LITURGY LESSON: WASHING OF THE HANDS
(Given: 14th Sunday Ordinary Time
Last week we learned about the prayers said over the gifts of bread and wine. Did you ever wonder why the priest washes his hands after he has offered these gifts? The history of this is confusing. The washing always had some relationship to the gifts that were brought to the altar. In ancient Jewish celebrations animals were sacrificed and washing hands was essential. And in the early years of the Catholic Church the ushers didn't collect envelopes in a basket. The people may have brought bread, wine, oil, candles, grapes, and vegetables to the celebration to help support the community and the poor. Washing your hands after receiving all of these gifts made sense.
Gradually the washing became very symbolic, almost a reminder to the priest that he is imperfect and sinful, just like the people he represents. As he washes his hands, the priest quietly prays averse of the 51st Psalm: "Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin."
Note that the words "iniquity" and "sin" are singular not plural. That tells us something. We are all part of "the sin of the world," as it says in the Glory to God. While our individual sins are important, it is also important to periodically be cleansed of contributing to the sinfulness that infects the People of God and our world. The priest is our representative. As we watch him wash his hands, perhaps we should also pray silently, "Lord, wash away my iniquity ; cleanse me from my sin."