Answering Questions
A couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to hear
some talks from Bp. Ackerman of the Diocese of Quincy. I missed one talk, which
I received on tape last week. I'm glad I have it preserved. I've listened to it
a couple of times already, and I will listen to it many more times. The topic of
the presentation was, essentially, "What are we to do". Although the question as
put to the Bishop is often "What are you going to do." Bishop Ackerman's
response was, "what are you going to do?" He points out that most
AngloCatholics, who claim to hold to orthodoxy, need to examine themselves. Most
would, I suspect, be fairly unrecognized by AngloCatholics from as little as 75
years ago. I know that I wouldn't
be.
Bishop Ackerman asked very pointed
questions, like, how many people say the daily office? How many attend Mass on
every Sunday and Holy Day? How many AngloCatholics exhibit the joy that we
should have given the glorious experience of heaven we get at a well done High
Mass, with the grace that we receive through the Sacraments (especially the one
Sacrament virtually ignored by all other Anglicans, confession)? If Jesus
knocked on the door to our heart today, would we invite him into a messy house
with nothing to eat, with no
amenities?
Of course, the main point of
this talk was to make it clear to us that the road to recovery in the ECUSA is
not argumentation so much as conversion (after all, St. Peter admonishes us to
give a defense not convert people by force of brute logic). And we cannot
convert people to a faith that we don't act like we believe in, can we? I think
there was an undercurrent to his talk, however, that needs to be brought out as
well. This undercurrent was made clear today as I read a letter from our
Standing Committee. I had applied to serve on our Diocesan nominating committee,
as our Bishop announced his retirement after General Convention. My concern was
that orthodoxy be represented on the nominating committee, so that our choices
for Bishop might also include someone who represented some level of orthodoxy.
As a licensed Catechist in the diocese, and the Catechist for an AngloCatholic
parish, I thought I would be a good representative. However, there were some 65
applicants for the 15 available slots, and the Standing Committee felt that
there were others better qualified, and that the committee would reflect the
variety of views present within the Diocese. That's fine, I don't argue with
that (especially as I don't know who has been selected for the committee!).
Reflecting on the letter, and on Bishop Ackerman's talk, it reminded me that
perhaps one of the greatest demonstration of our faith is the willingness to
accept that our part in the "war", if you will, is on our knees. We don't need
to necessarily serve on committees, go to General Convention, have our fingers
in every aspect of Diocesan or National life. Granted, these activities are
important, and if called, we should serve, but the majority of the soldiers in
any battle of Christianity are kneeling before the throne of God with prayer
books in hand (or rosary, or breviary, or ...). It is there, before the throne,
when we join with the martyrs under the throne asking "How long?", that the true
test of our faith is made. Are we willing to let the victory be God's, or do we
desperately need it to be ours?
Posted: Saturday - November 22, 2003 at 11:56 AM
