Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Episcopal Church Spirit Allies



In case you missed it, here's an excerpt from from the Presiding Shaman Bishop of the Episcopal Church's Christmas sermon, via Stand Firm.



"The altar hanging at an English Advent service was made of midnight blue, with these words across its top: “We thank you that darkness reminds us of light.” Facing all who gathered there to give thanks were images of night creatures – a large moth, an owl, a badger, and a bat – cryptic and somewhat mysterious creatures that can only be encountered in the darkness."



But what about Jesus? Good question, and here's the answer:

Jesus is among us like a flitting moth – will we notice his presence in the street-sleeper? He pierces the dark like a silent, streaking owl seeking food for hungry and defenseless nestlings. He will overturn this world’s unjust foundations like badgers undermining a crooked wall. Like the bat’s sonar, his call comes to each one uniquely – have we heard his urgent 'come and follow'?"



Moth, owl, badger, bat, sometimes you just have to bask in the brilliance. But which one's your magicke spirit ally?

I'll wager my fighting monkey against any number of your priestesses that Jefferts Schori's ally is a  Mothbat.

Feel free to disagree,

LSP

10 comments:

Euripides said...

My spirit animal is a bottle of Coke, but the comparison to the moth is about the biggest nonsense I've ever heard come from someone who professes to be a Christian.

LSP said...

Pretty special, eh?

Euripides said...

Badgers... *shakes head in confusion*

LSP said...

That got me too...

LL said...

I think the Bishop is mixing up animism and shamanism with Christianity.

Tell her (for me) to stop dancing naked under the full moon and worshiping a goat -- and things might become just a little more clear.

LSP said...

I'll send the message, LL, but will she listen?

jenny said...

Perhaps I can get one of the bats in Austin to flutter over to her ear and whisper, "Stick to scripture, Woman!" (if it had rabies and felt like biting her, all the better)

Euripides said...

OK, thanks LL for putting that image in my mind of the bishop dancing naked under the full moon.

I'm going to go scrub my eyeballs with bleach now....

LSP said...

Interesting Bible Bat approach, Jenny.

LSP said...

There was an order of catholic "nuns" who used to do just that, Euripides, in the 1980s in England. Around their swimming pool(!), no less. I think a "Peace Pole" was involved too.

Lavinia Byrnne (sp?) was their leaderene. ++Basil Hume, who I admired greatly, refused to do anything about it.

I choose to believe he thought such things beyond human reckoning or possibility.

I should think all those "sisters" are in their 70s and 80s now. I believe Lavinia ended up excommunicated.

Just a short reflection to brighten up the day!