by Toby Gudeman
“We who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing to the Life-Giving Trinity the thrice-holy hymn.” Thus the Orthodox sing before the Great Entrance each Sunday, where the very ordinary looking people stand before God and sing representing those angelic beings, “six winged, many eyed, who soar aloft, borne on their pinions, singing the triumphant hymn; shouting, proclaiming, and saying: Holy, Holy, Holy” without ceasing. Great and glorious mystery that people who would not inspire a second look on the street should stand for those awesome ones who guarded the Garden of Eden, whose image was over the mercy seat, who filled Ezekiel's vision, and among whom God dwells.
But there is another mystical representation that takes place, not surrounded in liturgy housed in a church, but outside the side door of a house on Washington street without ceremony. There those in need line up to receive food, drink, gloves, hats, blankets, diapers, wipes, baby food and formula. They look like people, people you see everyday, but they mystically represent the Son of God, Jesus Christ. For He said, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' Food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, in faith believing to feed those at the door of the house on Washington street is to feed the King of Heaven. Who loves the Lord must hold these most dear. “Lovest thou me . . . Feed my sheep.”
“Remember, O Lord, those who bring forth offerings and do good works in Thy holy churches, those who remember the poor, and upon us all send forth Thy mercies.”
