Today's Devotion: 20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Pr 4:20-21)
We are told here to pay attention to our instruction. For the Jew, that meant the law. For the Christian, it means the Gospel.
Today's Comments: For the orthodox Christian, this is one of our most important times of the year--- Holy Week. I think that our orthodox liturgy provides us instruction that is unequalled, especially during this special week.
There is a great deal of symbolism that goes along with our worship. Its purpose is to enhance our experience of God. Those of us who consider ourselves orthodox and Anglo-Catholic appreciate our form of worship. Many evangelicals who have been at our church for the first time have been moved and have joined our congregation.
The Episcopal Church is very much like the Roman Catholic Church in style and flavor--- especially around Easter time. The color of Holy Week (the time from Palm Sunday to Easter) starts out as red, but on Good Friday turns to black.
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, and it starts out commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem for His last Passover. The Palm Sunday Gospel is read, and the choir, congregation, and ministers process (when the weather is reasonable), from the patio in back of the church, around the front of the church, and finally into the church. Everybody sings a triumphal Palm Sunday processional hymn and carries either palm leaves or palm crosses (the palm leaves and palm crosses are later collected and burnt during the Epiphany season ---right after Christmas--- so that the ashes can be used for the Ash Wednesday service that commemorates the beginning of the Lenten Season). After the procession, the mood, however, changes as additional lessons from the Bible are read. The lessons generally focus on the atonement and are taken, one, from the Old Testament and, one, from the New Testament. One of the Passion Gospels is finally read, which takes the hearer from the garden to the tomb.
The next major service is that of Maundy Thursday, and the theme is the Last Supper. The service takes place in the evening. The first lesson, from the Old Testament, sets the scene for the Passover. One now has a picture of what the Passover was and why it occurred. The second lesson, one of the epistles, often from Paul to the Corinthians, and transports one from the scene of the Passover to the words of the Last Supper--- the new Passover for Christians. Finally, the Gospel is read, and it depicts events from the preparation for the Last Supper, through the betrayal and crucifixion, itself. It is the last Communion supper that is consecrated before Easter, and the remaining consecrated of bread and wine is taken from the altar in front of the church, to a small table at the side or the back of the church, surrounded by burning candles. All of the decorations and ornaments and coverings are stripped from the main altar, and the front of the church is left completely bare of everything. The only light in the church is the light of the candles on the small table. The significance of all this is that by our actions, we are separated from God, but His light is still in the world.
It is now Friday evening, and a while ago, I returned from our Good Friday services, which started at 12 PM and ended sometime after 2 PM. All the lessons now are focused upon the trial and crucifixion, itself, beginning in the garden and ending with the death of Jesus. The three ministers (today the priest and two deacons) are dressed in black. After the lessons are read, the solemn collects or prayers are sung by the deacon (me) and the priest. The focus is then placed upon the cross, where those who wish pray in front of a wooden crucifix. The remaining sacrament of bread and wine on the small table is then brought to the altar, all the candles but one is extinguished, and the sacrament is distributed to the congregation. When the sacrament has been completely consumed, the one remaining candle (which was brought to the altar with the sacrament) is covered and goes out. All in the church is now bare, as the congregation leaves, and it is painfully obvious that the Light is no longer with us.
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, and it starts out commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem for His last Passover. The Palm Sunday Gospel is read, and the choir, congregation, and ministers process (when the weather is reasonable), from the patio in back of the church, around the front of the church, and finally into the church. Everybody sings a triumphal Palm Sunday processional hymn and carries either palm leaves or palm crosses (the palm leaves and palm crosses are later collected and burnt during the Epiphany season ---right after Christmas--- so that the ashes can be used for the Ash Wednesday service that commemorates the beginning of the Lenten Season). After the procession, the mood, however, changes as additional lessons from the Bible are read. The lessons generally focus on the atonement and are taken, one, from the Old Testament and, one, from the New Testament. One of the Passion Gospels is finally read, which takes the hearer from the garden to the tomb.
The next major service is that of Maundy Thursday, and the theme is the Last Supper. The service takes place in the evening. The first lesson, from the Old Testament, sets the scene for the Passover. One now has a picture of what the Passover was and why it occurred. The second lesson, one of the epistles, often from Paul to the Corinthians, and transports one from the scene of the Passover to the words of the Last Supper--- the new Passover for Christians. Finally, the Gospel is read, and it depicts events from the preparation for the Last Supper, through the betrayal and crucifixion, itself. It is the last Communion supper that is consecrated before Easter, and the remaining consecrated of bread and wine is taken from the altar in front of the church, to a small table at the side or the back of the church, surrounded by burning candles. All of the decorations and ornaments and coverings are stripped from the main altar, and the front of the church is left completely bare of everything. The only light in the church is the light of the candles on the small table. The significance of all this is that by our actions, we are separated from God, but His light is still in the world.
It is now Friday evening, and a while ago, I returned from our Good Friday services, which started at 12 PM and ended sometime after 2 PM. All the lessons now are focused upon the trial and crucifixion, itself, beginning in the garden and ending with the death of Jesus. The three ministers (today the priest and two deacons) are dressed in black. After the lessons are read, the solemn collects or prayers are sung by the deacon (me) and the priest. The focus is then placed upon the cross, where those who wish pray in front of a wooden crucifix. The remaining sacrament of bread and wine on the small table is then brought to the altar, all the candles but one is extinguished, and the sacrament is distributed to the congregation. When the sacrament has been completely consumed, the one remaining candle (which was brought to the altar with the sacrament) is covered and goes out. All in the church is now bare, as the congregation leaves, and it is painfully obvious that the Light is no longer with us.
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