Mystical Supper

It has been said that the Liturgy is the HEART of the Greek-Catholic or Eastern Christian experience, the place where one meets the Lord and learns to abide and live with Him. Not only this; it is through the Liturgy that one finds and works out one’s salvation.

Again I would reiterate my basic contention that salvation consists of truly coming to a real, in-depth understanding of the meaning and purpose of our lives. It is truly in the Liturgy that we understand that life’s journey is an ascension to the Heavenly Father that can only be really accomplished through personal change or transformation. It is only accomplished by becoming more like God, as revealed in the Person of Jesus, the Christ. For Jesus is the proto-archetypal man. He is the model of what humans are called to be.

We have been given this earthly life so that we can use our free will and intellect to become truly spiritual, human beings. Jesus reveals to us not only perfect God, but also perfect man, as man is intended to be, showing us the potential of everyone born into the world.

It is my contention that we can truly discover this in the Liturgy. Why do I say this? Because the Liturgy not only gives us clues about how to live, but also tells us the attitudes and ways of behaving that are necessary if we are to transform ourselves into people who are more like Christ. If we sincerely pray the Liturgy and partake of the transformed gifts that are made present during the Liturgy, we become, in reality, temples of the Holy Spirit. The Liturgy is meant to give us a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. Think about it. When we all stand facing the East and sing our prayers, we are like the angels standing before the very Throne of God and offering Him continuous praise. In fact we sing/pray the hymn of the angels when we sing: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, the Lord of Hosts.

As I think about the Liturgy and its power to be transformative, I realize that one of the essential requirements is that we come with an open heart and mind and, not out of obligation, desire to offer praise to our God. It also means that we desire to offer God our thanksgiving for the gift of life and desire to express our thanksgiving by joining with our Brother Jesus and offering our lives back to the Father.

I would encourage you, my readers, to think about this before you come to pray!