In contrast, the age of our salvation is as eternal as the loving mind of
our Creator — the story of the cross never fading from our collective
memory and the power of our redemption experienced in every
celebration of the Eucharist we share as Church. It is not simply an
event we recall with fondness, remembering with love the sacrifice of
our Savior. Through the Eucharist, we are reconnected to the once-for-
all sacrifice that took away our sins and opened the gates of heaven
for us. We experience the eternal presence of Christ in our midst each
and every time we come to the table. As Pope Francis has said:
“When we celebrate the Mass, we don’t accomplish a representation
of the Last Supper: no, it is not a representation. It is something else:
it is the Last Supper itself. It is to really live once more the passion and
the redeeming death of the Lord. It is a theophany: the Lord is made
present on the altar to be offered to the Father for the salvation of the
world. We hear or we say, ‘But, I can’t now. I have to go to Mass. I have
to go to hear Mass.’ The Mass is not ‘heard,’ it is participated in; and it
is a participation in this theophany, in this mystery of the presence
of the Lord among us” (“Rediscover a ‘Sense of the Sacred’ at Mass,”
excerpts from February 10, 2017, homily).
The story of the cross never fades from our collective memory and the power
of our redemption is experienced in every Eucharist.
I have no need for an earthly mansion, for I look forward one day to
seeing the mansion that Jesus has reserved for me, constructed by
the love that bled and died on that cross over two-thousand years
ago. There, I and all who believe will share forever in offering eternal
thanks to the God who loved us to the full. And each time I partake
of the Eucharist, I am transported to that heavenly place where my
resurrected Savior has set me free by his perfect sacrifice.
A Walk of Faith, A Flesh and Blood Reality
Newport is known for “The Cliff Walk,” a 3.5-mile trail that borders the
shoreline and offers peeks of the mansions and magnificent views of
the bay. It was a peaceful trek along the paved walkway as we watched
the tourists snapping selfies and sneaking down to the rocks to get
closer to the water.
The most wonderful sight for me, however, was seeing my teenage
daughters walking hand in hand, talking, laughing, and singing
together as we made our way on the path along the shore. I am sure
many have wished to live in one of the huge homes borde ring the
walk with perfect views of the clear blue waters, but I was captivated
361