Holy Ground
As we drew near to the end of communion this past weekend, these were the words of our communion hymn. As I listened to these words being sung, it struck me that we can often forget just what it is we are doing as we come together to celebrate the Eucharist. If we aren’t careful we can treat the Eucharist as if it is just another gathering among many in our week, or another form of entertainment among many that we are connected to. Sometimes we can miss the fact that it is so much more than anything we experience the rest of the week. When we gather to draw near to Christ we are indeed standing on holy ground. What we are doing is calling forth the savior of the world and as a result the angels and the saints draw near to see the miraculous thing in which we are participating.
Recently I was reminded of this reality at the diaconate ordination of Dustin Collins, a young man studying for the priesthood in our diocese. One of the most powerful parts of an ordination is the singing of the litany of the saints. During the litany, the candidate for ordination lies prostrate on the floor, while those gathered ask for the prayers of the saints. It is a role call of the saints, so to speak, and each time I experience it I feel that one by one each of the saints is saying to us, as the candidate for ordination already has said, “present!”.
In our diocese I have experienced many ordinations. One thing that continues to be true is that the Church of Knoxville is represented again and again by many of the same people. They are the holy ones of our local Church. We also call upon the same saints over and again, and they continue to show up. Though he may not know it, I give thanks to Deacon Dustin for the gift he shared with me through his ordination, the gift of the reminder that we are all called to be saints and to share in communion with one another. I hope you will join me in praying for him in his last year of formation as he prepares to join my brother priests and I as a minister of the Gospel.
Related Posts:
About The Author
Comments