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4th in Luke Liturgy #9 10/15/06 Very few times over the years, I have had people ask me, why does the Priest announce before the Creed, "The doors, the doors, in wisdom, let us be attentive!" It does sound somewhat irrelevant, especially before the Creed, but last week's commentary gave the reason, which mentioned the guards at the doors, to make sure that all the Catechumens had gone out of the Nave, or Church proper, and that only the baptized Faithful were present. After we hear: "The doors, the doors, in wisdom, let us be attentive," we recite the Creed. However, the Creed is enough to be a series in itself, because it will take many Sundays, to comment on the 12 Articles, which express the fullness of our Faith. At this point we shall defer the explanation of the Creed. After the recitation of the Creed, which we should loudly proclaim, and confess, as a Congregation, we now approach the loftiest, the holiest, and the most important part of our Divine Liturgy. For this reason, the Priest after the Creed reminds us, as to how we should prepare ourselves before receiving the Holy Sacrament. He says: "Let us stand aright. Let us stand with fear. Let us be attentive, that we may offer the Holy Sacrifice in peace." Though this phrase the Priest reminds us, that, 1. We must use our best posture, and we must be very attentive. We must stand before the Holy Altar, with fear of God. Not the fear, as we commonly understand it, which of course creates psychological reactions, but "fear," meaning the total, and most profound respect for God. 2. We must be attentive to the fullest measure of our mind and heart; we must be completely absorbed, in what is to take place shortly. I wonder sometimes, how many Church-goers attempt to become completely absorbed, so that they are able to definitely sense the presence of God! All these items we must have in mind, in order that we may offer the Holy Sacrifice with peace. The peace, which we have repeatedly stressed, and which is most necessary, for acceptable prayers. The Congregation completes this thought by chanting: "A mercy of peace, a Sacrifice of praise." The Supreme Sacrifice of our Lord, which happens each time we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, is an act of the greatest benevolence; it is one of great mercy, in behalf of God to the human race. This mercy, is what brought peace, between God and Man, and made it possible for man to live within the sphere of God's Grace. The Holy Eucharist is also a Sacrifice of praise. Our Lord Jesus glorified God the Father, having been obedient even unto death. St. Paul, at the close of his 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse 14, gives his Apostolic greetings to the Christians of Corinth. This greeting, or blessing, is one of the most beautiful, and most re-assuring verses in the Bible. The Holy Orthodox Church, using the Holy Bible as Her guide in her every step, uses this Apostolic greeting, word for word, exactly at this point of the Divine Liturgy. The Priest exits from the Royal Gates, and facing the Congregation, he blesses the Faithful, while saying: "The Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the love of God, the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." The Faithful bow their heads and bless themselves, acknowledging this great blessing. Here again, we note the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity; all with a separate _expression, pouring out their love and grace and communion to the Faithful. Firstly, our Lord Jesus' Supreme Sacrifice, that is, shedding His innocent Blood from the Cross, constitutes what we recognize as Divine Grace. The Church is the safe-keeper of this Grace, which She dispenses through the Holy Sacraments, absolving us from sin, and qualifying us as candidates, and future citizens of Heaven. Secondly, God, the Father, showed His immeasurable love, when He sent His "Only-Begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life!" (John 3:16). Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is the "Comforter." Our Lord, shortly before He ascended into Heaven promised, that He would send the Holy Spirit, or Comforter, to oversee the Church, thereby rendering the Church infallible. To the Apostolic Greeting, the Congregation sings: "And with your spirit." That is, may the Grace and the love, and the communion of God, also be with you, our Priest. The Priest acknowledges this, by bowing to the Congregation. After acknowledging this pleasant greeting, the Priest raising his hands upwardly, and looking up, implores the Faithful, saying: "Let us lift up our hearts." Presently, we are to witness the Great Sacrifice on the Altar of God, which Altar, now becomes the table at the Last Supper. To be able to be absorbed in this Holy atmosphere, we must put away all worldly cares, and lift up our hearts straight up to Heaven. The Congregation responds with: "We lift our hearts up to the Lord." Our Lord at the Last Supper had offered thanks for the blessings, a practice that must be applied in our private and Family life. Even a silent prayer, making the sign of the Cross, before we sit down to eat, is a prayer of acknowledgement. Now, before the Great Sacrifice, the Priest faces the Icon of the Lord, and offers thanks by saying: "Let us give thanks unto the Lord." And the Congregation responds with: "It is worthy and just." There is no question, that it is most worthy and right to give thanks. It is our filial obligation, to thank the Lord for His endless benevolence and kindnesses to us humans. According to the Holy Scriptures, our Lord at the Last Supper, before breaking and offering the Bread and Wine, which for all eternity would become the ingredients for Holy Communion, He gave thanks to God, the Father. That is why the Great Sacrament, or Holy Mystery, is called the Holy Eucharist. Eucharist of course, is the Greek word for "thanks." Lifting up our hearts, is a vivid reminder to everyone, that we are about to witness the Great Sacrifice here, before the Altar of God, which Altar at the present time signifies the table of the Last Supper. The Priest admonishes everyone, to forget all worldly cares and desires, and to lift up our hearts straight to Heaven. The Faithful give the reassurance chanting: "We lift them up to the Lord." By chanting this phrase, we confirm, that our hearts are lifted up, and that they are in complete unity and harmony with the Lord. The Lord at the Last Supper, had offered thanks before sitting to eat; a practice, that must be applied in our private and Family life. Even a silent prayer, through making the sign of the 'Cross conscientiously, constitutes a prayer. Now, before the Great Sacrifice, the Priest facing toward the Icon of the Lord, offers thanks saying: "Let us give thanks unto the Lord." The Congregation responds with: "It is worthy and just." There is no question, but that the giving thanks, is a just and noble act. It is our filial obligation to thank the Lord for His endless benevolence, and His many kindnesses. According to the Holy Scriptures, our Lord at the Last Supper, before breaking and offering the Bread and Wine, which would be the ingredients of the Holy Eucharist, until the end of the world, He offered His thanks to God, the Father. That is why, this Great Sacrament, or Mystery, is called, "The Holy Eucharist." "Eucharist" is a Greek word meaning "thanks." At this point, the Priest re-enters the Sanctuary and offers the following Prayer: "It is worthy and just to praise You, to bless You, to thank You, in every place of Your Dominion. For you are God ineffable, incomprehensible, invisible, inconceivable, everlasting, and ever the same; You and Your Only-Begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit. You did bring us into being out of nothing, and when we had fallen, You did raise us again, and did not cease to do everything, until You had brought us back into Heaven, and give us Your Kingdom, which is to come. For all these things we give thanks to You, and to Your Only Begotten Son, and to Your Holy Spirit; for all that we know, and do not know. For all the benevolence bestowed upon us, both manifest and unseen. We also give thanks for this Liturgy, which You have accepted from our hands, even though, thousands of Archangels stand beside You, and the myriads of Angels; the Cherubim and the Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, that soar aloft on wings." This prayer is inaudible, but is completed when the Priest proclaims aloud: "Singing, exclaiming, proclaiming the triumphal hymn and saying:" The Congregation continues this prayer, which takes the form of a definite hymn: "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of Your Glory. Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest." The first part of this Hymn (Holy, Holy, Holy,) are the praises of the Seraphim Angels singing God's praises around His Throne, for He is the Lord and Master of the Universe. The second part of the Hymn are the praises, with which the Israelites received our Lord Jesus upon His triumphant entry into Jerusalem saying: "Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord." We, the Faithful, now sing God's praises, and we prepare to receive Him in our hearts during the Divine Liturgy, when our Lord, through the Priest, will once again offer Himself as a Sacrifice for the human race. While the Choir sings the "Holy, Holy, Holy," the Priest inaudibly repeats the prayer, which is before the Consecration of the Holy Gifts. This prayer, I shall brin to you as a continuity next Sunday. Amen
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