Lex Credendi Pt 1

QUOTE

We acclaim you, holy Lord, glorious in power. Your mighty works reveal your wisdom and love. You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures. When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation.

Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.

And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all. (1979 Eucharistic Prayer D, from the liturgy of St Basil)

COMMENTARY

Much of the instruction presented by the church to its members has to do with the gospel itself. Although for many it has become a lost practice, the historic churches have enshrined this pedagogy within its prayers. In the above Eucharistic prayer, which is drawn from the liturgy of St Basil, the church tries to teach what the gospel is, how it works, why it is given, & finally its goal. The prayer begins by placing words of praise in our mouths & having us call the gospel the disclosure of God’s wisdom and love.

The prayer first tells us the reason for the gospel:

You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures.

The prayer quickly reminds us of the human crisis & God’s merciful intentions:

When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation.

We are then taken to how the gospel works, & all of our attention quickly turns to by Jesus:

Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior.

The exact means of the gospel’s power we are told is the incarnation of the sinless God, & his message of victory:

Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy.

The reason for this gospel is to remake all creation.

To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.

The prayer closes with the goal of the gospel by describing salvation itself:

And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.

LEX ORANDI, LEX CREENDI – THE RULE OF PRAYER IS THE RULE OF FAITH