The Silly Episcopalian

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to the celebration of ministry for a friend of mine.  A celebration of ministry is basically the official liturgical welcome of a new rector to the parish.  My friend has been rector there quite a while, but as life often gets in the way, it took a while to get to the actual celebration.  But no matter -- she deserves celebration every day, as she is an absolutely superior priest. The first time I met her I was on a team for Cursillo, and she was one of the priests on board.  I thought of her as a rather nice lady and enjoyed her personality and her reverence for saying mass.  During a Cursillo team meeting, it almost always either ends or has a Eucharist at some point.  As musician of the team, I stood next to her at one of them, and we always hold hands to say the Lord's prayer.  So there I was holding her hand, and I felt this enormous umbrella (of sorts) come over me, and suddenly I was there, cradled in the arms of God.  It

meditation on Matthew 7:7-12 7  “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.  8  For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  9  Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?  10  Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake?  11  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him. 12  “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Standing at the door, my hand suddenly turns to cement, my arm fused to my side. knock and the door shall be opened but what is behind the door? I want to know -- I was compelled to come here. seek and ye shall find but what am I looking for? it's something. but what? I wish it were so simpl