Thoughts on this month’s liturgy aspect recall a famous phrase from Star Wars: The Force Be with You!

The priest and the assembly exchange words throughout the Mass. It is an apostolic greeting deeply rooted in scripture. The priest says, “The Lord be with you,” and the assembly responds, “And with your spirit.” This apostolic greeting saturates the Scriptures. Some examples are from Deuteronomy 31:8; 1 Chronicles 22:16; Ruth 2:4; Joshua 1:5; Judges 6:12; Luke 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

The Apostolic greeting was exchanged at the cusp of some remarkable task given to God’s people. Gideon was the least person in an insignificant tribe. The messenger of God said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12)! Another example of this expression is in Joshua’s experience. Moses had just died. Joshua was about to lead the chosen people into the promised land. At that moment, Joshua heard the Lord say, “No one can withstand you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, I will be with you: I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). Turning to the New Testament, we hear this expression reach its peak in the Blessed Virgin Mary. Gabriel said to Mary, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Paul uses this apostolic greeting in his letters to various communities. This greeting marks significant moments in the life of God’s people.

At the liturgy, marking the various moments of prayer, the priest turns to the people and shares this same greeting. It is as if he were marking a special moment for the baptized who come into the presence of God. We are plunged into the mystery of Trinitarian love at Mass. The priest is summoning the people to be the baptized people of God. They are rousing their spirits to be the baptized priesthood celebrating the liturgy.

The assembly, in turn, is not saying, in effect, “you as well.” The assembly is saying something more provocative. They say, “And with your spirit.” They are telling the priest, “Be priest for us now.” Let the same Spirit given to you at your ordination rouse your whole being. You stand in the person of Christ and offer the sacrifice of praise. Together, the baptized and the ordained enter the worship caught up in the love of the Trinity.

While the Star Wars slogan implies an outside force accompanying the Jedi, this greeting at Mass ignites the Spirit within us to do something for God: proper worship.