Liturgy Lesson for the Fourth Sunday after Easter: Incense in Divine Worship

May 8, 2009

Incense used in Divine Worship has been, from very early times, throughout the whole Church. Enjoined by God Himself, offering incense was part of the daily morning and evening services in the Jewish Temple and was also part of the ceremonial on the Day of Atonement—the Jewish day of national repentance—and was among the most closely-held privileges of the Levitical Priesthood. Other Levitical ceremonies passed away, but this, honoring the Sacrifice, has been retained and become one of the spiritual tools of the Universal Christian Church. It can claim our Lord’s sanction, not only from His connection with the Temple worship, but from the facts (1) that the moment Zachariah offered incense marked the time God began to establish the New Covenant; (2) that it was among the gifts offered to Jesus by the Magi. At All Saints, we regularly burn it in worship at our highest holy days, before our regular worship, and during Evensong. Because of its roots in ancient worship of our God, it retains the element of the sacrificial nature of our lives in Him, holding special significance for us as a symbol of our repentance and the sweet savor of our prayers rising to God. Furthermore, according to ancient custom, it is also part of spiritual warfare, when used in conjunction with the liturgy or in prayers beforehand. Because of the manner we bless it for the Church’s use, its fragrant smoke, while rendered to God’s worship, is also component to repelling the Enemy of Our Souls, much as our repentance robs him of his freedom in our lives. May our prayers rise, then as the incense—and the lifting up of our hands be as the Evening Sacrifice!

Posted by Father Chip | Filed Under Liturgy Lessons