Proper reverence for Christ and the Church

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

The Church in which the Catholic prays is not merely a building crafted by human hands. It is the tent that covers the real presense of the Lord, Jesus Christ and which proclaims the presense of the faithful in the human community. Entering the church one should recognize the Tabernacle near the altar. In the Tabernacle is the Holy Eucharist, the Real Presense of Jesus Christ. Scripture says that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. Jesus speaks to us when he says "For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me." Here in the physical church is the real and living presense of Jesus Christ, the good shepherd. We should be humbled and moved. Time before the mass should be a time of quiet with the Lord. In Psalm 46 this is spoken to us which is spoken of Christ, "Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. "

And so we should leave our thoughts between ourselves and the Lord as quiet time spent within a family in prayer and reflection and supplication, not leaving our troubles behind, but bringing them before the Lord in hope and unity of purpose. Our worldly conversations can wait until another time as time with Christ is precious. As we enter we reach for Holy Water and make the sign of the Cross, In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Here within the physical church, in the quiet of the confessional, we confess our sins before Christ in the person of the priest. Here as we walk the interior of the church, we are in the light of stained glass images which recall events in the life of Christ. Here we walk the stations of the Cross and recall the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on his way to Golgotha. This is Christ who was accused for our sins, stood trial, was tortured and sentenced to violent death on a Cross, the most humilitating death that the Jew could endure. This is Christ who rose on the third day! Here we baptise our children in the name of Jesus who is God born into the world. Here we commit our dead to God in expectation of the coming resurrection. Here we pray for the unborn lives in the womb upon whom the violence of the world is set against in ignorance and indifference.

The physical church is sacred space, consecrated for the sacrifice of the Holy Mass and in remembrance of God's greatest gift: Eucharist. The Eucharist, the real presense of Jesus Christ whom the Saints proclaim and for whom many gave their lives in bloody martyrdom rather than for a moment deny the Real Presense of God. Jesus teaches, "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever." Many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" and they left Jesus. But Simon Peter however responds to Jesus and for us, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." And so we should give proper reverence in the church in our thoughts and actions, before Christ, before, during and after the mass. We do this as so many have for centuries since that first Passover gathering in the upper room as Christ broke bread and spoke to his apostles, proclaiming to the world and to us, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." We should give reverence to the church when we recall Jesus' precious and powerful words, "I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. "