Episode Transcript  

One

The Our Father 

At Mass, Calvary is made present and we stand with Mary at the Cross, offering our lives with Christ. With the great Amen, we proclaim our faith in His Real Presence. Now, before we approach the altar to receive God Himself in Holy Communion, Christ places on our lips the perfect prayer for this moment, the Our Father. 

As children gathered around the table of the Lord, we ask our Father for the most essential gift: the Bread of Life. In the fourth petition, we pray for, “our daily bread.” In Greek, the word is epi-ousios, “super-essential.” It points directly to the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, the medicine of immortality, without which we have no life in us (John 6:53–56). 

Immediately after the Our Father, the priest continues, “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” And knowing only God can conquer evil and injustice, we cry out together, “For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.” 

Two

The Sign of Peace 

Having prayed as Christ taught us, we now turn to His gift of peace. The priest prays, “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.” We respond, “Amen.”

Then he proclaims, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.” We answer, “And with your spirit.” Finally, he invites, “Let us offer each other the sign of peace.” 

This moment flows directly from the prayer we have just prayed, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Before approaching the altar, the liturgy gives us a concrete gesture of reconciliation. Jesus Himself taught: “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23). 

The Sign of Peace is not a polite handshake but a command of love. Communion with Christ cannot be separated from communion with one another. Sometimes this means forgiving or being forgiven by someone near us. Other times, it points to reconciliation still waiting beyond the church walls. Either way, the peace of Christ is both gift and mission: we receive it from Him, and we are sent to extend it. 

Three

The Lamb of God 

After this comes the threefold invocation of the Agnus Dei, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us… grant us peace.” The liturgy now fixes our eyes on Christ truly present on the altar. The priest raises the consecrated Host and echoes John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.” Because we are about to receive Him in Holy Communion, he adds the words from Revelation, “Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” 

At that moment, the Church gives us the humble words of the Centurion (Matthew 8). When Jesus was about to enter his house, the Centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my servant shall be healed.” The liturgy adapts his words for us, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” 

What the Centurion once confessed, we now confess before the Eucharist. God Himself is about to enter, not merely into a house, but into our very bodies and souls. With humility, we admit our unworthiness, yet with faith we trust that a single word from Christ heals us and makes us ready to receive Him. 

Four

Communion 

At last, the moment of holy exchange arrives. We offered our lives with Christ at the altar, and now He offers His very life to us in the Eucharist. What a wonderful exchange! 

The Eucharist is the greatest gift we can receive because it unites us intimately with Jesus. He promised, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (Jn 6:56). When we receive Holy Communion, His life flows into us, “He who eats me will live because of me” (Jn 6:57). 

Holy Communion nourishes our souls just as food strengthens the body. It preserves and increases the grace of Baptism, renews our love, and heals the wounds of sin. St. Ambrose declared, “Because I always sin, I should always have a remedy.” Each time we receive, Christ forgives venial sins and strengthens us to resist temptation. The Eucharist also draws us deeper into the unity of the Church. As St. Paul taught, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body.” (1 Cor 10:17). In receiving the Body of Christ, we become what we receive. 

Finally, Holy Communion commits us to love the poor. To receive Christ truly is to recognize Him in our brothers and sisters, especially those in need. 

Five

Thanksgiving 

The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. To receive Jesus in the Eucharist is the closest possible union with God this side of heaven. Once we return to our pew, the most important thing to do is give Jesus your full attention for the time He remains with you physically, about fifteen minutes.  

St. Teresa of Avila urges us never to waste these moments, “Be with Him willingly; don’t lose so good an occasion for conversing with Him as is the hour after having received Communion. This is a most advantageous hour for the soul, during which Jesus is very pleased if you keep Him company.” She encourages us to turn inward, to open the eyes of the soul, and to seek Him with love. When we do, Christ often reveals Himself more deeply. 

After the final blessing, the deacon or the priest, if no deacon is present, sends us forth with these words: “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” And we respond with gratitude and resolve, “Thanks be to God.” 

The Mass does not simply conclude here. It launches us into mission. Notice that the priest remains at the Church while we go forth. Why? Because it is our responsibility to carry what we have received into the world. Now we are commissioned to bring His truth and love to our families, our workplaces, and every corner of society. 

The very word Mass comes from the Latin “Ite, missa est” —“Go, you are sent.” Having encountered Christ in Word and Sacrament, we are sent as His witnesses. The Eucharist is not meant to be contained within the walls of the church, it is meant to overflow into the world. 

This is why we joyfully answer, “Thanks be to God!” For He not only comes to us in the Eucharist, He entrusts us with His mission.

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you. 

• Remember that, after Mass, our mission doesn’t end there. Try to remain mindful of the graces you’ve received and the call you’ve been given to live like Christ as you leave Mass and return to your daily life.  

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