Praising God in the presence of the angels
May 16, 2023 - Tuesday, Sixth Week of Easter
Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
A priest from behind the altar has a good view of the faithful participating in the Eucharist. Some participate with faith, and others although physically present are mentally and emotionally absent. This is particularly evident among the younger generation that even during the Eucharist check their phones. On the other hand, a priest living in a country where the preaching of the Gospel is forbidden faces a predicament: should he celebrate the Eucharist alone?
Among the books on the Eucharist that I often recommend is that of Scott Hahn “The Lamb’s Supper: the Mass as heaven on earth”. As a protestant pastor attending for the first time the Catholic Mass, the author was surprised to find the Eucharist so connected with the worship of God described in the Book of Revelation. But, what surprised him is the part of Catholic tradition. Long ago the Fathers of the Church discovered this connection and the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council reminded us about it.
“In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle; we sing a hymn to the Lord's glory with all the warriors of the heavenly army; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for some part and fellowship with them; we eagerly await the Saviour, Our Lord Jesus Christ, until He, our life, shall appear and we too will appear with Him in glory” (SC, 8).
Psalm 138 reveals to us the true meaning of worship. The psalmist says that “in the presence of the angels [he] will sing [God’s] praise” (Ps 138:1). Worship connects heaven with earth and the Church celebrating the Eucharist is heaven on earth. As we celebrate the Eucharist, we are indeed in the presence of the angels and all the saints - the Church on earth and the Church in heaven get united in worship of God and of the Lamb (see Rev 7:10).
The best description of this truth is found in the letter to the Hebrews where we read: “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb 12:22-24).
In Scott Hahn’s book, we find this beautiful statement: “To go to mass is to go to heaven”. Seeing it that way, we realise that the moment the priest begins the Eucharist “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, the door in heaven opens and we are invited to come in (see Rev 4:1).