New Church Life July/August 2015 | Page 49

   This ritual is also the closest the Children of Israel came to their God. In the Easter season as our thoughts turn to the last events of the Lord’s life on earth, we should give some thought as to how we will approach Him. Perhaps this is a time for us to approach Him in a state of repentance: We start in simple linen, a state of humility before our God. We then approach carefully with incense, our mind perceiving what it can of celestial life. We then return to our life, painting our behavior with the blood of Divine Truth. Finally, we can be prepared to drive evil from our life and draw closer to our living God. Jehovah, I cry unto you: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto you. Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 142:1-2) Amen. The Rev. Scott I. Frazier is Assistant Professor of Religion and Latin, plus Chair of the Religion Department, in Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. He and his wife, Nicole (Hill), live in Bryn Athyn with their family. Contact: [email protected] 361