It Is Possible to Listen

Continued 👇🏾 ✍🏾It is possible to listen to the Holy Liturgy by recording, but this does not grant participation in the Sacraments through which blessings are given. Hearing alone cannot replace presence, preparation, and participation. ✍🏾As stated in the liturgical tradition of the Church, one of the essential matters the priest must confirm before beginning the Holy Liturgy is that the faithful are gathered. The Holy Liturgy is not a private act but a communal and ecclesial worship. ✍🏾The eyes of God are upon His temple, and His ears are attentive to the prayers of the faithful. Since God Himself has promised to place His eyes and His heart in His holy house, the faithful are called to go to church, gather together, and participate in the Sacraments. As the Apostle teaches: “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) ✍🏾Therefore, repentance, sanctification, participation in the Holy Eucharist, and obedience to what we know is good are not optional acts. Knowing the good and refusing to do it leads to sin. The Lord also declares: 👉🏾 “My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. Now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there continually.” (2 Chronicles 7:15–16) From this, we understand that the worship offered in the church, through prayer and reverence, is a source of blessing established by God Himself. ✍🏾The Apostles also prayed in the temple, showing us the importance of gathering in a holy place: 👉🏾“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.” (Acts 3:1) 👉🏾Thus, gathering together in the church for prayer is apostolic teaching, It is the life of the Church. May our God, in His mercy and goodness, help us to apply the teachings of our holy fathers, to gather in His house, to participate in the heavenly order on earth, to return to a life of repentance, to partake worthily of the Holy Eucharist, and to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Part 6 continues ... May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends:https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance