Archived-Canberra Sermon - Titles

The following Midnight Mass takes place during the month of March 2014, and was presided of by Bishop Lupo

For the complete liturgy of the mass, please refer to Archived-Midnight Mass - Canberra Rite

First Reading

The Rule of Golgotha, Chapter 4.

Each Abbot is merely a servant; he serves the community, the mission of the Dark Prophet, and the purpose of God. Let no Kindred be crowned as a king of the faithful; Such things are better left to the patriarchs and emperors of the secular concern.

Each Abbot, like each brother, serves God’s purpose in his own way, and shall be garnered respect as first among equals, as he has earned through the perfection of his predation. There is none more worthy above you, excepting God.

Second Reading

The Malediction of Longinus, Chapter 4, starting from verse 6.

But Ganymede and the sons of Sextus Clodius found that they took pleasure in the training and the order of the army, and grew in favour with the Decurion and the Centurion. And when a stone cast by a Judean killed a Centurion, Pandira chose from the men Ganymede and raised him up.

And I grew envious of Ganymede, and I spoke to a Brothel Keeper that we both knew, and I caused the Brothel Keeper to give to Ganymede a woman who hated the Romans, and arranged for her to be given a knife, and when Ganymede went into the woman’s room to take his pleasure with her, she thrust the dagger into Ganymede’s eye and Ganymede was dead. And I had done this for no other reason that Ganymede had been raised up and I had not.

The Homily

Titles do not make the Damned

Brothers and Sisters, I ask for your indulgence. You see, I recently had a disagreement with a fellow bishop, Timothy from Adelaide, regarding the theological implications of the title of bishop. This debate turned to the value of titles in general, and I grow tired of waiting for Timothy to make his views known, so I present this homily. I trust it has relevance for all of us here.

Our society has a fascination with titles, with stratification, with appending every increasing descriptors to our names. Prince, Primogen, Priscus Harpy, Childe of someone, grand childe of someone, speaker of some covenant, I could go on. And on. And on.

My own position as Bishop of this parish seems to demand our parishioners refer to me as Bishop even when I continually remonstrate against such behaviour. Others of our faith would say that the title of Bishop serves as a beacon to society. That by the clinging to some ornate and elaborate language we aid our brothers and sisters in their damnation.

So let me be clear. This is nothing but a farce. Our purpose, our primary and solitary purpose, our reason for existence, is to show the Kine the judgement of God. Whether I am called Bishop, or Prince, or Sheriff, or Inquisitor, or any other function I have perform over these nights makes about as much difference as the amount of time I spend in the sunlight. None.

I am Lupo. I am a predator. I am God’s holy monster. I am exactly, exactly what God has made me to be. You can take my Praxis away from me. You can take my parish. You can take everything I have and everything position of importance I hold away, and you cannot change the fact that I am Lupo. I am God’s chosen instrument. There is no power on this earth or in hell that can change that fact.

And so that I what I hold on to. That I am Lupo, and that I, am, Sanctified.

The search for title and position can easily and frequently led to sin and distraction. As we have heard in the Malediction, Longinus himself fell the envy through seeking the position of Centurion. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons we refer to him as the Centurion, that unlike the Dark Prophet or the Dark Messiah, the phrase Centurion points wholly and squarely to his sin. To his damnation.

You see, Longinus specifically warned against venerating him as some sort of divine figure. He was damned, just like you and I. He was sinful, he was judged and found wanting. The Monachus continues this theme in the Rule, were we learn that the position of Bishop, in those nights called Abbott, is an equal. A servant. That like every one of the faithful, I serve my purpose given to me by God. While a Bishop may warrant more respect in the community, it is also subject to harsher judgement. For the sins and failings of the parish fall upon my shoulders. And there is no amount of being called “Bishop Lupo” that will aid me in this matter.

And so, I state now clearly, unequivocally and for all to hear. I am not Bishop Lupo. I am Lupo. I am God’s holy monster. I am the Grandeur. I am Sanctified.

And I ask you all, are you your title, your position?

Or are your God’s holy monster?

Are you the Grandeur?

Are you Sanctified?

Intercessions

A Prayer of Clarity of Faith
God, who by the holy blood of the Christ made clear the vision of the Centurion, grant to us clarity of vision that we may see and accept our place in your almighty plan.

Amen

A Prayer for Giving Thanks for the Dark Messiah
My God, all praise is due to you for the miracle of transformation that you bestowed upon the centurion. Blessed are we who know the truth of divinity in the world because of the blood of the Christ that gave the Centurion sight and life! May we ever walk in his ways and follow his example, by your power and will.

Amen

A Prayer for the Wider Faithful
Lord of Lords, we ask you to intercede on behalf of those faithful that are not as fortunate as us. We ask you to guide our brothers and sisters in cities far from here, strengthen their hearts and steel their resolve. Bring to their enemies harsh judgement, and bring to those vipers within their midst painful retribution. Let our parish serve as an example, and let us never forsake those that need our aid.

Amen