Friday, February 25, 2005 Fast Free Day
Tarasios, Archbishop of Constantinople
Kellia: 1 Kings 13:1-18 Epistle: 1 John 2:7-17 Gospel: St. Mark 14:3-9
St. Mark 14:3-9, especially vs. 8: "...She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial."
An unnamed woman anointed the Lord at Bethany and offered a devout and loving liturgy, a prayerful work of one of the
People of God. Her action discloses the realities of her heart and soul as motions of the Holy Spirit, not calculations nor
logic. Her appearance at the table strained the limits of propriety, and she exceeded the boundaries of social acceptability
by anointing the Lord's head. Her gesture could not be ignored, being both extravagant and dramatic. She offered worship
and adoration to God Incarnate - God at a dining table, a type of the Divine Liturgy. Understanding this, the Lord brushed
away the offence which others took and united her act to the mystery of His Passion and Resurrection, exposing a depth of
purpose formed beyond her conscious intent.
Similarly, the Divine Liturgy is an act of devotion, when it is offered fervently and with love. Through the Liturgy, we
express holy mysteries within our breasts. Yes, they are hidden, but they are altogether true, for the mind of man cannot
contain the depths of Orthodox worship. Given Christ's revelation to "Do this," the Liturgy moves us beyond ourselves
toward God. We too kiss the Lord as we kiss His Holy ikon. We receive His Immaculate Body with arms crossed over
broken hearts. We partake of His Precious Blood in affection and reverence. While we make the sign of the Cross to
honor Him, she poured precious spikenard on His head.
As Father Alexander Schmemann says, "The eucharistic experience of the Church discloses...her own ascent to the
heavenly reality, which Christ has manifested and granted, once and for all time...for today we are gathered in the same
kingdom, at the same table." The woman's gesture at Bethany was a sacrifice of herself, her ascension to Christ's table and
His kingdom, her adoration of His Body and Blood - yes, Communion with the Lord Jesus Himself! It does not matter that
she did not understand what she did. Beloved, do we understand what we are doing in the Liturgy? It is sufficient that God
understands. That is more than enough. What of the Liturgy? Does our worship go beyond the limits of social propriety
as we are accustomed to observing it? Does it exceed our normal rules of etiquette? It would seem so: who would come
into the home of an employer or a social superior and light candles to him? Who would make solemn prostrations before
an office manager or an "important" official of government? Where do we see the exuberant offering of clouds of incense
raised around a dining table, carried throughout the house, and bestowed upon the guests and family members? What we
say and do in the Liturgy expresses great "social distance," but also respect and affection for God. Our gestures exceed the
ways in which we acknowledge the rank and status of those "above us" in this life. A respectful "Sir," a crisp military
salute, a rigid stance at attention, a modulated greeting - all these gestures pale beside the actions of "ordinary" Orthodox
worship.
Does not your heart understand this woman? Do you not agree that her memory should be eternal (vs. 9)? She had no
hesitation to anoint the Lord out of pure love and adoration. Thus she became a vessel of God to prepare the way for His
burial. Others plotted to destroy Him. A disciple conspired to betray Him. Beloved, let her Liturgy of adoration poured
out upon the Person of the All-compassionate One ever encourage us in the extravagance of worship. Let us lavish Him
with exuberance, for as St. Ambrose points out, "How much where the Church is, and where His Mysteries are, does He
vouchsafe to impart His Presence!"
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. O Son of God, Who art wondrous in Thy Saints, save us who sing unto
Thee, Alleluia!
