Vignettes
The art of getting lost?” My attention was drawn to the title of one of the BBC feature articles. The writer observed how people today are so dependent on geographical-locating devices while travelling during vacation or navigating for the best routes to avoid traffic jams.
He lamented, however, that we have lost the art of getting lost. From what I gathered, he missed the spirit of adventure of discovering interesting places and people as one tries to retrace his way back to his true destination. Today, with GPS technology, such accidental discoveries are very rare.
I couldn’t help but agree with his interesting observation. I recall many instances when I got lost, and as I tried to find my way back, I stumbled into some interesting restaurants, excursion venues, resorts and very helpful people.
Although people are getting precise instructions on how to get to their daily destinations, many are not so well oriented in their spiritual journey. They, I believe, do not know what could help illumine and enrich their journey in life and for the next.
In the spiritual life, our GPS (Global Position System) is the Holy Mass. Unlike a GPS or compass that refers us in relation to earthly bearings, the Holy Mass is both a “coordinating and guiding instrument” and also our final destination. Thus, the Holy Eucharist is called “the source and summit of the Christian life. And all the other sacraments, ministries and works of apostolate revolved around it and are oriented toward it.” (Catechism 1324)
How is the Mass our positioning tool? If a GPS gives road reference for our travels, the Eucharist also reveals how one’s spiritual life is progressing, and much more it can bear fruit. The Catechism says it is “the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being.” (Ibid. no. 1325)
As a sign, the Mass helps one to constantly align himself with God’s will. By constantly nourishing one’s soul in the “Word and the Bread”, one’s spiritual coordinates are made clearer every day. Moreover, this constant exposure to the unique Eucharistic grace gives the person an infinite cache of blessings that help him to grow in his love for God, neighbor and to carry out his particular mission here on earth.
Simultaneously, the Mass is already our final goal, attained mysteriously here and now, but for eternity. Doesn’t it feel good when we hear our GPS unit announcing: “You have reached your destination!” Likewise, in the Mass “is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, Christ Himself.” (Ibid. no. 1324) It means we already are with and really have Christ. And through the Mass “we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.” (Ibid. no. 1326)
Perhaps, we could incorporate these considerations about the Eucharist by following St. Josemaria’s advice on growing in our Eucharistic piety. This refers to the constant effort to foster a Eucharistic flavor in everything we do throughout the day. In fact, St. Josemaria encouraged everyone to “convert their whole day into a Mass.”
Eucharistic piety can be understood as our worship revolving around the Eucharist since it contains [Christ] “the whole spiritual good of the Church.” And from it, channeling its effects in everything that a Christian does without detaching himself from his earthly affairs and duties.
As we strive to grow in this form of piety centered in the Eucharist, we will eventually learn how to “pray unceasingly.” One starts to permeate everything he does with the four primary ends of the Mass: adoring God, thanking Him, making amends for our offenses, and asking for His gifts and graces.
If we learn to gradually center our day in the Holy Mass, then we will never get lost in our spiritual orientation toward heaven. Even though sometimes, as it is with every journey, we may slacken or stray from the path, the Eucharist will unfailingly illumine our hearts with the light of faith, like the North Star, and always lead us back to Christ.
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