When we see our best friend, we want to spend a lot of time with them, we want to know more about them, we want to talk to them and sometimes it makes us sad to leave them. Our Lord Jesus Christ is our TRUE BEST FRIEND. Every liturgy we attend in our Coptic Orthodox Church gives us another time to worship, know, thank and love our Lord Jesus Christ. We have the chance to know our Best Friend and Father more and more. The Holy Liturgy is the most sacred part of our worship to God since our Lord Jesus Christ is present physically on the altar by his body and blood. “We will show forth Your praise to all generations” Psalm 79: 13 We begin to prepare for the Liturgy starting from the evening before and continue with many prayers and praises to our Lord Jesus Christ. During the Liturgy everything we do has a spiritual meaning so we can all feel and experience our Lord Jesus Christ together as one body. Many prayers we hear and say in the Liturgy are from the Holy Bible Once we enter the Church we should do the sign of the cross and remember that when we enter the church it is a Holy place, it is as if we are entering Heaven.
There are 3 parts to the Liturgy before the Holy Communion 1- Offering of the Lamb: Abouna chooses the Holy Bread that will be transformed (changed into) the Holy Body of our Lord Jesus Christ while we sing together saying “Lord Have Mercy” (Kyrie leyson) 2- Liturgy of the Word: During this part of the Liturgy we hear the readings of the day from the Holy Bible, the Word of God. The Readings
3- Liturgy of the Faithful: All of the parts before the Liturgy of the Faithful have prepared us to stand before our Lord Jesus Christ. All of us are standing before the Throne of our Lord Jesus Christ asking him to be with us, to have mercy on us, forgive our sins and we thank Him for all the gifts God has given us. He wants our full attention and He wants to hear us sing along with the angels. Finally, after the Liturgy of the Faithful the Holy Communion begins. We are receiving the True Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before taking the Holy Communion ask yourself, Am I ready? 1- Did I Repent and Confess? 2- Did I upset anyone? Did I say sorry to that person? 3- Did I come to church early? 4- Did I attend the Liturgy of the Word, listening to the Word of God? During Communion we should be singing along with the deacons the beautiful praises of our Church, thanking Him for the blessings He has given us allowing us to stand in his House with the Angels and receive the True Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. During the Divine Liturgy we follow the footsteps of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The main purpose of the Liturgy is my sanctification (makes me Holy) and my fulfillment. That can be done through; 1 - The lengthy prayers; staying longer before the Lord makes my face shine like Moses the prophet. Exodus 34:29-31 2- The Holy reading from the Bible. Our Lord said in John 15:3 “You are already clean because of The Word which I have spoken to you” 3- The Absolution read by the father priest. 4- The descending of The Holy Spirit. Note; The Holy Spirit descend not only upon the bread and the wine but also, upon us to sanctify us and fill us. How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy A. Prepare for the liturgy
From inside: by having a pure heart. Have peace with everyone . practice the sacrament of repentance and confession. B. Come early
C. Participate in the Liturgical responses
D. Concentrate in the prayers and responses
E. Take communion
“The holy Body and the precious true Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Amen”
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