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Writer's pictureSarah Raad

Lord

“Without the Lord (in the Blessed Eucharist) we cannot live.” (Emeritus, 304AD).

Jesus Reads in Synagogue (Icon)

Every morning for many many years now, I wake up and have a very large drink of water. At first, I felt quite uncomfortable with this new habit of mine, but over time I became so used to the habit that if I am ever forced to forgo this first drink of water for the day, I feel terribly uncomfortable. This means that if I am required to fast before surgery or a blood test, or if I am planning on going on a very long drive first thing in the morning with limited access to amenities, I feel terribly uncomfortable without my morning water.


And I have been reflecting on that discomfort, because it reminds me of the discomfort I have come to feel when I cannot have access to Christ – God Himself – in the Blessed Eucharist…


I have always attended Holy Mass once a week on a Saturday evening or Sunday. I was taught to do this as a child and continued to do this as an adult and with my own children. However, a few years ago, when my little niece was very very sick and in desperate need of prayers, I began to attend Mass more regularly (sometimes daily).


And it was sort of like drinking the water in the morning. At first, it was quite uncomfortable. I mean, Mass in my local parish is offered at 6:45am – and that is early (even for me)! And then there was the matter of my children. I needed to get them up and ready for school, fed and organised so that we could fit Mass in each morning. Now, my children are not very young anymore, so it was not a dreadfully difficult things for me to do as my children can organise themselves, but it was – nevertheless – a new routine for us to establish, and like with anything, change can be challenging…

I was reflecting on this routine of ours the other morning while we were sitting in the Church because I had recently been asked – by my husband – whether I attended Mass because I HAD to or because I WANTED to. The answer is – of course – that I WANT TO! Nobody – after all – would willingly get out of bed at such an early hour on a consistent basis if they did not really WANT to…

You see, though I know that Christ suffered and died for me, and for you too, and though I know that His Perfect Sacrifice is celebrated in the Holy Mass, and though I know that God is happy when I commemorate His Passion and Death – it is I who benefit from the Holy Mass far more than God!


In 304AD, 49 Christians, who had illegally celebrated the Holy Mass at Abitinae (which was a Roman town in Africa) were interrogated and tortured. Finally, one of them – Emeritus – confessed that they had met in his home to celebrate Mass. When asked why they had defied the emperor’s law, Emeritus replied, “Sine Dominico non possumus”, which means, “Without the Lord (in the Blessed Eucharist) we cannot live.”


And I can understand this today. Because for me – through Grace and no merit of my own – I have arrived at the Truth… “Without the Lord I cannot live.”


For though Christ said, “…the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” (Matthew 12:8), I wish to make Him Lord of every single day…


For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.

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