What is Worship?

I was at my niece's Baptism this Sunday. She was being Baptized Lutheran. I was asked to be Godfather.

Now just a brief interlude about this. I tried to find some info from sources I usually trust about whether or not I could be her Godfather and finally, after some research, discovered that I could for a few reasons. First of all my sister and brother-in-law are not very devout Lutherans. In fact, they're only Christian in the general sense. I talked with them and they knew that I would be taking that role seriously, and would not hold back in teaching the Catholic Faith. In as far as I am able my Goddaughter will be raised Catholic (I bought her a rosary already, and some Holy Cards and books on the Saints). Second, the Baptism was valid. Third, I didn't have to agree to anything in the ceremony that would be against Catholic teaching. Maybe someone could now prove that I was wrong somewhere, but it is done (Her Godmother is actually Catholic too, and also got my niece a rosary. We're talking about ways to enroll her in CCD already)

So anyway, I was sitting in the Lutheran building and they started their service. One of the men in their music team said something that struck me as very odd:

"Come, let us gather together in worship-"

It was with a shock and start that I realized and remembered; Protestants think that music and singing is worship. That offering yourself is worship.

Now in a sense they're sort of close with the second one, but the first is way off. Worship requires a sacrifice. God was very clear about this in the Old Testament, and the God of the Old is the same as the God of the New. Jewish worship required a lamb or other sacrificial offering.

This is why at every Catholic Mass there is Holy Communion. During the Consecration the boundries of time are stripped away and once again, made present is the Sacrifice at Calvary. Our Lord is re-presented on our altars, and all of Heaven opens up and worships with us.

For there is only ONE Sacrifice now, only ONE that is befitting Our God, and it is Christ Our Lord. There is a sacrifice at every Catholic Mass, and it is the same sacrifice each time.

There must be a sacrifice, and there is only one way to give Our God the sacrifice He desires and deserves. There is no other thing that can be offered to fully pay for our sins.

Deo Gratias.