When I joined the Canadian Forces, I was concerned that I would be compromising my vocation and my ordination vows. I used my ordination Bible to swear my oath of allegiance. It is a combined Bible / Prayer Book. I opened the Bible to the pages for the end of the service of ordination to Deacon and the beginning of the ordination to Priest. While no one else was, I was acutely aware that while swearing my allegiance to the Queen, I was doing so as a servant and priest of God. Years later, while still a Chaplain and preparing a sermon on today’s Gospel lesson, I wrote the following:

I have taken the Queen’s shilling,

and made my allegiance to the Queen.

I hold the Queen’s commission.

I carry the Queen’s coin in my pocket

with her image on it.

I wear at times a medal with her image.

I am proud to be a Canadian

and a loyal subject of our Queen.

And I will honour Her with what is Her right.

But, I am made in the image of God.

I bear His mark in my creation,

and the mark of his Son in my Baptism.

I wear regularly the symbol of my faith

in Jesus Christ around my neck.

I have answered the call of God, and

hold his commission as priest in the Church.

I render unto the Queen what is the Queen’s,

and unto God what is God’s,

and I live knowing that:

My Commission with God is of a higher order

than my commission from the Queen.