Janet and I were big fans of the TV series, “West Wing” starring Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and a host of other familiar actors and actresses who have seen their careers blossom as a result of this outstanding program. For those of you who don’t know about it, the action centers around the trials and tribulations of a Democratic White House under President Jed Bartlet, brilliantly played by Sheen. Regardless of your political leaning, these’s something in the episodes for everyone and we are suckers for any kind of programming around the presidents and the White House.
The series premiered at the end of 1999 and is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, Janet and I are re-watching the entire seven seasons and there are things that I have forgotten throughout the years. Several nights ago, we were watching an episode that centered on the “Red Mass” – something that I honestly did not recall from the first time I watched the series.
Part of me thought this was a fictional item the writers dreamed up so I went to work studying and found out that the “Red Mass” is really a thing! In fact, it is an annual church service, usually held sometime in early October, during which time the Catholic Church holds a special service for all the lawyers, jurists, judges, lawmakers and anyone else connected in some way to the legal profession. That also includes law professors, students and is also open to all government officials. It was first introduced by Pope Innocent IV in 1245 A.D. so it is definitely not something that the writers of West Wing dreamt up…
The early October date coincides with the beginning of what is referred to as the legal year and is a time to invoke the Holy Spirit to guide decisions and help our lawmakers to do what is right. As you may know, the Supreme Court of the United States convenes the first Monday in October and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to think this date may have something to do with the “Red Mass” timing.
Anyway, the name “Red Mass” refers to the liturgical color associated with the event. Red is the color used to designate the Holy Spirit; the color that is worn on Pentecost to signify the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is also the color used in many churches during ordinations, commissioning and elevations in many Christian denominations. Our daughter, Kristin, who was made a member of the pastoral staff at her church six weeks or so ago, was installed by members of the clergy who wore red stoles. I even wore a red tie for the occasion. On hindsight, I wish that I would have worn my robe and stole to her installation even though I wasn’t a formal part of the proceedings.
So red is a very powerful color in the church world and signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit in the proceedings. Of course, we all know that God is present everywhere, but this red coloration is a sign of respect and for special recognition of the Holy Spirit, the most overlooked member of the Holy Trinity.
I should also note that even though the Red Mass is hosted by Catholic Churches in various cities across the globe, it is an ecumenical service that is open to people of all faiths in a show of unity. Attendees ask for the wisdom, discernment, understanding, counsel, fortitude and even strength for the coming term.
Our verse for tonight, for obvious reasons, is about the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul tells us about the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 2:10-15, “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
My encouragement this evening is that as Christ followers, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. This is important to remember in times when we need help or are searching for the right words to pray. The Holy Spirit provides us with discernment about the things that Christ would have us do. My prayer is that all of us will, in our own unique way, pray for wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit while we work to become ever more Christlike in our daily lives. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…