Worship and Joy
2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19 - January 23, 2024, Tuesday 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
Today's passage from the second book of Samuel highlights David's exuberant and unrestrained worship before God. David, despite his status, danced and celebrated without reservation in the presence of God which raises the question: how do we express our devotion to God? At the heart of the Church's worship is the celebration of the Eucharist. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the Eucharist "the source and summit of the Christian life" (CCC, 1324) and so it should evoke as exuberant worship as the one of David in front of the Ark of the Covenant. But does it?
In 1996, I attended a three-day Catholic Charismatic Retreat near the Shrine of Black Madonna in Poland. The Eucharist during that event was a pleasure to attend. The worship songs were fantastic, the sermons were interesting, and some danced before the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament. The entire liturgy was performed in such a way that one could indeed have a foretaste of heaven. Later on, I had a similar experience in my first mission station in East Timor. That poverty-stricken and recovering from an armed conflict congregation would successfully compete with David in their expression of worship before the Lord. We were not saying the mass, we were celebrating it. Our offertory dance alone could last up to 10 minutes.
But, I also recall those moments when the celebration of the Eucharist was boring. The congregation sang out of tune, a priest preached in such a way that put everyone into a daydreaming mode, and everyone seemed relieved when the mass was over. I do not think that the participants of such Eucharist were aware that "in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Passover" (CCC, 1324).
David's exuberant and unrestrained worship before God highlights the aspect of joy in our worship. Do we approach God with similar joy and enthusiasm in our prayers, songs, and praise? One of the highlights of that 1996 Charismatic event in Poland was the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The music ministry led us into singing that made us lift our hearts to the Lord. The singing was accompanied by a dance that was beautifully expressing our longing for union with God.
The Ark of the Covenant was foreshadowing God's presence among His people and yet its presence evoked joy, gratitude, and reverence. When the Lord Jesus entered this world, "a multitude of the heavenly host [was] praising God" (Luke 2:13). And if in the Eucharist Christ, himself is contained then His presence should also evoke a similar response to that of David: exuberant joy, unrestrained worship, and deep reverence. Celebrating the Holy Eucharist should always evoke a sense of profound joy.