Eucharistic Meditations - Altar

'Altar' reminds us of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac! From time immemorial the altar has been seen as a place of sacrifice - of a spiritual meeting between God and people. The characteristic of an altar is that it provides an open space, a flat surface indicating one's openness to the Invisible God. It evokes a 'give-and-take' of resources and of life itself. The altar is also a Table where the sacred meal is consumed and at Eucharist we speak of 'the two tables - of the Word and of the Bread.' From this angle it speaks of hospitality, welcome, sharing, fellowship, openness and communion.

The heart of a sacrifice is not so much the slain victim but the animal as embodying the obedience and love of the offerer. By itself an altar would be quite meaningless unless it expressed the love-filled self-sacrifice of the offerer. In this sense, the Cross is the 'altar' of Jesus as he offers his obedience to the Father and his love to us his brethren. Symbolically, we could extend this meaning to every place where human beings express their self-surrender to God: the kitchen where a housewife offers her daily toil and labour, the desk for an office-goer, the classroom table and desk for a teacher or student, the busy street for a policeman on point-duty.

During Eucharist, the Celebrant venerates or kisses the altar thereby acknowledging that the sacrifice of Jesus is the central event we recall and celebrate. However, since the love that Jesus expressed is the most significant element, the questions that confront us at Eucharist are: How deep, sincere and consistent is my love? Is it personal and felt? Does it lead me to obedience even when tough and demanding? Does my surrender into God's hands make me listen deeply to the Spirit's 'gentle voice' guiding me? Does my Eucharistic sacrifice overflow into self-giving to others during the day? Does my Eucharist make me a better person? How often during the day do I remember the self-offering I made at the altar in Church?

As the 'table' where we share in the Covenantal banquet with the Father, the altar is meant to 'sanctify' or fill with God's Spirit (of love) every meal that we partake of. Each meal should bring people closer to one another, especially in the family. The dining table then, becomes the continuation of the covenant fellowship and its pledge or guarantee - for if we cannot love the person we see, how can we love the God we cannot see? So, every encounter with another person and with the rest of God's creation, could be said to take place 'around the altar'. If it is not an encounter suffused with love, then it could be a dangerous activity we engage in. For Paul reminded the Corinthians: 'let a person examine himself as he eats of this bread…' Our Eucharist, then, is a celebration of Life twenty four hours of the day on 'the altar of the world.'