Introduction to Lauds - Week 1, Tuesday.

Introduction to Lauds based on psalm 23(24).
Nearly everyone would stop their work just to look at a procession, be it a religious one, a national parade, a strike or street demonstration march or even a funeral. In Malaysia, most of our parishes have some kind of procession during some major feast day or the parish feast day. The people just love the experience of it. Somehow they feel they can be close to God in all the excitements during the celebrations and they feel so proud to express their devotion to all the people who watches the procession. Even in our liturgy we have processions i.e. the Entrance, Presentation of Gifts and the Recessional Processions.

This morning we are invited to join in a triumphant procession. Psalm 24 describes the procession of the Lord approaching the temple in triumph.

The psalm invites all of us to commit ourselves anew to the Creator-Lord as we take part in the procession. We are a pilgrim church, a people on a journey; we affirm our commitment as we start our procession this morning to reach the high point of the day i.e. to the table of the Eucharist through praying the Morning Prayer (Lauds).

“Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things,
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.” [Psalm 23(24) vs.3-4]