of the incensing by priests in the temple in Jerusalem whenever they offer animal sacrifices to Yahweh, their one and only God. Now, offered is the Lamb who was slain but will never die again.

You can touch Christ with your two hands as you receive him in Holy Communion. The Son of God is held in your unworthy fingers. Wait, to receive it you have to make sure you are in the state of grace. If not, you have to go to confession before receiving him in Holy Communion. It is the holiest of communions.

The Son of God does not just die for us, he becomes food for us to eat as he had succinctly explained, ‘My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks will have life everlasting.’ A supposed church without the Holy Eucharist is not Catholic. Must be protestant.

The purpose of celebrating the Holy Mass is to receive Holy Communion. It is the apex, the climax, the reason for the Banquet of the Love of God for which all Catholics and only Catholics are invited on the Lord’s Day.

You celebrate the Holy Eucharist with all your five senses. You can see. You can hear. You can smell. You can touch. You can taste. To trigger your memory. To remind you of that one sacrifice of his death on the cross, and his command that we will have to DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM. In utmost faith, and love and reverence. In deep prayer and contemplation.

“Father, you are holy indeed, and all creation rightly gives you praise… And so, Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them holy by the power of your Spirit, that they may become the body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ…” This is the called the “Epiclesis” or the “Anaphora” where the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

See how the Eucharist continues the Incarnation of our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary, and the Word became Flesh and lived among us. In the same way… by the power of the Holy Spirit, he is again and again conceived in the womb of the virgin (the Catholic Church and no other). As he has commanded, so he descends and becomes the Bread of Life for all of us to consume.