Since we’ve now finished Part I of Till We Have Faces, Andrew Lazo came back on the show to walk us through what we’ve just read, and to prepare us to read the final part of the book.
All my devotion is like sinking sand I’ve nothing to cling to but your sweet hand No clear emotions keeping me safe at night; Only your presence, like a candle light.
After everything I’ve had After everything I’ve lost Lord, I know this much is true I’m still drawn to you.
I pour out my sorrows like a precious oil I kiss your feet, Lord, with a holy joy My tears an offering of my highest praise; Your eyes say ‘welcome.’ I receive Your gaze.
After everything’s been said After everything love costs Lord, I know this much is true I’m still drawn to you
Following the retirement of one the priests in our Eparchy (the Eastern name for a Diocese), our Bishop reassigned many of his priests. As a result of this shuffle, our Pastor was sent to Denver and our parish given to a new priest.
This kind of situation occurs periodically in the life of a Catholic parish. A few years after I started attending my Byzantine church, the Bishop assigned our Pastor to the role of Rector at our Seminary in Pittsburg. Fr. Robert had been at the parish for many years. He had been our spiritual father for a long time and had married and baptized many in our parish. As a result, his transfer was quite a wrench for us.
Although these periods of transition can be rather painful, on the whole, I think this is good for the spiritual health of the parish. By having our priests changed every few years, we are taught a certain level of detachment and are given some inoculation against a cult of personality which may form around a particularly charismatic minister. It also offers us periodic opportunities for parish renewal. Most of all though, it reminds us of what is transient and what is unchangeable. The man standing at the altar may differ, but the Eucharist remains the same.
For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts
