“It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”” – Luke 5:12
“the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne” – Revelation 4:10
The leper approached Jesus and “fell prostrate” before Him. In doing so, he professed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah. This act of faith was enough to open the floodgates of God’s blessings. The elders and Heavenly host fall prostrate and cast their crowns before the throne.
Do you ever fall prostrate before God?
What the leper does that strikes me particularly is the actions, the physical actions of the leper. He didn’t just ask. He didn’t just put in a prayer request. what the leper did was to fall prostrate, completely lying down before the Lord.
To lie prostrate is a sign of utter and complete submission to God. You cannot position your body in a more submissive position.
If you have never heard about the prostrate position of worship, it’s like this.Get down on all fours, hands and knees, then completely lower yourself. Lie flat with your face on the ground, arms outstretched like a crucifix.
We see in the Bible examples that include Abraham, Moses, Jesus in Gethsemane falling on his face, as well as several figures in Revelation.
Laying prostrate expresses repentance, awe, or prayer intercession.Now a nuance here. The difference between prostrate and prone is this. To be prone means to lie face down with arms to your side and usually refers to medical procedures. To be prostrate, though, is to be face down with arms out to your side, and it’s related to worship and prayer.
The elders throw down their crowns before the throne, falling prostrate and exclaiming, worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things because of your will, they came to be and were created.
I can’t wait for that. I think that’s just gonna be awesome and always beautifully overwhelming.
Every Christian should be familiar with this position of submission to God, this physical form of humility, this utter surrender. I have done it, and I have to tell you, it is very freeing for the soul. Often, especially when alone before the Lord in adoration or other, I will fall prostrate before God’s awesome power. Humbly I will admit that when I am prostrate before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I am overwhelmed with emotion and tears
What would we think of a worship service where every person present bowed down so low that their faces touched the ground?
Why wait? Fall before God prostrate in homage, and praise before God. At Adoration, alone or not. Alone at home. Just try it. Then, follow the leper’s example – don’t ask for anything, just have faith.