REFLECT:
“Abram prostrated himself” in the presence of God. So begins today’s First Reading at Mass from the Book of Genesis. More than bowing or kneeling, prostration is the ultimate sign of both reverence and submission. In addition to Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, the entire assembly of Israel, the Magi, the disciples, angels and elders in heaven, and even a statue of a pagan god all fell prostrate in the presence of the living God! In various tenses the word appears seventy times in the Bible. It will be the posture of the celebrant at the beginning of the Good Friday liturgy.

So, is prostration something you and I can embrace? I’ll be honest, if I fall prostrate, there better be two people to help me up, or I’ll be there for a long time. Yet, my heart tells me that I too want to show total reverence and submission to Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I think it is quite possible to “prostrate spiritually,”—to give my fullest reverence and my total submission—especially during Holy Week, and the celebration of Easter. The following prayer and action suggestion might help you and me to do just that.

PRAY:
“Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess, You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more. Amen.” -St. Ignatius Loyola

ACT:
Do your normal acts of reverence with extra devotion—genuflecting to Jesus in the tabernacle, devoutly bowing before receiving Communion, bowing your head while kneeling when the priest genuflects after the elevation of the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus after the Consecration.