Great Thursday – Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
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In honour of the Most Blessed our glorious Sovereign Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Through Her prayers, we beseech You, O God, accept this sacrifice in Your heavenly altar.
Eucharist – What can one write for the Holy Eucharist (Liturgy) and at the same time not to reveal the content of his life? There is no difference between the Eucharist and our life, or if there is – we have no life. In other words, the greater the difference between the content of the Liturgy and the content of our life, the more our life is without content. Or what kind of life can one live if it is not a Thanksgiving, a giving of yourself to God and to our neighbours?
Thanksgiving. A mystery which we continually rediscover. An invaluable gift, unearned. An Act of Christ in which there is constant participation, although it happened only once. Catholic (Ecumenical) testimony in a personal struggle prepared. Offering before the altar in the temple and state of mind before the altar of our own heart. Fountain of the word in full strength, which again and again renews the world. Ascension before the throne of God.
Holy Liturgy. God accepts our rational and bloodless sacrifice in His heavenly altar, after He first offered Himself to us. We offer ourselves to Him, and God accepts us as we are, and He transfigures us. Resurrection before Resurrection. Pentecost before Pentecost. Already is, but not yet in full. All things through the Holy Liturgy were made and without the Holy Liturgy was not anything made, that was made in the Church of God. In the Holy Liturgy there is life and the life is the light for people. And the light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. Eucharist – endless beginning. Kingdom of Heaven, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, blessed!
The Mystical Supper. Blood and Body of Christ. True food and drink. Continuous source of strength, life and testimony. We draw strength from It and with our presence we live and we bear witness to the Mystical Super; Even outside of It; if there is outside. We think and at the same time we think of God. We talk and we praise the Lord. We act upon the Dispensation of salvation. The thought, the word and the deed have no essential difference in the Mystical Supper. All is offered back to It. We love and we are not looking for anything in return, and yet we gain the most – We receive Him. Freedom and Love. Persona and Community.
You say: “Angel of peace”, and every person is visited.
“Guardian of our souls and bodies,” and every demon retreats – until called again.
“Forgiveness and remission”, and every sin is forgiven – until it is committed again.
“All that is good and useful for our souls and bodies”, and everything changes for the better – until we change it, in our own way.
God’s word, executive word. Divine Re-creation.
If anyone asks how this is possible? We will answer: Born unto the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the God-Man Jesus Christ, Whose word is never left without power, He is the One who offers and is offered, Who receives and Who distributes Himself. To Him only we give glory, together with His Ever-existent Father and with His Most-Holy, and Gracious and Life-giving Spirit now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Amen
Let us go out in peace! O God, preserve the fullness of Your Church; grant peace to Your world, to the Priests, to the Orthodox Christians and to all Your people …
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!
Metropolitan of Strumica, Nahum
21 / 04 / 2022
