Reflections on the Mass: The Creed

After the homily, we sit in silence for a few moments, reflecting on what we have learned and praying about it. Then, at least on Sundays and solemnities, we stand to pray the Creed, expressing our adherence to our Catholic faith.

Most of the time we pray the Nicene or Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed that was developed out of Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople in 325 and 381. This Creed, also called a profession of faith or a symbol of faith, allows us to speak our faith out loud.

We proclaim our belief in God the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. We declare our belief in Jesus Christ the Son, Who is truly God yet became Man and died and rose and will come again. We pronounce our belief in the Holy Spirit, “Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” We declare that we believe in “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” and in “one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” Then we end with an eager anticipation of “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

It is also legitimate to pray the shorter Apostles' Creed at Mass at the priest's discretion. This Creed, too, allows us to express and reflect on the basic beliefs of our Catholic faith, only in a more condensed fashion.

We must be careful not to recite the Creed out of mere habit but rather reflect on each word we speak, allowing our faith to grow as we proclaim it. We would do well, too, to pray the Creed privately, very slowly, and meditate on each statement of faith, making sure that we understand what we believe, at least as much as possible, and that we hold fast to this basic statement of our Catholicism.

Reflections on the Mass: The Homily

After the proclamation of the Gospel, we sit down and assume a position of open listening, for we are about to hear the homily. In the Catholic Church, the homily may only be given by a bishop, priest, or deacon. These men are ordained in the sacrament of Holy Orders, and they are provided with special graces to preach about the Sacred Scriptures and about our Catholic faith. It is not legitimate for anyone else to give the homily at Mass.

The priest (or bishop or deacon) usually uses the homily to explain the readings we have just heard and to help us apply their teachings to our own lives. He might present the historical context of some passages, interpret others in meaningful ways, offer tips for living out the messages, or often all of the above. Drawing on his own studies and prayer, he provides insights to help us better grasp the Scriptures and our faith.

We should frequently pray for our bishops, priests, and deacons so that their homilies can be edifying both for us and for themselves and so that they may be willing to be the instruments Jesus uses to speak to our hearts and minds.

Reflections on the Mass: The Gospel

After the Gospel Acclamation, we listen with great attention to the Word of God in the Gospel. This is one of the high points of the Mass, and we stand in reverence with our minds and hearts open because Jesus is speaking to us. The Gospel may be proclaimed at Mass only by a bishop, priest, or deacon, someone who has received the Holy Orders. Jesus speaks through this ordained man, using him as His instrument to proclaim His Word.

The Gospel begins with a brief dialogue between the priest (or bishop or deacon) and the people. “The Lord be with you.” “And with your spirit.” We should speak our part with sincerity and with a prayer for the one who will read the Gospel.

The Gospel is drawn from either Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. The Sunday Lectionary works on a three-year cycle with Matthew read in Year A, Mark in Year B, and Luke in Year C. The Gospel of John is read throughout, filling in as only this beautiful, theological Gospel can do.

We should focus carefully on the Gospel, following along in a missal if that helps. Again, it is best to read and meditate on the Gospel before Mass, for this opens us to what God wants to say to us.

At the end of the reading, the priest (or bishop or deacon) pauses briefly and then declares, “The Gospel of the Lord.” We respond with awe and gratitude: “Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.” For Jesus has spoken to us.

The priest (or bishop or deacon) then kisses the Gospel book as a sign of reverence and prays quietly, “Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.” Amen. May it be so.

Reflections on the Mass: The Gospel Acclamation

After the Second Reading, we rise and assume a position of greater reverence as we prepare to hear the words of the Gospel, including the very words of God incarnate, Jesus Christ. But before the Gospel begins, we participate in an acclamation that allows us to raise up our hearts and minds to God in worship.

During most of the year, we either sing or recite an Alleluia, which is Hebrew for “Praise God!” We lift up our voices in praise for the great gift of God's Word that we have heard and are about to hear. During Lent, we pray a version of “Glory to You, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!” There are eight possibilities, but they all ring out our praise and worship to God. We should sing or recite them with enthusiasm because God is speaking to us, and we should be excited to hear what He has to say.

The Alleluia or Lenten proclamation is followed by a verse, which may either come from the day's Gospel or be related to it in some way. The verse changes with each set of readings, and although some liturgists choose another verse, it is better to use the one in the lectionary because it is designed to give us a foretaste of the Gospel message we are about to hear.

After the verse, we sing or recite the Alleluia or Lenten proclamation once again. This little exchange goes by quickly, and we might even miss it if we are not paying enough attention. It helps to read and reflect on the acclamation verse before Mass, thinking about how it relates to the Gospel and to the overall themes of the day's readings.

Reflections on the Mass: The Second Reading

On Sundays and solemnities we are blessed with the Second Reading after the Responsorial Psalm. Notice that I say “blessed.” It is always better to hear more of Sacred Scripture than less, for as Vatican II's Dei Verbum reminds us, in the Bible, God “meets His children with great love and speaks to them.” He expresses His love for us in every word of Scripture, so we should remain attentive and open as we listen to the Second Reading.

The Second Reading almost always comes from the New Testament, most often from the epistles but also from the Book of Revelation, especially during the Easter season. We listen closely as St. Paul, St. John, St. Peter, St. James, or St. Jude tells us what we must believe about Jesus, explains how we should live the Christian life, and warns us about the days to come. These readings can be challenging to understand, so we should always read them ahead of time and perhaps even study them after Mass, especially if the priest explains them during the homily. This will increase our understanding.

After the lector finishes the Second Reading, he or she proclaims, “The Word of the Lord.” And we respond “Thanks be to God,” truly meaning it, for we should always be filled with gratitude that God has chosen to give us His Revelation and to communicate His love.