Your Majesty...

(Chapter 14, Question 1)

In Daniel 5, we read about King Belshazzar of Babylon and how he holds a great feast where he and his guests eat and drink using the silver from the Temple. As a result of the sacrilege of these sacred things, God delivered a message to Belshazzar, foretelling the near end of Belshazzar’s kingdom. Once again I ask the popular questions, “What is the meaning of this story and how does it apply to us”? Many times we do not realize the symbolism of the stories in the Old Testament that apply to our own lives today. The above story of Belshazzar applies to our respect towards sacred things such as the Holy Eucharist.

As Catholics, we may not realize the many graces which God has bestowed upon us. These graces he gives to us through many sacred things including the Eucharist. In the Eucharist God gives of his whole self to us. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we are truly receiving His body, blood, soul, and divinity. Jesus in the Father and the Holy Spirit is actually present when the priest speaks the words of the Consecration.

Let us picture for a moment that you are in the chapel or just an ordinary room. In walks Jesus. He is standing before you, gazing at your face. This is God and He is in your midst only a few feet from where you are sitting. I don’t know what your reaction would be, but I think I would probably stare in shock and awe for a few moments before falling at His feet and pleading for forgiveness for every wrong I had ever done against Him, because He is so perfect and wonderful, and He loves me so much that He was gave his life for me. Every whip that tore at His flesh and every thorn that dug into His skull and the nails that were driven into his hands and feet are my sins laid against him. If you were the only person on the face of this earth, He would have been crucified just to save you.

Let us come back to the present. The priest has just spoken the words of the Consecration and has elevated the host which is now Jesus Christ present before you. What kind of respect will you show to him? We are not worthy to eat His Holy Flesh or drink His Holy Blood. Jesus is the one and only King. Before I came to JP Catholic, when I was about sixteen, I was talking to one of my godsisters after daily Mass. We were discussing how to properly dress for Mass. She explained it very well when she said, “When I go to Mass, I am presenting myself before Jesus who is God who is King. If I was going to see a king, I would put on my best gown, get my hair done, and wear my most expensive jewelry. How much more should I dress well before God who is King over the entire universe”. The same concept applies to our behavior. If we were to go before the Queen of England, we would never turn bow or curtsy or even kiss her royal hand. The same applies at Mass. Before receiving Communion, we are taught that we should bow or genuflect. God deserves much more than the Queen of England. He deserves our all.

So, before receiving the Eucharist, we should show the utmost respect for our King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Signs of respect show in our dress and in our behavior. How would you dress and behave before a king on earth? How much more should we do these things before God, who is our creator and King of the entire universe?