CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENTS

“David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities.” –2 Samuel 6:12

Mass Readings: January 23
First: 2 Samuel 6:12-15,17-19; Resp: Psalm 24:7-10; Gospel: Mark 3:31-35

Listen to the Mass Readings

When David brought the ark of God to Jerusalem, he gave the distinct impression that God was really present at the ark. After every six steps of the procession with the ark, David “sacrificed an ox and a fatling” (2 Sm 6:13). Then David, the king of the nation, put on his dancing clothes and “came dancing before the Lord with abandon” (2 Sm 6:14). The musical accompaniment for all this was “shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn” (2 Sm 6:15). “Then David offered holocausts and peace offerings before the Lord” (2 Sm 6:17). Finally, he blessed the crowd and gave each person “a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake” (2 Sm 6:18-19).

When we enter a church building or receive Holy Communion, what impression do we give? Would an observer of our actions conclude that we believed Jesus’ Body and Blood were in the tabernacle? When we receive Communion, does it look as if we are receiving God Himself into our persons? We may not sacrifice fatlings, dance with abandon, play the horn, or bake a few thousand raisin cakes, but in some visible way we should express our faith that the Lord’s most intense presence on this earth is in Holy Communion. “We have that spirit of faith of which the Scripture says, ‘Because I believed, I spoke out’ ” (2 Cor 4:13). If we believe we’re receiving Jesus, God Himself, in Holy Communion, we should show it.

PRAYER: Father, may my worship inspire believers and challenge unbelievers.
PROMISE: “Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to Me.” —Mk 3:35
PRAISE: St. Marianne left her hospitals in New York and answered the call to serve lepers in Hawaii.