One is Holy

This past Sunday, something struck me during the Liturgy. That’s how it is. We do the same thing over and over again and often don’t think about it. But there is also a beauty in that, because time and again something pops out that you never noticed before. This particular moment came at the point where the priest holds up the Lamb and proclaims: “The holy Gifts for the holy people of God.” The hymn that is sung right after this proclamation is “One is holy, One is Lord.” This took my mind back to the episode in the Gospels where Christ is approached by a certain man who says, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” And Jesus replies, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One: God.”

When we hear those words—the holy Gifts for the holy people of God—it could be easy for us to get puffed up, to think we are something special. It’s like we are part of the club, while everyone else is not. But the Fathers, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, immediately bring us back to the humbling truth: that there is only One who is holy, and that is the Lord Himself. Now, Christ says that only the Father is good. However, we know that, being in the form of God (as Paul says), Christ is good, Christ is holy. However, this holiness reaches its fruition in the Passion of Jesus. In this moment in the Liturgy, the priest raises up the Lamb (the Body of Christ) as the Body of Christ was raised up on the Cross, offered as a gift to all who consecrate themselves (a.k.a. make themselves holy) to Him. It is in this ultimate act of humility and self-emptying that God’s holiness and goodness is demonstrated and Christ’s manifestation as the icon (image) of the Father is fully revealed.

Now, surely, Christ gave Himself for all. However, the gift of His Body and Blood is only given to those who have made themselves “holy as He is holy”. The Eucharistic meal is only for those who understand what is proclaimed in the hymn quoted above: that God alone is holy and worthy to be praised. Some are scandalized by the concept of closed Communion. However, this is not simply about “keeping the heathen out of our private little party”. On the contrary, it is at least partly, if not mostly, for the sake of those who cannot participate. The Eucharist is to no effect for people who partake unworthily. In fact, it can actually serve to their hurt and condemnation, as St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11. And, we must remember that this applies to those inside the Church as well as to those outside. St. Paul tells us in Romans that a Jew is not a person who is a Jew outwardly, but inwardly. It matters not if a person wears the name “Orthodox” if they do not truly live the Orthodox life. We all know that no one is perfect. However, when it comes to recognizing our own lack of perfection, and realizing God’s true holiness and worthiness, it is much like what Morrie says about death, “We all know it, but few of us believe it” (Tuesdays with Morrie).

God alone is holy. We are called to be holy as our Father in heaven is holy. So often, though, we do not walk worthy of our calling. Yet our Father is merciful. Making ourselves unworthy by our actions, we can still partake of the Eucharist in a worthy manner by exercising humility. In fact, even with virtuous deeds and abstinence from evil, it is still only by humility that we that we can approach the Chalice. Elder Paisios of Mount Athos tells us that Christ wore His humility like a garment, so when we are humble, we look like Jesus. We should not take our sin lightly, but we should not let this keep us from Communion. Let us hear what St. John Cassian says: “We must not avoid communion because we deem ourselves to be sinful. We must approach it more often for the healing of the soul and the purification of the spirit, but with such humility and faith that considering ourselves unworthy, we would desire even more the medicine for our wounds.”

So, let us remember as we see the Body of Christ lifted up, our great calling to holiness, as well as our lack of holiness, and above all God’s possession of it. But let us not be discouraged, nor let satan puff us up with such pride that we will not humble ourselves before our merciful Lord and approach Him who alone is the cure for our sin. I leave you now with a comforting story, relayed by Elder Michael of Valaam:

“Once St. John of Kronstadt went to give Holy Communion to his spiritual children. ‘Well,’ he asked, ‘are you prepared?’ ‘Yes, Batiushka,’ some answered, ‘we are prepared.’ Others looked sorrowful. ‘No, forgive us, we were distracted by work and various concerns and were unable to prepare ourselves properly.’ ‘All right,’ said St. John, ‘those who said they were unprepared, come forward. Those of you who are prepared, come another time to receive Christ’s Mysteries.’ St. John saw the pride and self-assurance and humbled them. Without humility and compunction the heart has little value.”

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