Preaching on the Holy Eucharist.

The first National Eucharistic Congress will soon take place in this country. Not only will the Echo Arena on the historic docks at Liverpool need to be specially prepared, but since the focus of this Congress is the whole Church in this country, we have in providence, the reading of St John's sixth chapter during these Sundays leading up to the Congress, to prepare us for this event.

This reading of St John's sixth chapter began on 17th Sunday of the Year, and is split up over six Sundays. I had decided, earlier this summer, to preach about the Holy Eucharist during these six Sundays.

On The 17th Sunday I spoke about Sundays as the Day of the Lord, leaning heavily on John Paul II's wonderful Letter of 1998, "Dies Domini". I spoke about the Sunday obligation and how we are called to make the whole of Sunday a day which informs the rest of our week, and whose culture should spring from the movement of grace in our hearts because of Christ's presence and action in the Mass.

On the 18th Sunday I rehearsed the discipline of the Church about who can receive the Holy Eucharist, and how we should receive the Holy Eucharist.

Last Sunday, the 19th of the Year, I spoke about what it means to take part in the Mass. That the Mass is a supernatural work - there is nothing in the culture to support it, but much to keep us away! But that the greatness of the Mass is that it is a place of sacrifice - Christ Jesus laying down his life for us, and of self-gift - that because of Christ we can make a gift of ourselves to God. I spoke about the inner dynamic of the various parts of the Mass:

That at the start of the Mass we, as a group of people, and unique in doing so, recognise the evil which is in us, and as a consequence acknowledge our need of grace.

That during the Liturgy of the Word we allow God to reveal himself to us - and what this means to our humanity.

That during the Offertory of the Mass we can make an interior act of self-gift to God.

That is the Eucharistic Prayer we step back and let God act powerfully in our midst - and He does; he changes the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of His Son. And what it means to us as human beings to let God act.

And finally, that we are sent on mission - precisely because in the Mass grace has moved powerfully on the altar and in our humanity.

Tomorrow, the 20th Sunday of the Year, I want to speak about what supports our participation in the Mass. I will speak here about the Word of God and the Church - that these two realities, which are themselves graces given to us, nurture in us an intimate sharing in the Holy Eucharist, celebrated and adored. That intimacy with Jesus Christ is our truth.

I hope to post regularly about how, in this era of the new evangelisation, I prepare a sermon for the approaching Sunday. I now have thirty years preaching experience as a priest, thirty years experience of the Lectionary. My approach and method has certainly changed over those years, and I will endeavour to share with you some of the ways in which I try to make to Gospel resonate in peoples lives today.

(I still have more posts to make on Christopher Dawson.)