The Spirit of Adoption

Dear Friend,

In the Collect (opening prayer) for this Sunday’s liturgy we will open our hearts to the “ever-living” God and pray that the “spirit of adoption” will be brought to completion (perfection) in our hearts, as sons and daughters of one Father. I’m pondering these words as I prepare to pray them with you and those assembled for our liturgies this weekend. What is this “spirit of adoption” and how does it connect with this week’s scriptures?

According to my dictionary, the root of adopt refers to “choosing” or “desiring”; to adopt means to be “brought into a new relationship”. At the same time, I know that in the church and elsewhere there was once a stigma attached to being “adopted” (as in legal adoption) with questions raised about (God forbid!) “doubtful” parentage. (Case in point: many in the parish very fondly remember Father Howard Hall, who told the story of his being adopted as a child by a very loving family, and how this matter caused a stir prior to his ordination. Hard to imagine these days.)

The stand-out figures in this Sunday’s scriptures - the prophet Elijah, the apostle Saint Paul, and Jesus Christ himself – were each desired by God and chosen for a task. The opening prayer points us to their example so that we, like them, might “live in love” and hand ourselves over to God. (And note that Jesus’s own parentage is questioned, as his listeners refuse the possibility that he has been chosen by God.) Last week, Father Loi strongly invited us to draw close to the poor, through whom Jesus speaks to us. The promise this week is that as we do that, God will shape us anew, not only as children of God, but as bread for the world.   

Gratefully,

Father Dan