my Lord and my God

Originally published April 16 2012

Sometimes things just whack me over the head.

For years now, I breathe the beautiful little Prayer at the Elevation,
"My Lord and My God."

I have always thought it to be so lovely because it brings me to exactly where He is and where I am.  I am here, Lord, kneeling before You and You are there, in the flesh, my Lord and my God.  Him in the flesh, and me kneeling in my body, adoring Him.  Creator and creature.  Together.  Gazing in love at one another.

But today, in the gospel readings, John 20, 26-28, we hear this:

"A week later, his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.  Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  
Stop doubting and believe." 

Thomas said to him, 
"My Lord and My God!"

Thomas responds to Jesus edict.  Stop doubting and believe.  And he responds, My Lord and My God.  When we say this prayer, we too, are responding to Stop Doubting and Believe.  Should any doubt, in fact, should even the slightest lukewarmness be creeping into our attitude, our belief, our faith, we are at the moment, renouncing it with our prayerful response, My Lord and My God.

He comes, though we cannot see or understand how.  He busts through the walls of our senses and through the walls of the laws of nature. Though the doors of our understanding were locked, he stands among us.  He comes to us, risen Christ.  He comes to us, risen at the consecration.  And implores us, instructs us to believe.  He wants Thomas to believe.  "I am here."  Despite all that you understand and can know, Thomas, I am here.  Just like I said.

And.  I your God am here, body, blood, soul and divinity in this Eucharist.  I am certain he wants me to gasp, each and every time ~ My Lord and My God.