Rings of Power?

For me, the Order of the Mustard Seed Ring which I received when I made my Vows, symbolised the Prodigal Son called back to the Father's embrace; it was a token of love that touched me deeply.

*But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet... *Luke 15:22

I felt the love of this Father calling me back from a far country, through the community who invited me, the preparation process, and then sealed with the ring at the Vow Ceremony.

I was struck by Neal Lozano's words recently on the nature of authority symbolised by the ring - in a podcast titled 'A Ring on Our Finger: understanding spiritual authority.' What kind of authority is this I wondered?

Neal said:

'We've been given authority to serve the blind, the lame, the broken-hearted, to find the lost, to release the prisoner, to restore the weary, to feed the hungry, to set free those that are bound. We can move into any situation that is within our sphere of influence with confidence that we carry the authority and the presence of the One who sent us'.

How beautiful and heavenly a concept of authority and power this is - so liberating! One of service. Truly a Kingdom of God concept - as Jesus put it:

My kingdom is not of this world.
John 18:36

Neal went on to say that our service works best when we are attentive to both the presence and the authority together - moving in the Presence of the Holy Spirit as we exercise God's authority to bless and serve people. It is the Presence of God's love that makes all the difference.