Rituals for Yesterday and Today – September 15
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51
1 Kings 18:20-40; Phil. 3:1-16; Matt. 3:1-12
Someone reflecting on a difficult dissolved relationship recently said that they longed to be cleansed of hurt feelings and hard memories. The listener suggested tapping into a ritual or prayer for healing and blessing – like a custom in which people burn incense to remove negative or harmful energies.
Thinking of this exchange, my mind drifts to two liturgies used in the Episcopal church. One is house blessings, in which a candle is illumined, prayers are said, and blessed water is sprinkled from sprigs of rosemary into the rooms of the home. Completing the blessing of the home, the prayers ask that those dwelling in this place “grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of Jesus,” who provides guidance, comfort, strength, and peace.
The other rite is the Reconciliation of the Penitent (BCP 447) – in which a private confession is made, usually to a priest. After words of comfort and counsel are offered, two questions are asked: “Will you turn again to Christ as your Lord?” (the response is “I will.”), and “Do you, then, forgive those who have sinned against you?” (the response is “I forgive them.”).
These practices offer avenues, through words and actions, for us to turn away from what came before and open ourselves – now unencumbered – to something new and hopeful.
Our Daily Office lectionary provides a variety of rituals for us to explore today. John the Baptist (in Matthew 3) shouts to all who will listen, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” People from across Judea flock to him and are baptized in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. They are looking for hope and new life – and John promises that the best is yet to come…one who wields the power of fire and the Holy Spirit.
A less familiar story comes from 1 Kings. Upon Mount Carmel, Elijah and the Israelites have a competition of religious practices, at the prophet’s urging. Those worshipping Baal and those praying to the Lord follow the same steps: prepare a sacrificial offering of a bull upon a bed of wood and put no fire to it. Each group calls the name of their god and they wait to see what happens. Those calling “O Baal, answer us!” go unanswered all day. No smoke or flame appears upon their offering.
Then, Elijah calls the distraught and disappointed people to come closer to watch him. He takes additional steps to set up his altar: four jars of water are poured on the bull and wood, until water pools all around the site. The prophet calls the name of God, naming the faithful ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Elijah asks that God answer, so that others will know and believe in the Lord. Then, fire falls upon the sacrifice, the wood, and even the water. It is all swept up in the flames of the Lord. The people who were unfaithful to God fall upon their faces and proclaim, “The Lord indeed is God!”
Christian rituals and practices can help us get back to a place of feeling centered, cleansed, and refreshed. They can help us clear out the clutter, name what we have done before, and move forward with healthier choices and Christ’s love at the center. Whether cataclysmic or miniscule, these conversion moments can be grounded in prayer and praise to God. The prophets hold up for us ways to live into saying yes to hope and new life as we affirm that “The Lord indeed is God!”
With God’s help,
Katherine+
Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:
In this excerpt from Matthew 3, John the Baptist models a method of evangelism that is challenging. He lives humbly, yells loudly, and speaks the truth – even when it is not invited. How does his life and ministry resonate with you today? Pray about where God is calling you to learn from John the radical baptizer.