During November, I was teaching the new translation of the Mass to fourth, fifth and sixth graders for a few weeks. Our parish had been delving into the changes preparing us for a new beginning this Advent season. Preparing my lessons for my students has really taught me so much about our celebration. Diving into the history, the Scripture, the structures and the music has really brought the Mass alive for me.

The first thing I learned was what the word Mass means. I don’t believe I was ever taught the meaning growing up, and when I read the meaning in Michael Dubruiel’s book, The How-To Book of the Mass, it turned on a light for me and illuminated a faith inside of me that I didn’t know had grown a little dim.

Mass is the English word for the Latin “missa.”  When the Mass was said in Latin it was ended with the phrase, “Ite missa set,” which means “Go, it is sent.”  The Great Commission given to us by Christ before he ascended, “..go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28 19-20. We come to the “GO”. I love that. Right there in the name of the feast we celebrate together is the emphasis that it is not to stay contained within the walls of a church building.

The next change that at first glance didn’t really peek my interest too much, was our new response to the opening greeting.  The priest greets us with a phrase of  the love and peace of Jesus Christ and we will now respond, “And with your spirit.”

I knew these words were found in many of Saint Paul’s letters:  2 Tim 4:22; Gal 6:18; Phil 4:23 and Philemon 25.  In a reflection on the greeting of the Mass, Mr. Dubruiel looks at Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus.  Two of Jesus’ followers were walking along a road talking about the crucifixion, reports that the grave was empty and the angels who were said to have proclaimed Jesus alive.  All along their journey down the road with Jesus, they are filled with anxiety, sadness, confusion, fear and the smallest glimpse of hope that what the angels proclaimed is true.  Their eyes are not opened to the fact that the risen Jesus is with them on that road until he sits with them at a table, blesses the bread, breaks it and gives it to them.  All of their earthly distractions and fears were acting like “son” block.

When we come to the “GO” from whatever road we are on, we also bring with us all our worries, fears, responsibilities and confusions.  We are covered in “son” block.  We hear the priest say a blessing of Christ’s peace and grace over us but unless we let it settle down in our spirit, unless we allow it to penetrate more then skin deep, we may miss seeing the risen Christ at any time during our celebration.  Without peace you can not celebrate.  Our new response reflects this.

As parents, we add an extra heap of “son” block for every child we have and probably bring all their troubles with us as well.  This new response reminds us that the peace of Christ is with us.  It reminds us that Christ will work it all out.  It may be messy, it may take a long time and it may involve some pain and sacrifice but Christ is faithful and he is excellent at re-working our messes.  I am looking forward to using these words now.  I look forward to taking a deep breath to say them along with my community. As I exhale, letting all my “son” block be stripped away to be replaced by the peace of Christ in my spirit.

Sheree can be found writing at A Mother’s Epistle.

Related posts:

1. Keeping All of Your Ducks in a Row: Taking Small Children to Mass