Desiderio Desideravi 65: Sunday

At the risk of attracting attention from seventh-day Christians, here goes Pope Francis on the eighth day:

65. As the time made new by the mystery of His Death and Resurrection flows on, every eighth day the Church celebrates in the Lord’s day the event of our salvation. Sunday, before being a precept, is a gift that God makes for his people; and for this reason the Church safeguards it with a precept. The Sunday celebration offers to the Christian community the possibility of being formed by the Eucharist. From Sunday to Sunday the word of the Risen Lord illuminates our existence, wanting to achieve in us the end for which it was sent. (Cf. Isaiah 55:10-11) From Sunday to Sunday communion in the Body and Blood of Christ wants to make also of our lives a sacrifice pleasing to the Father, in the fraternal communion of sharing, of hospitality, of service. From Sunday to Sunday the energy of the Bread broken sustains us in announcing the Gospel in which the authenticity of our celebration shows itself.

What does Sunday offer the average lay person? The opportunity of consistency in living the Christian life. 167 hours are just enough to require a new encounter. Ordinarily, this encounter is an exchange not only with the Lord but also others who are aligned with his Presence.

Sunday should reflect the action of the faith community in the world. When we sacrifice for others in those 167 hours, does it reflect well on our offering at Mass, and vice versa? Will it happen all the time, every week, every Sunday Mass? Likely not. But the opportunity of a weekly recovery of remembrance, celebration, and “energy” (as the Holy Father terms it) will eventually seep into the soul. That’s the best hope, anyway.

Thoughts?

The full document, copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione – Libreria Editrice Vaticana is here on the Vatican site.