In our liturgical celebrations, we will both be lavish or austere relying on the circumstances. What’s essential is what’s in our coronary heart—whether or not there’s actual love or not, whether or not there’s a honest effort to worship and please God or we’re simply making a present, whether or not we’re making current the redemptive motion of Christ or simply taking part in video games.
We’re one way or the other reminded of this consideration in that gospel episode the place Christ stated that “there won’t be left a stone upon one other stone that won’t be thrown down,” referring to the temple that was adorned with expensive stones and votive choices. (cfr. Lk 21,5-6)
Clearly, if our motives are honest and our understanding in regards to the liturgy is obvious, we might actually give one of the best that our capabilities can provide. If we can provide diamonds as a substitute of simply gold, then we might do it. We are able to by no means give sufficient to God. We are able to by no means be too extravagant on this regard.
But when all we will afford are simply stones and pebbles picked up from the highway, no drawback. God seems to be on the coronary heart greater than the issues we give him. And to God, there isn’t any extra valuable factor than our coronary heart whether it is totally given to him. One good coronary heart, trustworthy and full of affection for God and others, is value way more, infinitely extra, than a world of valuable gems.
What we have now to keep away from in any respect prices is hypocrisy in our liturgical celebrations. If we’re actually honest in our liturgical celebrations, we are going to do and provides our greatest. Even these little particulars of kneeling, genuflecting, singing and praying needs to be carried out in such a approach that real piety can readily be seen. Such habits not solely would draw extra graces from God but additionally would encourage others in their very own piety.
I’m completely happy to notice that there’s a marked enchancment in the way in which our church buildings are constructed and furnished nowadays. The altars, the reredos, the ambos and the overall inside ornament are being carried out in a splendid method. The sacred vessels and vestments, the linens have, on the whole, improved in high quality.
They one way or the other present the form of religion and piety of the folks on the whole, even when we additionally know that we nonetheless have a number of financial issue round. They one way or the other present folks’s data of what really issues on this life, what really offers them everlasting pleasure and never only a transient one. Their sense of magnificence transcends the financial prices and all different sacrifices concerned.
We simply should be sure that our liturgical celebrations are carried out with the correct tendencies. That is one thing that needs to be studied and put into apply, since it’s no joke to be concerned within the liturgy correctly both as a celebrant or a participant.
To make certain, the liturgy isn’t just some form of dramatization. It’s nothing lower than the making current and efficient of Christ’s sacrifice and his whole redemptive motion. Each the celebrants and those that attend the celebrations ought to by no means miss this actuality and may act accordingly. Within the liturgy, everybody steps into the non secular and supernatural world the place Christ works out our redemption.
Once more, this requires of us to have a deeply theological thoughts, the place religion greater than anything guidelines all our human schools.*
