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Cathedral high holy days are like magnificent theatrical productions but you need to be able to see the action to appreciate them. Squashed in just beyond the choir and slightly short of the sanctuary, my view of the ordination of Justin Duckworth, the 11th bishop of Wellington was stymied, so I had plenty of time to muse.
Two rows in front of me was a bevy of bishops. Most wore a mitre, the church equivalent of a crown. Lest you think I’m overstating the case, the service had been billed as an enthronement. With that kind of label it’s hard to avoid royal overtones, which rather set me to wondering about a Hebrew story and a book about archetypes that I’m reading.
Samuel had a specific role in ancient Israel. He was a judge, a wise person steeped in deep spirituality who took the lead in the country. As Samuel got older, the people decided they were fed up with judges and wanted a king to govern them just like their neighbours had. According to the story, God told Samuel to give the people what they wanted even if the idea was flawed. A rather spacious approach. Read more
Sources
- Sande Ramage in Vaughan Park
- Image: Anglican Taonga
The Rev. Sande Ramage is an Anglican priest and blogger.
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