Psalm 122:9 in the Book of Common Prayer, p.780
These words struck me in an interesting way when I prayed them as part of Midday Prayer (or Diurnum as it is also called) today. They speak of something very profound when it comes to our relationship with God, in others. I believe it is imperative to look upon others as being a house of the LORD our God.
Over the many years, magnificent Cathedrals and church buildings have been built and maintained. They are rightly referred to as the house of God. Some refer to them as temples for the Lord. Within the walls of such buildings is a space where God is present in silence to speak to the soul through various pieces of architecture, art work, music and various symbols.
Matthew 25: 31-46 and the verse from Psalm 122:9 are talking about the house of the LORD our God that is in each of us. The sacred space that is the heart and soul of the human person. In spiritual language the heart and soul represents the whole of a person. Not just the internal organ from which blood is pumped in and out, giving life to the body. In the heart and soul of a human person is the life and breath of the Holy Spirit providing continual communion with God. Therein lies the essence of the "sacred vessel" that Esther de Waal wrote about in her book A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict.
In The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 64 entitled The Election of an Abbot, he writes about the kind of man who should be considered to be Abbot. In addition to the monk's spirituality and overall good character, Benedict warns about what kind of disciplinarian the Abbot should be. Beginning with verse 11 Benedict writes:
Esther de Waal writes in her commentary:
I think the challenge here is to view each person as a vessel, a house of the LORD, our God, and because of that, we must do good for the human person. An individuals immigration status, race, religion, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, employment status, wealth status, health condition, ability to work or not work, language etc, should not be used by us to determine how we treat an individual who is a vessel, a house of the LORD, our God. On the contrary, such should be the very reason why we must reverence, care for and respect all persons. It is precisely because each person is a Eucharistic vessel, a house of God that we must continue the word of justice, inclusion and equality for all people. Ending violence, oppression, prejudice and malice for all people is more than about liberating people. It is about striving for peace and justice within the house of the LORD our God that is every human person.
Amen.
Prayer
Because of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek to do you good.
These words struck me in an interesting way when I prayed them as part of Midday Prayer (or Diurnum as it is also called) today. They speak of something very profound when it comes to our relationship with God, in others. I believe it is imperative to look upon others as being a house of the LORD our God.
Over the many years, magnificent Cathedrals and church buildings have been built and maintained. They are rightly referred to as the house of God. Some refer to them as temples for the Lord. Within the walls of such buildings is a space where God is present in silence to speak to the soul through various pieces of architecture, art work, music and various symbols.
Matthew 25: 31-46 and the verse from Psalm 122:9 are talking about the house of the LORD our God that is in each of us. The sacred space that is the heart and soul of the human person. In spiritual language the heart and soul represents the whole of a person. Not just the internal organ from which blood is pumped in and out, giving life to the body. In the heart and soul of a human person is the life and breath of the Holy Spirit providing continual communion with God. Therein lies the essence of the "sacred vessel" that Esther de Waal wrote about in her book A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict.
In The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 64 entitled The Election of an Abbot, he writes about the kind of man who should be considered to be Abbot. In addition to the monk's spirituality and overall good character, Benedict warns about what kind of disciplinarian the Abbot should be. Beginning with verse 11 Benedict writes:
He must hate faults but love the brothers. When he must punish them, he should use prudence and avoid extremes; otherwise, by rubbing too hard to remove the rust, he may break the vessel.
Esther de Waal writes in her commentary:
In using that image of the person as a vessel, he (Benedict) is saying something incarnational. Is he not telling us that each person is a Eucharistic vessel? (p.214).
I think the challenge here is to view each person as a vessel, a house of the LORD, our God, and because of that, we must do good for the human person. An individuals immigration status, race, religion, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, employment status, wealth status, health condition, ability to work or not work, language etc, should not be used by us to determine how we treat an individual who is a vessel, a house of the LORD, our God. On the contrary, such should be the very reason why we must reverence, care for and respect all persons. It is precisely because each person is a Eucharistic vessel, a house of God that we must continue the word of justice, inclusion and equality for all people. Ending violence, oppression, prejudice and malice for all people is more than about liberating people. It is about striving for peace and justice within the house of the LORD our God that is every human person.
Amen.
Prayer
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).
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