This Lent is particularly difficult.\u00a0 I have envisaged this portion of this blog as reflection on the gospel passages with a focus towards leading catechumenate meetings.\u00a0 Today I find the focus on myself. Some would argue that that is the best way to prepare for such meetings.\u00a0 Perhaps.<\/p>\n
The context:\u00a0 we have celebrated baptisms during the first two Sundays of Lent.\u00a0 Such celebrations are allowed in the Episcopal church.\u00a0 There is a provision in the BCP for this (page 299) but it certainly isn’t the customary practice of the Church from the time Lent first began in the Church through now.\u00a0 In fact, with the reformation of the sacraments, such Lenten celebrations have been increasingly discouraged.\u00a0\u00a0 I don’t know what the circumstances are around today’s celebrations.\u00a0 One of those baptized was an adult.<\/p>\n
I did not have a voice in these decisions to baptize.\u00a0 This is part of my frustration and anger.\u00a0 This is where I hear the voice to deny myself and follow Christ. I am asking myself whether or not my disappointment with our liturgical practice so far this Lent is pharisaical?\u00a0 Am I too concerned with the “Law” rather than with the Dean’s expression of faith that “many were brought to the Lord.”<\/p>\n
Today’s passage from Romans (4:13-25) causes me to pause.\u00a0 As does the Gospel verse “the Son of Man…[will] be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes…” \u00a0 What many of us (including me) want to cling to as “Law” is the practice of no baptism during Lent.\u00a0 Does it make a difference?<\/p>\n
Perhaps the clinging to a practice doesn’t make a difference but the intent of the practice does.\u00a0 What is the intent of a longer formation process leading to baptism?\u00a0 Formation into discipleship.\u00a0 So the way a Christian community celebrates baptism does make a difference in several ways:<\/p>\n
(There are numerous other differences that I may add in the future. These are ones that come to mind immediately.)<\/p>\n
So my struggle:\u00a0 I was a small voice who questioned the practice of us celebrating baptisms during Lent.\u00a0 I thought I had at least that much of a responsibility as a leader in the catechumenate.\u00a0 But I was not consulted about the practice.\u00a0 All were done for “pastoral reasons.”\u00a0 And, in order to get beyond both disappointment and anger, I must lose that part of myself that is pharisaical about such practices.<\/p>\n
But this raises another question:\u00a0 Are there standards for celebrations of the sacraments?\u00a0 If so, what are they?\u00a0 If one minimizes discernment regarding baptismal formation, then what about discernment and formation associated with marriage and\/or ordination?\u00a0 These are the other sacraments associated with vocation.\u00a0 Trinity has a very good Commission on Ministry.\u00a0 The members take their responsibility to discern readiness to pursue licensed and ordained ministries seriously.\u00a0 But why, if we aren’t exercising the same seriousness regarding the initiation sacraments?<\/p>\n
This includes Eucharist (also a sacrament of vocation):\u00a0 Trinity does not “fence the table” (limit communion to the baptized).\u00a0 We open communion to all present in the name of hospitality.\u00a0 One indication I have of the readiness of a candidate for baptism is if\/when that person tells me that they want to fast from communion until their baptism.\u00a0 That’s when I know they are “getting” what the sacraments are about.<\/p>\n
This Lent the Worship team decided that we would use communion wafers rather than baked bread for Sunday Eucharist in order “to simplify life during this season of Lent.”\u00a0 If we’re going to be radically for Lent or against it, I suggest one or the other:<\/p>\n
or<\/p>\n
The current combination of practices is confusing, perhaps even scandalous to some.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This Lent is particularly difficult.\u00a0 I have envisaged this portion of this blog as reflection on the gospel passages with a focus towards leading catechumenate meetings.\u00a0 Today I find the focus on myself. Some would argue that that is the … Continue reading