My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord and Our Only True God and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
A TEACHING DIVINE LITURGY
Introduction
When the Russian Prince Vladimir's emissaries visited the Church of Holy Wisdom (Agia Sophia) in Constantinople, back in the 10th century, and attended a worship service, they explained to their leader: "We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. One thing we understood, that God was in our midst!"
Well, what we do every Sunday when we gather to worship our Creator through the Divine Liturgy is we encounter the Living God. We take a journey into the Kingdom of heaven and experience the Divine!
Why do we celebrate the same Divine Liturgy every week? What is happening in the Liturgy? Well, let us begin by talking about this journey.
How many of us are ready to go on a journey today?--A journey that will take us from the cares and anxieties of this present life to the glory and splendor of heaven. A journey that will lead us into the realm of Angels and Saints, into a sphere where all the righteous people who have died before us come together to worship the Almighty God. This journey will not only take us into the heavens, but it will also unite us with all the faithful Christians around the world, believers in the US with those in Greece, Russia, Africa, everywhere!
Be prepared, because when the priest begins the Divine Liturgy and says, "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" we enter into this mystical journey, leaving this earthly place of Saint Andrew, and entering into the eternal presence of the Holy Trinity. This is what the Divine Liturgy is all about. This is what True Worship really is.
Unfortunately, some people come to the Divine Liturgy each week and don't experience the ineffable beauty and power of this Holy Mystery (Sacrament).
The Divine Liturgy is the Central Mystery of the Church.
Through this journey, our gathering is transformed from a mere human gathering of people into the Sacred Body of Christ. We participate in the saving acts of Jesus Christ - His life, death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Enthronement in Heaven.
Sadly, many people come to Church and never experience something so exciting. In order to experience such a life-transforming Liturgy, we need to remind ourselves that few good things come without effort. The greatest experiences of life rarely occur without some cost. If we want to get something out of the Liturgy, then we must be ready to put our whole being into the Divine Liturgy.
The Greek word "Litourgia" means the "work of the people." We come together in Church to work - to worship God with our minds, souls and bodies.
The Divine Liturgy is not a show performed by the priest and the choir. It is not passive entertainment during which the believers sit back and watch. It is an active dialogue where we communicate with the Living God. The Priest alone should not be doing all the activity. You as believers must put your whole being into prayer -- bow, make your cross, lift up your hands, get involved in the physical as well as spiritual activity. Participate in the Liturgical dialogue -- when the priest offers the petitions of our various needs in the world - for peace, for health, for safety -- let us affirm his petition by singing with fervor "Kyrie Eleison ("Lord have mercy").
When the priest offers the petition "Remembering Our Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commit ourselves, each other and our whole life to Christ our God." We are saying, "Lord Jesus Christ, to You I commit my whole life. It is You I want to serve. It is You I love. Here I am, use me for the glory of Your Name!"
With this little introduction, let us now begin our exciting journey into heaven. Let us stand, enter into the presence of the Almighty Father, and partake of His eternal blessings!
In the Early Church, there was much movement in the service. The worship began when the people processed with the Holy Gospel from outside the Church into the Sanctuary. Showing the respect we must have for the Holy Logos/Word of God, and gathering together as the People of God, we are prepared to encounter God and be attentive to listen to obey the Logos/Word of God.
Before the Reading of the Holy Epistle
In any conversation we hold with a person, there are times when we speak, and times when we listen. Liturgical dialogue with God is no different. Up to this point, we have basically offered petitions and prayers praising God and asking Him to care for our daily needs. Now comes the high point of the first half of the Divine Liturgy. It is time for us to be silent to the word of God. We will hear an Epistle and Gospel reading. The Epistle usually comes from the letters of Saint Paul, where he is explaining to us our faith. The Gospel includes words and stories from the life of Jesus Christ Himself. The purpose of these words is to nourish us with Divine Wisdom. "Let us attend" the priest will say. This is not time for us to sit down, relax and let our mind to wander. It is a time to sit at the edge of our seat, waiting expectantly for divine words of guidance, nourishment, encouragement, correction and strength.
Remember, God is speaking to us through these readings!!! Saint John Chrysostom wrote, "The Scriptures were not given to us that we might have them in books, but that we might engrave them in our hearts." These are powerful words. As you listen to the readings, ask yourself, "What is God trying to say to me? How can I apply these teachings in my life? Am I ready to follow Christ?"
Now let us pray together the prayer before hearing the Holy Gospel, asking the Holy Spirit to open our minds and enlighten us with Divine Truth. "Shine within my heart, loving master, the pure light of your divine knowledge..." (Source: Father Luke Veronis. Department of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)
(To be continued)
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!
______________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom
+++
With sincere agape in Our Risen Savior Jesus Christ,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George