Meditation of the Day

For your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty
you might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

St. Paul eloquently praises the generosity of the Macedonian churches, not
because they gave so much money, but because they gave joyfully despite
their own poverty. Knowing themselves to be both needy and enriched by
divine grace, they eagerly passed along the love they had received, knowing
there was plenty more where that came from. They had come to know the source
of love, Jesus Christ, who became poor so that by his poverty we might
become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Every time we come to Mass, we have an opportunity to recall and participate
in this divine generosity. During the offertory procession, we are not
simply bringing forward money, bread, and wine. Rather, like the first
Christians, we are giving ourselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:5). While
these gifts include the bread and wine that will be consecrated during Mass,
as well as the gift of our money for the work of the church, they are also
tokens of this total gift of ourselves.

And what happens to these gifts we bring to the altar? As the priest calls
upon the Holy Spirit, simple bread and wine are transformed into the very
body and blood of Jesus, the necessary and sufficient food for our journey.
Then, at Communion, we receive back from the Lord the gifts we have
given-only now they are transformed. Bread is now divine flesh. Wine is now
divine life. And the lives that we offered up just moments ago are now
handed back to us, filled with divine grace and set apart for the work of
building the kingdom of God.

The next time you go to Mass, listen for the prayers of gratitude and
self-offering and pray along with them: "Receive us and be pleased with the
sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts. . From the many
gifts you have given us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy
and perfect sacrifice. . May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for
the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his
Church." Make these prayers your own, as you offer your life to the Lord.

"Father, all we are and have comes from you. Help me to give myself to you
and generously share your love with those around us."