It seems that Worcester Cathedral recently had a service for the blessing of asparagus.
As this is a matter that might be seen to have consequences for the wider Anglican Communion, I thought I’d offer a few thoughts.
- There can be no justification for blessing asparagus as asparagus is never mentioned positively in the bible. There is simply no biblical case for blessing asparagus. None at all. If God had wanted asparagus to be blessed, then surely Jesus would have blessed asparagus at the last supper. (1 Corinthians 15:3)
- In fact, we know that asparagus should not be blessed because Genesis says so. “In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, [asparagus] and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.” (Genesis 4: 3-4). You can’t pick and choose what the bible says. God’s holy word is clear and lasts forever.
- The blessing of asparagus promotes and validates the asparagus lifestyle. How will the church as a whole be able to maintain moral standards in one part of the world if asparagus is blessed in another? (Matthew 5:48)
- If we start blessing asparagus then it automatically follows that people will demand blessings for other kinds of vegetables. Although one might not personally object to the blessing of asparagus, one must take into account where this might lead. God will not be faithful to those who bless asparagus. (Amos 5:14)
- It would be entirely acceptable to offer a Thanksgiving for the Picking of Asparagus provided there are no rings used to hold the asparagus and any blessing must be upon the asparagus pickers and not the asparagus itself. (Ezekiel 44:30). The blessing of asparagus itself is sinful.
- The Archbishops have issued the following statement: “No asparagus is a problem, or an issue. Asparagus is made in the image of God. All of the asparagus, without exception, is loved and called in Christ. There are no ‘problems’, there is simply asparagus. (Romans 8:28) However, in order to maintain the unity of the church, it remains the case that asparagus blessings fall outside of that which is permitted for clergy of the Church of England following the last agreed Lambeth Conference statement on the matter. Clergy should continue to explore the maximum freedom possible when encountering asparagus whilst remaining within current guidelines. (Philippians 4:5)
- It remains the case that we all strive towards good disagreement (Philippians 4:2) about asparagus blessings whilst forbidding entirely the actual blessing of asparagus
- You cannot serve God and asparagus. The love of asparagus is the root of all evil. Do not associate with other eaters of asparagus. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
- There is an additional argument against the blessing of asparagus which stems from tradition. There should be no blessings of asparagus until the major churches who have the apostolic succession make an agreed statement on asparagus. This might be achieved in the form of an Ecumenical Asparagus Council of the Church however there remains some disagreement about who has the authority to call such a Council. (1 Corinthians 11:2)
- Always remember that God loves asparagus and that there have been some fine and courageous examples of self-giving asparagus throughout history. Many people are able to testify that some of their best friends have even eaten [unblessed] asparagus. So long as the church exercises gracious restraint in blessing asparagus, it will be possible for people to hear about the unique gifts that asparagus brings to the world. It may even be that God has a purpose for asparagus. (Exodus 9:16)
I’ve no objection to asparagus being enjoyed by consenting adults in private. It’s just once they start rubbing your face it.
On an Ecumenical basis blessing anything seems to be the flavor of the day. Perhaps we need to consider the ‘sacramental nature’ of creation and than we can see that Asparagus should be blessing us.
I am glad that the church doesn’t condone blessing of things without full discussion and possibly several decades of deep thought. I know that I sleep better at night for knowing that this is the case. I am bit worried though as last year I blessed some bees ~ twice! Am I going to hell?
Is there a written liturgy for The Re-Blessing of Bees?
isn’t there something about this in “Jesus Christ, superstar”? You know, the part where they sing “What’s the buzz, tell us what’s a-happening.”
In the copy of The Scots Gardner [sic] owned by John Gray of Haddington, the Episcopal Minister of Aberlady who was removed after the Restoration and returned to Haddington, there are many instructions as to bees. John Gray added annotations which suggest that he kept bees. His note for May is ‘Now set your bees at liberty’. All the above is pure fact but I speculate that this shows that Scottish Episcopalians were pioneers in the development of Liberation Beeology.
There may be an answer; let it bee.
Recipe in todays Seattle Times –
Asparagus Soup for Dad
Organic ingredients — especially for the broth, cream and sour cream — really make a difference here.
Serves 4 to 6
2 pounds asparagus
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 small yellow onion
3 tablespoons butter
¼ cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Sour cream for dolloping
Salt and fresh-ground pepper
How to prep asparagus: Rinse each stalk well, then chop an inch or so off the butt end; discard those bits. My family then stores the stalks, up to several days, at room temperature standing upright in a bowl of water; this (perhaps apocryphally) is thought to rejuice them. When you’re ready to cook, bend each stalk until it snaps partway up from the butt end; magically, the top is the good part to eat, but the bottoms are also used for this soup (or you can hoard them in your freezer for future asparagus stock).
For the soup: Bring the butt ends of the asparagus to a boil in the broth, then reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes. Strain and reserve broth (you can smush extra liquid out of asparagus butts with a wooden spoon if you’re motivated); discard asparagus butts. Sauté onion in butter until soft, sprinkling with a little salt and pepper. Cut the asparagus into about 2-inch pieces; reserve the dozen or so prettiest, smallest tips for garnish. Add the stock and the asparagus pieces to the butter and onion; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes, until pieces are soft to the bite. Blend in batches or with an immersion blender until fairly smooth. Stir in cream and then lemon juice; taste and season with salt and pepper (it’ll want some of both). Garnish each bowl with a dollop of sour cream and asparagus tips, plus a little pepper over the top.
Photo of the soup in a pretty bowl!
http://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/777159d8-1637-11e6-91b5-a1d66c74707a-1020×765.jpg
Lovely.
What a pretty picture! I believe that pattern is called “Franciscan,” so if the asparagus decides to go into a religious order, it will feel right at home.
I love the idea that asparagus can be either male or female. One wonders whether it can regenerate from one of the species – like some other parts of the created order. God’s world is so overwhelmingly inclusive, one wonders why the Church balks at blessing any part of it, especially us humans, made in God’s Image and Likeness. “Christus Resurrrexit! Alleluia!”
All commentators should seek out the actual denunciation of the asparagus by Christian Concern – the ever-amazing Andrea Minchiniello-Williams was on West Midlands local news decrying the liturgy!
I don’t believe asparagus can be blessed unless it really wants to be. I have seen little evidence of consenting asparagus
Good thought that. If one uses asparagus for the liturgicsl asperges could it be considered as already having been blessed – by virtue of having been immersed in a Holy Water stoup?
But asparagus makes one’s pee smell funny, so it has that against it. No one has mentioned that, I believe. Surely, a grave concern. On the other hand, our dog is fond of asparagus. So there you are. Beg pardon for any non sequiturs.
Kelvin (26/04/2017 at 15:11): well, Synodically, yes, no and May bee (that bee tomorrow). At least in the Scottish Apiscopal Hive (Continuing), the liturgy for ornery bees is unwritten. Only for the heavier umblebees has there ever been a written liturgid.
Regrettably, the office hymn listed for this Solemn Apiaristic Hour is the vacuous, vapid, turgid, flaccid, retch-inducing, mass-anæsthetising, musically-bereft, poetically bereft, shopping-mall-ready and one-wingèd ‘Bee still for the….’, so beloved by The Omega Project. Now don’t bee thinking that I dislike it or anything – apart from those minor quibbles it’s ‘awesome’. Yes and luverly, like the rest of the gawnOrff 1980s processed cheese in Barbie hymnbooks. Even the oh-so-tackily-‘modern’ plastic bigscreens can’t take the STING out of the bowdlerised, er, extraordinary renditions that PowerPoint inflicts on those hapless enough to gawp at them.
So shall we all now-the-bee in prairie; lettuce spray.
As devout Pharimoans, beating on our abdomoans, we thank thee God that we are not as other bees are, who though elect, beeing less fortunate than ourselves, of bumble origin, less privileged and having little sense of Welbybeeing, find themselves through no fault of their own unable to pollinate this gratuitous bile-rich rant (G A T St Luke, 18,11), which is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees, to build a porch so treach’rous (Vulgart sed non Anglicorum Exslt).
BEE – YU – TIFULL! – Waxingly lyriucal!
In the American Episcopal hymnal, there are two hymns written to the glorious Welsh tune, Hyfrydol. Each one mentions an insect, one of them evil (the sinful flea) and the other good (pure and spotless lettuce bee.) It’s a real honey of a hymn.