Transcript

The sacraments are outward signs given to us by Christ to give us grace.

All of the sacraments are rooted in the Scriptures. The gateway to all of the sacraments is Baptism. When God chooses us as his own, along our way, God builds upon the Sacrament of Baptism and gives us more sacraments, more outward signs to give us grace. Grace is the strength that we need to live the life of holiness that God calls us to. We think especially about the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we have offended God or one another. Grace is lost, but the Lord promises always to be with us, and for those with a contrite heart, he promises to always give us an opportunity to begin again. We think about the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. Day after day or Sunday after Sunday, we gather in the presence of the Lord. We hear the Scriptures proclaimed. And then, in the culmination of the Mass, we have the opportunity to share in the very body and blood of Jesus. In the desert, God gave the Israelites manna from heaven to strengthen them for their journey. And so now in our time, God gives to us the bread from heaven to strengthen us for our journey to the Promised Land. Life is difficult, and God knows that. And that’s why he has given to us the seven sacraments to strengthen us for our Christian journey.