A People Set Apart

In recent years icons have enjoyed a growing popularity. Iconography workshops abound and many people have them in their homes as devotional images. But this has also led to much discussion about what an icon is and isn’t. Differences in style aside, one thing that all proper icons have in common is that they are blessed for use in the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Rites, they are things that are set apart from the rest of the world.

A good analogy for the West would be the consecration of the sacred vessels used at mass. A chalice is after all only a cup. But when it is blessed for use in the liturgy, it becomes something else, it is set apart. From that point on it is used only in the context of the mass and nowhere else. It is sacred.

As followers of Christ we are a sacred people, “in the world but not of the world.” The word sacred, means to be set apart. As disciples we are expected to take up our cross and follow Him, “along the way.” But we are also called to keep our eyes on the light. Do not dwell on the cross or the suffering that we have been promised will be our lot. We may never reach our destination if we let ourselves be distracted by the obstacles in the road. Rather let us keep our eyes on the reward that awaits us at the end of our journey.

Pax Vobiscum
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time