Ordination

Last Saturday, many of us witnessed the ordination of Kiona and four others to the Sacred Order of Deacons. It was a beautiful service, and I am glad that I was there as part of the presenters of Kiona. In fact, it was the first time that I had attended an ordination in the Diocese of Maryland. Ordinations don’t happen often, but whenever they do, they are magnificent, and they remind us of an important tradition in the life of the church - which is, the tradition that was handed over to the apostles by our Savior Jesus Christ continues, and for more than two thousand years, the church has kept faith with this tradition. It is my prayer that the church will continue this and many other traditions and also find ways to make them strong and meaningful. 

As I prayerfully sat in the sanctuary and watched the ordination service, I was reminded of my own ordination, which was markedly different from what we all witnessed on Saturday. There are two differences, in particular, that I’d like to highlight. One - during the invocation of the Holy Spirit, the candidates, including the bishop, lay flat with their faces to the floor. Two - each ordinand was made to carry a wooden cross with which they took an oath before the Registrars, who were attorneys in their black robes and wigs. Ordinations are sacramental moments, but to see lawyers in robes and wigs makes you wonder if we are in a court of law. It is interesting how the mix of the secular and the sacred shapes the purposes of God. 

The real gift undergirding our ordination rites is the unique transformation that occurs to the person and even the community. It is a Baptismal moment. It is a Eucharistic moment. It is a sacramental moment - which doesn’t begin in the sanctuary, but long before that. What we witness in the sanctuary is the culmination of a years-long work that begins with Kenosis-the emptying of the self and ends with Theosis - being filled by God. 

Anyone who goes through this process, and in fact every sacramental process, believes that unselfing is an important part of our sacramental life, and we so believe because we have our ultimate example in Jesus Christ. Listen to what Paul said about him:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

At every point in our lives, we are reminded that we can only be filled by God if we empty ourselves - Theosis is only possible upon Kenosis. And what better time than Christmas to begin to embrace this gift of self-emptying if you haven’t already done so?

One of the important lessons for me at Christmastide is the joy of knowing that each year, there is an opportunity for me to open my heart for the Prince of Peace to be born in me and to abide in me - that is also a sacramental moment. It is humbling to know that all I am communicating by the gesture of an open heart is that I am ready to be transformed. I am ready for a sacramental moment. I am ready for a holy moment. I am ready for my next move. 

I learned that it really doesn’t matter where we are in life because life is always about our next move. It is our next move that counts. God made God’s next move by gifting us with the birth of Jesus Christ. What is your next move? Is it a move towards being transformed by the gift that comes to us as a child, lowly and vulnerable?

After attending Kiona’s ordination, I joined the Men of Christ Church for their annual dinner. This year’s was a little different, but it was a joy to be with the men. One of our parishioners put out a request: this Christmas, he needs a parish family to adopt him. He said to the group, "Since I have no family and will be alone this Christmas, I would appreciate it if I could join a family for Christmas." His request was received with joy, and two parishioners will host him for dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

I am glad he put out that request. It tells me that he is confident and trustworthy in this community to share his story with us. The response he got confirms for me that this community of faith is truly a community that cares for each other - we look out for opportunities to share sacramental moments with others. 

The reality is that our parishioner isn’t the only person facing loneliness this Christmastide. There are thousands more. And the sacramental moment for us this Christmastide will be to look out for those who are lonely and visit with them, comfort those who may be grieving the loss of a loved one, mend broken relationships, tend those who are sick, feed those who are hungry, shelter the homeless, especially during these cold winter days, give a drink to those who thirst and provide solace to those who may have lost their hope.

Ordinations are sacramental moments and so is the realization that there is a gift for you this holy season-the gift of knowing who you truly are and the understanding that the joy we experience here is the beginning of the joy that is to come. And our joyful moments are sacramental moments. 

May the joy of the season be long-lasting, and may each joyful moment be a sacramental moment for you, and those you love and pray for. 

I wish you a Merry Christmas,

Manny+