O LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY

Jesu, Lover

A Reflection by Rev. Paul Meyers OFD

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy

www.missionstsergius.org

www.franciscansdivinemercy.org

Over a half a century has lapsed since I stood in the back of Holy Trinity Church, decked out in a white suit and tie. Along with my class, I anxiously waited for the pipe organ to play “O LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY”

Earlier, I had scrubbed my tongue, knowing I would soon be touching Jesus Himself.

After acolytes flipped the starched cloth over the communion rail, they bowed their heads, signaling us to start to come forward. My hands and legs were shaking as I climbed the 2 rail steps, and placed my folded hands under the cloth. Glancing sideways, I saw Father Warth holding the gleaming ciborium and the sacred host. Gently, an acolyte placed a Paton under my chin, in a quick moment; the sacred host touched my tongue. My Lord and My God, Jesus was in me and I in Him. Returning to the pew, a few tears were clearly evident in later photographs. “The master is here, and is asking for you” (John 11:28)

Active participation by the laity has been emphasized for about 45 years, as opposed to the more passive role in the Latin or Tridentine Mass.

Today, many “moderns” think the “old mass” is an archaic ritual in a dead language, gone long before they were even born. Partially true!

The external gifts of bread and wine became the deep reality of Christ’s Body and Blood, Right here, Right Now. Some people today hardly conceive the concept of “Real Presence”.

Just look at those with slumped posture, or cell phone talking and texting while in church. Put simply, they do not have a clue. Granted, most folks today have never even seen , the “old mass” and many never received instructions in or about about the “Real Presence” which was often absent from their training.

The Latin liturgy (in the Western Churches) and the Divine Liturgy (in the Eastern Churches) remained nearly unchanged for twenty centuries.

Nearly all the prayers and the order of the mass were known to people from the earliest records shortly after the establishment of the church in Jerusalem and Antioch.

We 21st century folks still eat and drink together. We gather, just as those who also gather for donuts and coffee. After all, eating and drinking together is about “us”, Right?

The year 2011 has been thrown off and 2012 appears as a clean slate of hopes and challenges. We continue to gather together and are now relearning the refined words of the ancient liturgy.

Many are complaining because the English words are not common, but they are much closer to the Latin which was used for centuries.

Any sense of “Real Presence” unfortunately has been lost to many.

They share Jesus in His words, but “Remember” Him in one dimensional bread and cup.

The term “Eucharist” (Thanksgiving in Greek) is not in the Gospels. Rather it was called; “The Lords Supper” (Corinthians 11:20) and “Agape” (Jude 12) and “Breaking of Bread” (Acts 2:42)

The word “Eucharist” first appears in the “Didache” of the first century by Ignatius of Antioch and was found widely used in the earliest churches.

Our passionate burning lover, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is there in that host and in the wine when both species are given just as He was to the house Church early Christians.

If he is not, you suffer serious loss.

Your empty self, will not have Him touch your tongue, your heart, your life.

He is asking for you. Will you answer His call?