The Power Of 3 And The Church We Love
Do you ever stop to think about the significance of what is taking place every time we celebrate Mass, or the reason for the repetition in our prayer responses? Do you understand how amazing this daily celebration really is?
This month I attended Mass at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. We were joined by a man who was newly assigned to the facility. He had not been to Mass in more than two years. Excited to be with us, he boisterously and incorrectly responded during the Mass. Afterward, he smiled and asked, “What happened to the words in the Mass?” We often take for granted our opportunities, especially in the Church.
Do you understand why we respond three times, “through our fault, through our fault, through our most grievous fault,” as we ask for the forgiveness of our sins – or why we recite three times Holy, Holy, Holy, or why the Lamb of God is repeated three times?
The Bible references the number three many times; it is an absolute or complete number. We read about Jonah’s three days in the whale; the Blessed Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Peter, who denied Jesus three times; the three crosses on Calvary; and Jesus rising from the dead after three days, to name just a few.
In John 21:17 we read: “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’”
There is something very reassuring about the Church, the general organization, and how it functions. Bishops, priests, and deacons are never self-appointed. They don’t just set up a pulpit and go into business for themselves. They are called to “Tend My sheep,” and they act in the Person of Christ. This process of discernment is done through constant prayer; and when the decision is made, the Church doesn’t just take their word for it either.
A lengthy and demanding selection process, formal education, and constant discipline will separate the real vocations from personal belief. The Sacrament of Holy Orders will permanently and irrevocably change the recipient. When the bishop lays hands on them, called ordination, in the same way that was done for him, the unbroken physical contact comes from the hand of Christ. There is nothing more comforting or powerful!
The Church is ancient and strong! In the third century the Catholic Church was expanding as the Roman Empire was falling. Emperor Diocletian acknowledged the deterioration of the structure in civil government, and he took note of the reliable organization in the Church. The Church’s records, like Baptismal certificates and burial information, became very important to Diocletian and government officials. They then divided independent countries into manageable districts called dioceses to put order backinto government. That is why the territories administered by our bishops today are called dioceses. Our strength is in the Lord!
God has given us so much! How many times has Jesus asked you: “Do you love Me?” How do you respond?
Our pews are not full, and our priests are overworked. During this Lenten season, please invite family and friends who have been away from the Church to return to their Catholic roots. There may be a future priest among them.
Consider all that our priests do for us. Collectively, they are the reason the Church is able to offer God’s Grace to us – through beautiful Sacraments and daily Mass. We are One Body in Christ, but we need more active members, and we need more priests.
Thank your priest, and please pray for the Church you love! Amen!
