As we work our way through our Lenten preaching series, "A Well Examen-ed Lent", each week I will take the particular stage of the Examen prayer that we are looking at, and explore how it relates to our prayer together at Mass.

As we begin Lent, what's going on in your heart? Is it overflowing with gratitude for blessings? Is it weighed down by anxiety or grief? Likely some mix of both. As we are learning, when we pray, it's important to first look deep inside our hearts, figure out what's going on, and then give praise for blessings and ask for help with our struggles.

Mass is a lot like this process. The first half, including the Introductory Rites and the Liturgy of the Word, is a time of discernment. We bring ourselves in whatever state we might be in, and we receive what God has to say to us today, both as a community and as individuals. We try to hear God's call for us.

The second half of the Mass is more focused on our response, which we do by offering praise of praise and thanksgiving. The heart of the Mass is the Eucharistic Prayer, beginning after the gifts are prepared on the altar, including the Preface, the singing of the Holy, Holy, the Institutional Narrative (Take and eat, take and drink), the proclamation of the Mystery of Faith, a series of petitions, concluded by a great Amen. The word eucharist is derived from the Greek "eukharistia" meaning thanksgiving (with a sense of something offered in gratitude). In the Institutional Narrative part of the prayer, we recount how Jesus took bread and gave thanks, and took the chalice, and once more, gave thanks.

Getting ourselves to a place of gratitude seems to be an essential part of being a Christian, and coming to Mass each Sunday helps us remember that. When things go well, we should offer our thanks. And when things are at their worst, perhaps our best solace is to find that one speck of light for which we are grateful, and have that see us through.

So, as we make our way through this Lent, when we gather together on the weekend especially as we pray the Eucharistic Prayer, let us be moved in our day-to-day lives to be people of gratitude.

Jeff Rice, Pastoral Associate for Liturgy & Music