Sharing: Time Talent Treasure
“FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL”
Except where bells are rung in conjunction with a musical piece, and therefore, are meant for pure enjoyment, most bell sounds have a different meaning and provide a strong message that requires us to pay attention. The bells of a clock, at a train crossing, at a pedestrian crossing, a fire or break in alarm, are just a few examples of powerful messages to those who hear them. Most children along about now are thinking about the school bells. (and maybe their parents are too!) These bell sounds are so a part of our lives that we probably take them for granted and react almost in an unconscious manner to their “noise request”. When the expected bell sounds are missing or we fail to pay attention to their message request, serious consequences could arise, even to the point of an accidental injury or death. Bells are important. Bells often save us, in spite of ourselves. Bells can give us great comfort, if we know they are working and will warn us in a time of danger. Bells send their message and if we are wise, we listen and respond to their call.
How about our spiritual bells? Have you noticed the relatively new third ringing of the bells at Mass? Unfortunately, not all servers remember to ring them at the proper time yet. But the bells await their ringing and spiritual message. We are all knowledgeable of the bells rung at the Consecration—the changing of the bread to His Body and the wine to His Blood. By the way, the proper terminology is to never refer to the bread and wine as such after the Consecration. They are the Body and Blood of our Lord, not bread and wine. Back to the third ringing, which is actually the first. After the priest washes his hands, returns to the altar, and says some prayers, he holds his hands over the bread and wine and presents these, our offering to the Lord. He then calls upon the Holy Spirit to bless our gifts in preparation of the miracle of the Consecration. The bells ring as he holds his hands over the bread and wine. When the priest does this, it has been said it is like we are calling on all the saints in heaven and all His people on earth to come and be a witness to this miraculous transformative gift that we offer and God returns to us in His person. With this action we may intimately share Him as He presented Himself at the Last Supper in the most holy Eucharist. The whole world should stop for this preparatory bell. He will live in us and all around us, intimately, now and forever.
Do you hear the bells at Mass? Or are they just something that happens in the background as you think of other things. Our spiritual crossing is just as important as our street crossing and some might argue more important. Pay attention! “For whom does the bell toll?” It tolls for you and me.
Stewardship Questions: Kathy Reilly 781-444-0862 e-mail: kreilly15@yahoo.com
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Stewardship – A Way of Life
Sharing: Time Talent Treasure
“FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL”
Except where bells are rung in conjunction with a musical piece, and therefore, are meant for pure enjoyment, most bell sounds have a different meaning and provide a strong message that requires us to pay attention. The bells of a clock, at a train crossing, at a pedestrian crossing, a fire or break in alarm, are just a few examples of powerful messages to those who hear them. Most children along about now are thinking about the school bells. (and maybe their parents are too!) These bell sounds are so a part of our lives that we probably take them for granted and react almost in an unconscious manner to their “noise request”. When the expected bell sounds are missing or we fail to pay attention to their message request, serious consequences could arise, even to the point of an accidental injury or death. Bells are important. Bells often save us, in spite of ourselves. Bells can give us great comfort, if we know they are working and will warn us in a time of danger. Bells send their message and if we are wise, we listen and respond to their call.
How about our spiritual bells? Have you noticed the relatively new third ringing of the bells at Mass? Unfortunately, not all servers remember to ring them at the proper time yet. But the bells await their ringing and spiritual message. We are all knowledgeable of the bells rung at the Consecration—the changing of the bread to His Body and the wine to His Blood. By the way, the proper terminology is to never refer to the bread and wine as such after the Consecration. They are the Body and Blood of our Lord, not bread and wine. Back to the third ringing, which is actually the first. After the priest washes his hands, returns to the altar, and says some prayers, he holds his hands over the bread and wine and presents these, our offering to the Lord. He then calls upon the Holy Spirit to bless our gifts in preparation of the miracle of the Consecration. The bells ring as he holds his hands over the bread and wine. When the priest does this, it has been said it is like we are calling on all the saints in heaven and all His people on earth to come and be a witness to this miraculous transformative gift that we offer and God returns to us in His person. With this action we may intimately share Him as He presented Himself at the Last Supper in the most holy Eucharist. The whole world should stop for this preparatory bell. He will live in us and all around us, intimately, now and forever.
Do you hear the bells at Mass? Or are they just something that happens in the background as you think of other things. Our spiritual crossing is just as important as our street crossing and some might argue more important. Pay attention! “For whom does the bell toll?” It tolls for you and me.
Stewardship Questions: Kathy Reilly 781-444-0862 e-mail: kreilly15@yahoo.com