Today's chapter begins with some more or less rhetorical questions about ancient rituals. Paul states that rituals were repeated year after year because they were ineffective..."For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near in worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins." (vv. 1b-2)
These words got me stuck on the power of ritual in our lives. I've become more aware of it since hanging out with Lutherans - partially because of the greater role of ritual, and partially because of the familiar Methodist rituals that are no longer part of my daily life.
We do repeat our rituals endlessly - and not because they are ineffective. We take communion week after week - and its effectiveness in our lives does not cause us to no longer need the ritual. We sing the same songs, say the same prayers. And these bring us comfort and peace.
Our rituals are not the same as our faith...but I need them. I have fallen into the habit of singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in the car on Mon. and Wed. nights...not sure why I began, but the personal ritual keeps me grounded. It is my own "call to prayer" at a time in the week when I usually need one.
I repeat my rituals, and we repeat ours together, not because we are waiting for them to be effective....but because we know that they are. They do not change the world around us, or God's relationship with us. But they change us. They allow us to pray when we are overcome with sorrow. They bring us focus when we are scattered. They put us back in our place when we wander into conceit or self-doubt.
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