The Mass consists of two parts, two ‘tables’ – the table of God’s holy Word and the table of the Eucharistic sacrifice and meal. Though we speak of two tables, in fact they are one: the table which the Father spreads before his people (Psalm 22/23), where they are fed by his teaching and taught by feeding on His Son.
In the ‘Liturgy of the Word’ the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus are proclaimed for God’s glory and our hearing. In the ‘Liturgy of the Eucharist’ the Church celebrating community is united with the life, death, resurrection and eternal being of Christ, by the power and work of the Holy Spirit (Eucharistic Prayer 3).
Both Word and Gospel lead to the Eucharist. The Eucharist makes Word and Gospel into the food which is the Body and Blood of Christ.
