1 You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. 2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:1-2
Companions,
Yesterday a Super Excellent Master Degree was conferred. The prologue to the third scene of the S.E.M. tells us that: “These scenes are not intended to merely represent an historical event, but to bring to your hearts and minds the great lesson of fidelity – fidelity to your vows as Masons, and as citizens, and a firm faith and reliance in God”. It is sometimes tempting to give in to the “worldly desires” of our own glory, power, or pleasure, to the detriment of not only ourselves but family, fraternity, country or church. However; it seems to me that the most insidious danger to our fidelity is the sense of complacency that builds up like a layer of fine dust. Although a confrontation with Jeremiah might shake us up, I prefer an old preacher’s advice: The dust on your Bible can easily be wiped away but the dust on the inside is gold dust and is worth the effort to dig it out. Name that duster Jeremiah and enjoy the digging.
Eternal God, to Thee all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Thee no secret is hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts O LORD by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit. Amen
Jack A. Holloway
I. Associate Grand Chaplain