Dear Friends in Christ,
Tomorrow, Grace will host the Diocesan Ordination of Deacons. In the service, the Bishop will confer holy orders on those who have been called to a special ministry of servanthood: “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely” (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 543).
The ordination is a sacramental rite to “put on Christ” (Romans 13:14) in a new way. The word ‘ordination’ comes from the Latin for arranging or putting things in order. Led by a bishop, the Church prays for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Veni Sancte Spiritus) to set the minds, hearts, and lives of the ordinands in a sacred or divine order. We pray to put things in a holy order in the lives of the new deacons so that they can assist the Church in responding to the needs of the world, and interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.
All of us are called to order our lives to God, not just deacons, priests, and bishops. All of us should ask the question, “What is my life ordered toward?” We can do that by paying attention to our habits. What are the habits in our lives that are helping us to increase in faith, hope, and love? What habits are leading us away from peace, understanding, and compassion?
Most importantly, we can ponder how our current habits – and the rhythm of our lives, are helping us put on Christ, to live by the Spirit, and to live according to the divine order.
This is what Christian discipleship means. It means being ordered to the love of God as revealed in Christ. To be a disciple may involve leaving behind those things which decrease our faith, hope, and love.
In the days ahead, I invite you to ponder, What is helping you to experience peace, understanding, and compassion? What is filling your mind and your heart with anxiety, fear, and self-centeredness? How is God inviting you to order or reorder your life in this season of your life?
May your pondering be holy and fruitful
Yours in Christ,
Padre Santi+