The Lavabo
Feb
22
Written by:
Sunday, February 22, 2009
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 22, 2009
"Lord, wash away my iniquities, cleanse me from my sins."
Do you know what the lavabo is and what it means? We see it at every Mass. The lavabo is that place, right after the offertory, when the priest washes his hands. Why does the priest always do this? A clue to the significance of this action is what the priest says inaudibly: Lord, wash away my iniquities, cleanse me from my sin.
When I have celebrated children's masses, I always ask them what they think the lavabo means before telling them the answer! Some wise guy will usually say something like, "Because your hands were dirty?" But many of the kids have already picked up on the significance on their own: this action has something to do with sin!
We Catholics not only pray with our mouths, but with our bodies, our whole selves. It is not necessary for you to hear the prayer the priest says to understand the deep significance of this simple act of the washing of hands. The priest is praying that God will forgive his sins, because he is not worthy to preside over the Eucharist.
I suggest that you make this your prayer as well. When you see this action being performed at Mass, pray to yourself, Lord, wash away my iniquities, cleanse me from my sin. Even if you are singing, take a moment and pray this to yourself along with the priest, and make the prayer your own, because the Eucharist that we are about to witness and share is so awesome and wonderful we become aware of our impurity before God. Why is this?
The Lord is coming to Saint Edward, right on our altar, and for most of us, into our mouths. To be in the presence of such holiness requires that we be humble enough to receive it. Lord, I am not ready for your coming to me this day; my heart is divided; my heart remains attached to sin. Lord, my soul needs fixing up; Lord, you are coming. Help me to be ready to receive and then to share you. Lord, wash away my iniquities, cleanse me from my sins.
My mother used to say this whenever she took a bath! Lord, wash away my iniquities, cleanse me from my sin. I think she had the right idea. She took the priests' prayer, and made it her own. Why not try to use this prayer when you wash your hands during the day? Thus a small part of the mass can become a big part of your life, creating perhaps a new openness to God's mercy for you.
Father Gary