Liturgy, Symbol and Ritual-

Beautiful picture Walter- Thanks for sharing!  Wish I would have taken a picture of that! :-(

Simonne... you are so right about the fact that we as Christians almost lose the real meaning of why we are here and who we are called to be.  If we could all come together in one accord with an understanding that we all have the same mission, it might just be with different approaches... (whether doctrine, rituals, etc.), how much more unified would we be as "THE" body of Christ?  A song comes to mind when thinking of this... "I pray for you, you pray for me, we're all a part of God's body... I want harm you with words from my mouth, I love you, I need you to survive."  (singing as I type) :-)  We all need each other, no matter the denomination, no matter the "rituals" we participate in... We just simply need the BODY.

One way liturgy is defined is service and is represented in many ways.  A few being symbols and rituals.  Symbol kindles relationship as shown in Hebrews 4:12, "The word of God is living and ACTIVE, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart," and in John 6:52-66, "in the liturgy God speaks to his people and Christ still proclaims his gospel." Symbols can unite or separate.
Chupungco states, "When applied to the liturgy, language denotes the entire system of signs and symbols, words and speech or song, moments of silence, gestures or postures, sacred images or icons, and some material elements of biblical origin, such as water, bread, wine, and oil, with which the Church celebrates the saving mystery of Christ.  In a broad sense the totality of this type of "language" is called ritual because it refers to rites or to the prescribed system governing the words, actions, and material things needed for a ceremony."  People tend to use the word "ritual," loosely, although "ritual" in itself is always something special, no matter if it is performed daily, several times a day, or once a week, etc.
Along with other Christians, for me, participating in the Eucharist is a symbol of Jesus' body and the blood that washes and cleanses us from within and a ritual that I partake in often.  Another song... "Who can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus."  Liturgy calls us to be active, yet if not in tune with the Holy Spirit, these symbols and rituals can separate rather than unite us with other relationships.