It’s strange, when you think of it

The ritual. The vestments. The whole nine yards.

Readings and prayers are often recited dryly (or sometimes a bit strangely).

Some celebrants are haphazard with what they do, while others wear rubrics like large, heavy chains.

But when you really, really think of it, it’s so much more.

People all around the world, at this very moment, are gathered before the very same table of the Lord.

Every day, going back in history for nearly two thousand years, countless others have knelt there too.

And then... there was that night back at the very beginning.

His robes were a bit different and the room looked very, very different.

But our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ also took the bread in his hands (his sacred hands) and he looked up to heaven to his Almighty Father and gave him thanks and praise.

He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said:

Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body
which will be given up for you.

(My Lord and my God.)

May you and I always cherish the gift