Lenten Reflection

February 28, 2013

The Mass Prayers JEREMIAH 17:5–10; LUKE 16:19–31 There is genius and beauty in the prayers of the Mass, and yet, most people tune out the prayers. It seems to me that keeping God’s dream for us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves in the forefront of our mind unlocks the language of the many prayers that make up the Mass. The prayers of the Mass remind us that we are pilgrims on a journey, that we are not on this journey alone, and that we are called to be responsible stewards of our own lives while at the same time living in a way that is mindful of the needs of others and mindful of the needs of all of creation. Over and over again, the prayers of the Mass orient us toward God and remind us of his desire to have a relationship with us. There is great beauty in these prayers, but too often we don’t hear them because we are distracted by our thoughts or by those around us. Some of the prayers are the same for every Mass. Others change with the seasons of the Church calendar. And still others change every day. If you take time to listen and truly pray these prayers as the priest says them, you will discover the intimate knowledge the Church has of our spiritual needs. The prayers of the Mass are beautifully integrated and carefully designed to keep us focused on God’s dream for us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. For example, the opening prayers of the Mass guide us to focus on the themes that will emerge in the readings that day. This is the opening prayer for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday: “Lord, may everything we do begin with your inspiration, continue with your help, and reach perfection under your guidance.” The Mass reveals God’s vision for us as individuals, his vision for marriage and family, for community and society, and for the Church and the world. How well do I know the prayers of the Mass? Have I paid attention to the changes in the prayers that began last Advent? from Rediscover Lent by Matthew Kelly