The term liturgy is used with great frequency in the Church. It comes from the Greek word leitourgia which means a public work done for or on behalf of the people. However, we cannot allow the Church’s understanding of the term to be lost. Liturgy is not a spectator sport where a larger group watches a person or two or smaller group perform. While there is always a celebrant or presider and ministers at the liturgy, everyone is called to full, active, and conscious participation. Why?

We are all called to participate because liturgy is first and foremost an act of divine worship meaning that it is focused towards God greater glory and honor. In this act, we are also lifted up and furthered on the path of salvation. Whenever the Church, the mystical body of Christ, gathers for a liturgical celebration, she is participating in the Paschal Mystery: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

A liturgy is a public celebration of the sacraments or the word of God. Among liturgical celebrations, the holy Mass is the highest of all liturgies because, as the Second Vatican Council teaches us, it is the “source and summit” of the Christian life. The Mass itself is divided into four main parts, the two principal parts being liturgies: Word and Eucharist. Sometimes a liturgy is referred to as “the sacred mysteries.” This term also comes from the Greek work mysterion which was rendered in Latin as mystenum (mystery) and sacramentum (sacrament). The term sacrament is used to define a tangible reality is the liturgical celebration which also points to a hidden reality that is also present, thus the term mystery. The term mystery is also used because another understanding of the word refers to a reality that cannot by exhausted and this is true of the grace of God given in the liturgical life.

May God give us the grace to grow deeper in our love for the Church’s liturgy so that we may see cherish its two fold purpose of glorifying God and lifting us up to the divine life with him forever.

Written by Father Christopher House

Normally, my daughter and I are frantically getting ready for Sunday Mass in the morning. However, this particular morning was different. I eagerly make my way up to her room with a puffy, laced pink Easter dress in my hands. After the normal wake-up routine, I share with her the good news, “Hunny, I have a surprise for you!” Witnessing the look of surprise I was going for, a huge grin from ear to ear appeared on her face. “What is it Mommy?” my daughter said. “Well, today is a very special day, it is Easter Sunday! Jesus came home and God is so happy!” As I grabbed the dress to show her, she exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, Mommy, is God having a ball?” …laughter ensued. “Well, yes, I suppose you could look at it that way!” She said, “Mom, I can’t wait to go to Jesus’ Ball, he deserves a party! We’re friends” It was the first time I heard her say that Jesus and her are friends.

While I know we are not in the season of Easter, I can’t help but come back to that story as I reflect on stewardship of time today. I was curious about her friendship with Jesus and have been asking her questions about her faith, getting a glimpse into a childlike faith life. Can you guess Gracey’s response to the question, “How did you become friends with Jesus?” My little 4-year old’s response was, “Oh, I pray and we talk.” Think about that phrase a bit, “I pray and we talk.”

Oftentimes I think we can be left wanting in our prayer lives; finding ourselves asking for this or that, praying for something to change, or showing up to Mass because we think it is just “what we are suppose to do” and following the motions. However, I challenge us to take a deeper look at our own prayer life. What does it look like to be in a friendship with someone? Friendship is not just about asking, but about being present. If we pursue and desire a relationship with Jesus, we must be willing to be present in conversation with Him. We must be willing to set down the phone, close the app, put the papers away or slow down our thoughts, and listen.

When we consider stewardship of time, we mean building a relationship, or friendship, with God. Cultivating that one-on-one relationship with Him, no matter where we are in the faith journey or even how old we are. We can each pray and talk with Him. I hope each of us has the opportunity to be enriched by the “tiniest” believers in our pews and in turn be inspired by their friendship with Jesus.

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The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois invites you to join us embracing discipleship as the way of life. Click through the links below to browse the downloadable resources. Feel free to use the sharable resources and please be kind to mention the source if you use any of the documents or presentations.

Click on links below to view, print or download documents by category:

Hospitality – Christian Kindness

‘When I was a stranger, you welcomed me.’ Matt 25:35

Prayer – A Heart to Heart with God

‘Prayer is as necessary to our souls as food is to our bodies.’ from Characteristics of a Christian Steward

Formation – Continuous Conversion

‘Being a disciple is not just something else to do, alongside many other things suitable for Christians, it is a total way of life and requires continuing conversion.’
from USCCB’s Stewardship a Disciple’s Response – Pastoral Letter on Stewardship

Service – Love in Action

‘…Amen I say to you, whatever you did for the least of my brothers, you did for me.’ Matt. 25:40

Visit the Diocesan stewardship website for more information. Click here.