All throughout the discernment process for ordination and, indeed, all throughout my priesthood until this very day, a verse from Psalm 69 has been a haunting refrain and prayer. It is not coincidence, I am sure, that it was appointed for the Daily Office on this, the first of the Summer Ember Days, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following Pentecost when the Church offers prayers for all those called to and serving in ordained ministry.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel (Ps 69:6, ESV).

It is a prayer of priestly first aid based on the medical model: First, do no harm. There are days when that seems an exceedingly low bar for ministry, and terrible moments when it seems almost beyond my reach. But, as I said in my ordination vows, this I will do, “God being my helper.”

In the Book of Common Prayer, we have this prayer for use on Ember Days: I commend it to you and covet your prayers for all those who are called to ordained ministry, and certainly for me, an unworthy servant.

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.