Mass is not simply a series of steps to follow or a tradition to be recited for the sake of recitation, but each word spoken and each action taken prepares the minds and the spirits of the congregation, priest and deacons for receiving or sharing the word of God.

In a recent reflection on the “Hidden Signs and Symbols of the Liturgy,” the Rev. Francisco Ojeda of the Basilica of St. Paul Catholic Church in Daytona Beach wrote that, “The Mass is a pilgrimage in itself.”

Ojeda began by explaining the readings from the Old Testament and the pastoral letter, which are followed by the Alleluia. The Alleluia recalls the praise given by God’s people – from the Israelites delivered from Egypt to the present day – giving praise to God for deliverance.

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Whether that deliverance is from physical bondage or from the chains of sin, the manner of praise is the same, Ojeda wrote. Continuing the Mass, the priest and deacon prepare to deliver the Gospel message, asking for God’s presence, guidance and cleansing.

The greeting of, “The Lord be with you,” and the response of “And with your Spirit” from the congregation then is a continuation of that prayer, seeking that God will be manifest in the message the priest shares. In this way, the congregation is prepared to hear – and the priest is prepared to share – the Gospel as it comes from God.

At the conclusion of the Gospel message, the call from the priest of “The Gospel of the Lord,” and the response from the congregation of, “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,” recalls the prayers offered at the start, and demonstrates the faith of all those present that God has spoken to them through the sharing of the Gospel.

This is concluded with the quiet, private prayer, “Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.”

With this course of preparation, the Homily then provides reflection for those present, as they continue to seek God’s will in their lives and the growth that is laid out for them in their faith.