Liturgy Lesson for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity: Prayer Book Rubrics

July 7, 2007

In the Book of Common Prayer, there are italic directions, called “rubrics” (reds) because of their original red lettering. Holding the force of canon law, officiants in any services must comply with them as a means to do things “decently and in order,” as Scripture commands. At the end of the Holy Communion service are general rubrics, intended to govern the administration of the entire service. These instruct the celebrant to refuse the Holy Communion to anyone openly living an evil (unrepentant) life or who have wronged their neighbors by word or deed. It also directs the priest to deny communion to anyone he perceives to have unresolved malice or hatred against their brothers or sisters in Christ. In this, the clergy actually protects those living this kind of life, because they have not repented from sinning and are in danger of partaking in the Lord’s Supper unworthily–that is to say, with unresolved, purposeful sin in their lives—which calls the Lord’s condemnation down on them. This calls the great question, then to us all–have we truly turned from our sins? Are we, as we say in the words of invitation, truly and earnestly repenting from our sins and in love and charity with our neighbors, and intend to lead a new life by following God’s commandments and walking from that point on in His holy ways? If we can answer “yes,”, then we can go to the Lord’s Table to receive Communion, allowing the joy of the Lord to quiet our hearts and strengthen us, but if not, we need to do authentic “heart business” with our Heavenly Father, seeking the answer to that question, as the Holy Ghost shows us our hearts! This is the way we have His peace and governance in our world—with a heart broken and ready for His indwelling!

Posted by Father Chip | Filed Under Liturgy Lessons