Everything In Between - October 25
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44; Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 1:4-20; Matt. 12:43-50
One of the peculiar challenges of the Saint Stephen’s nave (worship space) is the lack of kneelers in the Sanctuary (area behind the altar rail). The sanctuary is designed to seat around sixteen people, but only if none of the three movable kneelers are used. What this means or implies, is no one from the sanctuary can kneel unless they go down to the Altar rail or kneel on the plain hardwood. If you have wondered why the Altar party almost universally sits or stands, this is why.
However, the more common practices of the Episcopal church have been to kneel during the Eucharistic prayer (except during the 50 days of Easter), kneel during the confession and absolution, and kneel during the post-communion prayer and the blessing that follows. At Saint Stephen’s, you will see any mixture of kneeling. Serving as the Celebrant and facing the congregation, one sees the diversity in how people practice their faith. Some are kneeling, others make the sign of the cross as the priest offers a blessing. Having brought the Eucharist out to the congregation over the past few months, some kneel, some stand, and even a handful remain seated.
One of my favorite observations is seeing who also makes the sign of the cross. Some people make the sign of the cross during the Nicene or Apostles’ Creed when the word ‘resurrection’ is mentioned at the end, others when a priest offers a blessing or absolution, and when a blessing is invoked during the Eucharist. A handful of people make the small crosses on their forehead, lips, and heart when the gospel is read. I’m guessing more of the people who cross themselves have a background in the Catholic tradition, although all of your clergy make the sign of the cross and that is not true for each of us.
Another observation has been to hear how each of the clergy offer a blessing in a slightly different way. Katherine+ often uses the words ‘you are covered in the Blessing.’ These are not words that I had heard often before, but when I mirror her actions and make the sign of the cross to the words she offers, it’s as if at each point of my body, I feel God’s blessing surround me. My prayer becomes bodily as fingers touch my forehead and shoulders.
As I reflect on these actions, I wonder if the sign of the cross helps me to remember that God is always with me. God that was with me in the beginning and will be with me in the end, is also with me at this moment. As we move to the end of the liturgical year, we begin today with the reading of Revelation, a challenging apocalyptic text that will be our New Testament reading for the next five weeks or so. It is from Revelation, today’s reading particularly, that we get the image of God being the ‘Alpha and the Omega’ or the beginning and the end.
If God is the beginning and the end, it would make sense for us to see everything in between as a gift from God. If we start with God and we finish with God, doesn’t everything in between belong to God as well?
I think the challenge as faithful people is not to see Sunday as our faithful playground, but our entire lives. How we treat the people we work with, the relationships we build in the community, our families and friends, the early mornings we rise, and the late evenings we enjoy, our vocations, and certainly, our Sunday mornings are all shaped by the love of God. The God that created all in the beginning and the God that will redeem at the end is still a part of everything else. God has surrounded us with his blessing. We just have to be paying attention.
John+
Questions for Self-Reflection: What are your postures in worship? When do kneel and when do you stand? Are your actions shaped by what others around you are doing or do you believe strongly in your posture? Do you make the sign of the cross?
Daily Reflection: Plan to try a different posture at church this Sunday. Whatever your practice might be, do it differently and see how that posture changes your experience of worship. If you have never made the sign of the cross, try it this Sunday. I suggest in the middle of the Eucharistic prayer when the priest crosses himself/herself. You will have to pay attention to see when!