by Miss Carol Lasrado
BORIVLI-MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014: A workshop on "The day of the Lord" was held on August 29, 2014 from 10:00 a.m – 12:30 noon in the A.V. room of St. John Bosco Church, Borivli (West) conducted by Rev. Fr. Wilfred D'souza SDB. About seventy five people belonging to the PLT(Parish Liturgical team), ushers, Eucharistic ministers, choir, lectors, and others were present for this workshop. The workshop began with a prayer followed by a welcome speech by Mrs. Cynthia D'silva and a floral tribute being presented to Fr. Wilfred.
Fr. Wilfred began by placing a couple of general questions like; 'What is the Eucharist?' 'Why do we celebrate it?' etc. He then stressed on the five important chapters of the apostolic letter, Dies Domini of the Holy Father John Paul II, on keeping "The Lord's day holy." He began by saying,"Dies Domini explains that God is our creator and on the completion of the creation, God rested. The Lord's Day – as Sunday was called from apostolic times, because of its close connection with the Christian mystery. It recalls the celebration of Christ's victory over sin and death and the dawn of a new creation. Hence, it is a call to remind us of the grand and wonderful work of God and inspires us to praise and thank him."
He further said,"Dies Christi – The day of the risen Lord. According to the common witness of the Gospels, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead took place on "the first day after the Sabbath" (Luke 24:1). On the same day, the Risen Lord appeared to the two disciples of Emmaus and to the eleven Apostles gathered together (John 20:19)." He also spoke on 'Dies Ecclesiae– The Eucharistic assembly – Heart of Sunday (Matthew 28:20).'saying,"This promise of Christ resounds in the Church as the secret of her life and hope. Sunday Eucharist is not only the remembrance of a past event but is a celebration of the living presence of the risen Lord in the midst of his own people. It is gathering of those who have received the grace of baptism are not saved as individuals alone, but as members of the Mystical Body, having become part of the people of God. They become one in Christ through the gift of the spirit."
He also added saying,"Dies Hominis : Day of joy, rest and solidarity. Christ came to accomplish a new "exodus", to restore freedom to the oppressed. He performed many healings on the Sabbath (cf. Matthew 12:9-14 and parallels), certainly not to violate the Lord's Day, but to reveal its full meaning: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." If Sunday is a day of joy, Christians should declare by their actual behaviour that we cannot be happy "on our own". They look around to find people who may need their help. It may be that in their neighbourhood or among those they know there are sick people, elderly people, children."
Finally, he spoke on 'Dies Dierum : Sunday the primordial feast, revealing the meaning of time.' saying,"In Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, time becomes a dimension of God, who is himself eternal". In his speech in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, Paul applies the words of Psalm 2 to the Resurrection of Christ: "You are my Son, this day I have begotten you". It is precisely for this reason that, in celebrating the Easter Vigil, the Church acclaims the Risen Christ as "the Beginning and End, the Alpha and Omega". These are the words spoken by the celebrant as he prepares the Paschal candle, which bears the number of the current year. These words clearly states that "Christ is the Lord of time; he is its beginning and its end; every year, every day and every moment are embraced by his incarnation and resurrection, and thus become part of the fullness of time." The speech given about the Eucharist by Fr. Wilfred was truly helpful in understanding the meaning of The Lord's Day.