Your answers
Many bishops are wearing black clerical shirts. What,
then, stops priests wearing purple?
All bishops are priests, but not all priests are bishops. Purple
was traditionally worn by the top people. Priests can wear any
colour, but should read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus,
and remember Jesus said: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23.12).
(Canon) John Goodchild
Liverpool
What, in John 1, is "the Word" [Answers, 21
February]?
I have always found it helpful to remember the comment of
Matthew Fox in Original Blessing that the original meaning
of the Hebrew used in the Old Testament (and echoed in John) for
"the word" is "dabhar", which means far more than simply
the written or spoken word, but rather the "divine, creative
energy" of God. A substitution of that phrase whenever encountering
the word "Word" can be illuminating: e.g., "The [divine, creative
energy of God] became flesh."
(The Revd) Ferial Etherington Flookburgh,
Cumbria
[Thanks also to the Revd H. W. Webb, of West Wittering,
Chichester, for an almost identical answer. Editor]
Your questions
What happens in a parish when both churchwardens are not
standing for re-election and no-one can be found who is prepared to
stand for election? P. C.
Why are there so many "difficult" (i.e. spiteful, rude,
or unforgiving) people in churches? V. W.
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