The Always Inspiring Office

Each day before Morning Prayer, most of us in the seminary have already completed the Office of Readings. This daily prayer consists of three Psalm excerpts, a Biblical reading, a responsory, a writing from a saint or other Church figure, and a closing prayer.

The "saintly" reading for today's Office of Readings was from Saint Justin, a martyr in the early Church. We read an excerpt from one of his works explaining Christiantiy.

In this excerpt, Saint Justin explains a typical early gathering of the Christian community.

Saint Justin writes: "On Sunday, we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or in the outlying districs. The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us; he urges everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand up together and pray. On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forward. The president offers prayers and gives thanks to the best of his ability, and the people give their assent by saying 'Amen.' The Eucharist is distibuted, everyone present communicates, and the deacons take it to those who are absent . . . the collection is plaved in the custody of the president . . . in a word, he takes care of all who are in need."

Catholics, of course, will find that this sounds all so very familiar. A contemporary theologian writes on this subject saying: "You are in that great community of believers which, ever since the days of the apostles, has been carrying and sustaining each individual believer . . . what you believe is the faith of the Church, that faith which goes back to the apostles - even to the risen Lord himself."

Both our scriptures and our practices/traditions date all the way back to the apostles, to Christ. On each occasion when I consider the breadth of our history as followers of Christ, I am moved that Mother Church is the same today as it was for the apostles and Saint Justin.

Saint Justin, pray for us.

All you holy apostles, pray for us.

Take care, -Jeremy