II.J.Increase in The Life of God-The Mass

II. J. Increase in the Life of God - The Mass

INTRODUCTION:

Throughout the course of human history, man has always recognized the existence of a level of existence superior to his. It was believed the forces of nature, inspiration, the events occurring in his life were directed by beings who experienced the same feelings and emotions as their own. It seemed only natural that in order to obtain good fortune, these forces (gods), would be favorably inclined to humans when they were offered something or someone held most dear by the petitioner.

Over time it was revealed to man that a plurality of gods did not exist, but there was but one supreme and transcendent God which directed himself by his intellect and will. God identified his nature and his love for man over time through covenants. The nature of a covenant is that it is a verbal non-written agreement, between friends, which outlined the responsibilities of man and the pledge of God's word of special favors for those who follow the agreement.

A. FIRST COVENANT - GOD WITH ADAM AND EVE
A1. Genesis 3:15

I will put enmity (hatred) between you (the devil) and the woman (Mary), and your offspring (those who choose the way of the devil) and hers; (Jesus her son, and his followers). He (Jesus) will strike at your head, (utterly overcome and satisfy for the evil of the first sin of pride against the Father by his death on the cross) while you strike at his heel." (as you attempt to turn away all for whom Her Son will open heaven through His Redemptive act).

B. SECOND COVENANT - GOD WITH NOAH
B1. Genesis 9:1-18

Let the fear and dread of you be upon all beasts, fowls and fish.
I will establish my covenant with you and for perpetual generations.
No more will waters of a flood cover the earth and destroy all flesh.
The sign my covenant with you will be a bow in the clouds visible to all living creatures.

Noah's responsibilities:

Whosoever shall shed man's blood, his blood shall be shed: for man was made to the image of God.
Covenant applies to all humans and all living creatures.

C. THIRD COVENANT - GOD AND ABRAM
C1. Genesis 12:1-3

God's pledge:

I will make you a great nation.

I will bless those that bless you, and curse those who curse you.

In you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

Abram's responsibilities:
None

C2. Genesis 15:18-21

God's pledge:
To your descendants I will give the land from from the river in Egypt to the river Euphrates.

Abram's responsibilities:
None.

C3. Genesis 17:2-9

God's pledge:
I will make you the father of many nations.
You and descendants are given all the land of Cana.
This is a perpetual covenant.

Abram's responsibilities:
Change name from Abram to Abraham.
Male children undergo circumcision as covenant sign.

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D. FOURTH COVENANT - GOD WITH ISAAC c.1600 BC.
D1. Genesis 26:2-4

The Lord appeared to him, (Isaac), and said: "Do not go down to Egypt, but continue to camp wherever in this land I tell you. Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, in fulfillment of the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and give them all these lands, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing - this because Abraham obeyed me, keeping my mandate (my commandments, my ordinances and my instructions)."

That same night the Lord appeared to him, (Isaac), and said: “I am the God of your father Abraham. You have no need to fear, since I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” (Genesis 26:24)

E. FIFTH COVENANT - GOD WITH JACOB c. 1600 BC.
E1. Genesis 28:13-16

And there was the Lord standing beside him and saying: “I, the Lord, am the God of your forefather Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants. These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth, and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south. In you and your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing. Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.” (Genesis 28:13-16)

In the course of that night, however, Jacob arose, took his two wives, with the two maidservants and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had taken them across the stream and had brought over all his possessions, Jacob was left there alone.

Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When the man saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled. The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me. “What is your name?” the man asked. He answered, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed.” Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please.” He answered, “Why should you want to know my name?” With that, he bade him farewell. Jacob named the place Peniel, “Because I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” (Genesis 32:23-31)

Terms of the Covenant:
Return tithe of one-tenth to God
Name changed to Israel

F. SIXTH COVENANT - GOD WITH MOSES
F1. Exodus 20:1-17

Review of favors given by God:
You have seen the wonders as I brought you out of Egypt.

God's pledge:
If you will hear my voice:
You will become my peculiar possession above all people.
You shall be to me a priestly kingdom, and a holy nation.

Responsibilities of the Chosen People (The Ten Commandments):

I      You shall not have other gods apart from me.
II     You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
III     Keep holy the Sabbath day.
IV    Honor your father and your mother.
V     You shall not kill.
VI    You shall not commit adultery.
VII   You shall not steal.
VIII You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
IX    You shall not desire your neighbor's wife.
X     You shall not desire your neighbor's possessions.

G. SEVENTH COVENANT - GOD AND DAVID c. 600 BC
G1. 1 Kings 16:13 (1 Samuel 7:16:13)

Then Samuel took the horn of oil,
and anointed him in the midst of his brethren;
and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.

G2 Kings 7:11-16 (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

God's pledge:

Your throne shall stand firm forever.
I will raise up your heir after you, and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.

David's Responsibility:

Accept and follow God's laws and commands.

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H. EIGHTH COVENANT - JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD

Jesus Christ's pledge: Forgiveness of Sins and Eternal Life

Forgiveness of Sins
    Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven (Matthew 9:2).
    All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18).
Eternal Life
    He who does the will of my Father in heaven shall enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21).
    Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32).
    I will be with you all days, even to the consummation of the world (Matthew 28:20).

Our Responsibilities

    To be perfect as our Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
    Unless you become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).
Whatever you (Christ's Church under Peter, the head) bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven:    whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven (Matthew 18:18).

H1. Matthew 5:2-12 The Sermon on the Mount

. . . he taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and, speaking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in heaven; for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you.

H2. Mark 12:29-31 The Great Commandment

Jesus answered him, "The first commandment of all is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one God; and you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength.' . . . and the second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

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The Sacrifice of the Mass

The Liturgy of the Word: includes the writings of the prophets (Old Testament), and the memoirs of the apostles (their letters and the Gospels).

Presentation of the Offerings: Bread and wine represent the people who carry them to the altar to be offered by the priest in the name of Christ in the Eucharistic sacrifice in which they will become his body and blood.

In order to leave his disciples a pledge of his, in order never to depart from his own and to make them sharers in his Passover, he instituted the Eucharist as the memorial of his death and Resurrection, and commanded his apostles to celebrate it until his return; "thereby he constituted them priests of the New Testament" (Council of Trent 1562: DS 1740)

The Church gives thanks to the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, for all his works: creation, redemption, and sanctification. The whole community joins in the unending praise that the Church in heaven, the angels and all the saints sing to the thrice-holy God: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Church asks the Father to send his Holy Spirit on the bread and wine, so that by his power they may become the body and blood of Jesus Christ so that those who take part in the Eucharist may be one body and one spirit.

Matthew 26:26-28 The Sacrifice of the Mass - The Renewal of the Covenant

And while they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take and eat; this is my body." And taking a cup, he gave thanks and gave it to them, saying "All of you drink of this; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is being shed for many unto the forgiveness of sins."

You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).

The Renewal of the Christ's Covenant

The Words of Consecration of the Bread

The Lord's Supper: At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion,

he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying:

The Words of Consecration of the Wine

Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the

new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the

forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.

Memorial Acclamation

Priest / All: Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

Prayer of Praise to our Heavenly Father

Through him, with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.

Behold the Lamb of God

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Communion of the Faithful

Priest/ Deacon/ Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister: The Body of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.

Priest/Deacon/
Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister: The Blood of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.

A new commandment I give you, that you love one another:
that as I have loved you, you also love one another.
By this will all men know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35).

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