Is the male-only priesthood a discipline or essential to the nature of being a priest? Sr. Vassa (again unflinchingly taking up a contentious topic by climbing up the ladder to the highest platform and then jumping into the deep end head first) dives right in and says there is no reason beyond personal preference to not have female clergy. You know, when people ask me about women in priesthood, they say, 'Sister, why can't women be priests?' And I say, 'Women CAN be priests. We don't WANT them to be priests.' Because you see, God can do anything, and the Church, by divine authority, uh, can do anything, but, the Church doesn't want to - and that's a legitimate reason. What I don't like is when we TRY to pretend that there are other reasons for this, because it's legitimate not to want something, and there are reasons not to want this - right? - but, we shouldn't pretent that there's some... reason, that, for example, the maleness...
Slightly off-topic, but since I was gone this past Sunday Father gave me his sermon notes for the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh Bearers. It was based on a sermon by Met. Anthony Bloom. He pointed out that the myrrh bearers did not cease their love for Christ even after his death. They cared for him as a mother cares for her child who has died. This was so comforting to read. There is a place for myrrh bearers even today.
ReplyDeleteWonderful ministry. Thank you for sharing. I hope it will inspire others to do the same.
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