Tomorrow, Feb. 6, 2011, is the 10th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. That was an amazing day! Bishop Lee ordained me and others at the National Cathedral on that Tuesday evening. What got me to that day was God's love and call, and that is what has led me and strenthened me since to be a priest in this world. This world, which is, in the US anyway, dominated by consumerism and very narrow definitions of success. Being a priest is so counter-cultural that to be a really good one, one that stays grounded in God and focused on God, is not easy. It is not easy, but it is a joy. Serving God's people as a parish priest is a great joy. For the people I serve, and serve with in our shared ministry, are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
The Gospel reading this Sunday is not one I would have chosen for Scouting Sunday, but maybe this is a blessing that took some time for me to discover. Tomorrow I will have a chance to discuss how we interpret the Bible, still knowing the Bible to be the Word of God, but also knowing something about the context in which it was written and the context in which we now live. For example, emotions such as anger and desire are natural human emotions. The choice for a person seeking to live a life of faith and a life in accord with God's hopes for us comes after the initial feeling. What do I do with this anger? Or, what do I do with this desire for another person? What we do next is important and it is clear from everything Jesus did and said that we are called to respect the dignity of every human being. Knowing that can help one make good, faithful choices.
