It happens every Sunday. The Church will stand up after the consecrstion of the host. We will recite the "Our Father" (my daughter saying it slower and more forcefully than most). The choir will sing the "Agnus Dei" (by far my favorite hymn; especially when it is sung in Latin). Then comes the ackward. My family will bring down the kneelers once again and kneel, sometimes inconveniencing others in the pew with us. My son fidgets next to me and does a sitting kneel, where his posterior is fully supported by the pew, while his knees "rest" on the kneeler. I remind him that "God is up there" and he quickly falls into form. My family is usually alone in this action. Kneeling isn't normal anymore.
I feel bad that I am making my pewmates move or stand ackwardly, but I feel worse standing. I feel like I am dishonoring God. I fully understand that I should partake in the communion and act in accordance with the rest of the group...but "God is up there."
It wasn't always like this, see. When I was younger, I fully, intellectually understood the fact that Jesus was the Eucharist. I could wrap my head around that truth and receive him every Sunday without any mental reservation. I don't know that my heart was in it, though. I went through the motions like the rest of my Catholic brethren; but I can't say that I really understood that "God was up there."
If I did; if I realized that truth, wouldn't I act in accordance? Would it be possible to truly recognize divinity on the altar and not kneel? We kneel for kings and royalty. We bow down to those we see as superior. Why wouldn't we then, throw ourselves prostrate on the floor in the presence of God?
This truth hit me hardest as I was listening to Catholic radio one day. I don't recall the program that I was listening to. It was either "Catholic Answers" or "Right Here, Right Now." The host of the program mentioned that a friend was attending a mass with a Muslim. During the consecration, the Muslim turned to the friend and remarked that the host was the reason why he couldn't be Catholic. Because, if the he truly believed that the host was God, he would be on his knees in a heartbeat.
The truth hit me right between the eyes. I wondered what I would do if God was in front of me. I pondered how I would react if Jesus was really in front of me. I realized that if I stood in the presence of Our Lord, I would throw myself on the floor because I would be unworthy of even meeting his eyes.
I then realized that I encounter God at every mass. This was our initiation into heaven. We get a small glimpse of it every time we partake in the bread and wine (worthily, I might add). I realized that I never had to wonder what it would be like if I encountered Jesus, because I have encountered him so often. I see him at the mass because "God is up there."
Ever since that moment, I have been dedicated to keep my actions in line with that understanding. That is why we kneel. It's because "God is up there."
We are truly blessed as Catholics. In fact, we are a bit spoiled. We have an opportunity that no other group has the opportunity to share in. When we go to mass, "God is up there." When we pray, "God is up there." When we leave to go about our days, "God is up there." I hope you are mindful of that the next time you are at mass. Because it is an awesome feeling knowing that "God is up there."
12/9/2014 0 Comments "God Is Up There"
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