quite innocent, merely human

.... At the Solemn Requiem for David Jones held in Westminster Cathedral, the poet Peter Levi delivered a sermon that began as follows: ‘David Jones understood better than the rest of us the sacrifice of the lamb. His experience in the 1914 war was terrible and it was deep. He understood and he needed what is offered at the stone of this altar and what is shared at the table of this altar and what is said and what is sung in the petrified forest of this church. His need was quite innocent, merely human, to do what has already been done once and for all on another hilltop, outside a different city, and also done many times from the beginning of mankind. In its reality and in its meaning that long series of sacrifices has not ended.’

- Andrew Lambirth, Sacramental vision (The Spectator, 7 April 2012)

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From the Liturgy of St Basil the Great :
Prayer of the Prothesis, after placing the divine Gifts on the holy table:

O Lord our God, who hast created us, and hast brought us into this life, who hast shown us the way to salvation, and hast bestowed upon us the revelation of heavenly mysteries: Thou art the One who hast appointed us to this service in the power of Thy Holy Spirit. Therefore, O Lord, enable us to be ministers of thy new Covenant, and servants of Thy holy Mysteries. Through the greatness of Thy mercy, accept us as we draw near to Thy holy Altar, so that we may be worthy to offer unto Thee this rational and bloodless sacrifice for our sins and for the ignorance of Thy people. Having received it upon Thy holy, most heavenly, and noetic altar for an odor of sweet spiritual fragrance, send down upon us in return the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Look down upon us, O God, and behold this our service. Receive it as Thou didst receive the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the whole burnt offerings of Abraham, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, the peace-offerings of Samuel. Even as Thou didst accept from Thy holy Apostles this true worship, so now, in thy loving-kindness, accept from the hands of us sinners these gifts,O Lord; that having been accounted worthy to minister at Thy holy altar, we may receive the reward of wise and faithful stewards, on the awesome day of Thy just retribution.