The Eighth Sermon to the Dead

I find myself struggling with a bit of anger towards a co-worker. This gentleman took the opportunity to denigrate my department in front of the CEO, knowing the CEO already had a bad opinion of the department. It was a base career move by a person I thought was a friend. I've written a letter to my co-worker, explaining my reaction, and the betrayal I feel. After writing the letter, I feel a large, empty feeling where the anger was, as if it had burned itself out, and left only ash. I haven't sent the letter yet, it seems as though the writing was catharsis enough. Anger is a strange thing. While it's happening, it feels good to feed it, make it burn higher and higher, until it reaches an almost irrational level. As I try to express it, it dies down, and leaves nothing in it's wake. I've always thought it was a dissonance between what I knew and reality, and perhaps that is true in this case, as well. What is it worth? Is it worth it to express this anger, ...

...That I don't post very much. I'm going to endeavor to change that. Once a week shouldn't be too hard. On Sunday, I was able to say Mass for my Mother-in-law. She said afterwards that she had such a sense of peace and relaxation, and that it was a very spiritual experience for her. I was glad, and had to tell my ego to settle down and go sit in the corner.

Please check out The Paulo Coelho Blog . Every time I read Mr. Coelho, I find something amazing and astonishing that I already knew. Like this: On one of the doors of the old wall hangs a lantern. Fathi comments that I am a well-known writer, whereas he is still struggling for recognition: “Here we have the origin of one of the most famous of Arab proverbs: “light only illuminates strangers.” I reply that Jesus made the same comment: no-one is a prophet in his own country. We always tend to lend value to what comes from afar, without ever recognizing all the beauty that is around us. Of course, we are fascinated by what is far away; we hold in contempt that which is near. We often find our own efforts to be too little, the efforts of others to be so much more. What can we do, who are so imperfect, to improve the world and spread the light? I think this is why Jesus says, in the Gospel of Thomas, "Be passersby." We need to look at what is in our life as a traveler would s...

I found the refrence I was looking for earlier, about AND vs. OR. It was here! Of course, you may not be able to see it, as it was on a forum. But you could join the forum, and then see it. I heartily recommend the Esoteric Freemasons Network and Forum. Lots of good stuff there.

“Theology, mysticism, spirituality, moral rules, worship, art: these things must not be kept in separate compartments. " - The Orthodox Church, Timothy Ware, p. 207 As I'm trying to write my paper on this book, and desperately seeking any distraction, I started to think a bit about separate compartments. Pauline Kilar writes a blog entry about unifying her mind, making sacrifices, and the voices that plague her with doubt. This also reminds me of separate compartments. I think our human, binary tendency to divide is not a good thing, all the time. Sometimes it is, and when it is it works well. Sometimes it is not, and when used at inappropriate times, it's horrendous. Heretical Ideas gives me a quote about separating the artist and the scientist. Again, this idea of the syncretic being superior to the individuated. The Angry Nurse asks "Why does one group have to be right and one group wrong?" in reference to the publication and furor around the Gospel o...

Well, I didn't post before Tuesday. Saturday we did the Easter Vigil Mass. I was able to assist as an acolyte, meaning I got to do the opening prayers, the readings, etc. Then came the ordination. There's something about laying face down on the ground, arms outstretched, that really puts things in perspective. You have some time to think as "The Prayer of St. Francis" plays in the background. You consider what you're doing. How this is the moment, and there's no going back. How after this, your life will be different. How from now on, you'll be conforming your own goals to a higher purpose. When the Bishop brought me to my feet, I could see my wife had been crying, and I was so moved myself. I knelt before the Bishop, and felt a glowing light enter me, or emanate from me. It was a very profound and life-changing moment. [Incidentally, it's kind of odd that the guy you were joking with and having a few beers with the night before, becomes THE ...

Right now, I'm taking a break from our activities to write a quick summary of the Conclave so far. This has been a great event, and I've enjoyed just about every minute of it. Thursday, we went up into the mountains, and had a great time. I'm from Wisconsin, so we don't see mountains much. It's amazing that big piles of rock can be so impressive. Later that evening, we had our Maundy Thursday service, and it too was impressive. The Patriarch was in great form, and I felt it was a very good service. Also during the service, the patriarch blessed oils for use as Chrism in the various rituals of the church, and ordained me in the minor orders (Doorkeeper, Reader, Exorcist, and Acolyte) Then, Thursday night, we had a Seder meal, which was delicious. Our hosts cooked a wonderful salmon meal, and the wine flowed freely. Friday, we did a little sight-seeing around Calgary, and then returned to Kenosis's house. The Friary met in it's Grand Session, and we...

I am sorry for the continuing political tone of the blog. However, unless we wake up a bit, my sermons will actually be directed toward the dead. Warrantless wiretaps This is, quite simply, against the 4th amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Past Republican presidents have lost their seats in the oval office because of this. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happin...

Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., responded: "How many officers would have to be punched before it becomes a big deal?" This is, perhaps, the most asinine thing to ever come out of Congress. That's saying a lot. The easy retort to this is "How many people does the vice president half to shoot before it becomes a big deal?" His lifethreatening accident ends up with a man in the hospital, but no charges against the VP. A slap to a police officer, however, could merit a felony. Seems fair. Why do congress people get a free pass anyway? Isn't it possible one of them could bring a gun into the office? This shouldn't be a big deal anyway. She should have apologized to the officer, and that would have been that. So many of these 'offenses' could be solved with some simple politeness.

You scored as Catholic (Pagan?) . Frequently branded as pagans by sister faiths, the Catholic religion is a melting pot of the Christian and pagan faiths. Open to praying to saints for small assistance, and acknowledging the vital importance of the Blessed Virgin, Catholic faith offers a more balanced view on monotheism, particularly in the sense of male and female energies. Unafraid to use many "pagan" tools (the cup, incense, candles, esperaging water, ritual *read: communion*) the Catholic faith stands at an odd crossroads with its pagan cousins. Catholic (Pagan?) 95% Kabbalistic Pagan 85% Zoroastrian Pagan 75% Celtic Pantheonic Pagan 50% Eastern Pagan 35% Egyptian Pantheonic Pagan 30% Ecclectic Pagan 25% Sumerian, Babylonian, and Mesopotamian Pagans 20% Roman Pantheonic Pagan 20% Shamanic Pagan 10% Greek Pantheonic Pagan 5% Norse Pantheonic Pagan (Asatru) 0% What kind of Pagan are you? created with QuizFarm.com

The Senate voted Thursday to allow the national debt to swell to nearly $9 trillion, preventing a first-ever default on U.S. Treasury notes. link I don't normally post on political issues, but I have a question. Where are the conservatives? Where are the patriots? Why is this happening? $30,000 for every man, woman, and CHILD in the United States? Is there no sanity in our government? Is there no restraint? The enemy is not in the Middle East. It's on the East Coast. Debt will destroy our country long before suicide bombers will.

In reference to a post on The Burning Taper , Post a response: On Three Pillars, Jeff Peace (Antonius 99), who is not a member of the UGLA, but is on the sublime council of the RRCG and who was answering questions about UGLA on the site, stated: In a nutshell here is what the UGLA is all about. 1. The brotherhood of man under the All-Seeing Eye of Deity. (Every organization should be able to clearly state its mission.) 2. Give the Lodges the power to make the changes they need to at the local level to meet the needs of their members. 3. Get out of the silly recognition business and try to unite American Free-Masons in a way where they can work together productively in an enviorment free from fear. (If the Masons fear retribution from the Grand Lodge then they will not feel empowered to act responsibly and fix problems at the local level.) 4. Keep the money at the lodge level and don't hoard it at the Grand Lodge level. The lodges need remodeling and upkeep. Modern Masonry can't...

By Bishop Kenneth Untener My own story is floating around the blog somewhere, but I post this specifically in response to "The Five Laws of Priestcraft". Mostly because, he compares being a priest to a craft, and makes it very explicit there's a certain amount of craft to the vocation of being a priest.

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From Free-Mason@yahoogroups.com Some people ask a dervish (someone who knows many things and has good qualities) “What is the difference between people only talk about love, and those who practice love?” He replies, "Let me show you." He then prepares a small banquet, first he invites those who talk about love. They show up and settle down around the table. Soup is served and the visitors given “dervish spoons” with very long handles. The Dervish tells them to eat using the spoons. They tried to eat but with those long handles it was very hard not to let soup splush. So they give up and leave the table still hungry. Then the Dervish asks for people who really practice love, they are served in the same way with soup and long handled spoons. They take some soup, then feed the person sitting across the table, they all get full and thank God for the blessing of food. The Dervish says: “He who only thinks about himself in life’s meal shall remain hungry...

I've been reading "Spartacus" , and am interested in his articles on religion (especially the Five Laws of Priestcraft ). As he is a brother, I want him to understand that I respect his opinion, and I realize many ministers forget the origin of their job title (Latin for Servant). Priestcraft is an interesting word. I've found two references to this word (just usin' google): # a derogatory reference to priests who use their influence to control secular or political affairs # the skills involved in the work of a priest (wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn) Now, I can see from Spartacus' writings he has little use for Clergy, but as an aspiring clergyman, I'd like to address some of the challenges raised by these definitions. The First Law of Priestcraft: Promise blessings in a future hereafter to receive monies in the present. By this law, advertisers are priests. "Product A will make you happy, pay us for it." So are Psychiatrists. Not arguing...

But you, yourself, difficult (though it be) give to him your fundamental assent with (even so much as) a hint that he may take you up with joy! Now the fundamental choice, which is humility of heart, is the gift of Christ. A contrite heart is the acceptable sacrifice. If you humble yourself, you will be greatly exalted; and if you exalt yourself, you will be exceedingly humbled. -The Teachings of Silvanus

A lot is made of Gnosticism as an individual path. The individual must attain Gnosis, and since it is primarily an individual quest, that's where the primary emphasis should be. But I've been thinking a lot about community. As we all begin to take our individual paths, which we alone must walk, we start to separate from those who disagree. And thus, we begin to move into schism, antagonism, and duality. "I'm different than you because..." Because why? Because I use Roman Catholic Rituals and you use Greek? Or I find Oberon to be more meaningful as the bearer of Gnosis than Sophia? Isn't that ... kinda dumb? In thinking about this, I'm reminded of the eminently reasonable suggestion of the Moravian Church : "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love." The Moravians have a Covenant of Christian Living , which states: We will be eager to maintain the unity of the Church. Realizing that God has called us from man...

Lately I've been pondering Schism, The ultimate individualism. Where no one agrees, Cause all that they sees, Is the world through their own little prism.

I've got a link to them on my blog, finally. Head on over, read some good stuff.