St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“For if you eat this bread or drink the cup without honouring the body of Christ, You are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” (1 Corinthians 11 v 29, 20 NLT)

Lord, it must always be worthwhile checking to see if we are living in a way that we should be because You honour us so fully, so highly, by gifting us Yourself.

Thank You for Your real presence in the Sacrament of the altar. “Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ has revealed in the human body and vindicated by the Spirit...” (1 Timothy 3 v 16 NLT)

You are “Believed in throughout the world and taken up to heaven in glory,” (Cont) for You are holy.

Holiness is complete purity in thought, word and deed, the state our Father wishes for us.

We cannot achieve this high standard on our own. We need Your real presence in and amongst us, Lord Jesus. You knew this and therefore made the gift of Yourself available throughout time in an unique way.

Thank You, we praise You, we esteem You, we raise You highest in our esteem and we exalt You, because You are life to us, sharing Your holiness, redeeming our sinfulness.

Your body and blood are incredibly precious to us, for You reside closest to the Father heart of love, together with the Holy Spirit. Your love being generous, asks the Holy Spirit to be at work saving us from sin.

Our Father forgives us because of Your righteousness. “O LORD, don’t rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your rage,” (Psalm 6 v 1 NLT) although Your anger is justified whilst I am sinful. I do

want to improve.

“Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak.” (v 2)I am resolved to put the pattern of faults and failings behind me, but my resolve weakens and I fail. I am sorry, truly sorry, for sins such as this took the Lord Jesus to the †.

“Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.” (v 2) Sin separates us from You and this is torture. “I am sick at heart. How long, O LORD, until You restore me? (v 3)

I think the choice is mine. I need to become much more closely united with the holy love of the Lord Jesus, especially as offered in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where we taste and see of Your goodness towards us, dearest Father.

All that I can offer You, my time, my efforts at evangelisation, my daily resolve to serve You wholeheartedly, so as to delight and honour You, all of this is raised to another level entirely.

This is a higher level, the highest upon earth in fact, when I offer myself including the faults, to the healing love offered me at the † and in the Holy Eucharist. When You look at me as combined with my Saviour, then

You favour me.

Please accept anything I accomplish which delights You, which honours You, as combined with the unique offering made by the Lord Jesus when He instituted the Sacrament of the altar, offering up His holy body

and pure blood to gift us new life.

The Divine Healer is our Saviour and I rejoice to experience this, thank You. As faith comes by hearing, I listen and hear the Lord Jesus say to me “ ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember Me’.” (1 Corinthians 11 v 24 NLT)

He adds “ ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and His people – an agreement confirmed by My blood. Do this to remember Me as often as you drink it’.” (v 25) What a grace, what a favour, thank You!

“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until He comes again’.” (v 26) What a reassurance most fine, thank You. How vitally important the Holy Eucharist, this gift of heaven to mankind, is to us.

The King of Glory is our Saviour, how incredible! “O LORD, I give my life to You,” (Psalm 25 v 1) through my Saviour Brother. “I trust in You, my God” ( v 2) because the love of the Lord Jesus is so powerful and I am sure He reflects Your personality perfectly.

Please, “Do not let me be disgraced, nor let my enemies rejoice in my defeat,” (Cont) for I claim to be a blood bought child who belongs to the holy Trinity because of all the Saviour accomplished at the † for us.

It is because of this victory over sin and death I dare turn to You for mercy, Father God. “Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love, for You are merciful,

O LORD.” (v 7)

Thank You that the Lord Jesus’ love shines over the darkness of our sin, as the Holy Spirit works on our purification and sanctification. “The LORD is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray.” (v 8)

I wish to walk this path, the Lord Jesus accompanying me every step of the way. By the Spirit, “He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way.” (v 9) I ask to be a receptive pupil who makes better progress.

“The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His demands. For the honour of name, O LORD” Your name as the Trinity, “Forgive my many, many sins.”

(v 10, 11) Please do this for me, to make me entirely Yours.

“Remove the stain of my guilt” (Psalm 51 v 9 NLT) I ask in the Lord Jesus’ name, the name above all names. “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me,” (v 10) a spirit which daily pleases You as I pray and strive to make progress in all the ways of holiness.

“Do not banish me from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me,” (v 11) for I would be lost without You. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,” (v 12) as established in the Christmas season. “And make me willing to obey You.” (Cont)

I rejoice in Your forgiveness. I delight to be a family member, all thanks to the Lord Jesus. I value most highly the impact and influence of the Holy Spirit. “Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise You.” (v 15)

Thank You that You never reject “A broken and repentant heart, O God” (v 17) and I have to be contrite to dare to approach the heavenly banquet of the Holy Eucharist. I delight to taste and see of Your goodness Lord God, Eternal Father, doing so in living through Your Son, attentive to Your Spirit.

May I serve You, the Divine Good, well thereby. For each day we must acknowledge and celebrate the Lord Christ’s victory over sin and death, being our Divine Healer and Saviour, ever sanctifying us by the Holy

Spirit. We rejoice to be made new. Thank You. Amen.