3rd Sunday of Lent

Dear Parish Family & Friends,

At the end of the Masses last weekend, I made a little announcement about kneeling after Communion and sitting down (or not!) when the priest sits down. I just wanted to clarify a couple of things as a follow up to that little message.

First, why do we kneel at all during Mass? We kneel because the saving mysteries of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection are made present to us through the offering of the bread and wine which is transformed into the very Body and Blood of the Lord. We kneel out of reverence for Jesus Christ, his presence, and for what he accomplished. So we kneel for the Consecration and essentially until the time that the Eucharist is lovingly reserved again in the tabernacle at the conclusion of Communion. However, continuing to kneel beyond that time is perfectly fine, especially out of reverence for Jesus now within those of us who have consumed him – who are in Communion with him (and one another). One may sit, too, especially if that helps one to reverently and devoutly reflect on being in Communion with the Lord.

The thing I want to highlight again is that there is no need to watch me and wait for me to sit. If you want to kneel longer, by all means! If you wish to sit when the Eucharistic Lord has been placed in the tabernacle, please feel free. But don’t feel like you need to watch me!

This is one of the most precious times for prayer; so that is my encouragement. Pray deeply, freely, fully. And let’s remember that our bodily posture really helps us to pray, so that we are engaging every part of our being, just as Jesus united himself to every part of our humanity in the Incarnation.

Peace.

-Fr. Kennell