Today I worshipped at Matins and the Divine Liturgy at All Saints Orthodox Church. I brought with me two icons to be blessed: one of the Resurrection and one of the Transfiguration. When icons are to be blessed, they are taken to the altar, where, during the service, prayers of blessing are prayed over them and they are "painted" over with a large brush dipped in holy water. These icons remain on the altar through the epiclesis (or the invocation of the Holy Spirit to make the elements of bread and wine the Body and Blood of our Lord) and so share in the prayer of the elements of bread and wine.
This morning I was in something of a blue funk. I'd been convicted about some areas of sin and failure in my life, most notably not going to worship for a month, and brought that all in with me. When the priest read the matins Gospel for today (John 21:15-25), three heavy blows were struck on my heart: Do you love me more than these?
After the Lord's Prayer, the priest turns to bless the people, and normally does so with the traditional gesture of blessing: his hand upraised, thumb and third finger forming a circle. Today, however, I was blown away when I recognized that Fr. Patrick was holding the icon of the Transfiguration in his hand. This icon which I have kissed and venerated these past several months, most every morning, was that with which the priest was, in God's grace, blessing the people!
Finally, just before Sunday School, I came up to get my icons from Fr. Patrick. With a smile, he handed me the icons, took my hand, and, stilll smiling, said, "Don't miss service again."
My personal experience of God in wosrhip and prayer, can only be done in and through the Church. But the prayers of the Church must also be prayed in my personal experience daily. In a very tangible way today, I brought home the prayers of the Church. First thing on getting home, I venerated the two icons, kissed them, and prayed with them.
The personal and the Body. Two natures in one Person. Without change, confusion, separation or division. Incarnate Christianity, empowered by the Holy Spirit in God the Father.
Posted by Clifton at February 9, 2003 01:05 PM | TrackBack