Justin Appel

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today’s lesson from Mark’s Gospel includes Jesus’ rousing call to the disciples:

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

In light of such an all-encompassing injunction, one that calls for an ongoing decision on my part to serve God—as opposed to serving myself or any other created thing, I find myself casting about for a text of substantial quality, redolent of strength and expressing a fierce desire to “be used” as a vessel for God’s Spirit, and also a willingness to actively, energetically follow God, in spite of my weakness and of the impediments that I or others can throw up in the way of such complete discipleship. The best text, or rather prayer, that comes to mind is the Lorica of St Patrick.

For your edification, here are two versions of the Lorica: one delivered in a full and dramatic reading, and another sung in a contemplative choral setting.

Spoken: St Patrick’s Breastplate

Sung: The Deer’s Cry, Arvo Pärt

Yours in Christ,

—Justin