Be the Chalice!

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Readings may be found here
 
People often equate holiness with morality – holy people do and say the right thing. This is not wrong, but the biblical notion of holiness runs deeper. In the Old Testament worldview, holiness is about separation – being set apart for the things of God. Consider the example of the chalice in the Holy Mass. It would be unthinkable to use the chalice for anything other than the celebration of the Mass – it is set apart, consecrated to the service of God. 
 
In the prayer of Jesus in John 17, the Lord speaks of His own consecration for His disciples (and us) and His prayer that they (and us) be consecrated. He is making them holy, set apart to be vessels of His presence and work. Each one of us, baptized and anointed, have been consecrated to the Lord, set apart for Him alone. We too are vessels and though we may be unworthy, He offers us the grace of participation in His life and mission. 
 
When you pray at Mass in person or by the distance means of the moment, look at the chalice and know this: you and I are called to be the chalice, vessels of the very presence of Our Lord. And if that truth touches your heart, consider watching this spectacular address on “Old Pots” from venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen:
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