Divine Liturgy
Why is the homily sometimes shorter than I expected?
The homily may be shorter than expected because the Coptic Liturgy teaches through the whole service: Scripture, hymn, prayer, gesture, Creed, offering, and Communion. The homily is important, but it serves the larger worship of the Church.
The Liturgy Already Teaches
Before the homily, the Church has heard multiple readings. After the homily, the Church confesses the Creed and continues toward the Eucharistic prayers. The homily helps interpret the Word of God, then the service continues in prayer and sacrament.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
The whole Liturgy is catechetical. The readings teach, the Creed teaches, the litanies teach intercession, the Anaphora teaches thanksgiving, and Communion teaches union with Christ. A shorter homily can still be faithful when it serves the appointed readings and leads the people back into worship.
Where Longer Teaching Belongs
Longer teaching often belongs in catechism, Bible study, Sunday school, spiritual meetings, or pastoral conversation. The Liturgy gives the Church her central worship, while those settings give more room for extended explanation, questions, and formation.
The homily should therefore be received as one part of the Liturgy of the Word. Its purpose is to open the Scriptures, call the faithful to repentance, and prepare the people to continue toward the Eucharistic offering.
- Coptic Rites (3): Liturgy of the Word, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Teaching slides on the Pauline, Catholic Epistle, Praxis, Synaxarium, Gospel litany, Creed, and related rites.
- Coptic Rites (4): Liturgy of the Believers, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Teaching slides on the Anaphora, institution narrative, invocation of the Holy Spirit, consecration, litanies, and Communion.
- Coptic Liturgies, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Overview of the Divine Liturgy, the three Coptic liturgies, and the principal parts of the Eucharistic service.
- The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, CopticChurch.net. Service text and introduction for the most commonly used Coptic Divine Liturgy.
Creed: The Church's shared confession of faith, proclaimed in the Liturgy before the Eucharistic prayer as the faithful stand together in apostolic belief.
Holy Communion: The faithful receiving the true Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, after baptismal life, repentance, confession, fasting, reconciliation, and pastoral preparation.
Sacrament: A visible mystery through which God gives grace to His people. In Coptic usage the sacraments belong to the whole healing life of the Church.
Intercession: Prayer offered on behalf of another. The Church asks the saints to pray with and for us because they are alive in Christ.
Anaphora: The Eucharistic prayer of offering and thanksgiving. The word means a lifting up or offering, and it includes the Church's great thanksgiving over the gifts.