Why does the celebrant receive first?

[CallMeDad]

I understand the words of Jesus to mean that the first shall be last—both in the kingdom of heaven and at a dinner table, where he advises the esteemed guest to take a lowly seat so as to humble himself appropriately. Why then does the priest and deacon and the others on the altar receive the host first? Would it not be truer to Jesus’ teachings to wait until all of the others in the congregation have received?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

The celebrant receives first because his reception of the Eucharist has symbolic significance of the Resurrection of Christ. Just as Christ’s death is symbolized by the separation of his body and blood on the altar, so his Resurrection is symbolized by the reception of Communion by the one who acts as the alter Christus (“other Christ”). Others on the altar, such as the deacon and EMHCs then receive mostly for the sake of expediency, but their reception can signify that they first must receive what they are then delegated to give.