Another question about raising hands during the Our Father

At morning mass, it was announced not to lift up our hands. Why is it inappropriate to lift hands in praise during the Our Father when the bible tells us to lift up our hands in praise. Will in obedience comply but very disappointing to be told how we may no longer praise the Lord by a simple lifting up of hands as a sign of adoration and worship.

You may be helped by reading the answers to these two questions that have been asked previously on a related issue: http://saintlukeslidell.org/news/is-holding-or-raising-hands-ok-during-the-our-father and this one http://saintlukeslidell.org/news/follow-up-question-to-posture-during-the-our-father.

There is nothing wrong with lifting your hands in parise of the Lord. I am sure that it was not meant for you to never lift your hands in prayer. As you have noted, it is called for in the scripture. That particular gesture that people have started to do during the our father is called the orans position, and is a particular gesture symbolic of the priest leading the people in prayer. The next time you go to Mass, notice that it is the same position that is used during the Eucharistic prayer. It is not appropriate for anyone other than the priest celebrating the Mass leading the people. If you notice, the Deacons do not assume this position, as it would be symbolic of the them usurping the priest's role of leadership in prayer.

Speaking of things that the Bible instructs us to do, Psalm 150 says "Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre." Later it says "Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals"

Those all have their place, time and purpose. However, you might find it distracting if the person sitting next to you started dancing during the Our Father, the next person started beating a drum, the next started playing a wind instrument, the next started clashing cymbals loudly and so on.

The words, gestures and motions for the Liturgy are prescribed in Missal and another book known as the General Instruction on the Roman Missal. Hands raised in the orans position is prescribed for the priest alone.