spirituality

Believe it or not, today marks the last Sunday in Lent. In all Christian liturgical traditions, it’s customary to use the end of Lent (whether in this case the last Sunday within the season, or in the East, the very last day of it, the Saturday before Palm Sunday) to reflect on the story of … Continue reading A Foretaste of the Resurrection: A Reflection on John 11.1-45

These past few days, in reflecting on prayers from the Eucharistic liturgy, a common theme has been preparing us for an encounter with God’s glory. The various Anaphorae all tell the Christian story in a way that builds up to the dramatic summoning of the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine, but also … Continue reading Worthy is the Lamb: Agnus Dei

The Eucharist is a rite full of symbolism, to the extent that any and every act within it can take on added meaning. This is true for even the most practical actions, like the breaking of the bead. Just as we saw with the Eucharistic Prayers, in contemporary times, this is a place where my … Continue reading Communion in Christ’s Body Once Broken: The Breaking of the Bread

Last time, we saw how, during the Great Entrance in the Byzantine rite, the congregation sings the Cherubic Hymn, which identifies the worshiping body with the angels worshiping at God’s throne in Isaiah 6. This image was relevant to the Byzantine liturgists and commentators because of an established tradition to sing the angels’ hymn from … Continue reading Angelic Worship: The Sanctus

If it is true that the older Eucharistic liturgies essentially play-act the Gospel, it is fair to wonder what role we as the gathered community play in this piece of sacred theatre. For, contrary to what more contemporary worship expressions may lead us to believe, the congregation is not intended to be the ‘audience’, but … Continue reading Playing Our Part: The Cherubic Hymn