By Eric Girten
The Catholic Kitchen
My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
As the temperature begins to climb and our bones begin to thaw from the winter’s chill, a hidden excitement wells up with thoughts of leaves on the trees, flowers in bloom and crops in the fields.
If we open our eyes but a little, we cannot help but understand, even if only partially, the cycle of life that envelops us all. Through the death of winter to the resurrection of spring, we live each year of our own lives, ever connected to the life around us as we move through the summer and fall of every year and eventually through the seasons of our own lives.
The Church, tapping into this vine, displays before us each year the remembrance, reconnection and recreation of the hopeful labors of Lent followed by the winter of Good Friday and the Spring of Easter. The Church continuously reminds us to repent from sin, change our direction and embrace the message and light of the Gospels.
We utilize this finite amount of time to remember Christ Himself in the desert and that none of us can escape our return to the dust from which we were formed. Brothers and sisters, the issues we face today as Christians, either personally or secondarily, are many and we would all do well to sharpen our prayer and resolve. Reach out to your neighbor. Pray with your heart. Leash the flesh. If you cannot for 40 days, then for one day. If not for one day, then for one hour. Transform the I should into the I did.
The Didache continued.
Chapter 9. The Thanksgiving (Eucharist)
“Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Eucharist), thus give thanks. First, concerning the cup: We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David Your servant, which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory forever. And concerning the broken bread: We thank You, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory forever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom; for Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. But let no one eat or drink of your Thanksgiving (Eucharist), but they who have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs. Matthew 7:6”
Chapter 10. Prayer After Communion
“But after you are filled, thus give thanks: We thank You, holy Father, for Your holy name which You caused to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory forever. You, Master almighty, created all things for Your name's sake; You gave food and drink to men for enjoyment, that they might give thanks to You; but to us You freely gave spiritual food and drink and life eternal through Your Servant. Before all things we thank You that You are mighty; to You be the glory forever. Remember, Lord, Your Church, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in Your love, and gather it from the four winds, sanctified for Your kingdom which You have prepared for it; for Yours is the power and the glory forever. Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the God (Son) of David! If any one is holy, let him come; if any one is not so, let him repent. Maran atha. Amen. But permit the prophets to make Thanksgiving as much as they desire.”