"So Abram moved
his camp and settled near the sacred trees of Mamre at Hebron, and there he
built an altar to the LORD." (Genesis 13:18).
The word “altar” comes from the Latin word “altārium”, which
means "high”. It is a table or flat-topped block used as the anchor or focus
for a religious ritual or ceremony; especially for making sacrifices or
offerings to a deity. In the Catholic Church the altar is the table or platform
on which bread and wine are consecrated and offered to the Host at the Holy
Mass - Jesus. The altar is prominent in the Bible as "God's table," a
sacred place for sacrifices and gifts offered up to God. Since the biblical
times, pagan and demonic altars also exist apart from holy altars (2 Chronicles 33:15). Such altars are used to worship or offer
sacrifices to idols, occult spirits, ancestral spirits or demonic spirits. This
post is focused on the uses, power and benefits of the family altars; such as
were built by King David (2 Samuel 24:18-25), Job (Job 1:5), and King Solomon (1
Kings 6:20-21). Follow me - you’ll know the truth and the truth will set you
free (John 8:32).
1. THE STRUCTURE
OF THE altar
In the Old Testament, many different types of altars were
built for different purposes. They were typically made of earth (Exodus 20:24)
or stone (Exodus 20:25) and were used as places to offer sacrifices to God. For
example, the altar of “burnt offering” was built to burn animals as sacrifices
for the atonement of sins (Exodus 30:1-10). The altar of Incense was built to
burn sweet-smelling spices as offering to God (Exodus 30:1-10). And the altar
of thanksgiving was built to give thanks to God for His mercy and blessings. (2
Chronicles 33:16). The Covenant Box was the most holy part of the altar. It
contained the specimen of the manna from heaven, the rod of Aaron, and the two
stone tablets of the Ten Commandments (Hebrews 9:4). The altars of the New
Testament are made mainly of wooden tables, concrete blocks and tiles, or
precious stones. The other components are, the altar candles, the Crucifix,
Marian statue and images of saints. The Covenant Box is replaced by the
Tabernacle in which is kept the Blessed Sacrament – that replaces the manna
that fell from heaven. Aaron's rod, as Jesus' eternal priestly authority; is
replaced by the crosier (bishop’s pastoral staff). Both in the Old and the New
Testaments the priest is the one in charge of the altar, and in the offering of
sacrifices.
2.
THE universal ALTAR
In the Old Testament God commanded the building of altars at
different times, in different places and for different purposes (Exodus
30:1-10; Exodus 30:1-10; 2 Chronicles 33:16). But in the New Testament God
erected one universal altar by the sacrificial death of Jesus, crucified on the
wood of the cross on the hill of Calvary
near Jerusalem (Isaiah 28:16; John 19:17-18). That Altar of the New Testament
is universal and eternal (Hebrews 9: 12-15; 12:24-25; Romans 8:33-35, Ephesians
2:20-22). The daily celebrations of the Eucharist at the various altars of the
Catholic Church are only the multiplications (John 6:9-13) and the perpetuity (Luke
22:19-20) of the one and unique sacrifice of the death of Jesus on the Cross of
Calvary (Matthew 27:50-53). The eternal altar of the Eucharist fulfills all the
functions of the altars of the Old Testament – remembrance, offering,
sacrifice, atonement, thanksgiving, dedication, prayer and worship.
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3.
THE FAMILY ALTAR
Abram first built an altar in Shechem to worship the LORD who
had appeared to him and given him possession of the land (Genesis 12: 7). From
then, family altars became a tradition in Abram’s family – when he moved to a
new place, he built an altar there to worship God (Genesis 13:18). In the time
of Moses family altars were also common, as God commanded the people to build
altars in their homes to offer sacrifices to offer sacrifices, to remember and
to worship him (Exodus 20:24). Unlike in
the Old Testament, the family altar in the New Testament is not a separate or
independent altar of God, but an extension of the Altar of the Holy Eucharist.
Thus the family altar is a sacramental of the Universal Church; that is, a
facility for the family to draw in and to perpetuate the power and the benefits
of the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist. So the family altar is an essential place
for one to gather with their family in order to meet with God. The ideal altar
is a quiet place where you can be alone with God; such as a corner in the
parlor or bedroom, or a separate room of the house. The family altar is a great blessing to
families if they use it to seek and to worship God. The family head, by virtue
of their baptism, is normally the priest of the family altar (1 peter 2:9). However,
it is important to note that the family altar does not equal to or replace the Eucharistic
Altar in the church. Therefore, the facility of the family alter does not absolve
one of the obligation to attend Holy Mass or to visit the Blessed Sacrament.
4. THE HOLINESS OF
THE altar
The altar of God is a sacred place – it must be consecrated
before use and be wholly dedicated to God – by doing nothing there that may
defile it. That is why it is recommended that one invites a Priest to consecrate
the family alter before use. And once consecrated no unholy or secular activity
should be carried at the altar (Matthew 21:12-13). For such things are sacrilege
which impairs the manifestation of God’s presence and his power at the altar. Moreover,
one must not allow strangers or non-family members to use their family altar.
For safety reasons it is advisable to allow your family altar only to those with
whom you live and pray regularly together. The following are the essential
elements of the family altar: Catholic .Bible, Crucifix, candles, holy water, statue
or image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, chaplet of the Holy Rosary, prayer books,
kneeler and lighter. The sacredness, purity and frequent use of the family
altar are what host the presence and the power of God (Exodus 29: 36-46). The
family altar, as it is written in the Bible, is used for a variety of purposes.
They are places for one to meet with God, to worship him, to make sacrifices to
him, to remember him etc.
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5. THE PLACE OF
MEMORIAL
As the scripture says, “”The people of Reuben and Gad said,
“This altar is a witness to all of us that the LORD is God”; and so they named
it “Witness”” (Joshua 22:34). Thus the family altar is a vivid and constant reminder,
in the proximity of the family, of the existence and the goodness of God. And this reminder prompts the family members
to keep the commandments of God and to regularly go to him in prayer,
mediation, thanksgiving and worship. By these acts of holiness they keep
connected to God, and permanently benefit from the rewards of the Eucharistic
sacrifice from Jesus - the eternal Victim and Host - who said: “This is my
body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me”. (Luke 22: 19; Exodus
16:32-33).
6. THE PLACE OF
ENCOUNTER
When a family altar is built, consecrated and dedicated to
God, it becomes the family’s meeting place with God. God is omnipresent, and a
believer may call to him anywhere and at any time. Also God may decide to have an encounter with
whoever, wherever and whenever he wishes.
But an arrangement with God to meet at a sacred place and at a sacred
time would lead to an encounter whose depth, effects and benefits are
incomparable with occasional and unexpected encounters with God. So the LORD
says, “In every place that I set aside for you to worship me, I will come to
you and bless you." (Exodus 20: 24). This tells us why God met with Moses
mostly on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-2), and why Jesus went to pray always on the
Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39-41). But as
for what concerned their work as servants of God, both Moses and Jesus taught
and performed miracles anywhere and at any time including the Sabbath day.
7. THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE
The scripture says, “Make an altar of earth for me, and on it
sacrifice your sheep and your cattle as offerings to be completely burned and
as fellowship offerings.” (Exodus 20: 24). So in the Old Testament believers offered
animals on the altars as sacrifices to God (Leviticus 17:8-11). But Jesus, the
Maker of the New Covenant (Hebrews 12:24) came with an all-perfect sacrifice of
his own Body and Blood on the altar of the Cross. From that time animal
sacrifices became obsolete and unacceptable to God (although pagans still offer
them to their gods). So the acceptable sacrifice in the New Testament is the
offering of oneself to God; in total obedience, love and faith – as it is
written: “Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). So as opposed
to Abraham to whom God demanded the offering of his son, Isaac, as a dead sacrifice
(Genesis 22:9); today God
demands that the believer offers their self as a living sacrifice, dedicated to
God and pleasing to him (Romans 12:1-2). This is because Jesus, the Savior of
the world, has already made an eternal and universal sacrifice by his death on
the Cross (John 19:30). Thus the family altar is a place where one finds quiet time
to dedicate themselves totally to God, in spirit, thought, word and action (Bible
study, meditation, prayer, praise or worship). This enhances full communion with
God in the Holy Spirit which brings about sanctification inspiration,
revelation, fortification, healing, blessing, peace, harmony and fulfillment of
the family and its members.
8. THE PLACE OF PRAYER
“And the LORD says to those foreigners who
become part of his people, who love him and serve him, who observe the Sabbath
and faithfully keep his covenant: "I will bring you to Zion, my sacred
hill, give you joy in my house of prayer, and accept the sacrifices you offer
on my altar. My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all
nations"” (Isaiah 56:6-7). As it is written, the family altar is a facility
for the family to gather regularly to worship God and offer prayers to him. For
prayer is not only a sacrifice, but also an act of thanksgiving, of faith and
of surrender to God (Psalm 50:23; Matthew 7:7-8; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians
4:6; Mark 11:24). And God himself promises to give joy to the people in his
house of prayer. What a wonderful privilege! So all the quarrels, conflicts,
divisions, enmity, miseries and sorrows afflicting human families would all come
to an end; if only they would spend an
hour each day keeping watch with Jesus; by sharing in the Word of God and praying
together at the family altar, instead of playing games or watching movies all
day long. As the scripture says: "Then he returned to the three disciples
and found them asleep; and he said to Peter, 'How is it that you three were not
able to keep watch with me for even one hour? Keep watch and pray that you will
not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'"
(Matthew 26:40-41).
9. THE PLACE OF WORSHIP
God’s promises to his people are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). And he has said, “In every place that I set aside for you to worship me, I will
come to you and bless you." (Exodus 20: 24). Therefore, building and putting
into use the family altar is an outright invitation to God to come down and
bless one’s family. How can one afford to miss this amazing divine opportunity?
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10. THE POWER OF
THE altar
The presence of God is clearly perceptible in a family altar
that is dedicated and frequently in use. One can feel something like goose
pimples, gentle cold, deep peace and relaxation or sudden joy, when one enters
or comes close a holy family altar. The presence of God in the altar facilitates
prayer; that is, immediately one comes to the altar the zeal and the spirit to
pray comes on them. Thus the family
altar helps the members of the family to focus on prayer and meditation; which
enhances their unity and communion with God, spiritual growth and holiness, as
well as family love, unity, peace, success, prosperity and fulfillment. And the
power of God manifesting through the family altar brings about the deliverance,
healing and protection of the family.
By
GODMAN AYING
(Catechist, Writer & Evangelist)
Catholic Front Media
Copyright (c) Godman Aying 2023 All rights reserved
Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com
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