If you noticed, during the elevation of the sacred host during Mass, it comes in line with the cross where either a dying or dead and broken Christ is crucified? That is no accident. The Catholic Church had studied that for 2000 years to teach us an important doctrine. In fact, there are three important doctrines that are being taught at that moment. First, an incident in the past, an ongoing truth in the present and an eschatological doctrine in the future. There is always a danger among Catholics to see only one… the historical past.
That aligning of the consecrated hosts with the crucified Christ reminds us of an incident in the past… that once upon a time, the Son of God, became man to make up for the sins of man. And to satisfy the justice of God, He had to die on the cross. No one else could do this to redeem mankind.
The second truth is that in the consecrated, elevated Host, Christ had once again returned to earth present in His mystical Body. That is why the whole mystical body of Christ, the Church militant, suffering and triumphant and the whole heavenly host are present at mass with the Blessed Trinity. And thirdly, the scene reminds us of the Apocalyptic event in heaven after the end times to which we all look forward to after winning our battles here on earth.
But let me focus on the cross (which should never hold a figure of the resurrected Christ but either a dying or dead Christ.) It should remind us of what Christ did for us… He suffered and died for us sinners. We must view this with great gratitude.
Isaias had mentioned that ingratitude is the very essence of sin. And gratitude is the foundation of holiness. And St. Paul reminded us constanctly to be thankful. If during Mass, we look at the cross, and simply be grateful to Christ for having done all those things for our salvation, that solitary act of gratitude will do more to lead us to holiness and deserving to join in the Apocalyptic celebration in heaven with the lamb than anything you can imagine.