In His Presence: Communion with God in the Divine Liturgy
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” — Psalm 16:11 There is a longing in the human heart that nothing in this world can satisfy. We seek knowledge, success, security, relationships, even religious activity; yet beneath them all remains a deeper thirst, the thirst for God Himself. David gave that longing its words when he cried out that his soul panted for the living God as the deer pants for the water brooks. From this longing true worship is born. We seek not only His gifts and His answers; the awakened heart seeks His face. Even that awakening is His gift, for the psalmist sought that face only because God had first bidden him seek it. He calls, and the heart answers. Here we must begin if we are to understand the Divine Liturgy. For the Divine Liturgy is not merely a collection of ancient prayers, hymns, sacred readings, incense, and ceremonies. All of these have their place and their...