Today's readings...
Psalm 51:1-12
Exodus 30:1-10
Hebrews 4:14—5:4
At first sight the Exodus reading looks a bit lacking in promise, perhaps, as it begins with the physical description of the altar of incense and the rules for maintaining its purity. I'll let you into a secret though, as I've got older, I've come to appreciate more the precise measurements and details of these early books of the Bible. Irrespective of their accuracy, they form a fascinating record of what mattered, and of the care and attention that went into producing the objects employed in worship and ritual. At around three foot (or one metre) high and eighteen inches (or fifty centimetres) square (GNB measurements) the altar of incense was not terribly big, but it was very important and, by the sounds of things, very beautiful.
The Hebrews passage builds on the Exodus (hurrah for straight forward links) and speaks of the privilege and responsibility of being High Priest, entrusted to make the sacrifice on the altar of incense. It notes the fallibility of human priests, men who did their utmost but still sinned, even if 'all' that meant is being incapable of achieving perfection. Jesus becomes the Great High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek, who has no sin... but I'm getting ahead of myself here (used a bit of Hebrews last Sunday, it's still active in my brain!)
There is one sentence that stood out for me as I read the Hebrews passage: "No one chooses for himself the honour of being a high priest" Hebrews 5:4 GNB
No one chooses to be Archbishop of Canterbury. No one chooses to be Pope. No one chooses to take on the figurehead roles that are so very public and so very demanding and so utterly thankless. And yet, if truth be told, plenty of people do aspire to 'Christian Celebrity'; posts perceived as 'senior' or 'significant' are advertised and candidates invited to apply, with the interviewing process being used as a vehicle for discernment.
There is, I feel, a note of caution being sounded there for people, like me, who are naturally quite competitive and who, secretly, quite enjoy being noticed. Not my will, but Thine, be done... But beyond that, whether or not we are ambitious, these words speak to us... our role, our calling, whatever it may be, is a privilege and a responsibility. To be trusted by God to serve God's people, whether understood as vicariously, iconically or diaconally, is utterly mind-blowing.
I am also drawn back to thinking about the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the decision of Rowan Williams to step away from this role. I have been deeply saddened that people have felt free to criticise his endeavours, accusing him of not being sufficiently conservative/liberal/radical/dynamic/forceful/whatever. He did not choose this role. He didn't reply to an advertisement in the Church Times. Someone nominated him and the then PM decided he was the one for the job (we'll not stray into how that works out theologically!). Since then he was worked tirelessly and devotedly to fulfil, the best he can, the thankless task of holding together and guiding forward the 'Mighty Tortoise'* that is the Anglican Communion and, specifically, the Church of England. It doesn't matter if we agree with his views or the way he has worked; we have to trust that he was "God's man" for this season.
No prayer/poem from me today, just a suggestion that we each go away and pray for those entrusted with the public and figure-head roles in our own traditions, and in the organisations of which we are part. How can we play our part in supporting them in their thankless tasks, irrespective of whether they have sought or chosen the work now entrusted to them; irrespective of whether we agree with the way they work or the views they hold?
* See here for the parody hymn "Backward Christian Soldiers"