Eucharistic Meditations - Vestments

The quaint colorful garments the celebrant uses at Eucharist remind us of his very special function during the celebration. In the Old Alliance, Moses and Aaron stood between God and his people, mediating for them his favor and blessings. They were like the neck that vitally links the head with the rest of the body. Hence it is understandable that they needed very special garments to highlight their status and position. Each item of their clothing bore a special meaning.

However, in the New Alliance, there is only one mediator, Jesus the Lord. During the Eucharist, therefore, the priest does not stand between God and the people. He stands squarely among the people, as one of them, sharing the same identical call and destiny as they. All baptized have put on Christ like a garment: 'As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.' At baptism, the old garments symbolizing the life of sin are first put aside, and after being immersed in water, the neophyte is clothed with the white baptismal robe symbolizing a new life in Christ: "These … have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb… These are God's chosen ones … a people whom the Lord has blessed." 'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord… for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.'

The entire community is, therefore, the Chosen People of God - and at Eucharist we come into God's presence integrally one with Christ and not just externally linked as through a garment which can be taken off at will. They wear the entire new robe and not just the old torn one that was patched with a piece taken from the new. They 'clothe themselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.'

And yet, it is appropriate for the Celebrant to wear something distinctive as the President of the assembly, not just to highlight his dignity, but rather to remind him of his commitment to sacramentally 'make present' Jesus, the servant-Lord and Master. What distinguishes the Celebrant at the Eucharist is not his prestigious position, but his privilege to serve the rest of the community. Jesus talked of the Master 'putting on the serving apron and sitting the faithful servants down at table and waiting on them.' 'Therefore take up the whole armor of God… fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' Thus attired, the Celebrant serves the community at Eucharist and in daily living.