Post-Communion Reflection – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

[Read slowly with long pauses. This exercise takes 4-5 minutes. Congregation remains seated throughout.]

We have just received the Body of Christ. We did nothing to earn this gift – Christ came to us freely. He placed himself in our hands.

Let us close our eyes or lower the gaze. Let each of us focus on our hands.

Notice where your hands are right now. Resting in your lap? Folded together?

Don’t change anything yet. Just notice.

Feel the weight of your hands. Are they heavy or light?

Notice their temperature. Are your palms warm? Cool? Is one hand warmer than the other?

Is your skin dry or moist? Rough or smooth?

If your hands are touching each other, notice that contact. If they’re resting on fabric, notice that texture against your skin.

Stay with your hands for just a little longer. Feel them fully. These are YOUR hands. Right here. Right now.

In a moment, we’ll invite you to raise your hands, like Moses on the hill.

Notice what happens in your body when you hear that invitation.

Is there resistance? Curiosity? Tiredness?

Pay attention to your breath. Is it shallow or deep? Fast or slow?

Notice your feet on the floor. Are they firmly planted? Tucked under your seat? Crossed?

Avoid any judgement – just notice.

When you’re ready – and only when YOU’RE ready – slowly begin to raise your hands. Lift them in whatever way feels natural. Palms up, palms down, arms wide, arms straight. There’s no right way.

Raise them slowly. Notice what happens as they rise.

Now your hands are lifted. However high feels right for you.

What do you notice?

What’s happening with your breath now? Has it changed?

What’s happening in your chest? Your belly? Your jaw?

What’s happening in your arms? Do they feel strong? Shaky? Heavy already?

Just notice. Don’t fix anything. Just be present to what is.

Now, bring to mind something you’ve been holding in prayer. Something you keep lifting up to God again and again.

A person. A situation. A fear. A hope.

Now ask yourself: Who do I need to hold me right now? Let a name or face arise. Don’t search. Just wait.

Ask: Who needs me to hold them? Again, don’t search. Just notice if someone comes to mind.

Stay here. Keep your hands raised. Breathe.

Moses stood like this for hours. His hands grew heavy. He needed Aaron and Hur to hold him.

You are also not alone in this moment. We are all here. We all have heavy arms.

Take a deep breath in. As you exhale, slowly – very slowly – begin to lower your hands.

Notice what it feels like to bring them down. Relief? Reluctance? Something else?

Let your hands come to rest wherever feels right. On your lap. On your knees. Folded together.

Feel them there. Resting. No longer holding anything up.

You have just experienced what Moses knew: arms grow heavy. We cannot hold everything alone.

But notice: you are still here. Your community surrounds you. The altar stands before you. The cross is lifted where you can see it.

And Christ is in your body now. Closer than your breath. Closer than your heartbeat.

You have held. You have been held. You are not alone.

[Silence for 15-20 seconds]

[End of body prayer]