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Reflection:The attention of the mind to itself, or to the knowing or willing acts of the thinker. Therefore the act or practice by which the intellect turns back on itself or its own operations.
Catholic Meditation:Reflective prayer. It is that form of mental prayer in which the mind, in God's presence, thinks about God and divine things. While the affections may also be active, the stress in meditation is on the role of the intellect. Hence this is also called discursive mental prayer. The objects of meditation are mainly three: mysteries of faith; a person's better knowledge of what God wants him or her to do; and the divine will, to know how God wants to be served by the one who is meditating. (Etym. Latin meditatio, a thinking over.)
— Catholic Dictionary at CatholicCulture.org
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Ritual of Entrusting The New Year 2021 to God
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New Christ-Bearers
Scripture: 1Cor 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
--- THE WORD OF THE LORD: THANKS BE TO GOD ---
Reflection:
In the Greek tradition they describe those who bear the holy images or bear the ark of the relics or hold an image in the processions as “God-Bearer”.
In the 2nd Century, Saint Ignatius, the 2nd Bishop of Antioch, was well known with a reputation for piety and humility. According to the tradition, when Saint Ignatius was little, Christ appeared to him. Christ held St. Ignatius in His arms and said: “Unless you turn and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt. 18:3). Saint Ignatius grew up, loved Christ, bore Christ deeply into his heart and prayed to God unceasingly. St. Ignatius became Bishop of Antioch. His love for Christ urged him fervently to serve God and tirelessly gave witness for Christ to an ungodly world. Before his martyrdom, on the way from Antioch to Rome, he wrote 7 letters to the congregations where he had served to teach to the faithful about the love of Christ our Lord. In these letters, he called himself God-Bearer. St. Ignatius of Antioch was killed by wild animals and lions. They tore his body into pieces, but they left his heart untouched. Tradition says that when the people cut his heart, they saw a golden medal in his heart. On the medal there were the words ‘Jesus Christ’ on it.
Early Christians used “God-Bearer” or “Christ-Bearer” as metaphorical names expressing their desire to love and to carry Christ in their hearts. As Christians, we are God-Bearers because we are created in God’s image. Imago Dei, we are the image of God and we carry God in our souls and our hearts. We are each called to be a Christ-Bearer because Jesus Christ is our Lord. We are united to Jesus and carry Christ in our hearts. As St. Paul said, “I live my human life, not me, but Christ lives in me. My life is Christ.” The fruits of this intimate union with Christ transforms us to become a 2nd Christ in this modern world. “Christ will be magnified in my body.”
The Catechetical Theme of this year “I handed on what I received from Him”; How can a Catechist, a Church Leader become a Christ-Bearer, a true witness for Christ in this world to hand on his love and his message to the world?
We can only hand on Christ’s love to others and to the world when our hearts are filled to the brim with God’s love and let it overflow to people around us. Our souls and our hearts are like vessels to hold and bear Jesus’ grace and blessings. The Call of God for us is so great and so beautiful, yet we are not perfect. Each one of us is broken in a different way. However, Jesus said “Don’t be afraid”. I will be with you wherever you go. I will be with you until the end of the world. I will make you fishers of men.
How can we become witnesses to Christ for this world of the 21st century?
FIVE “I” CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHRIST-BEARER:
1. IMAGO DEI – IMAGE OF GOD:
Each one of us is God’s masterpiece: holy and blameless in God’s eyes. Out of love, God has created us. Out of love God created the world for us to use. God’s love unceasingly calls us back to him when our hearts go astray. Though broken because of our sinful inclination, God’s love molds us, mends us and continues to heal these master pieces and make each beautiful and holy in His eyes; so that, our hearts can be a beautiful dwelling place to hold and bear Christ as we receive Communion and form this temple of the Holy Spirit through each moment of our lives.
2. INTIMACY:
Christ-Bearer carries the image and the likeness of Christ into one’s heart. A life of prayer and penance are key to building the interior life where one develops a deeper relationship with Christ. The life of union with Christ as St. Paul said “I live no longer I, but Christ lives in me” becoming the core, the center, the foundation of my life. I become a 2nd Christ to the world. People see me; they see Christ in me if I have a deep intimacy with Christ.
3. INTEGRITY:
We live in this contemporary world of the 21st Century where the world seems so broad and so wide. Those who follow Christ struggle to swim against the stream of life to keep our identity. As a Christ-Bearer, we hold Christ dearly in our hearts. That union of intimacy consolidates and strengthens us to live with integrity. We do not give in nor compromise our hearts and our faith to the invitation of a godless world. We keep our baptismal promises and are faithful to Christ and steadfast to the Church’s teachings.
4. INTERCESSION:
The life of each Christ-Bearer brings an intercessory prayer to those in need and to the whole world. Christ-Bearers bear with Christ the suffering of humankind and of the world in our bodies and our souls. Christ-Bearers convey God’s love and compassion to the broken world. Christ-Bearers are peace makers whose peace and harmony flow to each corner of the world where injustice, hatred, and war occupy people’s hearts and lives. As Christ-Bearers, we hold the wounded world close to our hearts; we pray for them; we comfort them through our love and sacrifice.
5. ILLUMINATION:
Christ-Bearers are the visible hands, feet, and eyes of the Invisible Jesus on earth to illuminate Christ’s love to the world through our deeds of charity and hearts of sympathy. Our lives give witness and good example for many to see Christ. Our lives illuminate the world and warm the hearts of all people we meet, encounter, and serve.
OFFERING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, You died on the Cross to teach us the lesson of LOVE, so that we can love you in return and to love others like you. Please carve your image into our hearts, so that we can be your firsthand witnesses to the world of this 21st century. OFFERING THE CRUCIFIX
Lord, You have called us to practice your teachings and hand on what we have received from you to the world. Please grant us a desire to learn your words so that the fruit of your words may grow in our hearts and help us to hand on what we have received from you. May we offer you and your words to the people we will meet and serve. OFFERING THE BIBLE.
Lord, You are the TRUTH, our LIFE and LIGHT. You have called us to be the light of the world. Please help us to boldly live our lives and, like the wax of the candles, dare to lose ourselves in order to give light to the world. OFFERING 4 candles.
Lord, please help our eyes to be fixed on you; our minds to be focused on you, our hearts to be attuned to you, and our actions to be guided by you so that our lives can truly be a NEW CHRIST-BEARER to the world.
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
--- THE WORD OF THE LORD: THANKS BE TO GOD ---
Reflection:
In the Greek tradition they describe those who bear the holy images or bear the ark of the relics or hold an image in the processions as “God-Bearer”.
In the 2nd Century, Saint Ignatius, the 2nd Bishop of Antioch, was well known with a reputation for piety and humility. According to the tradition, when Saint Ignatius was little, Christ appeared to him. Christ held St. Ignatius in His arms and said: “Unless you turn and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt. 18:3). Saint Ignatius grew up, loved Christ, bore Christ deeply into his heart and prayed to God unceasingly. St. Ignatius became Bishop of Antioch. His love for Christ urged him fervently to serve God and tirelessly gave witness for Christ to an ungodly world. Before his martyrdom, on the way from Antioch to Rome, he wrote 7 letters to the congregations where he had served to teach to the faithful about the love of Christ our Lord. In these letters, he called himself God-Bearer. St. Ignatius of Antioch was killed by wild animals and lions. They tore his body into pieces, but they left his heart untouched. Tradition says that when the people cut his heart, they saw a golden medal in his heart. On the medal there were the words ‘Jesus Christ’ on it.
Early Christians used “God-Bearer” or “Christ-Bearer” as metaphorical names expressing their desire to love and to carry Christ in their hearts. As Christians, we are God-Bearers because we are created in God’s image. Imago Dei, we are the image of God and we carry God in our souls and our hearts. We are each called to be a Christ-Bearer because Jesus Christ is our Lord. We are united to Jesus and carry Christ in our hearts. As St. Paul said, “I live my human life, not me, but Christ lives in me. My life is Christ.” The fruits of this intimate union with Christ transforms us to become a 2nd Christ in this modern world. “Christ will be magnified in my body.”
The Catechetical Theme of this year “I handed on what I received from Him”; How can a Catechist, a Church Leader become a Christ-Bearer, a true witness for Christ in this world to hand on his love and his message to the world?
We can only hand on Christ’s love to others and to the world when our hearts are filled to the brim with God’s love and let it overflow to people around us. Our souls and our hearts are like vessels to hold and bear Jesus’ grace and blessings. The Call of God for us is so great and so beautiful, yet we are not perfect. Each one of us is broken in a different way. However, Jesus said “Don’t be afraid”. I will be with you wherever you go. I will be with you until the end of the world. I will make you fishers of men.
How can we become witnesses to Christ for this world of the 21st century?
FIVE “I” CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHRIST-BEARER:
1. IMAGO DEI – IMAGE OF GOD:
Each one of us is God’s masterpiece: holy and blameless in God’s eyes. Out of love, God has created us. Out of love God created the world for us to use. God’s love unceasingly calls us back to him when our hearts go astray. Though broken because of our sinful inclination, God’s love molds us, mends us and continues to heal these master pieces and make each beautiful and holy in His eyes; so that, our hearts can be a beautiful dwelling place to hold and bear Christ as we receive Communion and form this temple of the Holy Spirit through each moment of our lives.
2. INTIMACY:
Christ-Bearer carries the image and the likeness of Christ into one’s heart. A life of prayer and penance are key to building the interior life where one develops a deeper relationship with Christ. The life of union with Christ as St. Paul said “I live no longer I, but Christ lives in me” becoming the core, the center, the foundation of my life. I become a 2nd Christ to the world. People see me; they see Christ in me if I have a deep intimacy with Christ.
3. INTEGRITY:
We live in this contemporary world of the 21st Century where the world seems so broad and so wide. Those who follow Christ struggle to swim against the stream of life to keep our identity. As a Christ-Bearer, we hold Christ dearly in our hearts. That union of intimacy consolidates and strengthens us to live with integrity. We do not give in nor compromise our hearts and our faith to the invitation of a godless world. We keep our baptismal promises and are faithful to Christ and steadfast to the Church’s teachings.
4. INTERCESSION:
The life of each Christ-Bearer brings an intercessory prayer to those in need and to the whole world. Christ-Bearers bear with Christ the suffering of humankind and of the world in our bodies and our souls. Christ-Bearers convey God’s love and compassion to the broken world. Christ-Bearers are peace makers whose peace and harmony flow to each corner of the world where injustice, hatred, and war occupy people’s hearts and lives. As Christ-Bearers, we hold the wounded world close to our hearts; we pray for them; we comfort them through our love and sacrifice.
5. ILLUMINATION:
Christ-Bearers are the visible hands, feet, and eyes of the Invisible Jesus on earth to illuminate Christ’s love to the world through our deeds of charity and hearts of sympathy. Our lives give witness and good example for many to see Christ. Our lives illuminate the world and warm the hearts of all people we meet, encounter, and serve.
OFFERING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, You died on the Cross to teach us the lesson of LOVE, so that we can love you in return and to love others like you. Please carve your image into our hearts, so that we can be your firsthand witnesses to the world of this 21st century. OFFERING THE CRUCIFIX
Lord, You have called us to practice your teachings and hand on what we have received from you to the world. Please grant us a desire to learn your words so that the fruit of your words may grow in our hearts and help us to hand on what we have received from you. May we offer you and your words to the people we will meet and serve. OFFERING THE BIBLE.
Lord, You are the TRUTH, our LIFE and LIGHT. You have called us to be the light of the world. Please help us to boldly live our lives and, like the wax of the candles, dare to lose ourselves in order to give light to the world. OFFERING 4 candles.
Lord, please help our eyes to be fixed on you; our minds to be focused on you, our hearts to be attuned to you, and our actions to be guided by you so that our lives can truly be a NEW CHRIST-BEARER to the world.
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ST. CHRISTOPHER CHURCH FAITH FORMATION
FaithFormation@sccwestcovina.net (626) 960-1805 ext. 203 |
629 S Glendora Ave
West Covina, CA 91790 |
Copyright 2021