September 14, 2011
To
the Clergy and people of Anglican Province of Christ the King
Beloved in Christ,
One of the most stirring images from the Old Testament is the vision of heaven granted to the prophet, Isaiah. In his vision, Isaiah sees God sitting high upon his throne in a temple - one that is not made of wood and stone, but is alive and animated. He reports that even the doorposts move in response to the continuous adoration of our Creator. The praise is led by angel choirs singing to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory."
In this holy place, Isaiah is acutely aware of his own sinfulness - of his own unworthiness to be present before the throne of God and in the company of heavenly hosts. He cries out, "Woe is me for I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." But God does not summon without a purpose and He does not intend a purpose without also providing the means to fulfill it. One of the seraphim - those angels who attend at the throne - is dispatched to remove a live coal from the altar of incense. The angel touches the coal to the lips of Isaiah proclaiming them cleansed and all his sin purged. He is now a prophet prepared as a vessel for the Word of God.
Isaiah then learns of the purpose of his vision. God asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" The prophet responds, "Here am I; send me." God issues the call, but Isaiah must respond of his own free will.
God continues to call men to serve His people and to lead them to the heavenly throne in the mystery of the Eucharist. Today, more than ever, the Church needs men who are willing to answer that call. Without brave and pious priests and deacons, God's people would starve for His Word and sacraments. The clergy of the APCK are remarkable for their dedication and hard work, but we need others to join our ranks.
Each quarter of the year, the Church sets aside three days of fasting and praying for vocations to the sacred ministry. These are called Ember Days. With our critical need for clergy, we cannot wait for the Ember Days, but must pray daily for vocations. I am calling on each priest to include intentions for vocations as part of your daily devotions. You can use the Collect for Ember Days on page 260 of the Prayer Book or the prayer For the Increase of the Ministry on page 39.
If you are a man who has felt the urging of God to test a vocation, do not turn a deaf ear, but please talk with your priest today. Do not shrink from this holy calling, for if it is from God, He will provide all that you need just as He did with Isaiah. If you hear God asking, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" be prepared to join with the prophet responding, "Here am I; send me."
Yours in Christ Jesus,
The Most Rev. James E. Provence
Archbishop
