When the Homily is about Immunology

For God is with us

My family and I have really delved into the services this week at St. Elizabeth's, and despite the troubles of our boys being MOST hyper in the evenings we have survived. Life on the "farm" has taken on a rhythm of it's own...perhaps playing its own role in the "Dance." Our chickens have all learned that when we turn the coop light on that they are being called to roost, and like parishioners going to Church they line up and file their way home. No one taught them this, they just do it and then all 24 of them take their respective places on their roosts, again like parishioners in pews (Pews? Anathema!)

The Canon of St. Andrew is hard. Not only because of the prostrations, but because of what the service emphasizes: my sinfulness. One thing that we do differently at St. Elizabeth than what I was used to at St. Paul (according to my poor memory)was that we do the Canon first and THEN the Compline. I particularly appreciated that on Wednesday because I was really feeling the burden (as I should) of my sinfulness. And so, as if to show us the love of God (I recalled our Lord's words: "Go and sin no more"), in slight contrast to the profoundly mournful tones of the Canon, we brighten up somewhat in the Compline as we sing:

God is with us!
Understand this, O nations, and submit yourselves!
For God is with us.

Hear this, even to the farthest bounds of the earth.

For God is with us.

Submit yourselves, O mighty ones!

For God is with us.

If you rise up again in your might, you will be overthrown.

For God is with us.

The Lord shall destroy all who take counsel together, and the word which you speak shall not abide with you.

For God is with us.

For we do not fear your terror, and we are not troubled.

For God is with us.

But we will ascribe holiness to the Lord our God, and Him will we hold in awesome fear.

For God is with us.

And if I put my trust in Him, He shall be my sanctification.

For God is with us.

I will set my hope on Him, and through Him I shall be saved -lo, I and the children whom God has given me.

For God is with us.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness - on them a light has shined.

For God is with us.

For unto us a Child is born; to us a Son is given.

For God is with us.

And the government shall be upon His shoulder, and of His peace there will be no end.

For God is with us.

And His name shall be called the Messenger of Great Counsel, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the World to Come.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and Forever and to the ages of ages, Amen.

God is with us!
Understand this, O nations, and submit yourselves!
For God is with us.