Liturgy between Theology and Politics

Abstract

The Church defines politics as service for the good of man and mankind. The goal is to integrate the teleological dimension of the lives of individuals, as assigned to them by God, within the functioning of mankind as a whole, as well as the teleological dimension of community life in relation to mankind as a whole. The Church also adds that care for common good cannot preclude exerting influence on political power, that is on gaining and sustaining it. Moreover, the Church expresses an overt obligation that the faithful participate in political activities.

This kind of responsibility for the world is part of cosmic liturgy and of each concrete liturgical celebration, especially that of the Eucharist. It is through the Eucharist that man is granted a chance to participate in the life of God and is constantly called to engage in changing the world in the spirit of the Gospel through individual metanoia. As stated by John Paul II: “Proclaiming the death of the Lord “until he comes” (1 Cor 11: 26) entails that all who take part in the Eucharist be committed to changing their lives and making them in a certain way completely ‘Eucharistic’” (EdE 20). Christ, making his presence in an Eucharistic meal, empowers the faithful to make their whole lives – personal and social—a liturgy, that is a meeting space for God and man.

Nevertheless, liturgical celebration can never be an arena and a means of political strife. When liturgy becomes a tool in the hands of a particular political party its supernatural and eschatological dimension is completely destroyed. Similarly to the Church, the liturgy is a space and a method of God's granting His love to each man, irrespective of their political orientation.