How important is a little drop of water? I have already mentioned blessing yourself with water as you enter the church. Sometimes the Penitential Rite is conducted with the sprinkling of water on the congregation, again reminding them to ask for mercy and forgiveness. Mercy does not mean just forgiveness but asking for God’s help and presence in our lives, in our living out the vocation he has given us. There is another drop of water that is placed in the chalice of wine, just before offering it. As with the bread that is prepared at the offertory, this is done prior to the consecration of the elements into the body and blood of Christ. The drop of water can refer to us uniting ourselves to Christ’s presence, symbolic of our uniting ourselves with the person of Jesus as we approach the Father at Mass. The prayer used at that gesture is pregnant with meaning. “Through the mystery of this water and wine may we share in the divinity of Christ who humbles himself to share in our humanity.” What a journey for a little drop of water… what a journey for us as we approach the Father through Christ!
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