Day: November 4, 2008

Perspective, Political

Where prayer and politics meet

Prayer and politics meet in the intentions we put before God.

I have commented, over the past few months, on my views concerning bishops and clergy members who inject themselves into partisan political battles. That is not where the Church should be. Where we should be is in prayer, begging of God His beneficence toward our nation. We should be asking Him to inspire leaders to be like David – a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

There are many views on voting. I will vote (I haven’t missed an election since I was 18 years old, even school board elections). In N. Dan Smith’s reflection on the book Electing Not to Vote: Christian Reflections on Reasons for Not Voting he points to the fact that Christians may elect not to vote, but more importantly must move beyond “just voting” to real action in living the Gospel.

Whether you choose to vote or not, offer up a prayer today. Spend a few minutes placing yourself in the Lord’s presence and ask His mercy in sending us leaders who are after His own heart.

For your consideration I offer two texts from the Book of Common Prayer (1979):

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers
and privileges: Guide the people of the United States
in the election of officials and representatives;
that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of
all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill
your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

…and

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fathers, PNCC

November 4 – St. Dionysius the Areopagite from the Liturgy of St. Dionysius, Bishop of the Athenians

Priest: (bending) “Holy art Thou, O God the Father, Omnipotent, Maker and Creator of every creature — Invisible and visible, and sensible; Holy art Thou, O God, the Only-begotten Son, Power and Wisdom of the Father, Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ; Holy art Thou, O God, the Holy Spirit, Perfector and Sanctifier of Saints. Triad, Holy and undivided: — co-essential and of equal glory, Whose compassion towards our race is most effusive. Thou art holy, and making all things holy. Who didst not leave that, our very race, in exile from Paradise, although in the meantime involved in every kind of sin, but wast manifested to it by the Word, Who, in the presence of the world, suffered extreme poverty; it in very truth, He, the Word, took, being made like to it in all things, sin excepted, that it might make Him prepared beforehand unto holiness, and disposed for this life-giving feast. (Raising his voice) Who being conceived, formed and configured by the Holy Spirit, and from virgin blood of the Virgin Mary, holy genitrix of God, was born indeed Man, and from the pure and most holy body of the same, and receiving Deity in Flesh, whilst the law and properties of nature were preserved, but in a manner beyond nature, and was acknowledged God in the Spirit, and Man in the flesh; and inasmuch as the Word existed before the ages, from Thee, as was worthy of God, was born, and by power and miracles, such as became the Maker of all, was testified that He was such, from the very fact that He has freely imparted a complete healing and a perfect salvation to the whole human race.

Likewise, in the end and consummation of His dispensation on our behalf, and before His saving Cross, He took bread into His pure and holy hands, and looked to Thee, O God the Father; giving thanks, He blessed, sanctified, brake and gave to His disciples, the holy Apostles, saying, ‘Take and eat from it and believe that it is my body, that same, which for you and for many is broken and given, for the expiation of faults, the remission of sins, and eternal life.'”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: “Likewise, in the same manner, over the cup also, which He mingled with wine and water, He gave thanks, blessed, sanctified, and gave to the same disciples and holy apostles, saying, ‘Take, drink from it, all of you, and believe that this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed and given for you and for many, for the expiation of faults, remission of sins, and eternal life.'”
People: “Amen.”

Priest: “Himself also, through the same holy Apostles, gave a precept to the whole company and congregation of the faithful, saying, ‘This do to the memory of Me, and as oft as ye shall eat this bread and drink the commixture which is in this cup, and shall celebrate this feast, ye shall perform a commemoration of My death until I come.'”
People: “Of Thy death, O Lord, we perform a memorial.”

Priest: “Obeying, then, Thy sovereign precept, and celebrating a commemoration of Thy death and resurrection, through this sacrifice in perpetual mystery, we await also Thy second coming, the renovation of our race, and the vivification of our mortality. For, not simply, but with glory worthy of God, in Spirit ineffable, Thou wilt terribly come, and seated upon the lofty throne of Thy majesty, Thou wilt exact the acknowledgment of Thy royal power, from all things created and made: and justly, Thou wilt take vengeance for Thy image upon those who have corrupted it through evil passions. This sacrifice, here celebrated, we commemorate to Thee, O Lord, and the sufferings which Thou didst endure on the Cross for us. Be propitious, O Good, and Lover of men, in that hour full, of fear and trembling, to this congregation of those adoring Thee, and to all sons of the holy Church, bought by Thy precious blood. May coals of fire be kept from those who are tinged with Thy blood, and sealed by Thy sacraments in Thy holy Name, as formerly the Babylonian flame from the youths of the house of Hanania; for neither do we know others beside Thee, O God, nor in other have we hope of attaining salvation, since indeed Thou art the Helper and Saviour of our race; and on this account, our wise Church, through all our lips and tongues, implores Thee, and through Thee, and with Thee, Thy Father, saying”

People: “Have mercy.”
Priest: “We also.”
Deacon: “How tremendous is this hour.” — Anaphora (Institution narrative)