Tonight’s discernment session was about Holiness. The Holy Life or the Holy Lifestyle is the duty of the priests, followers of Christ, and all other religious leaders. It is no easy task to sanctify yourself daily through devotion, scripture readings, meditation, contemplation, discernment, and prayer.
Being ordained is just a validation and recognition for the church members to witness the job in the diaconate, and it does not automatically make you holy, but the daily office practice will teach you to remain holy. Yes, you will feel Holy present at the time of ordination. It is ongoing from that day through practice and prayer to keep you grounded and remain in check with God daily.
Some people seek power in the church to become ordained and then forget the daily routine, some seek to be in the spotlight of the audience, and some seek to worship the altar with its pomp and glory instead of Christ. All these are dangerous positions in which the church falls short of the Glory of God. The Church does not need a wolf to shepherd their sheep. It is one of the examples of not being automatically holy when the priest or a pastor in other denominations doesn’t use the daily office prayer.
The discernment committee should pay close attention to the person seeking to become a priest by watching the behaviors, attitudes, and interactions with the people. The committee is responsible for finding the gifts and talents the person can offer by asking several personal questions about why seeking to become a priest/deacon.
According to “The Examination” in the Book of Common Prayer explains the duties of being a priest in the Episcopal church. “As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to fashion your life in accordance with its precepts. You are to love and serve the people you work with, caring for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor. You are to preach, declare God’s forgiveness to penitent sinners, pronounce God’s blessing to share in the administration of Holy Baptism and the celebration of the mysteries of Christ’s Body and Blood, and perform the other ministrations entrusted to you.” [1]
Christ teaches us to “love your Lord with all your mind, heart, and soul.” [2] Those three are the trinity of human characteristics, the same way as the Trinity of God. We must learn to put aside our sinful nature, possessions, and self-interest. Leave it in the past so that your time with Christ alone to do His mission. Apostle Paul tries to teach the Philippians to rid of bad behavior and tame love from hate so that their goal is to stay righteous with Christ. [3]
Christ instructs the apostles on the way to change their lifestyle by choice. He says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves.” [4] And Moses encourages his people to choose life and prosperity rather than death and destruction. [5] The death and destruction are part of the freewill. We cannot serve both Holy Life and Freewill.
I chose the way to Holy Life because I felt called to serve Christ three years ago. So, I am currently going through the discernment process, hoping to be accepted into a full-time seminary by the Episcopal Diocese. I should receive an acceptance letter this summer.
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[1] Custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer, February 1990
[2] Matthew 22:37
[4] Matthew 16:24