"All the people stood as participants in the Covenant". Every great religion recognizes that faith is not expressed only in the mind and heart. At least on certain occasions, faith must be expressed in bodily gestures, signifying our reverence for God.

It has always been our Catholic practice to stand for the reading of the Gospel. When I was in the Primary School, Sister explained to us children that standing signified our readiness and eagerness to go off to bear witness to the Gospel.

Up until Vatican II, it was our Catholic practice to kneel to receive the Eucharist, whereas nowadays we stand to receive it. Kneeling is a very reverential act, and helps us to realize the greatness of the gift we receive. Can we draw some insight from the fact that we now stand to receive the Eucharist? One of the most important teachings of Vatican II is that the Church is always on mission: At the end of Mass we stand to receive the blessing and are then sent out to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel and the love we experience in the Eucharist.