When the Homily is about Immunology

Stepping out of Time

The Nave of the Church is illumined by two sources; the first being some hundred or more candles ignited by worshippers as they enter in and immediately offer their honor and love to the persons represented by the three prominently placed icons of Christ, the Theotokos, and the festal icon for the day. The second source of light is a powerful and definitive beam emanating from a rarely seen November sun. The tightly gathered beam, of some three square feet, clearly enunciates the vast amounts of incense smoke, which permeates the room. As people file in and the clergy dance their liturgical dance I can see their bodies passing through the smoke – both absorbing it and sending it swirling in all directions. I take a deep breath through my nose and notice that I can hardly smell the sweet perfume which surrounds me…not now at least, but when I arrive home later it will have followed me in my clothes and hair as well as my children's. I adore restful sunday afternoons smelling our prayers on my kids.

As the dance continues, I notice that the beam of light doesn’t seem to be moving much, which is rather surprising to me. And it reminded me of the timelessness of the Divine Liturgy and that in a real sense when we enter into the Liturgy when are manifesting the Kingdom which is beyond time. The swirling smoke of the incense seems to move in slow motion, and the small passionless flames of the vigil lamps and candles offer no hint of movement or inconsistency, but rather shine forth a continuous stream of unaltering light, the Icons bring into our presence and remembrance the persons depicted who have long since left time, and the words…yes the words of the Liturgy speak of the past and the future as all being present.

Recall in the Anaphora, the priest says:
Remembering, therefore, this command of the Savior, and all that came to pass for our sake, the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand of the Father, and the second, glorious coming…

And yet, how can we remember the second coming if it has not yet occurred? Well, it has occurred when we have stepped out of time.

Furthermore, the appropriate festal Troparions and Kontakions of the church remind us that we are not merely remembering past events, we are in fact experiencing and participating in them! The recent feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos offers a good example…

Troparion
Today is the preview of the good will of God,
Of the preaching of the salvation of mankind.
The Virgin appears in the temple of God,
In anticipation proclaiming Christ to all.
Let us rejoice and sing to her:
Rejoice, O Divine Fulfillment
Of the Creator's dispensation!

Kontakion
The most pure Temple of the Savior:
The precious Chamber and Virgin;
The sacred Treasure of the glory of God,
Is presented today to the House of the Lord.
She brings with her the grace of the Spirit,
Which the angels of God do praise.
Truly this woman is the abode of Heaven!

You will hear it over and over again in the hymns of the Church: “Today is the day…” or “This is the day…” And even in our great Paschal Hymn:

Christ is Risen from the Dead,
Trampling down death by death,
and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Strangely, the tombs remain full...and yet, paradoxically, they are empty in the Kingdom which is to come...and yet is within us all.

By the time that the work of the people has wound down, I do notice that the sun has moved along its southern horizon hugging path and the beam of light has found its way into the next window westward. They say that time flies when you are having fun, but maybe in this case it stands still for a period and then suddenly catches up later. All of salvation history lived and experienced in 4 hours of Matins and Liturgy…whew, I’m ready to eat!

Did I mention how much I am missing meat and cheese?