MISSIONAL ANGLICAN DISCIPLESHIP

REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH

2009-05-13T22:11:00.004-05:00

THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH

In the life of any parish, there will be times when very difficult decisions must be made. Our parish is no different. On 5 April 2009, the membership of Anglican Church of the Resurrection voted overwhelmingly to join the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC).

The REC is an Anglican jurisdiction that broke away from the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States in 1873. The REC currently has about 150 parishes in 7 Dioceses in the United States and Canada. The Free Church of England is the British expression of the REC with 24 parishes in two dioceses. The REC in Germany has 3 parishes with additional missions. There is also additional mission work in Russia, Africa, India, and most recently Nepal.

Historically, the REC was known as a low church jurisdiction., though the REC has become very broad church in the past couple of decades with parishes now representing all forms of churchmanship, including those of us with a more high church expression. The Reformed Episcopal Church can best be identified as being “classical Anglican” with its emphasis on the 39 Articles of Religion, the teachings of the Ecumenical Councils of the Church. The theology and praxis of the Reformed Catholicism of the historic Church of England, and orthodox and traditional Anglicanism throughout the world, is that which the REC strives to teach and live.

The REC has 4 seminaries in the United States. Reformed Episcopal Seminary, in Philadelphia, PA, is the oldest of the seminaries. There is also Cramner House in Houston, TX, Cummins Theological Seminary in Sevierville, TN, and Andrewes Hall in Phoenix, AZ.

The REC has a intercommunion agreement with the Anglican Province of America, under Archbishop Walter Grundorf. The REC is also one of the founding jurisdiction of the new Anglican Church in North America, which is the new Anglican Province the orthodox Primates and Bishops of the Anglican Communion are helping North American Anglicans to form in order to re-establish a traditional and orthodox Anglican Province that is fully connected to the Worldwide Anglican Communion. This new province we are now part of has approximately 800 parishes across North America and over 100,000 members. The new Province provides additional resources to parishes for missions and evangelism, collaboration and networking with other local parishes, additional seminaries, scholarships, grants, seminarians, insurance and pension programmes, youth ministries, and a host of other resources.

Deacon Mark I met with Bishops Grote and Sutton in Houston recently and were very blessed by their hospitality. Their genuine love for Jesus, and their desire to share Jesus with everyone who will listen, was apparent. They have asked me to send their welcome, greetings, and blessings to our parish. Deacon Mark and I also met with our new Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Central States, Bishop Daniel Morse. This meeting took place in Nashville. Bishop Morse has his doctorate in Old Testament theology, has taught in several seminaries, and planted and pastored a number of parishes. He also asked me to pass along his welcome and greetings. He plans to make an Episcopal visitation later this year with us.

If you have any questions about the REC, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to have the opportunity to answer any questions you may have. May we continue to be about proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be blessed in our Lord Jesus!

Fr. Greg

DO YOU KNOW HOW THE APOSTLES DIED???

2009-05-13T22:04:00.002-05:00

DO YOU KNOW HOW THE APOSTLES DIED?

http://www.talkjesus.com/evidence-bible-prophecy/9082-do-you-know-how-apostles-died.html

April 2009

Matthew - Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.

Mark - Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.

Luke - was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.

John - Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.

Peter was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

James, Just - The leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

James the Great, son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a life time of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel - Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

Andrew - Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.

Thomas - Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the sub-continent.

Jude - Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.Matthias - The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot was stoned and then beheaded.

Barnabas - One of the group of seventy disciples, wrote the Epistle of Barnabas. He preached throughout Italy and Cyprus . Barnabas was stoned to death at Salonica.

Paul - Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed through out the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.

Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles/disciples during their times for the sake of their Faith.

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:22

4 January 09

2009-01-03T09:20:00.003-06:00

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

4 JANUARY 09

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 89:1-30; Isaiah 44:1-8, 21-23; Colossians 2:6-17

Holy Eucharist: Isaiah 61:1-3; St. Matthew 2:19-23

Evening Prayer: Psalm 132; Haggai 2:1-9; Luke 2:34-40

REFLECTION

Perhaps, on New Year's Day, some of us are looking out for a good resolution to be acted on, by God's grace, during the next twelve months. Can we do better than resolve to do every day something which we naturally dislike, as an act of love and worship to our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was made to be circumcised and obedient to the Law, for us men? Such a resolution, even tolerably kept, will leave us at the end of the year happier, because more disciplined and freer men than we are now. It will have enabled us to make one good step on the way to our eternal home. To which may He, of His mercy, bring us, Who was born into the world, and died and rose that we might be His in life and in death and in the higher life beyond the grave.

***From H.P. Liddon***

COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

N/A

7 December 08

2008-12-06T22:06:00.002-06:00

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

7 DECEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 119:1-16; Isaiah 55; II Timothy 3

Mass: Romans 15:4-13; St. Luke 21:25-33

Evening Prayer: Psalm 67, 111; Isaiah 11:1-10; St. John 5:30-40

REFLECTION

FROM the duty of preparation we pass to the means of preparation provided for us by God; and the first of these to be considered is the Bible. We are to think of the Bible as a means rather than an end. The perfection of the Bible lies in its adaptation to human needs. The inspiration of the Bible is to be sought in its power to inspire human hearts, and is not of the letter, but of the spirit. The proof of inspiration given in 2 Tim. iii. 16 is that Holy Scripture is “profitable for instruction in righteousness,” just as the excellence of a teacher does not consist in omniscience but in his power to teach, and the excellence of a physician in his power to cure. The Bible is a practical book written with a practical object, “for our learning,” and if it fulfils this object, and when rightly used “makes us wise unto salvation,” it is the book we need, and it is futile to object that “it is not of such a sort and so promulged as weak men are apt to fancy should have been the case with a book containing a Divine Revelation.” (Butler.)

THE EPISTLE.

ROMANS xv. 4. A BOOK OF HOPE.

This is concerned with the Old Testament only, as containing the “things which were written aforetime.” We are to regard the Old Testament as :—
A. A Book of Hope.
Its very object was to kindle hope, and keep it alive. Its cove-nants’ all pointed to a better covenant; its sacrifices, so inadequate in themselves, all pointed to a more availing sacrifice that could take away sin; its prophecies, to a better dispensation surely coming in the dim future. To Christians this record has an abiding value, as the history of men who “trusted in God and were not confounded.” These Old Testament Scriptures were “written for our learning,” and still have a lesson for us.
S. Paul adds that we who have received good hope in Christ must be patient towards others.
B. A Book of Hope for the Jews.
Christ came to fulfil all the hopes of the Jews, and “to confirm the promises made unto the fathers,” and to set His seal on all the promises of the Old Testament. He came as “A Minister of the Circumcision,” i.e., with a special mission to the Jews. Their nation was big with Messianic hope. Christ came to show that this hope was not mistaken, and, as Prophet, Priest, and King, He fulfilled all that God had promised.
C. A Book of Hope for the Gentiles.
Many promises of God to the Gentiles were scattered through the Old Testament. Christ came to fulfil these, and “open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.” Nothing is more remark. able than the presence of these passages so apparently alien to Jewish exclusiveness, yet so necessary to prepare the way for a wider dispensation under the spreading tree that was to spring from the root of Jesse.
D. A Book of Hope for Us.
The Old Testament has still a message, and a message of hope. In our own trials and difficulties we may turn to the example of those who in darker days still kept faithful to the God of Hope, and were not confounded, and may draw lessons of patience and comfort. We have in this passage a most happy Pilgrim’s Progress— first “patience,” then “comfort,” then “hope,” and lastly, something higher still, “joy and peace in believing.”

THE GOSPEL.

S. LUKE xxi. 25. A MESSAGE OF HOPE.

This contains the New Testament message of Hope, and our great duty of preparation for the final Advent.
A. The World in Despair.
Without Christ the course of this world will be without hope. All will be distress, perplexity, fear, and foreboding, and those who have not learned to love Christ will ever dread His appearing.
B. The Christian Hope.
That which will make others fear will inspire the Christian with eager hope. He will look up and lift up his head as he sees redemption drawing nigh. He will look upon the coming storms as the equinoctial gales that usher in the spring and summertide of God’s Kingdom, and the perfect sunshine of Christ’s presence.
C. The Certainty of the Christian Hope.
It is sure as the sure word of Christ. All else shall pass away, but Christ’s words never, and each generation shall find them true. Science can only tell us that heaven and earth shall pass away, and that the powers of heaven shall be shaken. The Bible is a book of calm confidence. It sees the worst and yet hopes for the best, looking onward to the Kingdom that cannot be shaken, and full of faith in Him Who is “the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” Hence, from cover to cover, the Bible is a Book of Hope, and the Book of the God of Hope.

THE COLLECT.

A prayer for the right use of Holy Scripture, especially as a preparation for the Second Advent.
A. The Nature of the Bible.
It is both human and Divine, human because “written by holy men of old,” Divine because they wrote as “moved by the Holy Ghost.” Our Church recognises both elements in the phrase, “‘Who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written.”
The Bible is our lesson-book as “written for our learning.” It is not out of date, for every age may say it was written for our learning. If merely human it would lack authority to teach; if merely Divine we could not attain to its lessons.
B. The Right Use of the Bible.
This is to be a matter for prayer, for He by Whom it was caused to be written can alone cause it to be read with profit. It is not merely to be heard when read by others, but to be read by ourselves, and read with attention—not merely read, but studied andassimilated.
C. The Blessings of such Spiritual Study.
These are threefold—Patience which can endure trials, Comfort that can be happy beneath the rod, Hope that all trial will one day be at an end. Such spiritual study is to be a great means of preparation for the Second Advent as giving hope of everlasting life, to be welcomed with eagerness and retained with perseverance.

***PREPARATION BY THE WORD, by the Rev. Prebendary Melville Scott, D.D., from The Harmony of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, A Devotional Exposition of the Continuous Teaching of the Church Throughout the Year, S.P.C.K., London, 1902***

THE COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR ADVENT

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

SAINT FOR TODAY

St. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor (340-397)

Ambrose was governor of Northern Italy, with capital at Milan. When the see of Milan fell vacant, it seemed likely that rioting would result, since the city was evenly divided between Arians and Athanasians. (Explanatory Note: Athanasians affirm that the Logos or Word (John 1:1) is fully God in the same sense that the Father is, while Arians affirm that the Logos is a creature, the first being created by the Father. East Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Prebyterians, Reformed, Baptists, Methodists, etc. are Athanasians. The Watchtower Society (J_____h's Witnesses), the Philippine group called the Iglesia ni Christi (spelling?), and some other groups are Arians. The Unitarians started out as Arians, and some of them still hold this position.) Ambrose went to the meeting where the election was to take place, and appealed to the crowd for order and good will on both sides. He ended up being elected bishop with the support of both sides.

He gave away his wealth, and lived in simplicity. By his preaching, he converted the diocese to the Athanasian position, except for the Goths and some members of the Imperial Household. (Note: The Arian emperor Constantius (son of Constantine the Great) had sent missionaries (Arians, of course) to convert the Gothic tribes. The Goths were the chief source of mercenary troops for the Empire. Thus for many years the Army was Arian although a majority of civilians were Athanasian.) On one occasion, the Empress ordered him to turn over a church to the Arians so that her Gothic soldiers could worship in it. Ambrose refused, and he and his people occupied the church. Ambrose composed Latin hymns in the rhythm of "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow," and taught them to the people, who sang them in the church as the soldiers surrounded it. The Goths were unwilling to attack a hymn-singing congregation, and Ambrose won that dispute.

He subsequently won another dispute, when the Emperor, enraged by a crowd who defied him, ordered them all killed by his soldiers. When he next appeared at church, Ambrose met him at the door and said, "You may not come in. There is blood on your hands." The emperor finally agreed to do public penance and to promise that thereafter he would never carry out a sentence of death without a forty-day delay after pronouncing it. Less creditable, to modern Christians, is Ambrose's dispute with the emperor when certain Christians burned a Jewish synagogue, and the emperor commanded them to make restitution. Ambrose maintained that no Christian could be compelled to provide money for the building of a non-Christian house of worship, no matter what the circumstances.

Ambrose was largely responsible for the conversion of St. Augustine. The hymn Te Deum Laudamus ("We praise Thee, O God") was long thought to have been composed by Ambrose in thanksgiving for that conversion. The current opinion is that Ambrose did not write it, but that he may well have written the Creed known as the Athanasian Creed. He is perhaps the first writer of Christian hymns with rhyme and (accentual) meter, and northern Italy still uses his style of plainchant, known as Ambrosian chant, rather than the more widespread Gregorian chant. On the negative side, many Christians will regret his contribution to increased preoccupation with the relics of martyrs. He died 4 April 397, but (because this date so often falls in Holy Week or Easter Week) he is commonly remembered on the anniversary of his consecration as bishop, 7 December.

Ambrose is regarded as one of the Eight Great Doctors (=Teachers) of the Undivided Church. The list includes four Latin (Western) Doctors (Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Pope Gregory the Great), and four Greek (Eastern) Doctors (Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus -- not to be confused with Gregory of Nyssa, the brother of Basil).

***written by James Kiefer, www.missionstclare.com***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. AMBROSE

O God, by whose providence Saint Ambrose was sent to guide thy people in the way of everlasting salvation : grant, we beseech thee; that as we have learned of him the doctrine of life on earth, so we may be found worthy to have him for our advocate in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

30 November 08

2008-11-29T20:43:00.004-06:00

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

30 NOVEMBER 08>

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 46, 97; Isaiah 28:14-22; Hebrews 12:14-end

Mass: Romans 13:8-end; St. Matthew 21:1-13

Evening Prayer: Psalm 18:1-20; Isaiah 13:6-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

REFLECTION

From the first institution of the great Festivals of the Church each of them occupied a central position in a series of days; partly for the sake of Christian discipline. Thus Christmas is preceded by the Sundays and Season of Advent, and following by twelve days of continued Christian joy which end with Epiphany.

Under its present name the season of Advent is not to be traced further back than the seventh century; but Collects, Epistles, and Gospels for five Sundays before the Nativity of our Lord, and for the Wednesdays and Fridays also, are to be found in the ancient Sacramentaries, and in the Comes of St. Jerome. These offer good evidence that the observance of the season was introduced into the Church at the same time with the observance of Christmas: yet there is not, properly speaking, any season of Advent in the Eastern Church, which has always carefully preserved ancient customs intact; though it observes a Lent before Christmas as well as before Easter.

Durandus (a laborious and painstaking writer, always to be respected, though not to be implicitly relied upon) writes that St. Peter instituted three whole weeks to be observed as a special season before Christmas, and so much of the fourth as extended to the Vigil of Christmas, which is not part of Advent. [Durand. vi. 2] This was probably a very ancient opinion, but the earliest extant historical evidence respecting Advent is that mentioned above, as contained in the Lectionary of St. Jerome. Next come two homilies of Maximus, Bishop of Turin, A.D. 450, which are headed De Adventu Domini. In the following century are two other Sermons of Caesarius, Bishop of Arles [501-542] (formerly attributed to St. Augustine, and printed among his works), and in these there are full details respecting the season and its observance. In the latter part of the same century St. Gregory of Tours writes that Perpetuus, one of his predecessors, had ordered the observance of three days as fasts in every week, from the Feast of St. Martin to that of Christmas; and this direction was enforced on the Clergy of France by the Council of Macon, held A.D. 581. In the Ambrosian and Mozarabic liturgies Advent Season commences at the same time: and it has also been sometimes known by the name Quadragesima Sancti Martini: from which it seems probable that the Western Churches of Europe originally kept six Advent Sundays, as the Eastern still keeps a forty days’ fast, beginning on the same day. But the English Church, since the Conquest, at least, has observed four only, although the title of the Sunday preceding the first seems to offer an indication of a fifth in more ancient days.
The rule by which Advent is determined defines the first Sunday as that which comes nearest, whether before or after, to St. Andrew’s Day; which is equivalent to saying that it is the first Sunday after November 26th. December 3rd is consequently the latest day on which it can occur.

In the Latin and English Churches the Christian year commences with the First Sunday in Advent. Such, at least, has been the arrangement of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels for many centuries, although the ancient Sacramentaries began the year with Christmas Day, and although the Prayer Book (until the change of style in 1752) contained an express “Note, that the Supputation of the year of our Lord in the Church of England beginneth the Five and Twentieth day of March.” By either reckoning it is intended to number the times and seasons of the Church by the Incarnation: and while the computation from the Annunciation is more correct from a theological and a chronological point of view, that from Advent and Christmas fits in far better with the vivid system of the Church by which she represents to us the life of our Lord year by year. Beginning the year with the Annunciation, we should be reminded by the new birth of Nature of the regeneration of Human Nature: beginning it with Advent and Christmas, we have a more keen reminder of that humiliation of God the Son, by which the new birth of the world was accomplished. And as we number our years, not by the age of the world, nor by the time during which any earthly sovereignty has lasted, but by the age of the Christian Church and the time during which the Kingdom of Christ has been established upon earth, calling each “the Year of our Lord,” or “the Year of Grace:” so we begin every year with the season when grace first came by our Lord and King, through His Advent in the humility of His Incarnation.
In very ancient times the season of Advent was observed as one of special prayer and discipline. As already stated, the Council of Macon in its ninth Canon directs the general observance by the Clergy of the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday fast-days, of which traces are found at an earlier period: and the Capitulars of Charlemagne also speak of a forty days’ fast before Christmas. The strict Lenten observance of the season was not, however, general. Amalarius, writing in the ninth century, speaks of it as being kept in that way only by the religious, that is, by those who had adopted an ascetic life in monasteries, or elsewhere: and the principle generally carried out appears to have been that of multiplying solemn services, and of adopting a greater reserve in the use of lawful indulgences. Such an observance of the season still commends itself to us as one that will form a fitting prefix to the joyous time of Christmas: and one that will also be consistent with that contemplation of our Lord’s Second Advent which it is impossible to dissociate from thoughts of His First. In the system of the Church the Advent Season is to the Christmas Season what St. John the Baptist was to the First, and the Christian ministry is to the Second, Coming of our Lord.

***From a Commentary from THE ANNOTATED BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, Edited by JOHN HENRY BLUNT, Rivingtons, London, 1884***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

SAINT OF THE DAY

N/A

2008-11-08T12:22:00.003-06:00

SATURDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

THE OCTAVE DAY OF ALL SAINTS

8 NOVEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 79; Leviticus 26:27-42; Philippians 4

Evening Prayer: Psalm 65 Deuteronomy 19:11-end; St. Matthew 28:11-end

REFLECTION

From the Treatise on Mortality by St. Cyprian the Bishop and Martyr

Dearly beloved : We should keep in mind, and ponder well ; that we have made a renunciation of the world, and so are supposed to spend our time here meanwhile as strangers and pilgrims. Let us reflect on that day which can see us each at home in one of the many mansions. That day will see us delivered hence, and disentangled from the nets and snares of things temporal. It will put us back into the true Garden of Eden, that is, the kingdom of heaven. Is there any in a far country that hath opportunity to return to his Fatherland, and maketh not his way thereto with all possible speed? Was ever any in hast to make his voyage homeward, that longed not for a fair wind, that he might the sooner embrace his loved ones?

We reckon a paradise like unto Eden to be our home ; already we begin to know of the Patriarchs as our kinsmen. Why should we not make haste and run, to see our home, and to greet our kinsfolk? A great many of those we love are waiting for us there - father and mother and brothers and children. There in great company they await us, they who are sure now never to die any more, but not yet sure of us. O when we come to see them, and to embrace them, what gladness will it be both for us and for them! O what brightness of life is in that heavenly kingdom, where is no more fear of death, but the certainty of living everlastingly! O what consummated felicity! O what enduring joy!

There is the glorious company of the Apostles. There is the jubilant fellowship of the Prophets. There is the countless army of Martyrs crowned for victory in strife and in suffering. There triumph the Virgins who by noble self-control have tamed the desires of the flesh and of the body. There are repaid with mercy the Merciful, who by feeding and gifting the needy, have wrought righteousness, have kept the compandments of the Lord, and have exchanged heritages upon earth for treasures in heaven. Thitherward, dearly beloved brethren, let us hasten with eager hearts. Let us fain to be with these, so that soon their lot may be ours also, namely to be with Christ.

***From The Anglican Breviary, Frank Gavin Liturgical Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, 1998***

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY ATER TRINITY

O Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE OCTAVE OF ALL SAINTS

O Almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in onen communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou has prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

All Anglican Martyrs and Saints

Anglicanism has a rich heritage in those who have been martyrs for the Christ in various ways. Above is an ikon of St. Alban, often thought to be the first Anglican saint. Many others have followed in his footsteps. We simply cannot forget St. Patrick of Ireland, St. David of Wales, St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, St. Columba of Iona, St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, the Venerable St. Bede, St. Bridgit of Kildare, St. Kevin of Glendalough, St. Thomas Cranmer, St. Nicholas Ridley, St. Hugh Latimer, King St. Charles the I of Enland, King St. Edward, St. John Keble, the Anglican Martyrs of Uganda, St. Janani Luwum, and so many more who are not listed here. I commend them to your own reading. May we embrace them as our friends in the journey of faith and discipleship. May we accept their encouragement as we continue our own race to the finish line, so that we may joine them in the eternal embrace of God's love and mercy.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR ALL ANGLICAN MARTYRS AND SAINTS

We beseech thee, O Lord, to multiply thy grace upon us who commemorate all thy holy Servants, the Anglican Martyrs, Doctors, Missionaries, and other Saints : that, as we rejoice to be their fellow-citizens on earth ; so also we may have fellowship with them in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

7 November 08

2008-11-07T10:54:00.002-06:00

FRIDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

SEVENTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF ALL SAINTS

7 NOVEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 69:1-22, 30-37; Leviticus 26:1-13; Philippians 3

Evening Prayer: Psalm 80; Deuteronomy 18:15-end; Matthew 28:1-10

REFLECTION

From a Sermon by St. John Chrysostom

Whosoever wondereth, with reverent love, at the merits of the Saints, or whosoever speaketh, with oft much praise, on the glories of the Just, let him imitate their holy ways and their righteousness. For whoso findeth pleasure in the worthy deeds of any Saint should find pleasure in a like obedience in the service of God. Wherefore, if he praise, let him imitate. If he will not imitate, let him cease from praising. For whoso praiseth another ought to make himself worthy of a like praise. And whoso admireth a Saint ought also to strive for to be admirable for a like holy living. If we love the righteous and faithful because we respect their righteousness and faith, we ought for that very reason to do what they did, in order that we may become what they are.

It is not an hard saying, that we imitate their good deeds. For we now have their examples, whereas they of old times had no foregoing examples ; and so without being imitators of good examples, they nonetheless have become good examples to us. Thus, if we profit by them, others will profit by us, and Christ will ever be glorified, in a succession of servants of his holy Church. Begin at the beginning of the world, and consider these holy examples : Blameless Abel was slain ; Enoch walked with God, and was seen no more, for God took him ; Noah was found righteous ; Abraham was proved faithful ; Moses was the meekest of men ; Joshua was singleminded ; David was mild ; Elijah was taken up ; Daniel was holy ; and the Three Children were conquerors.

The Apostles, being disciples of Christ, are reckoned as the teachers of believers. Taught by them, the valiant Confessors give battle ; the triumphant Martyrs excel in victory ; and all the hosts of Christians, if they arm themselves with God, are ever vanquishing the devil. All these are men of like valour, though dis-similar in warfare, and so obtain glorious victories. Wherefore, O Christian, thou art an effeminate kind of soldier if thou thinkest to conquer without battling, or to triumph without struggling. Put forth thy strength. Contend like a man. Fight fiercely in thy battle. Know the warfare : the oath of loyalty thou hast taken ; the conditions under which thou has been accepted ; and the kind of war for which thou hast enlisted.

***From The Anglican Breviary, Frank Gavin Liturgical Foundation, Inc., 1998***

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS

O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by ouru frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Willibrord, Bishop and Confessor (658-739)

Willibrord was born in Northumberland, being the son of a godly Englishman named Wilgis, who became a monk, and was a most holy man. Before Willibrord was seven years of age, he was taken to the monastery of Ripon, and given in charge to Saint Wilfrid, the founder and ruler thereof, to be trained up in a holy life and learning. There, in a short while, he wonderfully stepped forward, not in knowledge only, but also in grace, and led the life of a monk until the twentieth year of his age. Then he had a desire for a harder life, and with the leave of his Abbot and brethren, went into Ireland to the holy men Egbert and Wigbert, who both had journeyed thither for the love of heavenly things. In their devout companionship and conversation, and amid the most excellent teachers of godliness and sacred learning, with whom the Isle of the Saints then abounded, tihs future teacher of many nations passed twelve years, and himself gained learning and character.

Somewhere around the age of thirty he was ordained priest, and was sent by Egbert to convert the pagans of Friesland, along with eleven companions of his own countryfolk eminent for learning and holiness of life, among whom were Saints Swithbert and Adalbert. He landed at Utrecht, and was welcomed, along with his companions, by Pepin of Heristal, who had brought Southern Friesland under his power, and who mightily helped the preaching of the Gospel, so that in a short while many were turned from theh worshipping of idols unto the Christian Faith. Thereafter Willibrord journeyed to Rome to seek a wider knowledge of missionary work in that great Christian centre, where he was welcomed by Saint Pope Sergius I who sent him back much comforted. Later, when Saint Wilfrid had consecrated holy Swithbert as regionary bishop, Pepin sent Willibrord to Rome to be consecrated Archbishop by the same holy Pope Sergius.

Willibrord returned to Friesland as soon as he could, and established his See at Utrecht. He proclaimed the Word of God with much fruit in Friesland, Holland, Zeeland, and Flanders, (even unto the uttermost tribes of those countries,) brake their idols, destroyed their temples and shrines, dedicated many temples to Christ, and established bishops, priests, and other ministers of the Church, eminent for knowledge and grace. He founded houses of religious of both sexes, among which the principal was that for monks at Echternach, in Luxemburg, the government whereof he himself took, and held until his death. At length, after a life of holy and unwearied apostolic labours, he passed away, to be ever with Christ, on November 7th, 739, and of his own age the eighty-first. He is usually reckoned as the Apostle of the Frisians, for it was through is labours and those of his blessed companions, especially of Saint Swithbert, that this barbarous people were made gentle in Christ. He was buried in the Abbey of Echternach. After his death his apostolic labours were taken up by many other Englishmen, eminent among whom were Saints Willehad, Marcellinus, and Lebwin, all of whom are commemorated in the Martyrology.

THE COLLECT FOR SAINT WILLIBRORD

O God, who didst vouchsafe to send thy blessed Saint Willibrord to preach thy glory to the Gentiles : we humbly pray thee ; that, by his merits and intercession, we may both see and know the things which we ought to do, and by thy mercy be enabled to perform the same. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

21 October 08

2008-10-20T21:59:00.002-05:00

TUESDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

21 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 25; II Kings 21:1-3, 10-18; Titus 2

Evening Prayer: Psalm 29, 36:5-end; Deuteronomy 4:15-24; St. Matthew 24:29-41

REFLECTION

In the Gospel reading today, found in Evening Prayer, we are again confronted with images of the return of our Lord. Take some time today to read this read through slowly, and then to comtemplate what St. Matthew says while looking at the image of the second coming above.

I would also like to quote from Volume I of, Commentary on the Psalms, specifically from St. Venerable Bede as he wrotes on both the Psalms given for Evening Prayer:

Psalm 29: "The completion of the Tabernacle signifies the perfection of the Church ; which, since it wageth wars against carnal vices, hath rightly received the name of a military tent.

The Prophet, foreseeing that the ends of the world would be brought to the faith, first addresses all the nations, commanding them to bring sacrifices to God. Next, in a sevenfold series, by various allusions, he enumerates the graces of the Holy Ghost : The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. But that he may show that the power of the Father and of the Holy Ghost is one, he telleth, thirdly, how the Holy Trinity effectuates Baptism, and how the Lord giveth virtue and benediction to him who is regenerate from it: The Lord maketh the water-flood to be inhabited, etc."

Psalm 36: "Take, then, The servant of the Lord, is no other sense than of Him, Who, being in the form of God, took upon Him the form of a Servant, and became obedient even unto death. The whole Psalm is said in the person of the Prophet. In its beginning he vehemently accuseth the despisers of the Law, and saith that they have no portion with God, commemorating also their wicked designs. Next, still praising God, he describeth the gifts that are bestowed as the reward of His servants, and saith that they are filled with the plenteousness of the House of the Lord ; and this Psalm is briefly concluded with the destruction of the wicked.

Fr. Greg

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Hilarion, Abbot (291-371)

Hilarion was born of heathen parentage at Tabatha in Palestine, five miles south of Gaza, about the year 291. Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Salarius, knew him well, and wrote his life, from which the following account is largely taken.

As a lad he was sent to study at Alexandria, where he bore a fair name for life and wit. There he embraced the religion of Jesus christ, and made wonderful headway in faith and love. When the name of Anthony became famous in Egypt, Hilarion made a journey into the desert on purpose to see him, and dwelt with him two months, to the end that he might learn his complete rule of life. After the death of his father and mother, he gave all that he had to the poor. And so, before he had completed the fifteenth year of his age, he went into the desert, and built a little house, scarcely big enough to hold him, and wherein he was used to sleep on the ground. He was a comely and delicate youth, and therefore set about to mortify and harden himself. His food was a few figs and some porridge of vegetables, and this he ate not before set of sun, but his pratyer was unceasing. Till his time neither Syria nor Palestine knew of the monastic life, so that Hilarion was the founder of it therein, as Anthony had been in Egypt. He had built many monasteries, and become famous for miracles, when, in the eightieth year of his age, he fell sick. As he was gasping for list last breath, he said " Go out, my soul; what art thou afraid of? And so he gave up the ghost.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. HILARION

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the prayeres of thy holy Abbot, blessed Hilarion may commend us unto thee : that we, who have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, may by his advocacy find favour in thy sight. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

16 October 08

2008-10-16T10:34:00.002-05:00

THURSDAY AFTER THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

16 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 10; 2 Kings 9:17-28; 2 Timothy 3

Evening Prayer: Psalm 16, 17; Ecclesiastes 9:11-end; St. Matthew 23:13-23

REFLECTION

Dear friends in Christ:

You and I have been called to be like Jesus, Who was sent into the world by God our Father to be the very tangible presence of God in the world. The world at the time of Jesus was a violent place full of suffering people who lived under the oppression of the powerful few. Yet, as God, Jesus came into the world in the most humble way and lived a very humble life, a very ordinary life that was not unlike that lived by the overwhelming majority of people in the world. At the same time, Jesus was the all powerful God of the universe. He came into our world, into our lives, to show us how to live and to show us the most amazing mercy, love and grace of the God who so desires to know each of us personally.

You and I are called into the very same humble ministry of building relationships, and reconciling persons and the world to our Lord Jesus Christ. You and I, as members of this family we call the Church of the Resurrection, are called into this powerful form of ministry by following the example our Lord has given to us. None of us are exempt from this calling, though our form of ministry may look different and be exercised in various ways. It is important we see the Church as the hub of our very lives, and that each of us are like spokes going out into various cultural contexts of our communities and neighbourhoods.

In the weeks and months ahead, as we begin to act on various ways of reaching out into our neighbourhoods, I ask you to remember the ministries of Church of the Resurrection in our daily prayers. Soak the life of our parish in daily prayers, and ask for the profound guidance of the Holy Spirit in the life of our parish. May each of us trust the Lord by stepping out in faith!!!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Hedwig, Widow (1174-1243)

Hedwig was a daughter of the Duke of Croatia and Dalmatia, and sister to the mother of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. She was born in Bavaria, about the year 1174, and at the age of twelve was given in marriage to Henry, the Duke of Poland, who was himself at that time only eighteen years old. And she was a true helpmate to him all his life, especially in the governance of Poland, and in the many troubles which came to him thereby. God gave them seven children, of whom only one survived Hedwig's own death, namely, Gertrude, who had become a nun of the Cistercian Abbey of Trebnitz, and finally the abbess thereof. Hedwig and her husband, soon after their marriage, founded this great Abbey, using the whole of her dowry for the purpose. It was the first convent for women in that region, and had a school for girls, and other institutions connected with it. Afterwards they founded houses of Augustinian Canons, of Franciscan and Dominican friars, of Cistercian monks, and of other religoius ; for they were anxious to propagate the true religion, and to give to their subjects the blessings of a wider Christian culture. After the birth of their seventh child, Henry and Hedwig took a vow of perpetual continence, in token whereof Henry never afterwards shaved, and so came to be known as Henry the Hairy. And Hedwig clothed herself in a plain, grey garb, and spent most of her time in long retreats at the Abbey of Trebnitz. But when Henry was wounded in a battle, she hastened to his side, and nursed him to health ; and when later he was taken prisoner by the Duke Conrad, she secured his release and arranged marriages between two of her granchildren and the sons of Conrad, whereby the war came to an end. The death of her husband soon followed, and then the deathh of all her children except Gertrude ; but Hedwig his her grief and sought comfort in God, that she might comfort her children's families. She was known not only for munificent charity to the poor, but also for her loving and intimate care of them. Once she spent ten weeks, patiently teaching a stupid peasant woman the Lord's Prayer. She shought out the most menial tasks and did them with royal courtesy. In October of 1243, she was taken ill, and died famous for good works. In 1267 she was canonized, and is venerated as the Patroness of Silesia.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. HEDWIG

O God, who didst teach thy blessed Saint Hedwig, forsaking the pomps and vanities of this life, to follow thee steadfastly in the lowly bearing of thy Cross : mercifully grant that, by her merits and example, we may learn to trample under foot the contemptible pleasures of this world, and cleaving steadfastly to thy Cross to overcome all things that are contrary to our salvation. Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

5 October 08

2008-10-04T20:53:00.002-05:00

THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

5 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalms 11, 12; Malachi 2:14-end; St. Matthew 19:3-9a, 13-15

Holy Eucharist: Ephesians 5:15-21; St. Matthew 22:1-14

Evening Prayer: Psalm 145; Jeremiah 31:31-37; St. John 13:31-35

REFLECTION

The theme for this Sunday is cheerful obedience and service to God. The Epistle today exhorts us to spiritual joyfulness: “be filled with the Spirit...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” This Christian joy is one of the great sources of spiritual strength and progress. The Christian life is not one of downcast eyes but of cheerfulness. The connection between this Epistle and the Collect is clear, the petition of the Collect echoing the teachings of the Epistle. We pray to be kept from all hurtful things which hinder us from cheerful service and, as the Epistle warns, from the carelessness, laziness and self-indulgence with which we are all so often tempted. The Collect concludes that, thus guarded and guided, we may cheerfully accomplish the things which God would have us do, in the joyful spirit described in the Epistle.
The Collect also takes its meaning from the Gospel reading which is the parable of the Marriage Feast of the King’s Son. This parable sets forth the privileges to which we are invited, and the danger of being too much absorbed in the cares and anxieties of the world. The invited guests refused the invitation and went their separate ways. We thus pray in the Collect that we will not be like the guests in the parable who refused to accept the invitation, but that we will accept the invitation of Jesus Christ to come to him and receive his salvation: “that we, being ready in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done.”
The second part of the Gospel reading, in which the man “not having a wedding-garment” is thrown out of the feast, teaches that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Each time we come to Holy Communion we are taught by our Prayer Book that we must prepare ourselves to come to the Communion with our hearts clothed with holiness, love and spiritual joyfulness: “...so that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast in the marriage-garment required by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 90). God invites us to his holy Table to receive the Body and Blood of his Son so that “our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body and our souls washed through his most precious Blood.” We dare not refuse that invitation, but let us come with cheerful and loving hearts. Many are invited to the feast. May today’s Collect be our fervent prayer, that we may be “ready both in body and soul” to serve him and “cheerfully accomplish those things that wouldest have done.”

***COMMON PRAYER: A Commentary on the Prayer Book Lectionary Volume 5: Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity to Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity St. Peter Publications Inc. Charlottetown, PEI, Canada Reprinted with permission of the publisher.***

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O almighty and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all th ings that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully ccomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Placidus and his companions, Martyrs (6th century)

Placid (6th century), Benedictine monk. As a young boy he was entrusted to Benedict at Subiaco to be educated and to become a monk. He once fell into the lake there and was rescued by Maurus, according to Gregory's Dialogues. A forgery of Peter the Deacon of Monte Cassino made him a martyr in Sicily with thirty companions, who in fact suffered before he was born—they were alleged to have been killed at Messina by Saracen pirates from Spain at a time long before the Moors had even reached Spain. However, this fantasy was ‘confirmed’ by the discovery of a deed of gift, purporting to be from Tertullus (Placid's father) to St. Benedict, giving him lands in Sicily; in 1588 relics were found at Messina which were believed to be those of the martyred Placid and companions. This led to the feast of Placid on 5 October being celebrated very widely and in particular by Benedictine monasteries, who regarded him as the patron of novices and customarily assigned this day to them as that on which they performed the liturgical functions usually reserved to the professed. In 1915, however, the Benedictine liturgical commission proposed to suppress this feast and to celebrate the boy Placid with Maurus. This, however, was refused until the next revision which took place about forty years later when the combined feast of Maurus and Placid was authorized for 5 October. Among the medieval calendars that of Abingdon kept Placid as ‘abbot and martyr’.

***from http://www.answers.com/topic/saint-placidus***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. PLACIDUS AND HIS COMPANIONS

O God, who vouchsafest unto us to keep the heavenly birthday of blessed Placidus and his companions, thy holy Martyrs : grant, we beseech thee ; that we may rejoice in the perpetual felicity of their fellowship in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

4 October 08

2008-10-03T23:08:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY AFTER TRINITY 19

4 OCTOBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 120, 122, 123; II Kings 2:1-15; I Timothy 3:1-13

Evening Prayer: Psalm Psalm 144; Job 42:1-9; St. Matthew 19:1-15

REFLECTON

In today's reading from the Gospel, found in Evening Prayer, we have Jesus teaching us about what He expects from marriage, as well as his love and respect for the little children. Today, as young people potentially prepare for marriage, there is a miserable failure to truly consider the importance of faithfulness, selflessness, and committment to the other. Even for Christians today, the majority of marriages end in divorce. We as Christians do not even take seriously what our Lord has to say about marriage, and how seriously our Lord Jesus considers the bond of marriage between husband and wife. We need to, again, read the Scriptures and apply the teachings of the Lord to our everyday lives without sugar coating or glossing over those parts we do not necessarily like. Our lives with truly be transfigured!

Again, this week, we hear of our Lord's love and concern for littlel children. During this time wherein we are daily praying Evening Prayer, how important it is we take the example of our Lord in His love and concern for little children. May we treat all our children, both those born and unborn, with the same love our Lord shows.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor (1181-1226)

Francis was born in 1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His early years were frivolous, but an experience of sickness and another of military service were instrumental in leading him to reflect on the purpose of life. One day, in the church of San Damiano, he seemed to hear Christ saying to him, "Francis, repair my falling house." He took the words literally, and sold a bale of silk from his father's warehouse to pay for repairs to the church of San Damiano. His father was outraged, and there was a public confrontation at which his father disinherited and disowned him, and he in turn renounced his father's wealth--one account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his expensive clothes, laid them at his father's feet, and walked away naked. He declared himself "wedded to Lady Poverty", renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor. In his day the most dreaded of all diseases was something known as leprosy. (It is probably not the same as either the modern or the Biblical disease of that name.) Lepers were kept at a distance and regarded with fear and disgust. Francis cared for them, fed them, bathed their sores, and kissed them. Since he could not pay for repairs to the Church of San Damiano, he undertook to repair it by his own labors. He moved in with the priest, and begged stones lying useless in fields, shaping them for use in repairing the church. He got his meals, not by asking for money so that he might live at the expense of others, but by scrounging crusts and discarded vegetable from trash-bins, and by working as a day laborer, insisting on being paid in bread, milk, eggs, or vegetables rather than in money. Soon a few companions joined him. Dante in his Paradiso has Aquinas say of him:

Let me tell you of a youth whose aristocratic father disowned him because of his love for a beautiful lady. She had been married before, to Christ, and was so faithful a spouse to Him that, while Mary only stood at the foot of the Cross, she leaped up to be with Him on the Cross. These two of whom I speak are Francis and the Lady Poverty. As they walked along together, the sight of their mutual love drew men's hearts after them. Bernard saw them and ran after them, kicking off his shoes to run faster to so great a peace. Giles and Sylvester saw them, kicked off their shoes and ran to join them....

After three years, in 1210, the Pope authorized the forming of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly called the Franciscans. ("Friar" means "brother," as in "fraternity", and "minor" means "lesser" or "younger." I take the meaning to be that a Franciscan, meeting another Christian, is to think, "I am your brother in Christ, and your younger brother at that, bound to defer to you and to give you precedence over myself."

Francis and his companions took literally the words of Christ when he sent his disciples out to preach (Matthew 10:7-10):

Preach as you go, saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is at hand." ... You have received the Gospel without payment, give it to others as freely. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, no spare garment, nor sandals, nor staff.

They would have no money, and no property, individually or collectively. Their task was to preach, "using words if necessary," but declaring by word and action the love of God in Christ. Francis was partial to a touch of the dramatic (see his parting from his father, for example), and it was probably he who set up the first Christmas manger scene, to bring home the Good News of God made man for our salvation, home to men's hearts and imaginations as well as to their intellects.

In 1219, Francis went to the Holy Land to preach to the moslems. He was given a pass through the enemy lines, and spoke to the Sultan, Melek-al-Kamil. Francis proclaimed the Gospel to the Sultan, who replied that he had his own beliefs, and that moslems were as firmly convinced of the truth of Islam as Francis was of the truth of Christianity. Francis proposed that a fire be built, and that he and a moslem volunteer would walk side by side into the fire to show whose faith was stronger. The Sultan said he was not sure that a moslem volunteer could be found. Francis then offered to walk into the fire alone. The Sultan who was deeply impressed but remained unconverted. Francis proposed an armistice between the two warring sides, and drew up terms for one; the Sultan agreed, but, to Francis's deep disappointment, the Christian leaders would not. Francis returned to Italy, but a permanent result was that the Franciscans were given custody of the Christian shrines then in moslem hands.

Back in Italy and neighboring countries, the Order was suffering from its own success. Then, as now, many persons were deeply attracted by Francis and his air of joy, abandonment, and freedom. What is overlooked is that these were made possible only by his willingness to accept total poverty, not picturesque poverty but real dirt, rags, cold, and hunger, and lepers with real pus oozing from their sores and a real danger of infection. Many idealistic young men were joining the Order in a burst of enthusiasm and then finding themselves not so sure that such extremes of poverty were really necessary. When there were only a few friars, they were all known to Francis personally, and the force of his personality kept the original ideals of the Order alive in them. Now that the Order was larger, this was no longer enough. In 1220 Francis resigned as minister-general of the Order, and in 1221 he agreed to a new and modified rule, which he did not approve, but could not resist. He died on 4 October 1226. The Franciscan split into the Conventual Franciscans, who held a limited amount of property in common, and the Spiritual Franciscans, who disavowed all property. They taught that Christ and the twelve apostles had held no property, singly or jointly. This view offended those who held property, and was declared to be heretical (proof text, John 18:10; Jesus said to Peter, "Put up thy sword...."). In 1318, several Spiritual Franciscans were burned at the stake in Marseilles.

A story is told of the days when the friars first began to have permanent houses. A beggar came by when Brother Juniper was at the gate and asked for a little money. Brother Juniper said, "There is no money in the house. But wait a minute. Last week someone gave us an altar cloth with little silver bells attached. We don't need those. I will cut them off for you. They will be as good as money." And he did. When the sacristan learned what had happened, he complained to the prior, who said, "We are fortunate that he did not give away the cloth itself. But send him to me, and I will scold him." Brother Juniper came, and the prior scolded him until he was hoarse. Brother Juniper noticed that the prior was hoarse, and went to the kitchen and cooked him some mint sauce. He brought it to the prior, who had gone to bed. He said, "Father Prior, get up and eat this mint sauce. It will be good for your throat." The prior said, "I don't want any mint sauce. Go away and let me sleep." Brother Juniper said, "It's good sauce, and will be good for your throat." The prior said, "Go away, I don't want it." Brother Juniper said, "Well, if you won't eat it, how about holding the candle while I eat it?" This was too much for the prior. He got up and they both ate.

From the first known letter from Francis to all Christians:

"O how happy and blessed are those who love the Lord and do as the Lord himself said in the gospel: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your whole soul, and your neighbor as yourself. Thereofore, let us love God and adore him with pure heart and mind. This is his particular desire when he says: True worshipers adore the Father in spirit and truth. For all who adore him must do so in the spirit of truth. Let us also direct to him our praises and prayers, saying: "Our Father, who are in heaven," since we must always pray and never grow slack.

Furthermore, let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neightbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will recieve from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be sinple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive toe very human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many readers are enthusiastic about Saint Francis of Assisi, a biography of Francis by G.K.Chesterton. A reader of these essays has also recommended Saint Francis of Assisi, a Biography by Omer Englebert.

***from www.missionstclare.com/english/people/oct4.html***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

O God, who by the merits of blessed Francis dost increase thy Church with a new offspring : grant, we beseech thee ; that after his pattern we may learn to despise all things earthly, and ever to rejoice in the partking of thy heavenly bounty. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

28 September 08

2008-09-27T21:18:00.004-05:00

THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

28 SEPTEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 72; Job 24:1-17; Titus 2

Holy Eucharist: Ephesians 4:17-32; St. Matthew 9:1-8

Evening Prayer: Psalm 80; Jeremiah 5:7-19; 2 Corinthians 13

REFLECTION

As bees[1] will never settle down in an unclean vessel,--and this is the reason why those who are skilled in these matters sprinkle the spot with perfumes, and scented ointments, and sweet odors; and the wicker baskets also, in which they will have to settle as soon as they come out of the hives they sprinkle with fragrant wines, and all other sweets, that there may be no noisome smell to annoy them, and drive them away again,--so in truth is it also with the Holy Spirit. Our soul is a sort of vessel or basket, capable of receiving the swarms of spiritual gifts; but if there shall be within it gall, and "bitterness, and wrath," the swarms will fly away. Hence this blessed and wise husbandman well and thoroughly cleanses our vessels, withholding neither knife nor any other instrument of iron, and invites us to this spiritual swarm; and as he gathers it, he cleanses us with prayers, and labors, and all the rest. Mark then how he cleanses out our heart. He has banished lying, he has banished anger. Now, again, he is pointing out how that evil may be yet more entirely eradicated; if we be not, saith he, "bitter" in spirit. For it is as is wont to happen with our bile, if there chance to be but little of it, there will be but little disturbance if the receptacle should burst: but if ever the strength and acridness of this quality becomes excessive, the vessel which before held it, containing it no longer, is as if it were eaten through by a scorching fire, and it is no longer able to hold it and contain it within its appointed bounds, but, rent asunder by its intense sharpness, it lets it escape and injure the whole body. And it is like some very fierce and frightful wild beast, that has been brought into a city; as long as it is confined in the cages made for it, however it may rage, however it may roar, it will be unable to do harm to any one; but if it is overcome by rage, and breaks through the intervening bars, and is able to leap out, it fills the city with all sorts of confusion and disturbance, and puts everybody to flight. Such indeed is the nature also of bile. As long as it is kept within its proper limits, it will do us no great mischief; but as soon as ever the membrane that incloses it bursts, and there is nothing to hinder its being at once dispersed over the whole system, then, I say, at that moment, though it be so very trifling in quantity,[1] yet by reason of the inordinate strength of its quality it taints all the other elements of our nature with its own peculiar virulence. For finding the blood, for instance, near to it, alike in place and in quality, and rendering the heat which is in that blood more acrid, and everything else in fact which is near it; passing from its just temperature it overflows its bounds, turns all into gall, and therewith at once attacks likewise the other parts of the body; and thus infusing into all its own poisonous quality, it renders the man speechless, and causes him to expire, expelling life. Now, why have I stated all these things with such minuteness? It is in order that, understanding from this bitterness which is of the body the intolerable evil of that bitterness which is of the soul, and how entirely it destroys first of all the very soul that engenders it, making everything bitter, we may escape experience of it. For as the one inflames the whole constitution, so does the other the thoughts, and carries away its captive to the abyss of hell. In order then that by carefully examining these matters we may escape this evil, and bridle the monster, or rather utterly root it out, let us hearken to what Paul saith, "Let all bitterness be" (not destroyed, but) "put away" from you. For what need have I of trouble to restrain it, what necessity is there to keep watch on a monster, when it is in my power to expel him from my soul, to remove him and drive him out, as it were, into banishment? Let us hearken then to Paul when he saith, "Let all bitterness be put away from you." But, ah, the perversity that possesses us! Though we ought to do everything to effect this, yet are there some so truly senseless as to congratulate themselves upon this evil, and to pride themselves upon it, and to glory in it, and who are envied by others. "Such a one," say they, "is a bitter man, he is a scorpion, a serpent, a viper." They look upon him as one to be feared. But wherefore, good man, dost thou fear the bitter person? "I fear," you say, "lest he injure me, lest he destroy me; I am not proof against his malice, I am afraid lest he should take me who am a simple man, and unable to foresee any of his schemes, and throw me into his snares, and entangle us in the toils which he has set to deceive us." Now I cannot but smile. And why forsooth? Because these are the arguments of children, who fear things which are not to be feared. Surely there is nothing we ought so to despise, nothing we ought so to laugh to scorn, as a bitter and malicious man. For there is nothing so powerless[2] as bitterness. It makes men fools and senseless.

***from Homily XV in Vol. VIII from St. John Chrysostom on the Epistles***

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Wenceslas, Prince and Martyr (907-935)

Duke of Bohemia (now, approximately, the Czech Republic) he was born in 902 and succeeded to the title at the age of 20. A devout Christian, he worked in harmony with the Church to bring religious and educational benefit to his people. He sought contacts with Christians elsewhere, including the neighbouring German Empire, whose political claims he was prepared to recognise. This brought him the hostility of a number of leading non-Christians in his own land, who gathered round Wenceslas’ own brother, Boleslav. Some henchmen carried out the murder of Wenceslas in 929 as he attended Mass, in a scene reminiscent of the death of St. Thomas Becket. In a fit of remorse, Boleslav tried to make amends by having his brother’s remains transferred to a fine tomb in the Prague church of St. Vitus, where they became a centre of pilgrimage. He was being honoured as a saint from at least 985 and shortly afterwards his head appeared on the country’s currency. The famous Christmas carol dates only from the 19th. century and tells of an event not known in Wenceslas’ biography. It is presumably a pious fiction, written to encourage Christian charity.

***from www.hullp.demon.co.uk/SacredHeart/saint/st_wenceslas_vaclav.htm***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. WENCESLAS

O God, who through the victory of martyrdom didst exalt thy blessed Saint Wenceslas from his earthly principality to the glory of thy heavenly kingdom : we pray thee, at his intercession, to defend us against all adversities ; and to suffer us to rejoice in his eternal fellowship. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

14 September 08

2008-09-13T21:46:00.002-05:00

THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS

14 SEPTEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 25; Jeremiah 13:15-21; Mark 10:35-45

Holy Eucharist: Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 14:1-11

Evening Prayer: Psalm 36:5 & 130; Malachi 2:1-10; Luke 13:10-17

REFLECTION

Today we are taught about “humility” and “grace”, and their relation to each other. The readings for Trinity XI also treated the subject of humility, but there we were shown examples of humility toward God in the character of St. Paul and in the prayer of the publican. Today we learn the harder lesson of humility in our dealings with men.

The Epistle tells us that we are to walk in a way worthy of our vocation, with all lowliness, meekness, long-suffering and forbearing one another in love. Lowly in himself, the Christian will be meek towards others, careful of offending them. We will be patient, forbearing and forgiving when someone sins against us. Pride, harshness and the bearing of a grudge have no place in the Christian’s character. Today’s Gospel continues the theme of humility, concluding: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
The Collect begs God’s grace to prevent us (that is, “go before” us), and follow us. Recalling the use of the word “grace” in II Corinthians 8. 9, shows us how grace is related to the humility described in the Epistle and Gospel: “ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” In other words, you know how great a favour and kindness he did us, in humbling himself to become mar and to suffer the death of the cross. As St. Paul says in Philippians 2. 5, 8: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who...being found in fashion as a man...humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

If we are to follow the example of our Blessed Lord and humble ourselves before others and do “good works” with all lowliness and meekness, we need the grace of God to work within us. Thus, on a Sunday when our Eucharistic readings emphasize humility and good works, we pray in the Collect for the grace of God to surround us.

We need God’s grace to go before us to prompt us with right desires, to give us opportunity to do good for others, and to guide us that we may be able to complete what we begin. We need God’s grace ever behind us to urge us on that we may not fall, to support us when we fail, to guard us from unseen enemies, and to bless our works with good results.

***From COMMON PRAYER: A Commentary on the Prayer Book Lectionary Volume 5: Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity to Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity St. Peter Publications Inc. Charlottetown, PEI, Canada***

COLLECT FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

***None for today***

13 September 08

2008-09-13T16:01:00.013-05:00

I thought that I would post a few pictures I have taken with my cell phone over the past week.

Above is a pic of the waves along a beach on Okaloosa Island (Fort Walton Beach). (9 Sep 08)

Above, another view of the same beach from high up on the beach. (9 Sep 08)

Above in a view of the Fort Walton Beach Pier. Notice the first out band of Hurricane Ivan beginning to show in the pic. (9 Sep 08)

Above is a much better pic of the first outer band of Hurricane Ike. We had a blustery downpour for about an hour.

Your truly. Yeah...those are my neon white chicken legs!

Storm surge from Hurricane Ike flooding into a park in downtown Fort Walton Beach. (11 Sep 08)

Anoter view of the storm surge from Hurricane Ike. (11 Sep 08)

A pic taken today of the still angry seas, high waves, and continued storm surge. (13 Sep 08)

11 September 08

2008-09-10T21:06:00.005-05:00

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY XVI

11 SEPTEMBER 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 126, 128; I Kings 8:54-63; I Thessalonians 4:1-12

Evening Prayer: Psalm 121, 122, 138; Job 1:1-12; Matthew 10:32-11:1

REFLECTION

In today's reading from the Gospel, found in Evening Prayer, we find some very strong admonishments from our Lord.

- We are to confess Jesus
- We are not to love family more than Jesus
- We are to take up our cross and follow Jesus
- We are to lose our life for the sake of Jesus
- We are to receive Jesus, thereby receiving the Father too

Heavy stuff, folks. You see...it's all about Jesus! Everytime we look at an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Our Lord, she is always pointing the way toward Jesus. In fact, in everything she does, she points toward Our Lord. It should be the same with us. All that we are and do should be all about Jesus.

On another note, I wanted to point out that this Sunday is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In today's Gospel we hear Jesus say, "...he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." All of us have a cross of some sort to bear. None of us escape that reatlity. May we ask God for strength and courage to pick up our cross daily so that we might follow Our Lord wherever He may call us to go.

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

31 AUGUST 08

2008-08-31T12:50:00.002-05:00

THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

31 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 49; Ecclesiasticus 5:1-10; Luke 12:13-21

Holy Eucharist: Galatians 6:11-end; St. Matthew 6:24-end

Evening Prayer: Psalm 26, 128; Ecclesiasticus 5:8-end; I Timothy 6:1-10

REFLECTION

In only five of the Collects for the Sundays of the Christian year is the Church specifically mentioned, and it is always as “thy Church”. The Church is not ours, but his. The Church is founded upon his authority and made holy by his Spirit. In faith, the Church of God looks to its Head, Jesus Christ, and trusts that his promise will be kept, “Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28. 20).

The “perpetual mercy” of God is required for the keeping of his Church because perpetual danger threatens it. In the Service of Holy Communion, the priest bids us pray “for the whole state of Christ’s Church militant here on earth”—”militant” because his Church is engaged in a perpetual warfare with the devil and his angels, and the wicked men who work his will until Jesus Christ shall appear in glory at the end of time. The mercy which alone can protect the Church is the mercy of the Cross which is unceasingly shown in accepting Christ’s propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins. In the words of the Epistle, the Church must bear in its body “the marks of the Lord Jesus”. The Church can never be made strong and holy by its sheer numbers, its political influence, or its wealth. Rather, the Church is strong and faithful only when its priests and laity alike are able to say with St. Paul in today’s Epistle: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” The crucified Christ is the Head of his Church. The central act of worship of his Church is the Holy Communion by which we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again” (I Cor. 11. 26).

In the Collect, we acknowledge that without God’s grace we cannot stand, and we ask that he will keep us from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation. Today’s Gospel teaches us that we are entirely dependent upon the grace of God. We need grace to protect us from harm, and grace to lead us to all that is good. Trusting in God and him alone, we seek first the Kingdom of God and are assured that we will receive his manifold and abundant blessings and comfort.

Our Christian service must be one of love, purity and singleness of heart. May we resolve to seek first the kingdom of heaven in our lives, glorifying in the Cross of Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto us, and we unto the world.

***from COMMON PRAYER: A Commentary on the Prayer Book Lectionary, Volume 5: Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity to Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity (p. 42-43)
St. Peter Publications Inc. Charlottetown, PEI, Canada***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; througth Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Aidan, Bishop and Confessor (d. 651)

The Gospel first came to the northern English in 627, When King Edwin of Northumbria was converted by a mission from Canterbury led by Bishop Paulinus, who established his see at York. Edwin's death in battle in 632 was followed by a severe pagan reaction. A year later, Edwin's exiled nephew Oswald gained the kingdom, and proceeded at once to restore the Christian mission.

During his exile, Oswald had lived at Columba's monastery of Iona, where he had been converted and baptized. Hence he sent to Iona, rather than to Canterbury, for missionaries. The first monk to preach was a man named Corman, who had no success, and returned to Iona to complain that the Northumbrians were a savage and unteachable race. A young monk named Aidan responded, "Perhaps you were too harsh with them, and they might have responded better to a gentler approach." At this, Aidan found himself appointed to lead a second expedition to Northumbria. He centered his work, not at York, but in imitation of his home monastery, on Lindisfarne, an island off the northeast coast of England, now often called Holy Isle.

With his fellow monks and the English youths whom he trained, Aidan restored Christianity in Northumbria, King Oswald often serving as his interpreter, and extended the mission through the midlands as far south as London.

Aidan died at the royal town of Bamboroug (Bamburgh), 31 August, 651. The historian Bede said of him: "He neither sought nor loved anything of this world, but delighted in distributing immediately to the poor whatever was given him by kings or rich men of the world. He traversed both town and country on foot, never on horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity. Wherever on his way he saw any, either rich or poor, he invited them, if pagans, to embrace the mystery of the faith; or if they were believers, he sought to strengthen them in their faith and stir them up by words and actions to alms and good works."

***from www.missionstclare.com***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. AIDAN

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that the devout observance of this festival of blessed Aidan, thy Confessor and Bishop, may be profitable unto us for our advancement in all godliness, and for the attainment of everlasting salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

29 AUGUST 08

2008-08-29T09:36:00.003-05:00

THE FEAST OF THE BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

THE FRIDAY AFTER TRINITY XIV

29 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 69:1-22, 30-37; II Samuel 19:1-10; II Corinthians 8:16-end

Holy Eucharist: Jeremiah 1:17-end; St. Mark 6:17-29

Evening Prayer: Psalm 51; Ecclesiasticus 31:12-18, 25-32:2; St. Matthew 6:1-18

REFLECTION

The Evangelists Matthew (Matthew 14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29) provide accounts about the death of John the Baptist.

Following the Baptism of the Lord, John the Baptist was locked up in prison by Herod Antipas, holding one-fourth the rule of the Holy Land as governor of Galilee. John the Baptist openly denounced Herod for having left his lawful wife -- the daughter of the Arabian king Aretas -- and then instead co-habiting with Herodias -- the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19-20).

On his birthday, Herod made a feast for dignitaries, the elders and a thousand chief citizens. The daughter of Herod, Salome, danced before the guests and charmed Herod. In gratitude to the girl he swore to give her anything, whatsoever she would ask, anything up to half his kingdom. Salome--on the advice of her mother Herodias--asked, that she be given at once the head of John the Baptist on a plate. Herod became apprehensive, for he feared the wrath of God for the murder of a prophet, whom earlier he had heeded. He feared also the people, who loved John the Baptist. But because of the guests and his careless oath, he gave the order for the execution.
Salome took the plate with the head of Saint John and gave it to her mother. Herodias buried his head in a unclean place. But, by tradition, Joanna, wife of Herod's steward Chuza, took the head and buried it in an earthen vessel on the Mount of Olives, where Herod was possessor of a parcel of land. The body of John the Baptist was taken that night by his disciples and buried at Sebasteia (now, Sivas).

The traditional also states that the judgement of God came upon Herod, Herodias, and Salome. Salome, crossing the River Sikoris in winter, fell through the ice. The Arab king Aretas in revenge for the disrespect shown his daughter made war against Herod. For this defeat, the Roman emperor Caius Caligua (37-41) exiled Herod with Herodias first to Gaul, and then to Spain.

***from missionstclare.com***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF THE BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

We pray thee, O Lord, that this solemn festival of John Baptist thy blessed Forerunner and Martyr : may effectually bestow upon us thy succour, to the attainment of everlasting salvation. Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Sabina, Martyr (d. 125)

St. Sabina, a noble pagan woman, wife of Senator Valentinus, became a convert to Christianity through her maid servant, Seraphina.After having had the body of Seraphina placed in the family tomb, she was accused of being a Christian by the Prefect Elpidius. She was beheaded because she publicly embraced the new religion, corageously professing her faith in Christ. Sabina underwent martyrdom on 29 August in the year 125 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Her relics, along with Sts. Seraphina, Alexander, Evenzius and Theodolus, are venerated under the High Altar in the roman Basilica that bears her name, Santa Sabina Martire.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. SABINA, MARTYR

O God, who among the manifold works of thine almighty power hast bestowed even upon the weakness of women strength to win the victory of martyrdom : grant, we beseech thee ; that we, who on this day recall the heavenly birth of Saint Sabina thy Martyr, may so follow in her footsteps, that we may likewise attain unto thee. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

26 AUGUST 08

2008-08-26T07:44:00.003-05:00

TUESDAY AFTER TRINITY XIV

26 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 40:1-16; II Samuel 17:15-23; II Corinthians 6:11-7:1

Evening Prayer: Psalm 36:5-end & 47; Ecclesiasticus 20:9-20; St. Matthew 5:17-26

REFLECTION

Today's reading from the Gospel, found in Evening Prayer, continues with the Sermon on the Mount. The focus of today's section of the Sermon on the Mount has to do with reconciliation. We are told not to kill; that to be angry with a brother without a cause is to bring judgement upon yourself. Further, we are told that we are to be reconciled before we come before the altar to bring our gift of sacrifice and praise. Indeed, peace is the end result of this reconciation. Yesterday, we heard Jesus tell us "Blessed are the Peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

So, what about us? Are we striving to always be reconciled to our brothers and sisters, whoever they may be? Indeed, such reconciliation goes beyond the bounds of the nuclear family, our parish family, or our friends. We are admonished to love our neighbour as ourselves. If that is the case, we should then seek reconciliation with our neighbour and seek their best benefit. By seeking such reconciliation we will enjoy the benefit of peace.

Dear friends, these principles are like ripples in water. They go out in concentric circles to places we cannot imagine. The carrying out of the Lords principles will have an impact on not only ourselves, but on many other people around us. We may not see the effects for they may be small and interior effects. Yet, we should not doubt the grace of God to work His miracle of reconciliation and peace in the culture around us...to the point of going to places we could never imagine. May God grant you His courage and strength to live the reconciled life of His peaceable kingdom!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

CHRISTIANS ATTACKED THROUGHOUT ORISSA STATE, NORTH INDIA

Following the murder of a Hindu leader, Swami Lakshmanananda, there are reports of widespread attacks on Christians in Orissa State, North India. The Evangelical Fellowship of India reports:

1) NUN BURNT ALIVE: A nun was burnt to death on 25th, Monday, after an orphanage was torched in at Phutpali in Bargarh district in Orissa during a bandh called by Hindu nationalist parties.Twenty children, who were at the orphanage, managed to escape but a priest suffered serious burn injuries in the attack.

2) RASANANDA PRADHAN TORCHED ALIVE: Another person, Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death when his house was set ablaze at Rupa village in Kandhamal district.

3) INFLAMMATORY SPEECHES TARGET CHRISTIANS: During the bandh inflammatory speeches spreading hatred against the Christian workers and the community were given by the VHP leaders. To gain the mass support,the activists have also carried the body of Swamiji throughout the town.

4) CHURCHES BURNT ALL ACROSS ORISSA STATE: Churches were attacked in Khurda, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal districts as also in the state capital, police sources said, adding 40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town.

5) BUSES AND VEHICLES TORCHED: Mr. Mishra Digal was beaten up, while the motorcycles of Mr. R. K. Digal and Jitendra were burnt. Several buses at Gee Udaigiri in Baliguda were burnt.

6) PULBANI CHURCH RANSACKED: The Church at Phulbani,and several other churches at Phiringia were attacked and ransacked. Pastor D. Tatson’s house was vandalized and his property burnt.

7) KAKRIGUMA CHURCHES VANDALISED: Churches in Kakriguma have been targeted by the mob that reportedly damaged the Assembly Of God Church and the Philadelphia Church.

8) WORLD VISION STAFF FLED FOR SAFETY: World Vision India office ransacked and the Staff has also fled to jungle for protection.

9) CHRISTIANS TAKE SHELTER IN FOREST FOR PROTECTION: A police camp at Barakhama was also attacked by the Hindu fundamentalists. With several houses being burnt down and people being made homeless, many Christians,particularly from Nua Sahi, Munda Sahi and Suna Tonga have fled into forests for their lives.

10) NUN RAPED: A young Catholic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar diocese working Jan Vikas Kendra, the Social Service Centre at Nuagaon in Kandhamal was reportedly gang raped on 24th August 2008 by groups of Hindutva extremists before the building itself was destroyed.

11) SENIOR PRIEST AND NUN INJURED: Fr Thomas, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kanjimendi, less than a kilometer away from the Social Service Centre, and another Nun were injured when the centre was attacked. They were taken to the police station in a disheveled state as the armed mob bayed for their blood. The Pastoral centre was then set afire.

12) BALLIGUDA CHURCH BUILDINGS DESTROYED AGAIN: On 24th August 2008 evening lynch mobs at the block headquarters of Balliguda, in the very heart of Kandhamal district, which had seen much violence between 24th and 26th December 2007, attacked and destroyed a Presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the properties.

13) CHRISTIAN BOYS HEADS TONSURED: The mobs in Balliguda caught hold of two boys of the Catholic hostel and tonsured their heads.

14) PHULBANI CHURCH DAMAGED: On 25th august 2008 morning followers of the late Lakshmanananda Saraswati damaged the Catholic Church in Phulbani, the district headquarter town.

15) MOTHER TERESA BROTHERS ASHRAM ATTACKED: Mobs attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers’ residence and hospital in Srasanada, destroyed once before and rebuilt two months ago, and beat up the patients.

16) BHUBANESWAR BISHOP’S HOUSE ATTACKED: On the morning of 25th August 2008, violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compounds of Catholic Church and Archbishop’s house in the heart of the Capital of the State of Orissa. They could not enter because of the police presence. They threw stones at the guesthouse of Archbishop’s House, damaging windows.

17) DUBURI PARISH: Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the parish are missing.

18) Mr. Jamaj Pariccha, Director of Gramya Pragati, is attacked and his property damaged, vehicle looted and burnt.

19) A Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in Bhubaneswar is also damaged.

20) Christian institutions like St. Arnold’s School (Kalinga Bihar) and NISWASS report some damage.

21) BOUDH DISTRICT [Adjoining Kandhamal]: Fundamentalists enter the Catholic parish church and destroy property. People are fleeing to safer places. But nothing seems safe.

22) MUNIGUDA: Muniguda Catholic Fathers and Nuns’ residence have been damaged.

23) SAMBALPUR: HM Sister’s residence (Ainthapalli) has suffered damage.

24) PADANPUR: One priest is attacked and admitted to a hospital. Hostel boys and the in charge have moved away from the place.

25) MADHUPUR: Madhupur Catholic Church currently under attack.

26) SMALL CHURCHES: Attempted violence on small churches in various districts, including Padampur, Sambalpur near GM College, Talsera, Dangsoroda, Narayanipatara, Muniguda, Tummiibandh, Tangrapada, Phulbani, Balliguda, Kalingia, Chakapad, Srasanranda.

27) VILLAGE CHRISTIAN HOUSES ATTACKED: Houses attacked on forest hamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam), Tiangia (G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali.

28) KALAHANDI DISTRICT: Houses burnt even though the district is more than 300 kilometers from the place where Swami Lakshmanananda was killed.

29) PASTORS’ HOUSE BURNT: Pastor Sikandar Singh of the Pentecostal Mission beaten up and his house burnt in Bhawanipatna.

30) KHARIHAR: 3 Christian shops were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Das and Pastor I M Senapati beaten up.

31) AAMPANI: Pastor David Diamond Pahar, Pastor Pravin Ship, Pastor Pradhan and Pastor Barik beaten up and chased away with their families.

32) NAKTIKANI: Mob surrounds village to attack Christians.
The government has sent forces, it is reported. A delegation of Christian leaders under the leadership of Archbishop Vincent Concessao, the President of National United Christian Forum of CBCI, NCCI and EFI, met the Home Minister Shri Shiv Raj Patil and submitted a memorandum. The Home Minister assured the delegation all necessary steps have been taken to maintain peace and harmony and protect the innocent. He also expressed his helplessness by stating that police protection cannot be given in all villages.

EFI request prayers at this time so that peace and harmony may prevail.

[This list is compiled with assistance from Archbishop's House, Bhubaneswar, John Dayal, Light Foundation and EFI News reporters and other sources]

Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, General Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India, New Delhi, India

SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today

21 AUGUST 08

2008-08-21T07:29:00.003-05:00

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY XIII

21 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 25; II Samuel 15:13-29; II Corinthians 4

Evening Prayer: Psalm 27; Ecclesiasticus 15:11-end; St. Matthew 3

REFLECTION

In today's Gospel reading, found in Evening Prayer, we hear the words of St. John the Baptist, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" What important words these are, and yet we hear these words so little in the Church today, but less in our surrounding culture. There are three ways I would like to stress these words today.

First, we need to take these words personally, and allow our words AND our deeds, to preach the truth and good news these words proclaim. We need to live and proclaims lives of repentance on a daily basis. Repentance isn't something we do only once in our lives, nor is it something we may focus on for an hour, or part of an hour, on Sunday morning. Repentance is something we must focus on every moment of every day of our lives. Repentance can be a joyful thing, because we change our minds and lives in such a way that brings clarity, peace, and reconciliation with God, ourselves, each other and our environment.

Second, we need to challenge our Church to repentance. We, the Church, must repent of the ways we have been so focused on ourselves, our silly disputes with each other, our focus on all the distictives of our beautiful Anglican Christian faith, and the enertia of our sinful pride that seems to pull us down and cause in us an inability and disinterest in doing much more than having good conversation about what we should be doing (I'm preaching to the choir here, mostly myself). All of the above must tranform, translate, change into real active deed of ministry to, with, and in the world around us. We must be lights of Christ, and signal communities of the peace and reconciliation of our Lord Jesus Christ in a world that is hungry and hurting. We are called to DO the deeds of Jesus to the lost, lonely, labeled, and least of our neighours.

Third, we need to challenge our culture and societal institutions to repentance. We, by our silence and outright involvement with societal sin, have been complicit with the violence and injustice that is perpetrated on those who do not have a voice in society. We must have Gospel based ministries that challenges that violence and injustice with God's justice, and the Prince of Peace, so that repentance, healing, and reconciliation can be brought to those suffering from such violence and injustice.

Take time today to read through today's Gospel reading several times, and to read it slowly. Take time to listen to what the Holy Spirit might be saying to you, and challenging you to do, through this reading. Lastly, pray that you, and the whole Church and world, might be challenged to hear and do repentance. In doing so, you will surely find joy.

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CELTIC THOUGHTS

Lord, be with us thid day, Within us to purify us; Above us to draw us up; Beneath us to sustain us; Before us to lead us; Behind us to restrain us; Around us to protect us. Amen.

St. Patrick

***From "A Celtic Primer; The complete Celtic worship resource and collection," Brendan O' Malley, Morehouse Publishing, 2002***

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Jane Frances De Chantal, Widow (1572-1641)

In 1592 she married Baron de Chantal, and lived in the feudal castle of Bourbilly. She restored order in the household, which was on the brink of ruin, and brought back prosperity. During her husband's absence at the court, or with the army, when reproachd for her extremely sober manner of dressing, her reply was: "The eyes which I must please are a hundred miles from here". She found more than once that God blessed with miracles the care she gave the suffering members of Christ. St. Francis de Sales's eulogy of her characterizes her life at Bourbilly and everywhere else: "In Madame de Chantal I have found the perfect woman, whom Solomon had difficulty in finding in Jerusalem". Baron de Chantal was accidently killed by a harquebus while out shooting in 1601. Left a widow at twenty-eight, with four children, the broken-hearted baroness took a vow of chastity. In all her prayers she besought God to send her a guide.

During Lent, 1604, she visited her father at Dijon, where St. Francis de Sales was preaching at the Sainte Chapelle. He became her spiritual director.

She founded the Congregation of the Visitation which was canonically established at Annecy on Trinity Sunday, June 6, 1610. Its aim was to receive, with a view to their spiritual advancement, young girls and even widows who had not the desire or strength to subject themselves to the austere ascetical practices in force in all the religious orders at that time. St. Francis de Sales was especially desirous of seeing the realization of his cherished method of attaining perfection, which consisted in always keeping one's will united to the Divine will, in taking so to speak one's soul, heart, and longings into one's hands and giving them into God's keeping, and in seeking always to do what is pleasing to Him. "I do always the things that please him" (John 8:29). The two holy founders saw their undertaking prosper. At the time of the death of St. Francis de Sales in 1622, the order already counted thirteen houses; there were eighty-six when St. Jane Frances died (December 13, 1641) and 164 when she was canonized.

The remainder of the saint's life was spent under the protection of the cloister in the practice of the most admirable virtues. If a gentle kindness, vivified and strengthened by a complete spirit of renunciation, predominates in St. Francis de Sales, it is firmness and great vigor which prevails in St. Jane Frances; she did not like to see her daughters giving way to human weakness. Her trials were continuous and borne bravely, and yet she was exceedingly sensitive.
Her reputation for sanctity was widespread. Queens, princes, and princesses flocked to the reception-room of the Visitation. Wherever she went to establish foundations, the people gave her ovations. "These people", she would say confused, "do not know me; they are mistaken". Her body is venerated with that of St. Francis de Sales in the church of the Visitation at Annecy. She was beatified in 1751, canonized in 1767.

***From www.wf-f.org/StJaneFdeChantal.html***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL

Almighty and most merciful God, who didst enkindle blessed Jane Frances with the fire of thy love, and endue her with wondrous constancy to walk stedfastly in all the paths of her life on the way of perfection, and who through her didst vouchsafe to glorify thy Church with a new offspring : grant, we pray thee, by her merits and intercession ; that we, who , knowing the frailty of our mortal nature do put our trust and confidence in thy mighty power, may, by the help of thy heavenly grace, overcome all things that are contrary to our salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

20 AUGUST 08

2008-08-19T21:04:00.004-05:00

WEDNESDAY AFTER TRINITY XIII

20 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 17: II Samuel 15:1-12; II Corinthians 3

Evening Prayer: Psalm 18:1-20; Ecclesiasticus 4:20-5:7; Matthew 2:13-end

REFLECTION

Today's Gospel, found in Evening Prayer, mentions what is often called the Flight into Egypt. After the Magi do not return to Herod, he becomes afraid of all the rumours about the possibility of a challenger to his throne. A prophesy about a king being born in Bethlehem is being told again and again around Bethlehem and the surrounding area, including Jerusalem. In order to make sure any potential challenger to his throne never lives long enough to be a real thread, as this prophesy might suggest, King Herod has all the male children under the age of two murdered.

In the meantime, the Holy Family have received guidance from God, through a dream, that they are to depart immediately for Egypt. Joseph gathers Mary and Jesus and departs for Egypt. Many traditions abound regarding the journey to Egypt, as well as the years Jesus and the Holy Family lived in Egypt. God sends the Holy Family, Jesus in particular, into the safety of obscurity.

The Holy Family are examples of real discipleship to God. Even through doubts, they listen to the warnings and guidance of Angels and dreams that God sends them in order to follow God faithfully. Such examples are rare in our own day, yet we are called into such a radical relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

In the midst of a spiritual world that surrounds us, that is so very often very hostile to us, it is imperative we take time out to listen to God's voice. There are many ways God speaks to us. Scripture, tradition, community, family, inner ear of the heart, dreams, friends, events, etc., are all ways God may use to speak to us. But, we must be sensitive enough to hear God's voice, and we must have such peace and quietness in our minds and hearts in order to hear God.

Take time today to meditate on the experience of the Holy Family as they listened to God during these dangerous days. Take time out to listen to God through this example. What is our Lord Jesus saying to you? Be sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit, and surely do not fail to follow what God call you to. Such experiences are generally to be discussed with your Spiritual Father, and maybe even with others of the Community of Faith in which you reside. Be blessed today, and open yourself to the awesome experience of listening to God's voice.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor (1090-11553)

Bernard, third son of a Burgundian nobleman, was born in 1090. His brothers were trained as soldiers, but Bernard from youth was destined for scholarship. One Christmas Eve as a child he had a dream about the infant Christ in the manger; and the memory of it, and consequent devotion to the mystery of the Word made flesh, remained with him throughout his life.

Bernard had good prospects of success as a secular scholar, but he began to believe that he was called to the monastic life, and after a period of prayer for guidance, he decided at age 22 to enter the monastery of Citeaux (Latin Cistercium, appearing on modern maps as Corcelles-les-Citeaux, 47:10 N 5:05 E), an offshoot of the Benedictines which had adopted a much stricter rule than theirs, and became the founding house of the Cistercian (Trappist) order. (Actually, the Trappists are a reformed (i.e. stricter) offshoot of the Cistercians, who are a stricter offshoot of the Benedictines.) He persuaded four of his brothers, one uncle, and 26 other men to join him. They were the first novices that Citeaux had had for several years.

After three years, the abbot ordered Bernard to take twelve monks and found a new house at La Ferte. The first year was one of great hardship. They had no stores and lived chiefly on roots and barley bread. Bernard imposed such severe discipline that his monks became discouraged, but he realized his error and became more lenient. The reputation of the monastery, known as Clairvaux (48:09 N 4:47 E), spread across Europe. Many new monks joined it, and many persons wrote letters or came in person to seek spiritual advice. By the time of his death, 60 new monasteries of the Cistercian order were established under his direction.

For four years after 1130 Bernard was deeply involved with a disputed papal election, championing the claims of Innocent II against his rival Anacletus II. He travelled throughout France, Germany, and Italy mustering support for his candidate (and, it should be added, preaching sermons denouncing injustices done to Jews), and returned from one of these journeys with Peter Bernard of Paganelli as a postulant for the monastery. The future Pope Eugenius III spent the next year stoking the monastery fires. Years later, Bernard wrote a major treatise of advice to Eugenius on the spiritual temptations of spiritual power.

The papal election was not the only dispute in which Bernard became involved. He was highly critical of Peter Abelard, one of the most brilliant theologians of the day. Bernard believed that Abelard was too rationalistic in his approach, and failed to allow sufficiently for the element of mystery in the faith. When Abelard rejected some of the ways of stating Christian doctrines to which Bernard was accustomed, Bernard concluded, perhaps too hastily, that this was equivalent to rejecting the doctrine itself. A conference was scheduled at Sens (48:12 N 3:18 E), where Abelard's views were to be examined, but soon after it began Abelard decided that he was not about to get a fair hearing, announced that he was appealing to Rome, and left. He set out for Rome and got as far as Cluny, where he stopped. Peter the Venerable, the abbot, was a friend of both Abelard and Bernard, and managed to reconcile them before they died.

One of Bernard's most influential acts, for better or worse, was his preaching of the Second Crusade. The First Crusade had given the Christian forces control of a few areas in Palestine, including the city of Edessa (now Urfa). When Moslem forces captured Edessa in 1144, King Louis VII of France (not to be confused with St. Louis IX, also a Crusader, but more than a century later) was eager to launch a crusade to retake Edessa and prevent a Moslem recapture of Jerusalem (31:47 N 35:13 E). He asked Bernard for help, and Bernard refused. He then asked the Pope to order Bernard to preach a Crusade. The pope gave the order, and Bernard preached, with spectacular results. Whole villages were emptied of able-bodied males as Bernard preached and his listeners vowed on the spot to head for Palestine and defend the Sacred Shrines with their lives.

The preaching of the Crusade had an ugly side-effect. In the Rhineland, a monk named Raoul wandered about telling crowds that if they were going to fight for the faith, the logical first step was to kill the Jews who were near at hand. There were anti-Jewish riots in Mainz (50:00 N 8:16 E, in the Rhineland), where the archbishop sheltered the Jews, or many of them, in his palace, and sent an urgent message to Bernard to come before both he and they were killed. Bernard came. He called Raoul arrogant and without authority, a preacher of mad and heretical doctrines, a liar and a murderer. Then he he got nasty. Raoul sneaked off the scene, and the riots were over. From that day to this, Bernard has been remembered among Rhineland Jews and their descendants as an outstanding example of a "righteous Gentile," and many of them (e.g. Bernard Baruch) bear his name.

As for the Crusade, things went wrong from the start. The various rulers leading the movement were distrustful of one another and not disposed to work together. Of the soldiers who set out (contemporary estimates vary from 100,000 to 1,500,000), most died of disease and starvation before reaching their goal, and most of the remainder were killed or captured soon after their arrival. The impact on Bernard was devastating, and so was the impact on Europe.

In 1153, Bernard journeyed to reconcile the warring provinces Metz (around 49:00 N 6:10 E) and Lorraine (around 49:00 N 5:30 E). He persuaded them to peace and to an agreement drawn up under his mediation, and then, in failing health, returned home to die.
If Bernard in controversy was fierce and not always fair, it partly because he was a man of intense feeling and dedication, quick to respond to any real or supposed threat to what he held sacred. It is his devotional writings, not his polemical ones, that are still read today. Among the hymns attributed to him are the Latin originals of "O Sacred Head, sore wounded," "Jesus, the very thought of Thee," "O Jesus, joy of loving hearts," "Wide open are Thy hands (to pay with more than gold the awful debt of guilt and sin, forever and of old--see the Lutheran Book of Worship et alibi)," and "O Jesus, King most wonderful." [for these hymns, see the Cyberhymnal]. His sermons on the Song of Songs, treated as an allegory of the love of Christ, are his best-known long work.

***By James Kiefer at http://www.missionstclare.com/***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

O God, by whose providence blessed Bernard was sent to guide thy people in the way of everlasting salvation : grant we beseech thee, that as we have learned of him the doctrine of life on earth, so we may be found worthy to have him for our advocate in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

15 AUGUST 08

2008-08-14T08:50:00.002-05:00

THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY XII

15 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 137:1-6 & 138; II Samuel 9:1-9, 13; Luke 23:50-24:12

Holy Eucharist: Ecclesiasticus 24:7-15a; St. Luke 10:38-42

Evening Prayer: Psalm 144; Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10; Romans 14:13-end

REFLECTION

Today is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the day in which we commemorate the death, or falling asleep in the Lord, of the Mother of God. In the ikon above you see the body of the Blessed Virgin laying in repose, and her soul wrapped in swaddling clothes in the arms of our Lord, and her Lord and Son.

Take time today to consider the depths of love our Lord has for both body and soul, and the meaning contained in the ikon above.

From a Sermon by St. Johnn of Damascus:

"This day the Ark of the living God even the holy and living Ark, wherein once its own Maker had been held, is borne to its resting place in that Temple of the Lord which is not made with hands. Her ancestor David leapeth before it. And in the company with him the Angels dance, the Archangels sing aloud, the Virtues ascribe glory, the Principalities shout for joy, the Powers make merry, the Dominions rejoice, the thrones keep holiday, the Cherubim utter praise, and the Seraphim proclaim its glory. This day the Eden of the new Adam receiveth her who was the living garden of delight, wherein the condemnation was annulled, wherein the Tree of Life was planted, wherein our nakedness was covered."

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

We beseech thee, O Lord ; mercifully to forgive the sins of thy people ; that we, who of ourselves can do nothing that is acceptable unto thee, may be succoured by the intercession of the Mother of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWELTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today

10 AUGUST 08

2008-08-10T08:01:00.003-05:00

THE TWELTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

10 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 139; Ecclesiasticus 15:11-end; Philippians 2:12-18

Holy Eucharist: II Corinthians 3:4-9; St. Mark 7:31-37

Evening Prayer: Psalm 27; Tobit 13:1-5, 7-11; Romans 15:14-21

REFLECTION

Today's reading the the Gospel, found in the Holy Eucharist, is about Jesus' healing of the man who is mute and deaf. Jesus takes this man aside an in a very tangible way heals him. His ears and tongue are released. Those who observe this healing are charged not to talk about it, but they are simply unable to contain what they have heard and seen. They proclaim the works of Jesus all around.

You and I are often deaf and mute. So often we are not able to hear the call of the Lord to speak lovingly of His truth, peace, and mercy to us individually as well as to the entire creation. Our mouths remain silent out of fear or cynicism. So often we turn a deaf ear to the pain of the world around us. Our hearts do not break at the sin and brokenness of creation: individual lives, political systems, economics, wars between nations, the poor, the environment, the homeless, the hungry, those wrongly imprisoned, division in families, sexual brokenness, the preying of the powerful on the vulnerable, etc., etc., etc.

Today, ask the Lord to come close to you and heal your hearing and speaking. Ask that you might grow in the healthy fear/awe of the Lord. Ask that you grow in courage, that you might boldly proclaim the love and mercy of the Lord to all those who will be willing to hear about their need for His healing in their lives. Ask that your hearing be sensitive to the pain of people's lives around you, and to the brokenness of all creation around us. Truly, may our hearing and speech be loosed by the Lord's work of grace in our lives!

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE TWELTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (225-258)

Laurence (or Lawrence) was chief of the seven deacons of the congregation at Rome, the seven men who, like Stephen and his companions (Acts 6:1-6), were in charge of administering the church budget, particularly with regard to the care of the poor. In 257, the emperor Valerian began a persecution aimed chiefly at the clergy and the laity of the upper classes. All Church property was confiscated and meetings of Christians were forbidden. The bishop of Rome, Sixtus II, and most of his clergy were executed on 7 August 258, and Laurence on the 10th. This much from the near-contemporary records of the Church. The accounts recorded about a century later by Ambrose (see 7 Dec) and the poet Prudentius say that, as Sixtus was being led to his death, Laurence followed him, saying, "Will you go to heaven and leave me behind?" and that the bishop replied, "Be comforted, you will follow me in three days." They go on to say that the Roman prefect, knowing that Laurence was the principal financial officer, promised to set him free if he would surrender the wealth of the Church. Laurence agreed, but said that it would take him three days to gather it. During those three days, he placed all the money at his disposal in the hands of trustworthy stewards, and then assembled the sick, the aged, and the poor, the widows and orphans of the congregation, presented them to the prefect, and said, "These are the treasures of the Church." The enraged prefect ordered him to be roasted alive on a gridiron. Laurence bore the torture with great calmness, saying to his executioners at one time, "You may turn me over; I am done on this side." The spectacle of his courage made a great impression on the people of Rome, and made many converts, while greatly reducing among pagans the belief that Christianity was a socially undesirable movement that should be stamped out. The details of these later accounts have been disputed, on the grounds that a Roman citizen would have been beheaded. However, it is not certain that Laurence was a citizen, or that the prefect could be counted on to observe the law if he were. More serious objections are these: (1) The detailed accounts of the martyrdom of Laurence confuse the persecution under Decius with the persecution under Valerian, describing the latter, not as an emperor, but as the prefect of Rome under the emperor Decius. (2) We have early testimony that Bishop Sixtus and his deacons were not led away to execution, but were summarily beheaded on the scene of their arrest.

For these reasons, the Bollandist Pere Delahaye and others believe that Laurence was simply beheaded in 258 with his bishop and fellow deacons. On this theory, it remains unexplained how he became so prominent and acquired so elaborate an account of his martyrdom. Lawrence's emblem in art is (naturally) a gridiron.

***by James Kiefer at http://www.satucket.com/***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. LAWRENCE

Almighty God, who didst call thy deacon Laurence to serve thee with deeds of love, and didst give him the crown of martyrdom: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, following his example, may fulfil thy commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving thee with all our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

7 AUGUST 08

2008-08-07T09:10:00.004-05:00

THE FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY XI

7 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 92; II Samuel 4:1, 5, 7-12; Luke 22:31-46

Holy Eucharist: Acts 4:8-12; Luke 2:21-33

Evening Prayer: Psalm 90; Habbakuk 1:2-4, 12-2:4; Romans 10

REFLECTION

From a Sermon by St. Bernard the Abbot:

"This is the Name which the Apostle was commanded to bear before Gentiles and kings and the Children of Israel, the Name which he bore as a light to enlighten his people, crying everywhere : The night is far spent, the day is at hand ; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let usu put on theh armour of light ; let us walk honestly as in the day. To all men heh pointed out this Name as a candle set upon a candle-stick, preaching in every place Jesus and him crucified. Yea, that Name shone forth and dazzled every eye thath beheld it. Did it not come like lightning out of the mouth of Peter to give bodily strength to the feet of the lame man, and to clear the sight of many a blind soul? Cast he not fire when he said : In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk?"

***From The Anglican Breviary***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

O God, who didst ordain that thin only-begotten Son should be the Saviour of the world, and didst command that his Name should be called Jesus : mercifully grant, that we who worship his holy Name on earth, may at length behold him face to face in heaven. Where he liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today

6 AUGUST 08

2008-08-06T12:28:00.006-05:00

THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

TUESDAY AFTER TRINITY XI

6 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 27; Exodus 34:29-end; II Corinthians 3

Holy Eucharist: 2 Peter 1:13-18; Luke 9:28-36

Evening Prayer: Psalm 97, 99; I Kings 19:1-12; II Corinthians 4:1-6

REFLECTION

From a Sermon by St. Leo the Pope

"The Lord took chosen witnesses, and in thei rpresence revealed his glory. That is to say, the form of body which he had in common with other men, he so transfigured with light, that his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment became exceeding white, even as snow. Now the chief purpose of this Transfiguration was to remove from the hearts of the disciples their fear of the Cross. So, before their eyes, was unveiled the splendour of his hidden majesty, that the lowliness of his freely-chosen suffering might now confound their faith. But nonetheless there was also thus set forth, by the providence of God, a sure and certain hope for holy Church, whereby the whole Body of Christ should know with what great a change it is yet to be honoured. For the members of that Body whose Head hath already been transfigured in light may promise themselves a share in his glory."

***From The Anglican Breviary***

THE COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

O God, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistering; Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty, who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today

5 AUGUST 08

2008-08-04T18:55:00.002-05:00

MONDAY AFTER TRINITY XI

5 AUGUST 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 73; II Samuel 1:1-16; Luke 22:1-13

Evening Prayer: Psalm 78; Nahum 2; Romans 8:28-end

REFLECTION

Today's reading from the Gospel, found in Morning Prayer, tells of Jesus' sending of disciples before him to prepare for the Passover. As you are reading this Gospel, consider the ways you prepare to come to the Lord's Table every Sunday. What are those ways you prepare? Why is this preparation so helpful to you? Are there ways you might be able to better prepare for such a wonderful and powerful experience of God's grace and mercy? If you really don't think about, or have active ways for, preparing for Holy Eucharist on Sunday...why not? Are there ways you might be able to intentionally eek out a littlel time every day for such preparation. Our daily lives really are supposed to be a living extension of what we do for an hour or so on Sunday morning.

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Oswald, King and Martyr (604-642)

Oswald was the son of Ethelfrid the Ravager, King of the Northumbrians. After his father had been slain in battle by Redwald, King of the East Angles, he was carried into exile in Scotland, where he was taught the Faith of Christ and baptized. When he returned to his own country he found Cadwalla, King of the Britons, pitifully wasting everything. This Cadwalla had already slain three kings of the English, and was seeking to destroy all of that nation. Oswald gathered together a small army and, placing his trust in God, bravely attacked the countless hosts of the enemy. Before he joined battle he set up the standard of the Cross of the Lord with his own hands, knelt down, and prayed God to help a righeous war for the saving of the fatherland. He exhorted all his soldiers to do likewise, and so they did ; and all promised that if God granted them the victory they would believe in him who had been crucified. Thereupon they obtained an easy victory, and crushed the tyrant with all his legions. And the place where this Sign of the Cross was set up was afterwards called in the English language Heaven's Field ; and pieces of the wood of this cross which Oswald erected were believed to have been the occasion of many miracles in later times. Oswald being thus placed in possession of his kingdom was fain that all that nations should receive the grace of Christian belief. Hence he sent forthwith into Scotland, praying them to send him a bishop, by whose teaching and ministry the English people might receive the Faith and Sacraments of Christ. Whereupon there was sent unto him blessed Aidan, unto whom the King granted at his own prayer the Island of Lindisfarne to be the See of his Bishoprick. After Aidan came many other gospel-preachers, especially from the Island of Iona. By their preaching and the support given to them from the godliness and zeal of the King, Christ's own kingdom was wonderfully spread abroad in all the country between the Humber and the Forth ; churches were built in divers places, schools set up for the teaching of children, and monasteries founded by the King's bounty, so that the English might learn not only the greater studies but also the institutes of regular discipline. The King himself listened to the preaching of Aidan, and humbly and cheerfully granted all his wishes, and by his own illustrious example did much to set forward the cause of the Church throughout all his dominions. Now Aidan could not speak Englishh well, and when he was preaching the Gospel there could often be seen the lovely spectacle of the King himself interpreting the heavenly Word to his own officers and servants. Thus did this most devout King Oswald shew himself a loyal and ready subject of the eternal King of kings, and by this he was glorified as regards his temporal dominion more than all that had been before him, so that nearly all the provinces of all Britain came under his sway ; and nevertheless he was never tainted with pride, but was always lowly, kindly, and open-handed to Christ's poor and to strangers. When he had happily reigned for eight years he was encompassed in battle by heathen rebels ; and when he saw that he was bound to perish, he called for the divine mercy for himself and for the souls of them that were about to slay him ; namely, in the year of Christ 642, and of his own age the thirty-eighth, upon the 5th day of August, upon the which day mention is made of his memory in the Martyrology. How precious was his death in the sight of the Lord became afterwards manifest by countless miracles obtained through his intercession.

***From The Anglican Breviary***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. OSWALD

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast hallowed this day to be a day of gladness and rejoicing by the Martyrdom of thy blessed Saint King Oswald : we pray thee, pour into our hearts such an increase of thy charity, that like as we do honour his glorious battle for thy Faith, so we may imitate him in constancy even unto death. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

27 JULY 08

2008-07-27T08:20:00.002-05:00

THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

27 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 145; Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10; John 8:25-36

Mass: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Luke 19:41-47a

Evening Prayer: Psalm 15, 46; Isaiah 44:1-8, 21-23; Romans 12:1-9

REFLECTION

Take a moment to look at the image at the top of this post. Imagine you are actually standing nearby, watching Jesus as he weeps over Jerusalem. What is it you feel? Do you sense and share His sadness, His anguish for the hopes he has for His people.

Consider for a moment that your heart represents Jerusalem and the holy Temple. Does your heart resemble that so-called city of peace, that place wherein God's presence was profoundly to be experienced, that place where sacrifice took place? Or, rather, is your heart more like what Jesus found in Jerusalem and the Temple...full of doubt, fear, cynicism, lust for power and prestige, full of oppression and depression, full of cheating, abounding with the shell of true religion...but empty and dead on the inside? Do we find Jesus weeping over the Jerusalem and Temple of our hearts?

Our hearts do not have to experience the same end that Jerusalem experienced in A.D. 70. We have the opportunity to change, to be transformed by repentance. We have the chance to clean our the cobwebs of our minds and hearts so that they may be renewed with the cleansing of the presence of the Holy Spirit, so that we may truly seek out Christ in true religion, in true sacrifice of ourselves for the will of Christ in our lives. Take time today to find a good place, alongside Jesus, to view the Jerusalem and Temple of your heart. What do you see, and what do you need to transform? Take time to truly listen to the Lord as He tell you His desires...His will...His dreams for your life.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Let thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today

25 JULY 08

2008-07-23T23:45:00.002-05:00

FRIDAY AFTER TRINITY IX

25 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READING

Morning Prayer: Psalm 22; 1 Samuel 17:28-40; Luke 19:1-10

Evening Prayer: Psalm 25; Micah 2; Roman 3:21-end

REFLECTION

The last couple of days I have spent time visiting with family in Tulsa, OK. My Aunt Betty had an operation to amputate the lower part of her left leg due to a severe case of the MRSA virus she acquired about a year ago. The doctor did everything he could to save the foot and leg, but the time arrived where we had to be realistic about the fact that the healing process had reached a plateau. All of the various antibiotics were not working satisfactorily.

Thoughout this past year there have been definite frustrations that my Aunt Betty has experienced. She has undergone a great deal of medication, several hospitalisations, has nearly been restricted to her house because of the IV medications and deteriorization of her ankle which caused her great difficulty in mobility. Even with the rough days, she has been a real trouper and has kept great hope in the midst of it all.

Even though the amputation is now complete, my Aunt still has great hope for the upcoming weeks and months. As my Niece, Miranda, has been saying, "Each hurdle that is crossed is a little victory." Well, there will continue to be a few more hurdles and victories to look forward to.

On my way back to our farm in the Ozarks this afternoon, I thought about how my Aunt's journey this past year is like our journey of discipleship with the Lord. There are very good patches of the journey where it seems progress is easily made, and then there are stretches of the journey that seem so very rocky and progress seems slow at best. Yet, like my Aunt, we can see these difficult parts of the journey with hope.

I also want to state emphatically how important family is. When a member of our family is going through difficult times, we should surround them with our love and support in whatever way we can. It is the same with the family of faith. When a member of our family of faith experiences difficulty, we should surround them with support, love, and mercy so that they might find healing even sooner. May we always strive to love with great mercy and healing compassion.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. James, Apostle (1st century)

James the son of Zebedee and his brother John were among the twelve disciples of Our Lord. They, together with Peter, were privileged to behold the Transfiguration (M 17:1 = P 9:2 = L 9:28), to witness the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (P 1:29) and the raising of the daughter of Jairus (P 5:37 = L 8:51), and to be called aside to watch and pray with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before His death (M 26:37 = P 14:33).

James and John were apparently from a higher social level than the average fisherman. Their father could afford hired servants (P 1:20), and John (assuming him to be identical with the "beloved disciple") had connections with the high priest (J 18:15). Jesus nicknamed the two brothers "sons of thunder" (P 3:17), perhaps meaning that they were headstrong, hot-tempered, and impulsive; and so they seem to be in two incidents reported in the Gospels. On one occasion (L 9:54ff), Jesus and the disciples were refused the hospitality of a Samaritan village, and James and John proposed to call down fire from heaven on the offenders. On another occasion (M 20:20-23 = P 10:35-41), they asked Jesus for a special place of honor in the Kingdom, and were told that the place of honor is the place of suffering.

Finally, about AD 42, shortly before Passover (Acts 12), James was beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great (who tried to kill the infant Jesus--Matthew 2), nephew of Herod Antipas (who killed John the Baptist--Mark 6--and examined Jesus on Good Friday--Luke 23), and father of Herod Agrippa II (who heard the defence of Paul before Festus--Acts 25). James was the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom, and the only one of the Twelve whose death is recorded in the New Testament.

James is often called James Major (= greater or elder) to distinguish him from other New Testament persons called James. Tradition has it that he made a missionary journey to Spain, and that after his death his body was taken to Spain and buried there. at Compostela (a town the name of which is commonly thought to be derived from the word "apostle", although a Spanish-speaking listmember reports having heard it derived from "field of stars", which in Latin would be campus stellarum). His supposed burial place there was a major site of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, and the Spaniards fighting to drive their Moorish conquerors out of Spain took "Santiago de Compostela!" as one of their chief war-cries. (The Spanish form of "James" is "Diego" or "Iago". In most languages, "James" and "Jacob" are identical. Where an English Bible has "James," a Greek Bible has IAKWBOS.)

***by James Kiefer at www. satucket.com***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE

O gracious God, we remember before thee this day thy servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that thou wilt pour out upon the leaders of thy Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among thy people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

24 JULY 08

2008-07-23T23:30:00.002-05:00

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY IX

24 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 10; 1 Samuel 17:17-27; Luke 18:31-end

Evening Prayer: Psalm 21:1-6 & 24; Micah 1:1-7a; Romans 3:1-20

REFLECTION

Today's Gospel reading, found in Morning Prayer, tells about Jesus walking toward Jerusalem. Along the way a blind man cries out, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Jesus has compassion on him and heals him.

With the many things in life that plague us with physical, emotional, spiritual, and moral illness, do we cry out to the Lord for His mercy? What are those things in your life that worry you, that you carry around as a weight on your back, that stresses you out, that depresses you? Write them down and decide what you want to do about them. You can either continue to try to carry the load by yourself, or you can invite the Lord's mercy into your life and thereby cooperate with His grace to find healing.

What about the people in your life that cry out in various to you for mercy? In what way are you Jesus to them? Do you provide mercy, and if not, why not? How might you change that?

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

None for today

22 JULY 08

2008-07-21T20:09:00.002-05:00

TUESDAY AFTER TRINITY IX

22 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 5; 1 Samuel 16:14-end; Luke 18:1-14

Evening Prayer: Psalm 16, 20; Esther 6; Romans 2:1-16

REFLECTION

Gospel: Luke 7:36-50

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Twas blind, but now I see."

I don't know about you, but the first stanza of the hymn Amazing Grace is so powerful in its truth. In much the same way, I find the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene full of hope. It is a feast that shines brightly to the world around us, as well as to those of us in the Church. It is a true story of a person, as woman, whose sins were very great. Not only was she caught up, for whatever reasons, in the web of the sins of the flesh, scripture says that our Lord also cast out seven demons from her.

In today's Gospel lesson we find Jesus sharing a meal with a Pharisee. Suddenly Mary Magdalene arrives with a box of ointment, weeping, and she washes Jesus' feet, dries them with her hair, and applies ointment. The Pharisee is shocked that Jesus would let this unclean woman touch him, or even be in his presence. Jesus tells a parable of a creditor who had two debtors. One owed much, the other not as much. The creditor forgives the debts of both debtors. The bottom line of the parable is that the debtor who owed much loved Jesus most because of the great debt he had that was forgiven. Jesus likens Mary Magdalene to the debtor who owed much.

Mary desires to be clean, to be forgiven, to be renewed and refreshed in our mind, heart and soul. The redirects her passions from those sins of the flesh to seeking out Jesus so that she might passionately find forgiveness and solace for our soul. She passionately shows her gratitude to Jesus by her actions.

What about you and me? Have we sought out Jesus with the same passion and desire to be cleansed of our sins, to be transformed into the likeness of Christ? Do our lives reflect Christ in such a way to the world we come into contact with that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life? Do our lives reflect the grace, mercy, compassion, and love that can only transform our hearts and minds from that which we have allowed it to become, to that which God would have us to be? Are we ready to clean out all the cobwebs and skeletons we harbour in the dark closets of our lives by shining the light of God's grace and mercy? Are our lives a reflection of Jesus in such a way that those around us passionately desire to seek out Jesus as St. Mary Magdalene did?

St. Mary Magdalene went on to become an Apostle to the Apostle on that first Easter morning. After Jesus ascended into heaven, she continued to be a vibrant and powerful witness to the people who knew her of the life transforming power of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers who "Equal to the Apostles" because of her bright witness of Jesus to the world. May we passionately follow after her example and seek to be witnesses to God's amazing grace!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Mary Magdalene, Penitent (1st century)

Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospels as being among the women of Galilee who followed Jesus and His disciples, and who was present at His Crucifixion and Burial, and who went to the tomb on Easter Sunday to annoint His body. She was the first to see the Risen Lord, and to announce His Resurrection to the apostles. Accordingly, she is referred to in early Christian writings as "the apostle to the apostles."

Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany (sister of Martha and Lazarus), and the unnamed penitent woman who annointed Jesus's feet (Luke 7:36-48) are sometimes supposed to be the same woman. From this, plus the statement that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (Luke 8:2), has risen the tradition that she had been a prostitute before she met Jesus.

Because of the assumption that Mary Magdalene had been a spectacular sinner, and also perhaps because she is described as weeping at the tomb of Jesus on the Resurrection morning, she is often portrayed in art as weeping, or with eyes red from having wept. From this appearance we derive the English word "maudlin", meaning "effusively or tearfully sentimental." There is a Magdalen College at Oxford, and a Magdalene College at Cambridge (different spelling), both pronounced "Maudlin."

THE COLLECT FOR ST. MARY MAGDALENE

Merciful Father, give us grace that we never presume to sin through the example of any creature : but if it shall chance us at any time to offend thy divine majesty, that then we may truly repent, and lament the same after the example of Mary Magdalene ; and by lively faith obtain remission of all our sins. through the only merits of thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who liveth and reigneth with thee. One God, world without end. Amen.

19 JULY 08

2008-07-18T20:19:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY AFTER TRINITY VIII

19 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayers: Psalm 145: 1 Samuel 15:24-34; Luke 17:11-19

Evening Prayers: Psalm 147; Esther 4:1, 5-17; Acts 28:16-end

REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel lesson today from Morning Prayer we find Jesus meeting a group of ten lepers along the way. Lepers were complete outcasts from their society, seen as unclean, sinful, and to be avoided at all costs. Yet, Jesus has compassion on them and enters into their world. Going against the grain of Jewish culture and religious law, Jesus comes close to these lepers by listening to their story...and by healing them.

So that these men might enjoy the benefits of being reintegrated into mainstream society, Jesus sends them to the priests of the Temple so the priests might see them and declare them clean...healed. After they are declared clean, only one of them returns to Jesus out of deep gratitude. Jesus sends him on his way declaring, "...your faith has made you whole."

Why are we so afraid to enter into the lives of those our society, even some religious authorities, declare unclean, especially when we have these kinds of examples that our Lord has lived before us? Are there people who are so unclean, so unworthy, as not to merit the compassion of our Lord? What about our compassion?

Are there people in your life that live on the fringe, the margin, the edge of accepted society who need healing? Are you willing to simply follow the example of Jesus and enter into relationship with such persons and begin that process of healing the Lord so desire to work through you?

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

QUOTES TO CONSIDER

"We want to lower the bar of how church is done and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple."

"We have come to understand the Church as this: the presence of Jesus among His people called out as a spiritual family to pursue His mission on this planet."

"Unfortunately, in most churches in the Western world the presence of the pastor is more noticeable than the presence of Jesus."

***From Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens, Neil Cole, Jossey-Bass, 2005***

THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Vincent De Paul (1581-1660)

After graduating with a degree in theology, St. Vincent De Paul was troubled with the plight of the many poor people he came into contact with. The situation was so distressing for many families that they were leaving their young infants at churches. St. Vincent spent a lifetime establishing homes for orphans and organisations that assisted the poor, of which several remain to this day. His body remain incorrupt.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

O God, who didst endue thy blessed Saint Vincent with apostolic virtue, to the intent that he should preach thy Gospel to the poor, and stablish the honour of the priesthood of thy Church : grant, we beseech thee ; that we may so hold in reverence his works of righteousness, that we may learn to follow the patern of his godly conversation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

17 JULY 08

2008-07-16T23:38:00.004-05:00

THURSDAY AFTER TRINITY VIII

17 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 128, 129; 1 Samuel 15:1-9; Luke 16:19-end

Evening Prayer: Psalm 132, 134; Esther 2:5-8, 17-23; Acts 27:27-end

REFLECTION

Today, read the Gospel reading found in Morning Prayer. Read it through several times, slowly. Take time out today to take a very close look at the image at the top of this post as it relates to the Gospel reading today. What do you see? Are you more like the Rich Man, or are you more like Lazarus? Who are the Lazarus' in your daily life?

Fr. Greg

QUOTES TO CONSIDER

"It is not the local church that will change the world; it is Jesus. Attendance on Sundays does not transform lives; Jesus within their hearts is what changes people."

"Instead of bringing people to church so that we can bring them to Christ, let's bring Christ to people where they live. we may find that new church will grow out of such an enterprise, a church that is more centered in life and the workplace, where the Gospel is supposed to make a difference. What will happen if we plant the seed of the Kingdom of God in the places where life happens and where society is formed."

"If you want to win this world for Christ, you are going to have to sit in the smoking section. That is where lost people are found and if you make them put their cigarette out to hear the message they will be thinking about only one thing: 'When can I get another cigarette.'"

"The heart of our message is that God didn't expect us to come to Him in heaven. He came to us. He lived life on our terms and on our turf."

***From Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens, Neil Cole, Jossey-Bass, 2005***

THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Alexius, Confessor (5th century)

St Alexis was born at Rome into the family of the pious and poverty-loving Euphemianus and Aglais. The couple was childless for a long time and constantly prayed the Lord to grant them a child. And the Lord consoled the couple with the birth of their son Alexis. At six years of age the child began to read and successfully studied the mundane sciences, but it was with particular diligence that he read Holy Scripture. When he was a young man, he began to imitate his parents: he fasted strictly, distributed alms and beneath his fine clothing he secretly wore a hair shirt. Early on there burned within him the desire to leave the world and serve God. His parents, however, had arranged for Alexis to marry a beautiful and virtuous bride. On his wedding night, Alexis gave her his ring and his belt (which were very valuable) and said, "Keep these things, Beloved, and may the Lord be with us until His grace provides us with something better." Secretly leaving his home, he boarded a ship sailing for Mesopotamia. Arriving in the city of Edessa, where the Icon of the Lord "Not-made-by-Hands" (August 16) was preserved, Alexis sold everything that he had, distributed the money to the poor and began to live near the church of the Most Holy Theotokos under a portico. The saint used a portion of the alms he received to buy bread and water, and he distributed the rest to the aged and infirm. Each Sunday he received the Holy Mysteries. The parents sought the missing Alexis everywhere, but without success. The servants sent by Euphemianus also arrived in Edessa, but they did not recognize the beggar sitting at the portico as their master. His body was withered by fasting, his comeliness vanished, his stature diminished. The saint recognized them and gave thanks to the Lord that he received alms from his own servants. The inconsolable mother of St Alexis confined herself in her room, incessantly praying for her son. His wife also grieved with her in-laws. St Alexis dwelt in Edessa for seventeen years. Once, the Mother of God spoke to the sacristan of the church where the saint lived: "Lead into My church that Man of God, worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. His prayer rises up to God like fragrant incense, and the Holy Spirit rests upon him." The sacristan began to search for such a man, but was not able to find him for a long time. Then he prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos, beseeching Her to clear up his confusion. Again a voice from the icon proclaimed that the Man of God was the beggar who sat in the church portico. The sacristan found St Alexis and brought him into the church. Many recognized him and began to praise him. The saint secretly boarded a ship bound for Cilicia, intending to visit the church of St Paul in Tarsus. But God ordained otherwise. A storm took the ship far to the West and it reached the coast of Italy. The saint journeyed to Rome and decided to live in his own house. Unrecognized, he humbly asked his father's permission to settle in some corner of his courtyard. Euphemianus settled Alexis in a specially constructed cell and gave orders to feed him from his table. Living at his parental home, the saint continued to fast and he spent day and night at prayer. He humbly endured insults and jeering from the servants of his father. The cell of Alexis was opposite his wife's windows, and the ascetic suffered grievously when he heard her weeping. Only his immeasurable love for God helped the saint endure this torment. St Alexis dwelt at the house of his parents for seventeen years and the Lord revealed to him the day of his death. Then the saint, taking paper and ink, wrote certain things that only his wife and parents would know. He also asked them to forgive him for the pain he had caused them. On the day of St Alexis' death in 411, Archbishop Innocent (402-417) was serving Liturgy in the presence of the emperor Honorius (395-423). During the services a Voice was heard from the altar: "Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mt.11:28). All those present fell to the ground in terror. The Voice continued: "On Friday morning the Man of God comes forth from the body; have him pray for the city, that you may remain untroubled." They began to search throughout Rome, but they did not find the saint. Thursday evening the Pope was serving Vigil in the Church of St Peter. He asked the Lord to show them where to find the Man of God. After Liturgy the Voice was heard again in the temple: "Seek the Man of God in the house of Euphemianus." All hastened there, but the saint was already dead. His face shone like the face of an angel, and his hand clasped the paper, and they were unable to take it. They placed the saint's body on a cot, covered with costly coverings. The Pope and the Emperor bent their knees and turned to the saint, as to one yet alive, asking him to open his hand. And the saint heard their prayer. When the letter was read, the righteous one's wife and parents tearfully venerated his holy relics. The body of the saint was placed in the center of the city. The emperor and the Pope carried the body of the saint into the church, where it remained for a whole week, and then was placed in a marble crypt. A fragrant myrrh began to flow from the holy relics, bestowing healing upon the sick. The venerable relics of St Alexis, the Man of God, were buried in the church of St Boniface. The relics were uncovered in the year 1216.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. ALEXIUS

O God, who makest us glad with the yearly feast of blessed Alexius, thy Confessor : mercifully grant, that, as we now observe his heavenly birthday, so we may follow him in all virtuous and godly living. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

15 JULY 08

2008-07-14T20:30:00.005-05:00

TUESDAY AFTER TRINITY VIII

15 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 111, 114; 1 Samuel 11:14-12:5; Luke 15:11-end

Evening Prayer: Psalm 118; Daniel 6:9-15; Acts 26:24-27:8

REFLECTION

Today I would like to consider some thoughts on Psalm 118, found in Evening Prayer. The constant refrain we hear in this Psalm is "for His mercy endureth forever." Have you consider the characteristics of the Lord's mercy? Have you experienced His mercy? Have you seen the imprint of His mercy in the lives of other people?

The Psalmist today calls on various aspects of Israel's society, the house of Aaron, those the fear the Lord, those who are in trouble, etc., to give thanks to the Lord because they know that His mercy endures forever. The Psalmist tells us that he has been under great stress because many people have been after him, have desired to do him harm. Yet, the Lord has protected him. The Psalmist has sought the Lord's strength. In the end, the Psalmist proclaims "this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." We are shown that even though we may be experiencing all kinds of stress and difficulties in life, we can know the Lord is with us and gives us His mercy.

How might you and I share the reality of the Lord's mercy with those around us who may not know the Lord? Are there ways the Lord might use you to be His mouth piece, hands, feet, etc., of mercy to those in your life who need mercy? Truly, may our lives declare boldly that we give to the Lord for His great mercy.

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

The translation of St. Swithun, bishop, confessor (800-862)

Swithun entered the monastery of Winchester, and became a priest therein. King Egbert of the West Saxons heard of his fame and gave his son Ethelwulf into his care; and when this prince years afterwards succeeded to the kingdom, he nominated Swithun Bishop of Winchester, with the consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his clergy. thereafter, in his dudty towards his See, Swithun left nothing undone which is the part of a faithful shepherd. He shrank from all display and gaining of glory in the sight of men, and desired nothing more than that all the good which he did should be unknown save to God and to his own conscience. When he was dying, (to wit, on July 2nd 862), he expressed the wish that his body should be laid in the earth outside the church, under the open sky, that the feet of them that came thither might pass ofver him, and that the rain and the dew might fall upon him; and his lowly wish was carried out. Wherefrom hath sprung the belief that because of his love of both sunshine and rain, God doth ever grant his reuest for either, whichever he preferreth for his feast day, and for forty days continuously thereafter. But when the new Cathedral Church of Winchester was built, theh relicks of blessed Swithun were translated thereto, to wit, in 1093.

THE COLLECT FOR THE TRANSLATION OF ST. SWITHUN

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast made this day honourable unto us by reason of the festival of blessed Swithun thy Confessor and Bishop ; grant, we beseech thee ; that thy Church may so rejoice in this solemnity, that we which on this day do honour him on earth may by his intercession obtain thy succour in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

14 JULY 08

2008-07-13T16:41:00.008-05:00

MONDAY AFTER TRINITY VIII

14 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 104; 1 Samuel 11:1-13; Luke 15:1-10

Evening Prayer: Psalm 116; Daniel 6:1-8; Acts 26:1-23

REFLECTION

The image above of Jesus carrying the lost sheep back is one I always find very tender. What an amazing thought to know that God considers each of us so important that if we get lost along the way, He will go searching for us until we're found. What amazing love.

Are there ever times when you feel isolated, alone, lost, confused, and not quite sure where you are or how to get back where you need to be? If so, passionately call out to the Lord that He might be able to hear the voice of His lost sheep and bring that lost sheep back to the safety and community of the fold.

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Little is known of the childhood of this successor of St. Francis of Assisi. Saint Bonaventure was born near Viterbo in the year 1221. His took the habit of the Friars Minor, and studied under the "Unanswerable" Doctor, Alexander of Hales. He himself is known as the "Seraphic" Doctor, teaching theology and Holy Scripture from 1248 to 1257.

St. Bonaventure was called by his priestly obligations to preach, and this he did with much vigor, engendering fire in those who listened to him. While he was at the University of Paris, he wrote the Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, covering the field of Scholastic Theology. This time in Paris was difficult though, as there was great jealousy against the medicant friars for many reasons including academic success and the ease withwhich they reproofed the worldliness around them.

Battling books were issued between the groups, with William of St. Amour leading the secular clergy, and St. Bonaventure defending the poverty of life of the Friars. Finally, Pope Alexander IV sent cardinals to settle the manner, and the books of William of St. Amour were burned, the Friars reinstated, and the attack suspended. In the following year, St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas Aquinas received their Doctorates of Theology together. (Good company) Whereas Thomas' work centers on the intellect, St. Bonaventure's texts are of a more spiritual nature, including Concerning the Perfection of Life, Soliloquy and Concerning the Threefold Way. He forms the basis of the Franciscan school of thought.

This same year of his Doctorate, 1257, St. Bonaventure was elected minister general of the Franciscans. He immediately set upon a standardization of the Order, since it had fractured into sections ranging from permissive and lax to excessively rigorist. In setting the Order straight, he formed a Constitution following a middle to conservative path. This reformed and disciplined the lax, while tempering the excesses of the rigorists. In many ways he acted almost as if he were Francis, and is still considered the Second Founder of the Order.

The saint refused the first promotion to the Episcopate, but was induced into the Cardinalate of Albano in 1273. Gregory X instructed the Saint to prepare the General Council of Lyons, and during the proceedings St. Bonaventure proved most crucial in reuniting the Greeks Catholics with Rome. He also attending the last General Chapter of the Order during the breaks in the Council. There Saint Bonaventure preached at the Reunion Mass after the council, and then died suddenly in the night of July 14-15, 1274.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. BONAVENTURE

O God, by whose providence blessed Bonaventure was sent to guide thy people in the way of everlasting salvation : grant we beseech thee, that as we have learned of him the doctrine of life on earth, so we may be found worthy to have him for our advocate in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

13 JULY 08

2008-07-12T16:31:00.007-05:00

THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

13 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 119:33-48; Ecclesiasticus 1:18-27; John 7:14-24

Mass: Romans 8:12-17; Matthew 7:15-21

Evening Prayer: Psalm 25; Ecclesiasticus 6:22-end; Luke 10:38-end

REFLECTION

The Gospel. St. Matthew vii. 15.

BEWARE of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

The Scriptures have much to say about false teachers. Jesus warns us not to have anything to do with a false teacher of religion. However, that is not always the easiest thing. Think of Jesus' warning to his disciples at Matt. 24:4: "Beware lest anyone mislead you. Because many will come in My name saying: 'I am the Christ' and they will deceive many." False teachers always claim that they are of Christ.

I was flipping through cannels the other day…My wife can tell you I am a typical man and I oh so love to flip channels. In fact, I’m known for my ability to run down the battery on the television remote just by flipping back and forth to “see the score of a ball game while watching something else entirely about forty times in a given hour of TV viewing”… However, the other day I stopped for a second and watched a big toothed and handsomely wavy haired fellow that had his trophy wife sitting nearby while he was speaking to a stadium full of people. I thought to myself…”What’s this fellow saying that is getting so many people excited in this stadium.” It didn’t take me long to figure it out. He was a false teacher. He was speaking about “How if you follow Jesus Christ great wealth and blessings are coming your way…You’re guaranteed to get wealth and health and all kinds of good things will happen to you if you followJesus….Well…And you need to call the toll free number flashing below on the screen.” I thought about my recent sermon regarding St. Peter. I thought about Saint Peter choosing to be a martyr. I thought about the fates of all those closest to Christ and the early Church Fathers.

-Matthew suffered martyrdom by the sword.

-Mark died after being dragged throughthe streets.

-Luke was hanged on an olive tree.

-Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downward.

-James the Greater was beheaded at Jerusalem.

-James the Lesser was thrown from the top of the Templeand beaten to death below.

-Philip was hanged against a pillar.

I could continue this list for a very long time…I believe you get the idea now. Those closest to Jesus suffered the most. This is a simple fact. Christians in the East have a wonderful saying…”Every tragedy is an opportunity to know God”. There is a story about a priest who went to the hospital and gave someone Holy Unction and guess what? They died and the family asked the priest, “How could this horrible thing happen?” The priest basically said, “God doesn’t always change the laws of physics and the material world to suit us.” Why should he? After all, God rules the universe from his perspective… not ours. I don’t ever recall reading in scripture bad things don’t happen in this world. I don’t understand how believing in Jesus is going to stop me from losing a loved one or getting my heart broken. However, entire congregations are built around such teachings. When you are the infinite (and God certainly is) you can see further ahead then we can in our hopefully seventy or eighty short years. Why do horrible things happen to people? A false teacher would say becausesomeone doesn’t have enough faith or their faith has lapsed. I would say.. “I don’t know why.” I really don‘t know. However, I DO know that God loved us so much that He came to dwell among us in the flesh and suffered and died as one of us. God gave us the way out of spiritual and permanent death in sin and suffering and that way out is through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, our lives are temporary and we suffer in this life but if you believe in Christ Jesus death and suffering are temporary as well.

Fr. David

***Fr. David Straw is Asst. Rector of Trinity Anglican Church, Evansville, Indiana. Visit their website at http://www.tacuec.org/***

THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Silas, Martyr (1st century)

Saint Silas was a companion and fellow labourer of the Apostle Paul: "And Paul chose Silas and departed...and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches" (Acts 15:40-41). He later became Bishop of Corinth, and reposed in peace. Saint Silvan became Bishop of Thessalonica, and also reposed in peace. Saint Crescents, whom Saint Paul mentions in his Second Epistle to Timothy(4:10), became Bishop of Chalcedon, and brought many to the Faith. As for him whom the Apostle of the Nations praises as "my well-beloved Epenetus, the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ" (Roman 16:5), he became Bishop of Carthage, and after enduring many afflictions from the idolators, and bringing many of them to Christ, he departed to the Lord.

***from www.goarch.org***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. SILAS

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that by the prayers of thy holy Martyr blessed Silas, we may be delivered from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

12 JULY 08

2008-07-12T10:59:00.008-05:00

SATURDAY AFTER TRINITY VII

12 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 90; 1 Samuel 10:17-end; Luke 14:25-end

Evening Prayer: Psalm 96, 98; Daniel 5:17-30; Acts 25:13-end

THE COLLECT FOR THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Grant in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. John Gualbert, Abbot (993-1073)

Born in Florence, Tuscany, Italy, c. 993; died at Passignano (near Florence) in 1073; canonized in 1193. Because of his birth into the noble Visdomini family, John Gualbert had no more thought of following a life of austerity and humility than did his noble Florentine friends and companions. Bred to be a soldier, he spent his time in worldly amusements. Indeed, so far from intending to follow the precepts of Our Lord, his one over-riding ambition was to avenge the murder of his elder brother, Hugh. To him this was a matter of justice and, more importantly, a matter of honor.

It happened that one Good Friday as he was riding through a narrow pass on his way to Florence, Gualbert came face to face with the man he had been seeking. The man was alone and there was no means of escape. Gualbert drew his sword and moved forward, but at his approach the murderer, in a gesture not so much of supplication as of despair, fell to his knees, threw out his arms and commended his soul to God.

Gualbert hesitated, and as he looked down on his victim he was suddenly reminded of the image of Christ suffering on the Cross and of the forgiveness which Our Lord had asked for those who murdered him. Sheathing his sword, he embraced and forgave the man. Having pardoned his brother's murderer, he saw the image of the crucifix miraculously bow its head in acknowledgement of Gualbert's good action and they separated in peace.

Continuing his journey, Gualbert went to the monastery of San Miniato del Monte in Florence where, as he prayed before the crucifix, he was filled with divine grace. He asked the abbot for permission to be admitted. But the abbot delayed, fearing the anger and resentment of Gualbert's parents. To demonstrate the seriousness of his call, Gualbert shaved his head himself and put on a habit that he had borrowed.

For the next few years he remained at San Miniato, leading the life of a penitent and hoping to end his days there; but when the abbot died and the new one bribed his way to office, he left in disgust. (Other sources say that he left with a companion to find solitude when it looked likely that he would be appointed abbot.) He wanted to find a life untouched by the current abuses in the Church: clerical concubinage, nepotism, and simony. For a while he stayed with the Camaldolesi at Saint Romuald's abbey, but then decided to make an entirely new foundation.
The abbess of Sant'Ellero gave him some land in the Vallis Umbrosa (Vallombrosa), about 20 miles east of Florence near Fiesole; and there, with the help of a few companions, he built a small and unpretentious monastery of timber. The monks followed the austere rule of Saint Benedict to the letter, except for a special provision admitting conversi, or lay- brothers who could take on the manual labor and free the choir monks for contemplation and more prayer.

He was dedicated to poverty and humility. He never became a priest, in fact, he declined even to receive minor orders. Vallombrosa inspired other communities with its hospices for the poor and sick. These became part of his new order under John's rule, in spite of rival claims to jurisdiction. In this and other ways John became involved in the reform movement in the Church, for which he was commended by popes.

Other monasteries were established, but in all cases Gualbert insisted that the buildings should be constructed as modestly and cheaply as possible and that the money saved should be given to the poor. Indeed, his zeal for charity was such that he often gave away all the monastery's supplies to the poor who came to its gates. The area in which the first monastery was located was wild and barren, but the monks planted fir and pine trees and transformed it into a parkland.

Gualbert was known for his wisdom, miracles, and prophecies. Pope Saint Leo IX, travelled specially to Passignano to speak with him, as did Stephen X. Pope Alexander II attributed the eradication of simony in his country to him. Though respected and visited by popes, Gualbert retained his humility. He died aged about 80. The congregation of Vallombrosan Benedictines that he founded spread chiefly throughout Tuscany and Lombardy, but it still exists today and includes more than six monasteries (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, White).

In art, Saint John Gualbert is an elderly Vallombrosan abbot with a tau-staff, book and heretic under foot. At times, he may be shown (1) with the devil under foot; (2) enthroned among Vallombrosan monks, tau staff and book of rule in hands; (3) kneeling before a crucifix, which bows towards him; (4) present at an ordeal by fire of Saint Peter Igneus; (5) watching a luxurious monastery carried away by a flood; or as a young man forgiving the murderer of his relative (Roeder). A fine altarpiece in Santa Croce, Florence, depicts four scenes from Saint John's life (Farmer).

John Gualbert is the patron on foresters and park keepers (White).

***stpatrickdc.org***

THE COLLECT FOR ST. JOHN GUALBERT

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the prayers of thy holy Abbot, blessed John may commend us unto thee : that we, who have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, may be his advocacy find favour in thy sight. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

11 July 08

2008-07-11T16:28:00.000-05:00

FRIDAY AFTER TRINITY VII

11 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 86; 1 Samuel 10:1-11; Luke 14:15-24

Evening Prayer: Psalm 91; Danuel 5:10-16; Acts 24:24-25:12

REFLECTION

Today, looking at the reading from Gospel of St. Luke found in Morning Prayer, we see Jesus giving a parable about the Kingdom of God. Again, the idea is that the Kingdom of God isn’t only something far off in the future far removed from life right now as we know it. The Kingdom of God is now, right now, and should be a part of everything we do. The parable speaks of “a certain man” who sends his servants out into the streets to invite many to dinner. All of those who are invited to dinner have excuses of one kind or another. Upon hearing of all these excuses from his servants, the man tells them to go out and to “bring in the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” That being done, there was still room left. The servants are sent out to ”compel” others to come in and be seated at the table for a feast.

What an amazing image of the Kingdom of God. How often do we see the Church going out to invite certain people, especially those who may be said to be on the ”official” invitation list, people to the feast only to find that there are all kinds of excuses given not to be there. Do we see the Church going out to invite those who may not be on the invitation list, those we may feel are less worthy or appropriate, those we may find personally objectionable, those the world puts on a lower level of social acceptability? If not, why not? If not, do we challenge the Church to do so? In our world today, in our own neighbourhoods and cultural contexts and in various way both physically and socially…who are the poor, maimed, halt, and blind?

Dear friends in Christ, may we accept the challenge of our Lord to be about the work of the Good News of Jesus Christ to extend the invitation to EVERYONE. There will be some people who will refuse such a glorious to feast sumptuously in the Kingdom of God, but there will be many who will accept the invitation and find satisfaction, restoration, healing, and renewal. Thanks be to God!

Be blessed in Christ!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Benedict, Abbot of Nursia (480-543)

It is unfortunate that no contemporary biography was written of a man who has exercised measureless influence on monasticism in the West. Benedict is well recognized in the later Dialogues of St. Gregory, but these are sketches to illustrate miraculous elements of his career.
Benedict was born of a distinguished family in central Italy, studied at Rome and early in life was drawn to the monastic life. At first he became a hermit, leaving a depressing world—pagan armies on the march, the Church torn by schism, people suffering from war, morality at a low ebb.

He soon realized that he could not live a hidden life in a small town any better than in a large city, so he withdrew to a cave high in the mountains for three years. Some monks chose him as their leader for a while, but found his strictness not to their taste. Still, the shift from hermit to community life had begun for him. He had an idea of gathering various families of monks into one “Grand Monastery” to give them the benefit of unity, fraternity, permanent worship in one house. Finally he began to build what was to become one of the most famous monasteries in the world—Monte Cassino, commanding three narrow valleys running toward the mountain.
The Rule that gradually developed prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual labor and living together in community under a common father (abbot). Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation, and Benedictine charity has always shown concern for the people in the surrounding countryside. In the course of the Middle Ages, all monasticism in the West was gradually brought under the Rule of St. Benedict.

Today the Benedictine family is represented by two branches: the Benedictine Federation and the Cistercians.

***from americancatholic.org***

THE COLLECT FOR ST BENEDICT

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the prayers of thy holy Abbot, blessed Benedict may commend us unto thee : that we, who have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, may by his advocacy find favour in thy sight. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.