Worship Liturgy

We Need More Than Liturgy

"In liturgy, one's body is certainly involved and bodily habits are formed, but the goal should be transformation of the whole self. This will be true for children and folks with cognitive disabilities as well (contra Smith, in Desiring). In fact, if one's mind is not involved—as far as possible—in one's liturgical participation, liturgy becomes only an empty shell, similar to the Christian propositions devoid of application that Smith so decries. The only difference is that rote 'liturgizing' entails disconnected bodily gestures, while rote memorization fosters disconnected thoughts. Either way, the person remains fragmented." -- Kirsten Guidero, Christianity Today, "We Need More Than Liturgy", August 21, 2014 [1]

Pride In Worship

"One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one’s neighbor as oneself,' —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any question." (Mark 12:28-34 NRSV)

Notice especially verse 33

and "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength", and "to love one’s neighbour as oneself" — this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

We can go to Church every day, burn incense, tithe, pray constantly, but all is for naught if we do not love God with all our heart and do not love our neighbors. How important it is for us to see Christ's image in our fellow man. If we have no charity for our neighbors, how can we say we love God? This is, of course, one of the most difficult sins to overcome, for oftentimes, our neighbors are not charitable to us. So we must continually ask the Great Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to assist us in loving our neighbor. -- Wcrowe 2008

The Gifts of the Magi

"Why did the Magi bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh? They brought gold because Christ is our King and our Lord. They brought frankincense because Christ is our High Priest. They brought myrrh because Christ would sacrifice himself in death, and defeat death by his resurrection." -- Met. Isaiah of Denver, Sermon on May 15th, 2016, Sunday of the Myrrh Bearers.

Mary Chose The Good Part

"To cling always to God and to the things of God-this must be our major effort, this must be the road that the heart follows unswervingly. Any diversion, however impressive, must be regarded as secondary, low-grade and certainly dangerous. Martha and Mary provide a most beautiful scriptural paradigm of this outlook and of this mode of activity. In looking after the Lord and his disciples, Martha did a very holy service. Mary, however, was intent on the spiritual teaching of Jesus, and she stayed by his feet, which she kissed and anointed with the oil of her good faith.... In saying "Mary chose the good portion," he was saying nothing about Martha, and in no way was he giving the appearance of criticizing her. Still, by praising Mary he was saying that the other was a step below her. Again, by saying "it will not be taken away from her," he was showing that Martha's role could be taken away from her, since the service of the body can only last as long as the human being is there, whereas the zeal of Mary can never end." -- St. John Cassian, Conference 1.8