1. Holy Qurbana is worship and
sacrament
The Holy Qurbana is a systematic form of public worship,
most beautiful and exhilarating. It is also an important
sacrament. Above all it is the perfector of sacraments.
It was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ himself. He
specially entrusted his disciples. It is food and
salvation for our souls. We are connected to him by his
body and blood of Messiah through this sacrament.
Therefore it is magnificent and it excels everything and
is truly attractive. Melchizedek, the chief priest of
God (who lived at the time of Abraham) made offering in
bread and wine as foreshadowing this sacrament.
Gen:14:18 “Then Melchizedek King of Salem brought out
bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High”. During
the Old Testament days it is celebrated as sacrifice of
innocent lambs as a wondrous example. At the fullness of
time it was fulfilled in the Holy body of the lamb of
God, Jesus Christ. It is being commemorated by the
Church through this sacrament till the end of the world.
This sacred sacrament is full of several great deep
mysteries.
2. Visible and invisible acts
Our Lord once for all died on the cross for us. It will
not be repeated. The Holy Qurbana, the remembrance of
which kindles our faith, lead us to new spiritual
experience. In this past time, present time and the
future time are all combined. Eventhough our Lord is
invisible now he is sitting on the right hand of the
Father in heaven and offers the living sacrifice to God,
the creator of all on behalf of us all in calm and
peace. We are made part and parcel of this sacrifice.
The Lord himself as the chief celebrant is celebrating
this sacred act which is mercy, peace, sacrifice and
thanks giving. In the Holy Qurbana the celebrant is the
priest but he really represent the Lord. Now we can
understand that the Holy Qurbana is the union of the
visible and the invisible, wonderfully and excellently
made united.
3. It is Holy Sacrifice itself
The Holy Qurbana is the remembrance of the Holy
Sacrifice done on Calvery once for all. Rom:12:1 “Living
Sacrifices: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of
worship”. The Holy Qurbana is actually a spiritual
sacrifice. Like Abraham who prepared to offer his son
Issac as sacrifice we also should offer ourselves as
sacrifice for the remission of our sins. The only thing
is that in the Holy Qurbana we ourselves are the animals
of sacrifice.
4. It is service of thanks
giving
The Holy Qurbana is a sacrament through which we express
our gratitude and thanks to God who protect us in
wondrous ways. When we pray like the priest “ Oh God
make us worthy to offer you this service of Thanks
giving as sweet fragrance of incense” then we understand
the remarkable magnitude of this service.
5. It is a performance full of
meaning
There is great meaning in all things done in Holy
Qurbana. It enables to touch the heart of man. The heard
melodies in Holy Qurbana are sweet and make us happy.
The thoughtful prayers reveal the eternal truths. Every
act done has deep meaning. There is intention for all
the colours seen, there is aim for every step made.
There is significance for every clothes worn. Every word
uttered depicts mysterious action the heart and reminds
us of the experiences of heaven. All the materials used
in this, stands for one or other thing and makes us
thoughtful , whereby five senses of man made in full
action. Sight gives the eyes delight, songs give ears
pleasantness. The incense of fragrance give the nose
sweetness. The bread and wine give the tongue tasteness
and the skin gives occasion to touch. Body, mind and
heart are made in full action. In short, the Holy
Qurbana is an act full of meaning. We are made to see
the Holy Sacrifice of our Lord with body, mind and soul
and as thanks giving enables us to submit ourselves as
the Passover Lamb of the New Testament, by eating the
manna of the New Testament, renew the covenant of the
New Testament with the blood of him.