Thursday Offering From Fr Marcus 8th July 2021
Forty and not out!
Good Day my Friends,
I hope you are all merry and bright.
On 29th June many of you joined me, and helped me celebrate forty years since my Ordination as a Priest, and it was a wonderful occasion, so huge Thanks to all who made it happen.
I remember that day way back in 1981, being on retreat beforehand was wonderful, but I was worrying about whether or not I had clean socks! (I lived alone at the time)
I had packed my bag before we went on retreat, and a friend of mine had included a little gift for my special day. I opened it before I set off for the service, only to find a brand new pair of black socks with little red stripes on the side! The only reason I am telling you this is that the day, and indeed the next forty years were full of surprises!
Becoming a Priest was such a joy. Even while I was on the pre ordination retreat I still had a feeling that the Bishop might change his mind. But all went well, and I was able to Celebrate my First Mass that evening.
The consequence of being made priest meant that I had been given certain authority. The big one was that I could Celebrate the Eucharist, and most priests I know never get tired of reflecting on the privilege that is. It is not us – but we call upon the Holy Spirit, and something happens. It is efficacious, and we get to consume something intrinsically holy. Christians have found no better thing to do than to Break Bread together. Every time I get to celebrate the Eucharist I feel humbled.
The reason we wear vestments – the Alb, the Chasuble, are to as it were cover our ‘Self’ and present the ‘Priest’. As I say, it is not about us as individuals, it is all about the office of Priest.
Having said that, there is a feeling that comes with being given authority. A Priest can marry people, they can hear confession and pronounce absolution, they can Celebrate the Eucharist and they can Bless.
There are plenty of other things that a Priest does, but most are not the exclusive role of a Priest. So Baptism, Preaching, Leading Worship, Praying with and for the sick, walking with folk on their Spiritual Journey are all vitally important, but you don’t need to be a priest in order to do them.
One of the things that is very common is that, at the first celebration of the Eucharist that a newly ordained priest conducts, they will conclude with an individual Blessing for each member of the congregation. This is another truly beautiful moment.
I had hoped to be able to repeat this at my fortieth, by Covid restrictions are still in place, so there can be no Laying on of hands. So, instead I wrote and shared this Blessing for all.
Anniversary Blessing
God the Father, source of all that is,
Give you a sense of childlike wonder as you embrace the beauty of your creation.
Let the mountains fill you with awe, the seas wash away any negativity and the winds air your souls on the breath of the life.
God the Son,
Bringer of light and peace.
Fill you with his presence, that you may be constantly aware of his love coursing through your veins.
As he fills you with his gifts, let the light inside shine from the inside out.
God the Holy Spirit,
Breathe into you the gifts of Love, Joy, Beauty and Freedom, and throughout your life may Justice and Peace hold hands
And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit fill you with his Grace, that you may know your calling, and see and believe the great things that God has done.
Amen
Those of us who are in any way connected with the Chaplaincy of the Holy Spirit Costa Blanca know that through the ministry of my wonderful colleagues we are truly Blessed.
Before I pronounced that Blessing I was able to say that those feeling of importance I felt at my ordination were thankfully short lived. I soon got to understand that even though I may be called to do specific things within the church, and beyond it, I am least in the Kingdom of heaven. The folk who continue to uplift me when I am down, lead me when I am lost, inspire me when I flounder and walk next to me, and sit beside me when I need it most, those folk, those saints are the regular people who sit in the pews week in and week out, and say their prayers – and they don’t need to dress up in a frock to do so.
Bless you, Bless you, Bless you,
Your Servant in Christ,
Marcus