This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad. Psalm 118:24. Chapter 15. The Royal Banquet.
Your Highness, in the Kingdom of God each day is Holy Thursday, a day when you and other Monarchs from all the Realms are invited to be with our dear Lord as He reaches out through time and space to be with us; "'This is my body which will be given up for you; do this as a memorial of me'. He did the same with the cup after supper and said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you . . .'" (1) For, with God, "a thousand years are a single day, a yesterday now over, an hour of the night." (2)
What blessed function! What dutiful delight! What royal obligation, that you as a Monarch in the Kingdom of God, wearing your baptismal robe, receive the "Bread of Life" (3) from the King of kings, (4) from the hand of the Lord God of Hosts. (5) There is no greater event in any other kingdom. The angels marvel at how much God loves you. Each day you are invited to sing with them; "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanah in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanah, in the highest." (6)
Through His Minister, His loving hand brings to yours His gift of Himself, His confirmation of His eternal love for you, and His daily proof of His commitment and of His faithfulness to you. He whom the universe cannot contain confirms again and again His need to dwell in your heart.
As Monarch in the Kingdom of God, it is your destiny, your Highness, to sup with Him each day at His Royal banquet table. You need not fear that duties of state will suffer while you are there, for " . . . He said, 'It is already done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.'" (7) So nourished, reign in thanksgiving. Give praise, glory, honor and benediction to your heavenly Father through your good works in Christ Jesus in your corner of the Kingdom.
[For a wonderful insight into this sacred and unique experience, read "The Way of Perfection" by St. Teresa of Avila, Chapters 33, 34 and 35. She writes about receiving "Our daily Bread."]
The reason going to mass is so laborious a task for many is that "going to mass" means walking or busing or driving to church, parking, waiting, standing, sitting, praying, paying, kneeling, answering, singing, signs of the cross, leaving, driving or walking or being bused back home. This is not a very appealing way to spend thirty minutes or an hour.
I used to ask those present at the retreats, "How many masses have been celebrated since Holy Thursday?" The replies were numbers of astronomical proportions. In fact only one mass is continuously celebrated, that of Holy Thursday itself. Our brother Paul tells us, "To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people, because he has done this once and for all by offering himself." (8)
The mass Jesus celebrated on Holy Thursday is the only one needed for our salvation. But it is a mass that is ongoing and will be ongoing forever. Every time we attend mass, we are present at Holy Thursday's celebration, in our corner of the Upper Chamber. Jesus is present in our parish priest, speaking and reaching out to us from Holy Thursday. Here, time and space curtsy in reverent accommodation to our Lord's Holy Presence. His Body and Blood of Holy Thursday is the same Body and Blood He is offering to you and me, wherever you and I are when we attend mass. At mass, we are in fact in the Upper Chamber, symbolized by our parish church.
Attending mass, then, is being with our dear Lord, His Mother, the apostles and disciples, His angels and saints. He nourishes us with His Body and Blood that we may continue on with Him, on His and our ministry, His and our passion, His and our death and resurrection. We continue with Him, walking where He walks, living where He lives, praying where He prays, healing, preaching, teaching and giving glory to God as He has taught us and as He continues to teach us through His mystical Body, this blessed Church.
15.2 Prayer in preparation for Holy Mass.
My Lord and my God, my King, my Savior, all glory and praise and benediction to You forever and ever and ever. Amen.
15.3 The bottom line.
Daily nourishment of Jesus' Body and Blood is a royal duty for Monarchs in the Kingdom of God. Receiving the Word and the Body of Christ, they are instructed, nourished and strengthened that they may carry out their royal assignments as God's own Governors. I know it's not possible for everyone to attend this sacred banquet every day, but do attend at every opportunity Heaven gives you.
Last supper.
