Called to Love - December 7

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39; Amos 7:10-17; Rev. 1:9-16; Matt. 22:34-46

Today’s Reflection

Today is a very special day—it’s Ordination Day for four individuals called to be priests in God’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church: Jose Fernandez, Sally Herring, Sarah Watts, and our own Susan Oakes. But it’s also a special day for our whole Diocese, as we come together in person and en masse, with no pandemic restrictions, for the first time at our Cathedral since this pandemic began and for the first time with our new bishop.

We have four orders of ministry in the Anglican tradition: laity, deacons, priests, and bishops. It’s not a hierarchy, but rather a recognition of the different ways each of us is called to use our gifts to build up the kingdom of God. The four being ordained at the Cathedral Church of the Advent this evening have already been ordained as deacons, as we believe that at the core of ordained ministry is the call to servant leadership, the call of a deacon. As many like to say, and I wholeheartedly believe, “Once a deacon, always a deacon.” However, these four—and some of the rest of us—have also sensed the Spirit calling them to be priests. What does that mean? What are they committing to do and be?

I have noticed since being ordained that we clergy really like to be present for the ordinations of others. While the music and the scripture readings of the service will change, the prayers and the promises always remain the same. And speaking for myself, this is one of the big reasons why I like to attend others’ ordinations, as these occasions allow those already ordained to be reminded of what it is we have been called to do.

In the part of the service called The Examination, the bishop asks each ordination a series of questions about whether they believe they have been called (they respond “I do”), and whether they agree to commit to practices including studying scripture, proclaiming the Word of God, administering the sacraments, being a faithful pastor, patterning their personal lives after Christ, and committing to a life of prayer (they respond “I will”). But just before she asks them to respond to these questions, and thereby commit to these practices, the bishop will say this:

As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in accordance with its precepts. You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor. You are to preach, to declare God's forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce God's blessing, to share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ's Body and Blood, and to perform the other ministrations entrusted to you. In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ's people from the riches of his grace, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come (BCP 531).

Just after this, all the priests present at the ordination (and for this evening’s ordination, that means just about every priest from around the Diocese!) will gather around the ordinands as they kneel before the bishop. Veni sancte spiritus (Come Holy Spirit) will be sung, the bishop will then lay her hands on the heads of each ordinand, and the priests will also reach out and lay their hands on the ordinand’s arm, shoulder, and back (or, as in the case of tonight, with such a large crowd of priests, perhaps reach out in a chain of people that ends with someone touching the ordinand). It’s a powerful moment, a room filled with people singing and praying for the Holy Spirit to come and be present in the life and ministry of this person (or tonight, these four persons).

Ultimately, everything contained in this beautiful service points us back to what is most important: God’s unending love for us, and our call to love God and one another with all that we are and with all that we have and in all that we do:

‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ —Matthew 22: 36-40

Many words are prayed and sung and said in the liturgy of the Ordination of a Priest. It’s a lot to remember—but ultimately, the call to follow Christ, does not have to be complex. Really, it is very simple: Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and your mind—and love one another. This is what we are all called to do. May the Holy Spirit fill us with the grace and power needed to love boldly and without fear.

Becky+

Questions for Self-Reflection

What moments in your life in Christ have served as moments when you could commit or recommit yourself to God and God’s purposes for your life?

Daily Challenge

Consider attending the ordination this evening at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, whether in person or by viewing it online here.