Where Heaven Meets Earth

Author: Mark Melillo of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Queen

It starts long before I hit the Church doors. I wake up early to prepare myself with prayer and quiet surrender to the newly emerging sunlight peeking through my window as the dawning of the new day begins. 

I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me and ask Our Sweet Mother Mary to prepare me as an offering in exchange of the offering that is being prepared for me by the Holy One. 

He doesn't rise with the sun. He raises the sun in silence as a secret gift waiting for me like a parent with great joy wraps the perfect gift for their child on Christmas. The giver of all Good gifts, who never sleeps. Always ready with an outstretched Hand with one replacing the other. 

This one is different though. The Sacred Mystery that He is. It's waiting for me on the other side of my front door just around the corner. I leave my house and walk right into the sunlight which now sits high over His Sacred dwelling place, the Holy Tabernacle, as a golden carpet which I walk upon but do not deserve. 

I often circle the area in prayer to show my deepest Adoration, bowing at every passing of the Altar where my gift will be laid out for me. 

 I approach the front door, open it and enter in, as if I was walking through a dream. It's as quiet there as when the sun first rose and I show reverence to the King of kings who is waiting for me. Making it to my pew near the back, I continue my prayers. I want the plate of my soul to be clean for the feast that lays in wait. As the last few people enter and the priest prepares to start the Mass, my prayer ends in perfect alignment with the order of things. 

The bell rings and the priest walks onto the stage of the creation of a new world. 

He begins. 

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. I smile...read it again...IN THE NAME...OF THE FATHER...AND OF THE SON...AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. 

Into them we are pulled. Into us they enter. 

THE MOST HOLY HOLY HOLY TRINITY. How can this be? I ask. Who could ever know such a thing fully though, so I rest in my not knowing and we begin to pray together. 

Church Triumphant, Church Militant, Church Suffering

Our Family. God's Family. We are One. 

Our voices join and our prayers mingle as Angels unseen fly about singing praises with words only the soul can hear or understand. Unutterable inaudible Adoration of what is about to occur. The Awe of the Angelic choirs that surround us echoes unheard by us. 

 We then begin the readings. First the Old Testament to prepare the palette of our mind. We digest the Word with our ears and into our souls. 

Then the Gospel. The Living Word which descended from Heaven to us to lift us to Himself and renew what was lost. The Good News of a New Life that is set before us. A banquet of eternal delight which eternally fills our hungry hearts. 

I am satisfied to overflowing but it doesn't end. It's just begun. I wait anxiously patient, knowing what's being offered can never be taken and is written in Heaven, yet I can hardly stand the wait. 

Blessed are you Lord God of all creation... I begin to feel my soul to be much larger than my body can contain at these words. It sways around my body like a flame around the wick of a candle swaying in a gentle breeze...

Blessed be God forever. I could repeat this in an unending chant until the stars fall from the sky. I move with those around me harmoniously yet all alone...as the prayers are lifted up, I am lifted up with them as smoke rising from the incense and I begin to get lost. 

Then the sacrifice begins. I watch as it is being prepared, only looking down slightly when the Host is first lifted. 

This is my body. It is a sacrifice of Love. The Consecration of the Bread and Wine is Sacred. Between Father and Son. So I dare not look. The Bread becomes The Body. 

This is My Blood. The Wine becomes Blood creating a flowing River of Mercy for us and I dare not look. Some do, but I cannot. All Glory and Honor is Yours. 

Then it is Finished. The Sacrifice and Feast prepared for us before the foundation of the World is Complete. The Work of Salvation is Complete and He is there. 

BEHOLD. BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD. Now my head raises up and I behold Him...THE LAMB. THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY....BUT ONLY SAY THE WORD....and with that I am His. 

 I approach Holy Union. 

My eyes fixed on the Crucifix behind the Altar. 

I see my Salvation and He sees me. He really sees me.... there are no words. Not one single word comes close. I make it to the point of reception and take the gift offered to me. 

He is Infinitely more powerful than the sun I woke up to and yet comes to me in the Humble Host I am now in possession of and He possesses me and allows me to capture Him in my heart and soul...and we are one. 

Consummation. To consume and to become one. One with the Love of your soul. I am Full. I am Complete. I am grateful. I am no longer myself. I am His. Wholly His...and He is wholly mine...who alone is Holy...Forever. 

 I make it back to my pew. I want to pray but all I can do is just say thank you. THANK YOU JESUS. I LOVE YOU. And I click my heels under the pew like a child excited on Christmas to open his gift. 

He is my gift. He is our gift.... and we are His. 

 May almighty God Bless you. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. THE MASS IS ENDED. GO IN PEACE. THANKS BE TO GOD.... and I smile. 

Where Heaven meets Earth.


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