An exert from an email I recently sent:The (re)orienation of the priest in a western liturgical context has a very dramatic message to say to our culture in so many ways. I know, because it was probably the one thing that hit my spirit hardest in attending Eastern liturgies. I'm not advocating that this become a standard way to do Mass, but just to let you know how this ritual act has had a big affect on my theology. I have separated some of these points out below, but in truth there is so much crossover between them. Sorry that these points are quite note-like.
1. A Consumeristic perspective - we are orientated out of.
Our culture is one of Capitalism. In the Mass our place is not found in us being won by the priest. Ad orientem gives us a place where we are not being served, but God is being served. We are not being chased, sought or appealed to. There is no show for us to consume, our satisfied response is not being sought, we are released from being the focus. What we have is not being sought in the liturgy, but we come with what we bring.
2. A Communal perspective - we are orientated together
Our culture is one of Individualism. In the Mass our place is outside ourselves and in a context. Ad orientem gives us a place where our persons matter but because we are communal not central, we are gathered but are not the focus, we join with the priest and are led by him, rather than coming under him. And this focus of gathering together to the leading of the priest reminds us that all the Saints gather with us in celebrating the Eucharist. We come not to consume, but to be present in the worship of God.
3. A Creational perspective - we are orientated within
Our Culture is one of Human dominance. In the Mass our place is in Creation. Ad orientem gives us our place in relation to the rising sun, it aligns us with the church building, with creation, with nature and the universe. We join with creation rather than dominating and abusing it. Moreover we do not celebrate just the salvation of man, but of all created things being reconciled to God.
4. A Christological perspective - orienated towards
Our culture is one with a secular focus. In the Mass our place is in relation to the architectural Icon of Christ, the Eschatological rising Sun, and the presence of Christ in the host. Ad orientem lifts heads and focus to beyond ourselves and the priest to the Crucifix/Rood, beyond the hanging Icon to the orientation of the building to that of the rising Sun as an Icon of the second coming, but especially to that of priest's focus - the worship at the altar and Christ there.
