A Rule of Life (Part two)

            How do I see the hand of God at work in my life? How do I experience the Lord's presence on a daily basis? How do I know which decisions I make are part of the Lord's call to walk in a path that will lead to the fullness of life God promises me?  These are discipleship questions, and the answers are profoundly simple and simply profound at the same time.

            We each need a rule of life! The Greek word for what I am talking about is "canon" and it originally meant in the writings of Homer "a rod used for measuring" or a "standard" or a "norm" or a "rule". The word "canon" is used in Christian tradition in several ways. The Eucharistic Prayer in our worship ("The Great Thanksgiving" BCP p. 361) was called in the old Latin missals, the Canon of the Mass. The clergy who seek to keep the bishop on the straight path of preaching the Gospel are called "canons" (there in our Cathedral special seats behind the Bishop's chair for the canons). The rules which govern our life together as a Diocesan and a National Church are called canons.  And we each need a canon or rule of life to govern our growth as disciples so we have eyes to see the presence of the Lord in our lives and ears to hear what the Lord will advise us about life and decisions.

            What does a rule of life look like? There are interior and exterior components. The interior components are silence, solitude, prayer and reflection on God's Word in Sacred Scripture, and we discussed these in Part One published in the last Lion’s Tale.. The exterior components are worship, service, study (in organized groups/classes) and events like retreats, Cursillo, Quiet Days, and the like.

Worship:

          Christians for centuries have gathered together on Sundays for public worship, for the action of thanking and praising God, and asking for the Lord’s wisdom and strength for the future. In Luke’s Gospel, which we are hearing in the Lectionary this year, we learn in Chapter 4 that Jesus went to the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah, and then interpreted it in a way which caused a reaction for those present.

            The Eucharist, which we celebrate each Sunday, is adapted from the synagogue heritage, only now we focus especially on the words and deeds of Jesus rather than the Law, the teachings of God through Moses (1^st five books of Old Testament). Readings from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Epistles accent the Gospel teachings.

            The tell the story of a man in a small English village who stopped attending the Anglican church one day and pointedly announced to his family and friends that he could be Christian alone, and he did not need to gather with other Christians to be a Spirit-filled and faithful Christian.

            People wondered what the vicar (parish priest) would do about it, if anything. After several weeks had passed, the vicar visited the man and sat with him for tea before the fireplace in which there was a roaring fire. After some pleasant conversation on various topics, the vicar rose from his chair, took the tongs and seized a red hot coal from the fire and placed it on the cement in front of the fireplace. In a few minutes the glowing coal turned grey and lost its heat. “I get your point, Vicar,” the man said.

            Sunday experiences can range from dull to sensational, depending on what happens there and on what the participants bring to the service. It has always amazed me how some can sing lustily around a piano after a couple of beers and yet seem to lose their voice in Church. Singing brings out feelings. We vary the songs by seasons at St. Mark’s ranging from The Hymnal 1982 to Lift Every Voice and Sing, and to praise music from a red folder or series of booklets. We are currently investigating other resources for the future.   

We live in a “theater” culture, however, in which television and other forms of entertainment have had an impact on the Church, and Sunday worship. Some churches have adapted by having theater seats, massive sound systems and projection screens, a paid choir, and a variety of visual and dramatic presentations. Those attending come expecting to be touched by the music or message, to get a good feeling and some practical advice.

            Our worship style is profoundly different. God is our audience, and we are the actors who perform by joining in common prayer. We are blessed with many volunteers who participate in the ritual, and they find such participating satisfying as part of their worship experience. We are expected to bring the fruits of our silence, solitude, and prayer into the Christian community gathered to enrich our common experience together. No preparation, little benefit.

Service:

          Where in your life do you consciously relate the teachings of Jesus to your daily decisions, to the service of others. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (and us) stressing that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to each of us for the benefit of others, for the building up on the community (1 Cor 12). Our natural talents and acquired abilities become gifts of the Spirit when we acknowledge our thankfulness to God for them and when we consciously use them as the Lord directs and for the benefit of others: family, friends, neighbors, community, etc.

            In the 1950’s, when someone joined the Communist Party, the first thing the leaders did was given them pamphlets to hand out on a street corner, or some other public action, so they experienced their involvement in the “mission” of the Party. Active involvement in Christ’s mission and ministry will change us. We have many opportunities for service in St. Mark’s life and worship together (more about these this month), but Christian service is not limited to the parish. What do you do for others in Christ’s name? That is the question to answer in your rule of life, and the answer will be an important aspect of your life as a disciple of Jesus.

Study:

          Do you read the Bible? Christian magazines or books? We are filled with violent and commercial words all day long in America from the radio, television, computer, and music. These reinforce our cultural values. Where do we obtain reinforcement of an alternative vision of life? We are God’s beloved sons and daughters. Our culture says we are not okay unless we have or perform (especially win) or look and act certain way. Where do we hear the message that we are unique, irreplaceable, precious, loved human beings?

            One can study alone, and I encourage it. But there are good reasons to join in organized ways, such as classes, workshops, retreats, conferences, and the like. We can easily form our own vision of who we are, what being a Christians disciple is like, and so forth, but when we interact with others we expand our vision and learn new insights. Remember the glowing coal from the fire above? Studying with others gives us zeal for learning.

            These are some of the external aspects to a rule of life which, when practiced, help us to experience the presence and power of the risen Lord in our lives through His Holy Spirit. Live it and see!

                                                                                                                            Joseph+