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The Liturgy of the Eucharist, Part 1 – The Way of Mystery with Deacon James Keating
Deacon James Keating explores how the Eucharist shapes moral life by transforming our conscience through divine charity. He explains that the Eucharist is the source of goodness because it is the wellspring of God’s love. By placing ourselves before this mystery, we are drawn into holiness and made capable of authentic charity. The offertory is not merely a financial gesture but a response to being filled with the Word of God—an act that symbolizes giving of self. The mingling of water and wine is a sign of our union with Christ’s divinity through humility and service, reminding us that true communion with Christ sends us toward those in need. The priest’s quiet prayer for purification before consecration reveals a deep awareness of human unworthiness and the immense grace of God’s invitation to holiness.
The shift in the Mass from prayers directed to Christ to those offered with Christ to the Father mirrors Jesus’ self-offering on the Cross and our participation in His obedience. He also reflects on the priest’s vocation as a sacramental presence of Christ—the bridge between God and His people. The priest’s role is not managerial but paternal, called to spiritual fatherhood that demands holiness, humility, and courage to teach truth even when unpopular. We shouldn’t reduce priesthood to leadership models devoid of spiritual depth: the priest must feed his people with truth rather than cultural opinions. The faithful, in turn, are called to pray fervently for their priests, that they may live their vocation with integrity and draw their communities into deeper communion with Christ.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
- How does recognizing the Eucharist as the “wellspring of divine charity” reshape your understanding of moral goodness?
- In what ways can you make your offertory—both spiritual and material—a more authentic act of self-giving?
- What does the mingling of water and wine at Mass teach you about humility and participation in Christ’s divinity?
- How do you discern whether an encounter with God has truly moved you toward serving the poor and those in need?
- When you witness the priest’s hand-washing ritual, how might you join interiorly in his prayer for purification?
- What does the shift in prayer “through Christ to the Father” invite you to consider about obedience and dependence on God?
- How can you support your parish priest in living out his vocation as a spiritual father rather than a mere leader or administrator?
- What does Deacon Keating’s reflection reveal about your own attitude toward authority and obedience in the Church?
- How might you respond when the truth of Church teaching challenges your comfort or cultural assumptions?
- In what concrete ways can you pray for priests and help strengthen their courage to proclaim the Gospel faithfully?
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
