CAN THERE REALLY be special holy places and holy times in the world of Christian faith? Christian worship is surely a cosmic liturgy, which embraces both heaven and earth. The epistle to the Hebrews stresses that Christ suffered “outside the gate” and adds this exhortation: “Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing abuse for him” (13:12). Is the whole world not now his sanctuary? Is sanctity not to be practiced by living one’s daily life in the right way? Is our divine worship not a matter of being loving people in our daily life? Is that not how we become like God and so draw near to the true sacrifice? Can the sacral be anything other than imitating Christ in the simple patience of daily life? Can there be any other holy time than the time for practicing love of neighbor, whenever and wherever the circumstances of our life demand it?
(Ratzinger, J. (2000). The Spirit of the Liturgy (J. Saward, Trans.; p. 53). Ignatius Press.)
- “Is our divine worship not a matter of being loving people in our daily life?” – I think this rhetorical question expresses an idea we might be tempted to espouse, especially today. “Spiritual, but not religious.” It is as though the whole point of “church” is to remind us to be good people – as though the liturgy itself doesn’t accomplish anything beyond stimulating us to practice the faith in our actions. The scriptures are there to provide a worldview, a context, and the Eucharist is there to inspire us to imitate the sacrifice of Christ’s love, but whether we are actually worshipping God remains enigmatic.
- I believe there is confusion between personal sanctification and worship – which are not the same thing. As important as personal sanctification is, it cannot be more important than the actual worship of God. We think we have a pretty clear idea of what it means to be a good person, but we think it impossible to know or define what the worship of God is or should be. Jesus Himself tells us that the Father isn’t looking for good people, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.” (Jn 4:23) There is right and true worship, and it can only be based on true knowledge of who God is, and the action of the Spirit.
- Worship involves sacrifice, and the opening/offering of self to the Creator of our soul. Liturgy should facilitate/make possible this very specific human activity: the invisible and interior lifting up of our souls to the invisible source at the root of our being, present before even our own self-awareness. Worship is not an emotion, a feeling, or a moment of fervor – it is a fully conscious act of humility, deference, and loving submission to the One who holds our soul and gives us freedom.
- True worship is then at the root of true Charity, and not the other way around. True worship can even correct our perception of what it means to be loving towards others – for this reason, if we desire to be truly good, we ought to strive to worship God by placing ourselves spiritually on our knees before His Holy Presence.
