Firstfruits

The Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church is a rich tapestry of words and images that is sung from start to finish.  The only exception is a break for the priest to give the homily after an Epistle and Gospel passage are read, but in Russia I discovered it is common to save the homily for the end.  This avoids breaking the flow of the musical drama that is this ancient service.

It’s a long service, pushing two hours, and zoning out is inevitable but there is always something to pull you back in from the thoughts of what you will be doing later in the day or week.  It’s usually a word or phrase or a change in melody that brings my mind back to the present moment.  The part where the deacon intermittently chants a robust “Let us be attentive!” is specifically designed for just that purpose.

Yesterday at Ss. Constantine & Elena it was a phrase: “The firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  It is referring to Christ’s resurrection from the dead and has a very poetic ring to it.  It caught my attention like a beautiful sparkling gem on a DL charm bracelet.  I heard my son’s voice in my head saying “That’s a bar” which is rap-speak for a particularly creative and astute lyric in a rap song.

In many ways Ss. C&E was the “firstfruits” for me - the place where I was married, where my first child was baptized, and where I sometimes held down the tenor part of a very small choir.  It was this last fruit that planted the words and music of the Divine Liturgy in my heart and mind.  It is sweet-tasting.  It is life-giving.  It is fruitful in the fullest and best sense of that word.

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