March 8 Mid-week Message

Fr. Tony’s Mid-week Message

March 8, 2012

Meditation

 King James' translators; Lancelot Andrews on extreme left.

Bishop Lancelot Andrewes was a biblical scholar and preacher during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.  He served as general editor of the King James translation of the Bible, and was principal author of the translation of Genesis-2 Kings.  Kurt Vonnegut in one of his novels suggested that Andrewes was “the greatest writer in the English language,” citing the first few verses of the 23rd Psalm in Andrewes’ translation. 

One of Andrewes’ private devotional prayers is as follows: 

A Prayer for Grace

Open my eyes and I shall see.

Incline my heart and I shall desire.

Order my steps and I shall walk

In the way of your commandments.

O Lord, be my God.

And beside you let there be no other,

         No other person,

No other thing,

Save for you. 

Grant me to worship you and serve you

         In truth of spirit,

         In graciousness of body,

         In blessing of speech

         Both in public and in private. 

Liturgical Note for the Parish

Rose stole with Trinity celtic knots.  

March 18, the fourth Sunday of Lent this year, is Refreshment Sunday (Latin: Laetare “Lighten Up” Sunday).   It is the day in the Western Church that the penitential tone of the Lenten Fast is relaxed a bit to help prepare for the joyous feast at the end of the fast, Easter.   We do not resume saying “Alleluia” quite yet, but the priest wears pink instead of purple.  (Thus the other name of the day, “Rose Sunday.”)  In the U.K., the Sunday is also known as “Mothering Sunday,” where people return home and honor their mothers.  

It appears that our parish Lenten discipline of using the penitential Rite I for our Sunday morning Eucharists these last two weeks has been particularly heavy for some parishioners.   So in keeping with the spirit of Rose Sunday, on that day and for the rest of Lent we will be returning to Rite II, with its less severe tone and more modern language and theology.  We still need to maintain our Lenten disciplines until Easter, but with a lighter spirit turning toward the Grace and Love of God. 

(Note:  the one other Rose Sunday of the year is Gaudete “Rejoice” Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent. That is why one candle of the Advent wreath is rose instead of violet.)  

--Fr. Tony+