(Think about the medieval propensity to show his little infant genitals. But at least once a year we are forced to contemplate our God as a newborn, with all his humanity very much in evidence. In some ways, more convincing if you are looking to be impressed. Any other, rather more sloppy, deity would have had Jesus emerge from the Jordan, say, as a strong young man. Among other things, the particularity of the account of his infancy is meant to convince us of the intentionality of his body. Instead, we got a minute inquiry (and examination of conscience) into every posture and gesture and substance in its relation to the liturgy. We maybe expected (especially from an intellect of this stature) something lofty and abstract. What I love about this chapter is the engagement with every detail of participation. Those terms have become almost weaponized certainly they are misunderstood. Perhaps you’ve heard of “active participation” or even “actual participation” in worship. He became man that we might become divine. There is only one way for this to happen, that God Himself must come to be the sacrifice, and to unite himself to us so that we too are sacrifice - where only a Divine sacrifice is fitting. The whole theme of Joseph Ratzinger’s The Spirit of the Liturgy is to demonstrate how worship goes from “representative” to “actual.” The coming of Christ as true God and true Man opened up a new revelation in the meaning of worship. (Matthew 22:37-40)Ĭhapter Two, Part IV: The Body and the Liturgy On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. We need a renewal in how our faith is expressed, because we are made for worship! What are the two great commandments? Homework: We’re at the end! Rather than homework, a resolution, perhaps: Think and pray about how these amazing insights can be implemented in your life and shared with others. The Relationship of the Liturgy to Time and Space: preliminary questions Introduction to the reading: Joseph Ratzinger’s The Spirit of the Liturgy: A Book Club for Easter and Beyond Even if you read later, the comments will still be open. I’ll give you your homework, I’ll talk about what we read, we’ll discuss in the comments.
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