Gathering for Sunday Mass we always have the readings from Scripture, as selected for us by the Church. These readings, especially the Gospel, are when we, the People of God, most authentically attend to the living Word: "Jesus said: 'My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me'." (Jn 10: 27) Since we have the same readings throughout the world, we know that Catholics in virtually every country are also listening to the Word of God. We can readily imagine this as being paralleled by the heavenly liturgy in the Second Reading: "After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands." (Rev 7: 9) What is the role of clergy in this liturgy? They do not act in the absence of the Lord for he is present in the Word, the people, the priest and the Blessed Sacrament. In the Canon Law we read: "The eucharistic celebration is the action of Christ himself and the Church. In it, Christ the Lord, through the ministry of the priest, offers himself, substantially present under the species of bread and wine, to God the Father and gives himself as spiritual food to the faithful united with his suffering." (c. 899 para 1) The priest, when he acts in persona Christi capitis (Lat. in the person of Christ the Head) breaks open the Word and offers gift and sacrifice which is the living memorial of the Risen Lord. In this way the power and presence of Jesus Christ is not stranded in history but is active today. To this end, promotion of vocations to ordained ministry is essential to the life of the Church. Finally, why has the Church engaged in this activity week in and week out throughout the centuries since Jesus was crucified, died and was buried? The Lord himself promises: "I give them eternal life and they will never perish." (Jn 10:28)
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