Rector’s Reflections

F. D. Maurice, 19^th century Anglican Priest and Theologian preached, in 1852, a series of sermons at Lincoln’s Inn, one of the four “Inns of Court” in London to which barristers from England and Wales belong. Maurice was a chaplain at the Inns. In this particular group of sermons his topic was the Book of Common Prayer. In the first sermon he said,

“The student in every profession must have his textbooks; but if he merely repeats the phraseology of his textbooks instead of bringing it to bear on the common business of life, he is a pendant and no workman; he has not really mastered his craft.”[1]

Set in the context of the Book of Common Prayer this statement takes on particular emphasis, especially as we go through Lent. This is the season when we explore and use more parts of the Prayer Book than at other times in our liturgical year. From the Litany of the First of Sunday of Lent through the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter we open up more pages and recite more prayers than any other season.

But as we open the pages, pray and listen to the prayers it is well worth our time to reflect on how the Prayer Book “bears on the common business of life” our life. We in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition live out a faith that is taught directly from our Prayer Book. We have no formal confession like the Augsburg or Westminister Confessions. (Although I have always felt that our creeds and baptismal covenant do indeed represent confessions.) We proclaim that our praying shapes our believing, “lex orandi, lex credendi.” Literally this means “the law of praying is the law of believing.” Our prayers, our liturgy reach back between 500-2000 years. Our liturgies become our classrooms, instructing us in discipline, doctrine and faith, and a continuing process of learning and being filled with the grace and spirit of Jesus Christ. All this time we are being called to bring this experience to “bear on the common business of life.”

This understanding was recently brought home to me in a particular way which served to

remind me of the meaning of the Prayer Book and Maurice’s comment.

On Tuesday of the last week of the state legislative session I served as chaplain in the House of Representatives. This is a role that is shared by a large number of Santa Fe clergy during the legislative sessions. It is a pretty simple and straightforward role. The chaplain is expected to open the session with prayer and after the Pledge of Allegiance leave the rostrum.

I always make it a point to arrive early, check in at the Speaker’s office, and then wander around and be available for conversations with members and staff which always seem to arise. I go out onto the Speaker’s rostrum facing the members well before the session opens. I take my seat and shortly people come by to greet me or to chat. I like to watch the passing parade.

I had heard from a number of people over the last several weeks that this year’s session was “different” from past years. The state budget and deficit were looming large. There was considerable disagreement and debate on and off the floor. In talking with staff I could sense the difference. On top of the budget there was a ton of legislation at various stages of completion.

With all this in mind, after the opening gavel, I rose to offer the opening prayers. I adapted the “Collect for Congress or a State Legislature” on page 821 and “The Prayer attributed to St. Francis” on page 833 of the Prayer Book. When I finished I turned with the Speaker and all those on the rostrum to face and pledge allegiance to the flag. I shook the Speaker’s hand and began to leave. As I was going out the House Majority Leader stood up and publically thanked me for the prayers. This had never happened in all the years I have been the chaplain.

I stopped, turned and thanked the Majority Leader for his words and left. But in leaving, Maurice’s words echoed. I began to think in that instance that we are in a crisis in our political and social lives and that these elected representatives understand this in a particular and immediate way.

They are not simply passing or rejecting legislation that will determine the shape of our lives as New Mexicans. They are making moral choices in so many of the pieces of legislation that come before them. They are dealing with the “common business of life” whether it is in the budget, health care, domestic partnership, education, environment, etc. We as faithful members of the Body of Christ are duty bound to bring our prayers to bear. Our Prayer Book weighs directly on the issues before not just the New Mexico legislature but also our national elected leadership.

In all my years I do not remember our country being in such a crisis as we find ourselves in today. From health care to the environment, from war to unemployment, name the issue and see them through the eyes of the Prayer Book. See them through the eyes of the Baptismal Covenant. See them through the eyes of Jesus in the Eucharist. See them in the heart of the Risen Jesus at Easter. See them as moral issues. And most importantly see them through the eyes of those who suffer without health coverage, without work, without legal recourse on behalf of their partners, without the hope of a secure future, without the advantage of a decent education. See them through the eyes of F. D. Maurice.

Maurice’s theology led him to be one of the founders of Christian Socialist Movement of mid 19^th century England. This movement went through a number of iterations before finally becoming the ground for today’s British Labor Party.

When Jesus rose from the dead he didn’t immediately leave his surroundings. Rather he walked back into the common business of the disciples, the common business of Israel. There, in their midst, he broke the bread, lifted it to heaven and thanked God and commissioned his followers to go into all nations as his imitators.

May your Lent and Easter be filled with a Spirit of joy, hope and renewal and refreshment.

Peace, Fr. Richard

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[1] Maurice, Frederick Denison, The Prayer Book, (James Clarke & Co. LTD, London, third edition 1966) pg. 2; Read also the introduction to Love’s Redeeming Work: The Anglican Quest for Holiness, compiled by Geoffery Rowell, Kenneth Stevenson and Rowan Williams, (Oxford University Press, 2001)