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Category: Book of Common Prayer

  • About the Paschal Candle

    At the beginning of the Great Vigil of Easter a "new fire" is ignited and blessed with this prayer:

    O God, through your Son you have bestowed upon your people the brightness of your light: Sanctify this new fire, and grant that in this Paschal feast we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
    Photo
    The Paschal candle is the first candle to be lighted from this sacred fire. The flame of the Paschal candle symbolizes the eternal presence of Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the Light of the World in the midst of his people, the Light which darkness has never overcome.

    The Paschal candle is sometimes referred to as the "Easter candle" or the "Christ candle." The term "Paschal" comes from the word Pesach, which in Hebrew means Passover, and relates to the Paschal mystery of salvation. The tall white candle may also remind us of the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites in their Exodus from slavery in Egypt.

    The minister may trace symbols on the Paschal candle.These symbols may include the cross, five grains of incense embedded in five red wax nails,the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, and the number of the current year.

    The worshiping assembly then processes into the dark church led by the Paschal candle. The candle is raised three times during the procession, accompanied by the chant "The light of Christ" to which the congregation responds "Thanks be to God". Following the procession, a prayer known as the Exultet is chanted, traditionally by a deacon, but it may be chanted by the priest, a cantor  or a choir. The Exultet concludes with a blessing of the candle:

    Holy Father, accept our evening sacrifice, the offering of this candle in your honor.  May it shine continually to drive away all darkness. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find it ever burning–he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

    It is customary for the Paschal candle to burn at all services during the Great Fifty Days of Easter as well as at Baptisms and funerals. It reminds us  of the presence of the Risen Christ and his call to the Baptized to bear his light in the world. At Christ Church Cranbrook, we also light the candle atop the enormous and ornate marble Paschal Candlestick in the Narthex at the entrance to the Baptistry. It is an exact replica of the Paschal Candlestick in the Capella Palentina, Palermo, Sicily.

    During these fifty days and whenever we see the Paschal candle burning, let it remind us of the words of Jesus:

    “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 15).

    Enjoy this hymn from our Hymnal 1982, sung by the Choir of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills, California.  May your Easter life be flooded with light and my you reflect that light wherever you may be.

    I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

    I want to walk as a child of the light;
    I want to follow Jesus.
    God set the stars to give light to the world;
    The star of my life is Jesus.

    Refrain

        In him there is no darkness at all;
        The night and the day are both alike.
        The Lamb is the light of the city of God;
        Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

    I want to see the brightness of God;
    I want to look at Jesus.
    Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
    And show me the way to the Father.

    Refrain

    I’m looking for the coming of Christ;
    I want to be with Jesus.
    When we have run with patience the race,
    We shall know the joy of Jesus.

    Refrain

    I’ll see you in Church!
    Ron Short Sig Blue

  • An Invitation

    On Wednesday of this week, your Priests will read this invitation to keep a holy Lent from the Book of Common Prayer to those gathered at one of our three services (7:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 7:00 p.m.).

    Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism.  It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

    I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

    This invitation is one you don’t want to decline!

    Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent offer the faithful an opportunity to participate in an ancient discipline that promises spiritual growth and health. You'll be a better person and a better Christian if you take it seriously.

    According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a forty-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting or abstinence for the followers of Jesus. In case you are counting the days on the calendar, you will notice that there are actually forty-six days from Ash Wednesday until Easter.  That’s because of the forty-six days until Easter, six are Sundays. As the Christian sabbath, Sundays IN  Lent are not included in the fasting period and are instead "feast" days.

    Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a celebration and reminder of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. Ashes were used in ancient times to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Here, we burn them to make ashes when we gather for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.

    What do we do with the Season of Lent? How do we keep Lent "holy?" How does it prepare us for the Easter Feast? The invitation itself provides the answers.

    By Self-examination and Repentance

    Each of us is equipped with something called a conscience. It is the part of our mind that allows us to distinguish right from wrong, truth from falsehood, good from evil. During Lent, we take more time than usual to examine our consciences and, when we find something for which we are sorry, we repent. One meaning of repentance is to feel or show that you are sorry for something bad or wrong that you did and that you want to do what is right. In Jesus’ preaching, repentance also meant to change course toward the abundant life God offers. We turn from that which leads to death and toward that which leads to new life in Christ.

    By Prayer, Fasting, and Self-denial

    Any important relationship depends on good communication. Our relationship with Christ is no exception. Prayer is the primary way we communicate with Christ. We pray privately and as a Christian community during corporate worship. If you have fallen out of the habit of daily prayer weekly Holy Communion, Lent is a good time to return to Church! And, by the way, this applies to our children as well as adults. Remember those promises we made on their behalf at the time of their Baptism? They are on this journey with us and they look to their parents and other adults to help them find God's way.

    Fasting is a type of prayer. It has sometimes been called “the prayer of the body” because when we refrain from some physical pleasure or craving, our body literally cries out. Those “hungers” remind us of places in our lives where we have substituted things and experiences for what comes only from God. So, our bodies cry out for God to feed our deeper hungers.

    By denying ourselves, we also are better able to identify with our sisters and brothers who don’t have shelter or enough to eat or adequate care for their mental and physical health. Self-denial can, therefore, prompt compassion in us and that can lead to seeking ways in which we can reach out to those in need, more intentionally seek peace and justice in our world, and respect the dignity of every human being.

    By Reading and Meditating on God’s Word

    Lent is a time when we can start or resume a discipline of daily Bible reading. We can follow the Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer and the readings provided in the lectionary for those services. We can take the Bible Challenge, or join a Bible study group. We can take the readings for the Sunday services more seriously in the days leading up to or following Sundays.

    As Episcopalians, we search the Scriptures through the lenses of tradition and reason. Generally speaking, tradition is the historic and evolving teaching of the Church. Reason gives us the ability to explore, to question, and to apply the meaning of Scripture to the way we live. As we journey through this forty-day season, we can take a fresh look at the ancient texts that have transformed the lives of multitudes and appropriate them for ourselves.

    These are the things the Church calls us to do to keep Lent “holy” – a time that is especially set apart to attune our lives to God’s and a time to ask God to do with us more than we can possibly do with ourselves. This holy time helps us continue on the journey with God. In last Sunday's gospel, we heard how Peter wanted to stop the procession when Jesus was transfigured and stood on the mountaintop with Moses and Elijah. But Jesus pointed down the road. We have not yet arrived at our destination. There is more to come and Jesus Christ invites us to continue the journey with him. Then, at the end of Lent, when we reach the celebration of Christ's triumph over death, we'll have a greater appreciation for the depth and power of God's love for us. Please don’t pass up this opportunity.

    I’ll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Sig Blue

  • Worship for Life

    Lex Orandi is a worshiping community that gathers on Sunday evenings at Christ Lex Orandi Logo 147Church Cranbrook for a meal and worship. The experience is sometimes described as "Ancient Future Worship."

    Last Sunday evening, Bishop Gibbs and Canon Gettel were with us at Lex Orandi to begin a conversation about the next steps for this worshiping community as their founding spiritual leader, The Rev. Jim Hamilton, goes to another place of ministry in the Diocese of Maryland. It was a very good beginning, with a wonderful openness and lots of listening. The conversation will continue in the coming weeks.

    After sharing some of his own spiritual journey with us, one member of the Lex Orandi community said, “Worshiping with this community helps me live my life better.” That was one of the most important things expressed during the conversation. It might be the effect any Christian community should hope to have on the lives of those who worship with them. Reflected in what this pilgrim said is not only the richness and wonder of the liturgy but also evidence of an abundance of hospitality where worshipers are able to be vulnerable and feel at home. They don’t have to “fit in” to feel that they belong because they are invited to be themselves and experience the unconditional love of Christ.

    I was reminded of some words from the Preface to Liturgy for Living, written by Charles Price and Louis Weil in 1979 at the time of the publication of what was then the “new” Book of Common Prayer:

    The worship of the Christian community, properly understood and done, leads worshipers to act out in their lives the love of God, which is at the heart of our worship. Worship also provides the power and the sustenance, which makes this style of living possible. This Christian style of living, moreover, drives those who are committed to it back to the worship of God, to find forgiveness and strength…When this interdependent relationship is understood, the power of worship is illuminated and the power to live increased.

    Lex Orandi WorshipThat is the meaning behind the name of this worshiping community. The Latin phrase Lex orandi, lex credendi, loosely translated, means "the law of praying is the law of believing.” It is an ancient Christian principle about the relationship between worship and belief. An early version of the maxim is found in the writings of Prosper of Aquitaine (c. 390 – c. 455), a Christian writer and disciple of Saint Augustine of Hippo. He wrote, “Let us consider the sacraments of priestly prayers, which having been handed down by the apostles are celebrated uniformly throughout the whole world and in every catholic Church so that the law of praying might establish the law of believing." * The principle guided Thomas Cranmer as he prepared the first Book of Common Prayer and it has guided those entrusted with subsequent revisions.

    The love of God at the heart of Christian worship leads worshipers to act out the love of God in their lives. Worship teaches us to live. That’s why the discipline of weekly corporate worship is so necessary for the Christian journey. Our prayers shape our beliefs and our beliefs shape our lives. During the Epiphany season, I often begin the blessing of the congregation with these words from The Book of Occasional Services: "May Christ, the Son of God, be manifest in you, that your lives may be a light to the world."

    I hope every person who enters a Christian house of worship and participates in worship with a community gathered there will be able to say, “Worshiping with this community helps me live my life better.” And we can all say an enthusiastic, "AMEN!"

    I’ll see you in Church!
    Ron Short Sig Blue

     

     

     

    * Patrologia Latina [Latin Patristic] 51, pp. 209–10

  • Sermon at Christ Church Cranbrook ~ August 11, 2013

    Pulpit with base

    The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

    Listen to the Sermon for August 11, 2013



    Read the Sermon for August 11, 2013

    I quoted lines from "The Rose" in today's sermon.  Here is a recording of Bette Midler performing this beautiful song.

     

     


  • Pray for Oklahoma!

    We are shaken by the news of the massive tornado that touched down yesterday, May 20, in Moore, Oklahoma.  Here are some resources for responding in ways that will help those whose lives are affected by this devastating storm.

     

    PRAYERS

    On the Occasion of a Disaster

    Compassionate God… Draw near to us in this time of sorrow and
    anguish, comfort those who mourn, strengthen those who are weary,
    encourage those in despair, and lead us all to fullness of life; through
    the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, who liveth and reigneth
    with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen

    — Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (Church Publishing: New York), page 733

    A Prayer for First Responders

    Blessed are you, Lord, God of mercy, who through your Son gave us a
    marvelous example of charity and the great commandment of love for one
    another. Send down your blessings on these your servants, who so
    generously devote themselves to helping others. Grant them courage when
    they are afraid, wisdom when they must make quick decisions, strength
    when they are weary, and compassion in all their work. When the alarm
    sounds and they are called to aid both friend and stranger, let them
    faithfully serve you in their neighbor. We ask this through Christ our
    Lord. Amen.

    — Adapted from the Book of Blessings, #587, by Diana Macalintal

    Prayer for Preparedness and Response

    O God, our times are in your hand.  In the midst of uncertainty lead
    us by your never-failing grace as we seek to be agents of healing and
    hope.  Walk with us through difficult times; watch over us in danger;
    and give to us a spirit of love and compassion for those who suffer and
    mourn.  And finally remind us that you have promised never to leave us
    so that even in the valley of the shadow of death your love may be felt,
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN.

    — The Rev. Lyndon Harris, from the Episcopal Diocese of New York disaster preparedness plan

    For a Person in Trouble or Bereavement

    O merciful Father, who have taught us in your holy Word that you do
    not willingly afflict or grieve your human children: Look with pity
    upon the sorrows of your servants for whom our prayers are offered.
    Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience,
    comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance
    upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Book of Common Prayer, page 831

     

    CONTRIBUTIONS

    Give through your local church, your denominational relief agency, or to a church or judicatory in Oklahoma.  Here are some Episcopal Church links:

    Episcopal Relief and Development

    Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

     

    TALK WITH CHILDREN AND TEENS

    Many of those who were injured or killed in this tornado were children.  Our own children may have fears about their own safety as they hear the news and identify with them.  HERE are some helpful thoughts to guide you as you spend time and talk about this tragedy with the children and teens in your life. This resource was originally prepared following the Haiti earthquake and contain appropriate guidance in any tragic situation that touches the lives of those for whom we care.

     

    A public official in Oklahoma, speaking with a reporter this morning, said, "In Oklahoma, when a neighbor comes to your home asking for help, we take them in and care for them.  That's what we do."  Those of us who are far from Oklahoma can't provide that kind of direct care for our neighbors in Moore, Oklahoma.  But we can "take them in" to our homes through our prayers, our contributions, and by caring for those near us who look to us for wisdom and reassurance.

    Blessings to you and yours,

    Ron Short Sig Blue

     

  • Prayers Following Explosions at Boston Marathon

    This afternoon, Patriots' Day in Massachusetts, officials reported that at least two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.  We live in a world where animosity, terrorism, and violence threaten the
    fabric of human community. The fear this incident raises in us is becoming all too familiar. In the midst of the chaos and as reports
    continue to come in concerning those who were injured, discovery of
    additional explosive devices, and the potential for further threats, let
    us remember our vocation as Christians, let us be still, and let us
    pray.

    • Prayer for Victims of Terrorism

    Loving God, Welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism. Comfort their families and all who grieve for them. Help us in our fear and uncertainty, And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love. Strengthen all those who work for peace, And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts. Amen.

     - Beliefnet

    • A Prayer for First Responders

    Blessed are you, Lord, God of mercy, who through your Son gave us a marvelous example of charity and the great commandment of love for one another. Send down your blessings on these your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others. Grant them courage when they are afraid, wisdom when they must make quick decisions, strength when they are weary, and compassion in all their work. When the alarm sounds and they are called to aid both friend and stranger, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

     - adapted from the Book of Blessings, #587, by Diana Macalintal

    • For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority

    O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to your merciful care, that, being guided by your Providence, we may dwell secure in your peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of Massachusetts, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in your fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

    – Book of Common Prayer

    • For Peace

    Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

    – Book of Common Prayer

    • A Collect for Peace

    O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    – Book of Common Prayer

    • A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis

    Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

    – Book of Common Prayer

    • A Hymn

    The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, singing O God, Our Help in Ages Past

     

    Ron Short Sig Blue

  • Sermon at Calvary Church ~ October 14, 2012

     

    Fr Johnnie RossThe Reverend Johnnie E. Ross
    Rector, St. Raphael the Archangel Episcopal Church
    Lexington, Kentucky

    Guest Preacher for Consecration Sunday
    October 14, 2012 ~ Proper 23B



    Listen to Fr. Johnnie's Sermon

     


  • Too Much Stuff

    Francis1I write this on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, who reminds us of our uniquely human capacities and responsibilities as stewards of creation.

    Last evening, our congregation and Ashland's First Christian Church hosted a service of Blessing of the Pets, using the Collect of the Day for St. Francis from the Book of Common Prayer:

    Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace gladly to renounce the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfect joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

    We were reminded of our relationship with the other living creatures with whom we share this planet and, in particular, those for whom we are protectors.

    Today, as I celebrated the Holy Eucharist, I shared with the congregation how literally Francis and his companions took Jesus instructions to his disciples when he sent them out on their mission:

    "As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food" (Matthew 10:7-10).

    We were reminded of our relationship with our possessions.

    This second reminder from the life and witness of St. Francis comes to me at a time when Gay and I are preparing for a move to a new place of ministry.  This happens every year or two for interim clergy.  Each time it happens and we start packing for the move, we realize that we have accumulated too much stuff.

    There was a time (1996) when all of our worldly possessions would fit in a 900 square foot apartment and one 10 x 10 x 10 foot storage unit.  Then, we bought a 3200 square foot house in Galveston that had a full attic and an above ground "basement" in which to accumulate things.  Even though we have reduced our inventory with each successive move, we find that we still have too much stuff.

    This point was driven home when we contacted movers!  I won't go into the details, but the costs for a full-service move took my breath away.  I cannot imagine spending so much money to move our stuff 360 miles.  There are better ways to use those funds. It appears that we have worked out a reasonable and affordable solution, but for a few moments this week, I almost wished I had taken a vow of poverty like Francis and his Friars.

    Perhaps we already have enough people living in poverty and those of us who are in a position to earn may be able to help them when they find it impossible to help themselves.  So, for now, I won't take that vow.  But I will be more mindful of how my stuff can get in the way of life and my relationship with God, my neighbors, and my own spiritual being.

    Thank you, Francis, for doing what most of us cannot bring ourselves to do and for giving us an example of a life that is not weighed down by possessions to the extent that we cannot see beyond them to all that is eternal.

    Here is a beautiful hymn, composed by Sebastian Temple and based upon a prayer attributed to St. Francis.

     

    Blessings in abundance to you,

    Ron Short Sig Blue

  • “Bidden or not bidden, God is present.”

     

    Bidden or not bidden plaqueBeside the front door of our home, Gay and I have a plaque that reads, “Bidden or not bidden, God is present.”  Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung had these words inscribed above the entrance to his home and the quote is often attributed to him.  Actually, Jung found it in the Latin writings of Desiderius Erasmus, a sixteenth century Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian.
    IMG_3062

    A visit this week to the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the mesas of Sedona, Arizona, brought this truth to mind.  Here amidst the vast, harsh, beautiful red rocks is a testimony to the omnipresence of God.  Somone said, "Here is this towering cross out here in the middle of nowhere."  Actually, everywhere is somewhere because of the presence of God, the Creator and Sovereign of the Cosmos.

    The highest form of communion with God is to live our lives in such a way as to sense God’s presence with us in each moment, each breath, each blink of the eye, each heartbeat, and in each encounter with another human being, created in the image of God.

    Psalm 139:1-17 expresses this conviction so beautifully.  I particularly like Bernadette Farrell’s setting, as sung by the Choir of Wells Cathedral. I share this with you, along with a prayer that it will draw you increasingly into encounters of the divine kind as you continue your journey today.

     

    Ron Short Sig Blue

  • Enemies of Discernment: Prejudice

    Prejudice: You can't live with it and you can't live without it.  That is to say, it's in our DNA.  Everybody is infected with prejudice, to one degree or another.  The prejudice I'm talking about is what the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines this way:

    a (1) : preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge 
    b : an instance of such judgment or opinion
    c : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

    Spiritual discernment is a process of reaching a decision based on divine guidance.  The prejudice that lives within us clouds our ability to see the person, situation, or object of our discernment with clarity before we ever approach the throne of grace.

    I was thinking about this recently when my wife and I were in an aircraft that was making the final descent before landing at an airport.  The clouds were thick and there was some turbulence.  Looking out the window, I could not see the sky above or the earth below.  What lay ahead was not clear.  It was literally "clouded" from view.  And, if I couldn't see where I was going when I looked out my window, I was pretty sure the pilot couldn't see where he was going when he looked out his window either!  Why was I not scared stiff?  Because I was assured that the aircraft had an electronic guidance system and, as long as it was functioning properly, it would guide us safely through the clouds to our destination.

    Perhaps this is a pretty simplistic attempt to describe the effects of prejudice and the power of divine guidance in our lives.  But if the divine guidance system is not engaged to help us move through the clouds of prejudice, our decisions can not only be wrong, they can result in a crash!

    When Solomon dedicated the Temple, God gave him a vision of a place that would come to be known as "A House of Prayer for All People" – not just a place for God's special people, but a place for ALL people.  That must have been a big surprise and a radical concept to God's special people at the time.  In Solomon's dedicatory prayer, he says, "Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name —for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays towards this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built" (I Kings 8:41-43).

    When God sent Samuel to Jesse's house near Bethlehem to anoint the one who would be the new king over God's people, David was the last one of Jesse's sons Samuel would have chosen.  The other sons looked to him like really good choices.  But God said, "the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (I Samuel 16:7b).  Samuel had to have divine help to move through the clouds of the prejudice that prevented him from seeing God's choice.

    Despite Jesus' numerous attempts to get the point across, Peter still thought the gospel was not intended for Gentiles.  Then, one day, he had this dream about Cornelius and his family.  The experience that followed the dream made it possible for Peter to understand the universality of Jesus' redemptive work.  He blurted out, "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him" (Acts 10:34)

    Jesus was God Incarnate! Yet even Jesus had to face the prejudicial aspect of his humanity.  When a Syrophoenecian woman approached him with the request that he cast a demon out of her daughter, his answer was harsh and laden with prejudice: "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs" (Mark 7:27).  But the conversation continued, as the woman responded, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs." Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter" (Mark 7:28-29).  This is the origin of the words of the Prayer of Humble Access, which we often pray, "We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou are the same Lord whose property is to always have mercy" (Book of Common Prayer, page 337). I believe that the woman's response to Jesus caused him to realize that he'd expressed the prejudicial aspect of his humanity and he allowed divinity to sweep the cloud away and treat the woman and her daughter with compassion.  Had he not been able to deal with this pervasive human trait, the Incarnation would not have been complete.
     
    Maybe you are prejudiced toward people of a different race or ethnicity.  Possibly you don't like people who aren't as smart as you think you are.  Could your discernment be clouded by your bias about gender, sexual orientation, handicaps, regional differences, wardrobe, socio-economic status, or even tattoos? Whatever prejudice is clouding your spiritual discernment today, I pray that you will stop and face it so that God can help guide you through to the right decision. At the end of the day, in your discernment, have you fulfilled your Baptismal promise to "respect the dignity of every human being?"

    Joni Mitchell's 1969 hit song, Both Sides Now, has always seemed to me to a very spiritual ballad about the impact of clouds upon one person's journey.  I confess that I am prejudiced toward Judy Collins' rendition.

     

    Bows and flows of angel hair
    And ice cream castles in the air
    And feather canyons everywhere
    I've looked at clouds that way

    But now they only block the sun
    They rain and snow on everyone
    So many things I would have done
    But clouds got in my way

    I've looked at clouds from both sides now
    From up and down, and still somehow
    It's cloud illusions I recall
    I really don't know clouds at all

    Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
    The dizzy dancing way you feel
    As every fairy tale comes real
    I've looked at love that way

    But now it's just another show
    You leave 'em laughing when you go
    And if you care, don't let them know
    Don't give yourself away

    I've looked at love from both sides now
    From give and take, and still somehow
    It's love's illusions I recall
    I really don't know love at all

    Tears and fears and feeling proud
    To say "I love you" right out loud
    Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
    I've looked at life that way

    Oh but now old friends are acting strange
    They shake their heads, they say I've changed
    Well something's lost but something's gained
    In living every day

    I've looked at life from both sides now
    From WIN and LOSE and still somehow
    It's life's illusions I recall
    I really don't know life at all

    I've looked a
    t life from both sides now
    From up and down and still somehow
    It's life's illusions I recall
    I really don't know life at all
    Ron Short Sig Blue