Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 2nd Week of Epiphany: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;
Isaiah 45:18-25; Ephesians 6:1-9; Mark 4:35-41:
Today we remember Florence Li Tim-Oi First Woman Priest in the Anglican Communion (January 24, 1944) and her information may be found at: Ordination of Florence Li Tim-Oi.
Florence Li Tim-Oi was ordained a deacon and later ordained a priest so as to ensure the Holy Eucharist continued to have a presence in China. She was ordained a priest by Bishop Ronald Hall of Hong Kong in 1944, primarily because of difficulties occasioned by the Japanese occupation of China. A storm of protest after the war by disapproving bishops forced her to refrain from exercising her role as a priest.
Florence said at one point that she is pleased to serve God at whatever level was told her. Bishop Hall stood his ground and said “she is a priest.” Tim.-Oi is my hero because of her selfless attitude. She was just happy doing God’s work. However those of us who can see what’s going on with the bigotry of the Church have a responsibility to go in and work to correct this mindset. I am very pleased to have pictures of Florence Li Tim-Oi and Bishop Barbara Harris (First woman Bishop in the Episcopal Church) talking with one another outside of the Washington National Cathedral.
Towards the end of her life, Florence Li Tim-Oi emigrated to Canada where she was able to resume her priestly duties. She died in 1992. Like so many, she was are rare gift from God that we undervalued. I pray we are getting better.
A special note here: Some Bishops are truly called by God to stand in the gap and follow the Holy Spirit of God. William White of Pennsylvania (who ordained Absalom Jones, the first African American to the priesthood), and Ronald Hall of Hong Kong above, are two such Bishops. Not all Bishops are of this caliber and would bend to the popular Church trends of their day. I pray God’s Will, will be done.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (For the unity of the Church BCP p.818)
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 