Each month, I explore an aspect of our liturgy experience. This series is called Mass Communication. Today, I look at the briefest rite of the whole liturgy.

The enormity of the liturgy packed with vast theological ideas and images reaches its close with this brief moment: Dismissal.

This brief rite is marked with the liturgical greeting, “The Lord be with you.” To remind ourselves of this rich expression click here to read a previous post.

The Mass ends as it begins with the central image of every Christian believer. We are marked with the Sign of the Cross. The life of Jesus becomes our life. We have been grafted into the life of God as we are marked by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Then, the priest or deacon announces Ite, missa est. It is a Latin announcement that translates to Go, the Mass is ended. There are three other options the minister can use: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord; Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life; Go in peace.

This announcement is not to be understood like a parent who kicks out all the teenagers from their home after a ruckus afternoon. This is a command and a reminder of our vocation!

We take the words of Jesus literally, “As the Father sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Take the one you have received in Eucharist and be Eucharist for the world!

To be Eucharist for the world means that like Jesus we are blessed, broken, and shared. We empty out our lives willingly in the service of others. This is the shape of our Christian lives.

Then, we return each Sunday to understand the mystery more deeply and profoundly. We relive the moment we come to the empty tomb and run to tell the others!