A LIFE OF PRAYER AND WORSHIP Part IV d

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

A LIFE OF PRAYER AND WORSHIP [Part IV d]

TEARS OF REPENTANCE KINDLE THE FIRE OF LOVE. The monk feeds his desire for the Lord with prayer, especially that spiritual and UNCEASING PRAYER WHICH IS THE CONTINUAL INVOCATION OF THE SWEETEST Name of Jesus. The prayer: "LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER," BOTH PURIFIES AND ESTABLISHES HIM IN UNION WITH CHRIST. Worshipping in Church the monk also gives himself lovingly to God, and God gives Himself back to him. The monk spends many hours every day worshipping his beloved Lord in the Temple (Naos). His participation in worship is not an "obligation", but rather A NECESSITY OF HIS SOUL WHICH THIRSTS FOR GOD. In Athonite monasteries the Divine Liturgy is celebrated every day. The monks are not compelled to attend the services, however lengthy. Yet they do, for they know nothing better THAN TO BE IN COMMUNION WITH THE REDEEMER, THE MOTHER OF THE REDEEMER, and the friends of the Redeemer. Worship is a joy and a festival, AN OPENING-UP OF THE SOUL, AND FORETASTE OF PARADISE. The monks live, in other words, according to the way of the Holy Apostles: "And all that believed were together, and had all things common… and they, continuing daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house, did seat their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God…" (Acts 2:44-47).

After the dismissal of the service, the monk lives WORSHIPFULLY: HIS WHOLE LIFE IN THE MONASTERY, THE SERVICE WHICH HE PERFORMS, THE REFECTORY, PRAYER, SILENCE AND REST, HIS RELATIONS WITH THE BRETHREN, AND THE RECEPTION OF GUESTS, ARE OFFERED AS LITURGY TO THE Holy Trinity.

• The architecture itself of the monasteries bears witness to this reality. From the Church and its holy altar, ALL THINGS PROCEED, and to them all things return. The corridors, the cells, everything IS CENTERED ON THE KATHOLIKON (the church or temple of the monastery) as a hub. All of life is OFFERED TO GOD, AND BECOMES WORSHIP. The material elements used in the worship WITNESS TO THE TRANSFIGURATION OF ALL LIFE, AND OF THE WHOLE CREATION BY GOD’S GRACE. The BREAD and WINE of the Divine Eucharist, the Sanctified Oil, the incense, the sounding -boards ("semantrons") and bells which announce the appointed Hours, the candles and the oil lamps which are lit and extinguished at certain ties of the service, the movement of the Canonarch and the Ecclesiarch, and as many other movements and activities as are provided by the age old monastic "typica" (rules), are NOT mere symbols, nor are they psychological props intended to generate sentimental feelings. Instead, THEY ARE SIGNS, ECHOES, AND ACTUAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE New Creation. Everyone, as many as visit the Holy Mountain, discovers that its worship IS NOT STATIC, BUT POSSESSES A DYNAMIC CHARACTER. IT IS A SINGLE MOTION TOWARD GOD: TOGETHER WITH ITSELF, THE SOUL WHICH ASCENDS TO GOD RAISES UP ALL CREATION.

In the Athonite vigil, the believer has a unique experience of grace… THE GRACE WHICH COMES INTO THE WORLD FROM THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF CHRIST. The believer thus TASTES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF THAT LIFE WHICH CHRIST WITH HIS CHURCH OFFERS TO THE WORLD. The PRIORITY WHICH MONASTICISM GIVES TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD IS A REMINDER, BOTH IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD, THAT IF THE DIVINE LITURGY AND WORSHIP DONOT ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE CENTER OF OUR LIFE, OUR WORLD WILL BE UNABLE TO BE UNITED AND TRANSFIGURED. It will be incapable of surpassing its divisions, its imbalance, its emptiness and death …. in spite of all the prideful, humanistic systems and plans intended to improve it.

Again, MONASTICISM reminds us that the Divine Liturgy and worship ARE NOT SIMLY ONE THING IN OUR LIFE; THEY ARE ITS CENTER, THE SOURCE OF ITS RENEWAL AND ITS ENTIRE SATISFACTION OR FULFILLMENT. [Resources: The Eros of Repentance)

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George