The lazy days of summer are upon us. People are enjoying well-earned vacation time; travelling to see friends, family or just some peaceful leisure. Our college students are taking their next steps upon the path of life. Some are no doubt, planning their respective returns to campus. Others among us are preparing to take that next big step and ready to leave the comforts of home and embrace the challenges and excitement of college life on a distant campus.

Even as we experience these days the world seems to be tilting on its axis. Violence against authority figures and our fellow human beings across the planet has us concerned and anxious.

The joy of Holy Pascha is a distant memory. The Great Feast of Pentecost and richness of the Kneeling Prayers fades. Still, we come to church on Sunday. There is a comfortable familiarity in the rhythm and routine of Divine Liturgy. Father Marc preaches, the altar boys serve, the choir sings, the faithful pray, the children are, well, children.

But what do we pray for? Together we pray for each other, our loved ones here, and departed. We pray for the sick, the suffering, the captives, prisoners, the elderly and shuts-in's. We pray for our leaders, both religious and civil. We pray for God's tender mercy. We pray for his forgiveness. We pray to the Theotokos and all the Saints.  We pray for those who wish to do us harm and we pray for those who have no one left to pray for them. But we leave our homes and come together on Sunday to pray. And behold! We are exceedingly blessed and fortunate to be able to receive the gifts of our Lord’s precious body and blood.

This past week there was no special occasion, no pot-luck meal, no post-liturgy event. But the faithful came on Sunday in the middle of summer and experienced a unique day. It was unique in the subtle moments between friends, between young and old, between parents and children, unique between a person and their Lord. The events of this day were significant because they never happened before and they will never happen exactly the same way again. As Peter said to Jesus during His Transfiguration “Lord, it is good for us to be here." And this is available to us on any given Sunday.

 -Anonymous