Homily of Lyn Fisher

Homily given by Anglican priest Lyn Fisher at the ordination of Marie Evans Bouclin to the diaconate, August 5, 2006.

This is a momentous event – for you Marie - and for all of us here who have traveled with you to this point. And as much as that may be our main thought tonight as we celebrate with you – I’d like to propose that this is also much greater that that – for tonight is also a momentous occasion for the universal church – the whole body of Christ – and for God.

First – you. What a journey it has been. Starts and stalls – up’s and down’s – fears and doubts – great faith – many tears - and delectable joy and laughter. Like so many who have traveled this road you have also had moments of absolute certainty that may seem fleeting but when added together have given you the courage to stand here tonight with us - and before God - and take vows which will forever change who you are.

We have read Isaiah’s description of his moment of decision – Here I am he said to God’s question - and you stand now in the same place with the same answer. This is not the first time you will have answered in this way – and it won’t be the last. Every day you will be asked by the challenges of your ordination and the uncertainty of the future, this same question. And you will have to decide if your answer is the ‘yes’ that it is tonight.

God constantly surprises us – and then causes us to surprise ourselves. God equips us for the things we are asked to do and as those challenges come up our realization of just how dependent we are on God is more evident. This is the more of God - and we’ve spoken of this – life that is deeper and richer - more challenging and more rewarding than we ever would have imagined. It is life in all its fullness – it is the abundant life that Christ promised.

It won’t always be easy. There will be times that your trust in God will be tested – sometimes you will fail – sometimes others will fail you. So it was with Isaiah and most of the prophets – and even of course Jesus himself. That is the path we follow. But remember that it is through the valley we are to go – dying to our own expectations and desires as God shapes us into servants of God. At those times you will need to hold onto the promise embedded in living a life of resurrection – and you will need to hold onto the vows you will make this evening.

This is also a momentous day for the whole church. We are all changed by this day – not just the Roman Catholic Church and your own community but the universal body of Christ. These words are not mine but I say them here because they gather together many of the conversations we’ve had about the purpose and nature of Christian community. They are from Mary Grey.

Transforming society in the name of the ethics of the kingdom through its witness to truth and justice is the most cherished part of the church’s mission, never totally lost sight of and always glimpsed in new forms … It is the role of the spirit to discover the cracks of culture and open up new possibilities to lead into a yet uncharted future. It can be no accident that from various Christian communities the search for prophetic leadership is becoming powerful, a leadership which is shared, which enables and empowers the gifts of others. It is no accident that the spirit is creating a new vulnerability towards acknowledging the truth of others, particularly the truth of groups on the periphery.

How then can we not be touched in some way by what your community is choosing to do? The hope you bring to the body of Christ is like the yeast the woman works into the large amount of flour in Jesus’ image of the kingdom. It’s such a small amount but it worked itself through all the dough and activated its energies. It could not be stilled or quenched. So this movement is spreading its good news throughout the whole church acting as transforming leaven.

Finally – and perhaps most important of all – this is a momentous occasion for the divine community. God too is changed by what you are doing today. You are providing God with a new opportunity to act in the world and to be known by the world. You will birth Christ for others in ways no one else can. As you minister to others first as a deacon and than as a priest you will be a vessel through which God’s will, God’s power and God’s great love for humanity will be spoken and heard.

It has been said that when we dream of a new and different way of being - it is God who dreams in us. That God’s work of redemption is seen as the gathering of the broken fragments of creation and the process of bringing healing - of creating whatever wholeness is possible. There is in that image much that speaks to me of you. You have expressed so often your passion for bringing health to those in pain. Hold onto that dream with open hands – being attentive to it - for that has been God’s project for you which has served to bring you to this point. But hold it with open hands – for it may be that you will be called to a new project – you may have to let go and let others take it from here.

Whatever happens - continue to dream – believe in yourself – believe in God’s dream for you – for the church – and for the world. For I’m convinced that just as there will be great joy in this room as you say yes to God, there will be - in the divine community - an equally great response as God dances with joy for you on this day.

Last Updated: October 2, 2006

since February, 2001