On the topic of Liturgy, I think it is important. There is a proper way to do Liturgy and an improper way. God was pleased with Abel's offering and not Cain's. Throughout the Old Testament, God is very interested in Liturgy and how it should be done (Exodus, Leviticus). There are even punishments for messing it up in regards to handling sacred objects and who can justly make offerings. In the New Testament, we are given new Liturgy, and through it God wills to give us graces. But Liturgy is not just made up by men to meet a Divine command.
The fact that all the East and West do certain things in like manner demonstrates that these parts of the Liturgy are important and likely came from the Apostles. Liturgy is how we live the Gospel and we should care deeply about it. Even things like ad Orientum are things that the East does as well and would not think of changing. I believe, though, that good Liturgy will be restored by the bishops and the pope (peimarily the pope, as he has primacy above all bishops and is the master of the Liturgy) at some point. That will be the end of the Liturgy wars, and I believe that the end of the Liturgy wars will include a restoration of the Latin Mass, perhaps the smaller Western Liturgies, and the traditional and venerable practices of the Eastern rites.
All fine points but some are a little exaggerated. Christ left his church with the authority and privilege of oversight and protection of liturgical worship. With regard to Cane‘s sacrifice, the issue with that sacrifice was that he sacrificed fruit rather than the animal sacrifice offered by his brother. In scripture isn’t even explicit as to why God didn’t like that sacrifice. Maybe it was old fruit? Rotten fruit? Cheap fruit? Or just that it was fruit and not an animal, and therefore not as valuable? I understand the point you’re making, but it doesn’t really apply to the liturgy of the church because the sacrifice offered is always the Lamb of God. God cares enough about the liturgy to leave the church in charge of it. We should trust the church at least as much as he does, and trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the church as much as Jesus does. Thank you so much for leaving such a substantial and thoughtful comment! Comments like that are helpful because other people get to read them and learn from them too. God be with you, my friend, and thank you again.
On the topic of Liturgy, I think it is important. There is a proper way to do Liturgy and an improper way. God was pleased with Abel's offering and not Cain's. Throughout the Old Testament, God is very interested in Liturgy and how it should be done (Exodus, Leviticus). There are even punishments for messing it up in regards to handling sacred objects and who can justly make offerings. In the New Testament, we are given new Liturgy, and through it God wills to give us graces. But Liturgy is not just made up by men to meet a Divine command.
The fact that all the East and West do certain things in like manner demonstrates that these parts of the Liturgy are important and likely came from the Apostles. Liturgy is how we live the Gospel and we should care deeply about it. Even things like ad Orientum are things that the East does as well and would not think of changing. I believe, though, that good Liturgy will be restored by the bishops and the pope (peimarily the pope, as he has primacy above all bishops and is the master of the Liturgy) at some point. That will be the end of the Liturgy wars, and I believe that the end of the Liturgy wars will include a restoration of the Latin Mass, perhaps the smaller Western Liturgies, and the traditional and venerable practices of the Eastern rites.
All fine points but some are a little exaggerated. Christ left his church with the authority and privilege of oversight and protection of liturgical worship. With regard to Cane‘s sacrifice, the issue with that sacrifice was that he sacrificed fruit rather than the animal sacrifice offered by his brother. In scripture isn’t even explicit as to why God didn’t like that sacrifice. Maybe it was old fruit? Rotten fruit? Cheap fruit? Or just that it was fruit and not an animal, and therefore not as valuable? I understand the point you’re making, but it doesn’t really apply to the liturgy of the church because the sacrifice offered is always the Lamb of God. God cares enough about the liturgy to leave the church in charge of it. We should trust the church at least as much as he does, and trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the church as much as Jesus does. Thank you so much for leaving such a substantial and thoughtful comment! Comments like that are helpful because other people get to read them and learn from them too. God be with you, my friend, and thank you again.