The stated intent for today is on
Virtue. Which is a difficult concept to
really talk about because we
have a tendency to think about it in terms of the things that we do, when
perhaps it is better to think about in terms of things that we are. In this way our "virtues" just are,
because of who we are and the way in which we approach the world around us.
Traditionally speaking, the Virtues where
associated with the Third Choir of Angels in the heavens. They were beneath the Seraphim and the
Cherubim and acted as a type of middle management taking orders from higher
choirs in relation to the governing of the cosmos and interconnectedness of all
things. Seldom reveling themselves to
humanity they concerned themselves with the details of the universe. Through the efforts of these spirits, the
very cosmos was maintained. It seems as
though this is directly connected to the first reading. I wonder if from the perspective of the Virtues, they refer to themselves exclusively or if they would see us as a part of
that. I wonder if the Virtues would see
us complete and connected to all of these things within the Sacred Flame.
So often we know what is right and what is
wrong but we either justify doing the wrong thing through a sense of separation
or we place ourselves and our problems on pedestals because we see the
immediacy of our life as being more important.
If we look from the perspective of the cosmos all of our issues are very
small. According to the Virtues this thinking and the actions it produces
causes a breakdown in the cosmos itself, and without question it also does so in our
lives. So as we ponder this intent for the day let us call to mind the times
that we rushed through our lives, marginalized the people around us, or acted
from the sense of separation and let us consider if the things we did, said,
and felt really made or lives better.
One of the Bishops in our extended
community tells a story of a person standing in line at the supermarket and
becoming very angry because he feels his time is too valuable to be waiting for
the person in front of them to get their act together and let him continue with
his life. It is of course something that
we are all guilty of at one time or another, but looking at it logically, did
any of that energy and frustration do any good?
In the gospel reading we hear
Jesus again telling us to humble ourselves, to be happy with a lower placement. While not explicit to the reading, it can be inferred that we can do this
because we have built up our own self worth and we recognize, as the virtues do,
that we are a part of everything. So it
is through our patience and understanding that we allow 'our cosmos' to run
smoothly. If we were to see others in
the same way that we see ourselves and judge them as we judge ourselves, by
their intentions rather than the actions that they are doing, we could truly
follow the Lord's Golden Rule of "do unto others as you would have them do
unto you" or perhaps "see others through the same eyes as you see
yourself."
Let us Pray: Heavenly Father, who created the hosts and
choirs of angels to minister to thy glory, pray that we might find peace in the
knowledge of the Lord, that we may have faith in the cosmos above our own problems
and that we may see others as you see them as whole and complete within the
Sacred Flame. This we pray in your
Name... Amen!
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