Right after speaking to that class on Sunday, I found myself at Mass. When our priest accepted the gifts at the offertory, placing them on the altar, I placed myself there with them, asking the Father to transform me too into Jesus' Body and Blood. St. Paul had told the early Church, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, for this is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1). The image that came to my mind though, in response my prayer, surprised me: I saw Jesus at the altar, holding me up above His head to His Father, saying, "This is My Body, this is My Blood." And it really made sense to me, how our lives, our sufferings, are a living, current participation in Jesus' Cross.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
On the Altar
Right after speaking to that class on Sunday, I found myself at Mass. When our priest accepted the gifts at the offertory, placing them on the altar, I placed myself there with them, asking the Father to transform me too into Jesus' Body and Blood. St. Paul had told the early Church, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, for this is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1). The image that came to my mind though, in response my prayer, surprised me: I saw Jesus at the altar, holding me up above His head to His Father, saying, "This is My Body, this is My Blood." And it really made sense to me, how our lives, our sufferings, are a living, current participation in Jesus' Cross.
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