Two years ago today I was ordained to the diaconate in Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Unlike today, where we are getting another boatload of snow, that day was a pretty nice day—for February, that is. 🙂 Three months later I was ordained as a priest.

This is another example that demonstrates God does indeed have a sense of humor. I am thankful for this ministry, and for CANA and bishops Martyn and David whom God used to make it possible.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

—Hebrews 13:20-21 (TNIV)

We can have confidence that this prayer will be answered because God is always faithful to his promises. But that is our challenge, isn’t it, because we want to be in charge instead of letting God be in charge and this causes us to doubt. If, by his grace, we can get off our pedestal, he promises to transform us into his very image as the writer of Hebrews alludes to in today’s passage.

Training for [Christian] service is not a training to become rich but to become voluntarily poor; not to fulfill ourselves but to empty ourselves; not to conquer God but to surrender to his saving power. All this is very hard to accept in our contemporary world, which tells us about the importance of power and influence.

—Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out

We most earnestly ask you, O lover of humankind, to bless all your people, the flocks of your fold. Send down into our hearts the peace of heaven, and grant us also the peace of this life. Give life to the souls of all of us, and let no deadly sin prevail against us or any of your people. Deliver all who are in trouble, for you are our God, who sets the captives free; who gives hope to the hopeless, and help to the helpless; who lifts up the fallen; and who is the haven of the shipwrecked. Give your pity, pardon and refreshment to every Christian soul, whether in affliction or error. Preserve us in our pilgrimage through this life from hurt and danger, and grant that we may end our lives as Christians, well-pleasing to you and free from sin, and that we may have our portion and lot with all your saints.

—Liturgy of St. Mark

We are promised a new heaven and a new earth, which the Lord God will make. If new ones are to be created, the old ones will therefore pass away. As for what follows, “Not one iota, not a dot, shall be lost from the law until all is accomplished,” this literally shows that even what is considered least important in the law is full of spiritual sacraments, and it is all summed up in the gospel.

—Jerome, Commentary on Matthew, 1.5.18