"The priest’s next prayer makes even clearer the connection between the gifts of bread and wine and the giver who offers them to God. The priest prays, 'With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.' Notice how the sacrifice envisioned in this prayer is not some thing being offered to God, like bread and wine, but the people assembled: 'May we be accepted by you …' This theme, as well as the mention of a humble spirit and contrite heart, recalls the petition of the three Hebrew men thrown in the fiery furnace in Daniel 3. Being persecuted by the Babylonian king, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego cried out to God with a 'humble spirit' and a 'contrite heart' asking that they themselves would be accepted by the Lord just as a burnt offering in the temple would. In other words, the three men associated their very lives with a sacrifice offered up to God (Dn 3: 15-16 [RSV– CE]; 3: 39-40 [NAB]). The Lord heard their cry and rescued them. At Mass, the priest makes a similar petition. We have seen how our lives are bound up with the bread and wine offered to the Lord. Now the priest— like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego— cries out on our behalf to God with a 'humble spirit' and a 'contrite heart,' asking that we be accepted as a pleasing sacrifice." page 111
If you've read much of my blog, read here and here, you will know that Daniel 3 is my favorite chapter in the whole bible. Read a catholic version and you will see what I mean. The protestant bibles are definitely missing out on an incredible prayer!
I find this incredibly beautiful. During mass, we are to cry out to our God asking that we may be an acceptable sacrifice just as Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael did in the furnace!!!
Holy, Holy, Holy is my Lord God Almighty!
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