When people are working for peace, they often describe themselves as “bridge builders.” It is an apt image for individuals who seek to connect those who had previously been separated. As it turns out, the Mass exists for the same purpose: it builds a bridge between humanity and God, between earth and heaven.
This may sound like lofty language describing the familiar ritual offered every week (even daily!). But this is exactly what is taking place. In fact, the Holy Eucharist contains the entire dynamic of creation and human history.
So, what is that dynamic? Simply this: everything comes from God the Father—and is intended to return to Him. This is true even of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, even though as persons of the Trinity, they too are God: consubstantial with the Father, as we say in the Nicene Creed. And yet, they are sent forth from the Father into the world to bring the world back to the Father. Therein lies the bridge building; the mission of both Jesus and the Holy Spirit is to reconnect us with the Father. We had lost that connection when Adam and Eve sinned, and it was a gap too big for us to close ourselves.
Jesus bridged that gap for us through the Paschal Mystery: His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. And He continues this dynamic in Mass, doing the very same thing for us today. Next time you’re at Mass, I encourage you to listen carefully to the beginning and end of the various prayers. You’ll notice that (with very few exceptions) the prayers are addressed to God the Father. Many people are surprised to learn this because they assume that the focus of the Mass is Jesus. To be sure, Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist; this is the great miracle of the Mass. But He is present to be that bridge to the Father. In a very real sense, it is as if Jesus becomes present to pray to the Father with us and for us. This is why many of the prayers end with some version of “through Christ our Lord.” When we come to Mass and listen to these prayers, we are connected to God the Father through Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate bridge builder.
One little piece of related trivia: the Latin title for the pope is pontifex maximus. This translates to “the great bridge builder.” As the head representative of Jesus on earth (His prime minister, so to speak), the pope is intended to imitate Jesus, the greatest bridge builder. This is one of the reasons why the pope’s name is mentioned at every Mass. May we also seek to connect people to each other and to the Father, strengthened by the grace of the Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Joah Ellis
Pastor
