St. Matthew the Apostle/Trinity XIV- Matthew 9:9-13

This year the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity falls on 21 September which is the Feast of St. Matthew. The Gospel is from St. Matthew 9: 9-13 and gives the account of Matthew's call to follow Christ: Matthew also seems to have been called Levi (Mark 2:14). According to ancient tradition, Matthew may have collected Aramaic sayings of Jesus which formed the basis for Matthew's Gospel. He may have also been a missionary in the Jewish Diaspora and a martyr. In first century Palestine, tax collectors were despised as traitors, extortioners, and generally immoral scoundrels. Yet,  Jesus associated with such people. He called tax-collectors as well as all others to repentance and service for the kingdom of God. 

So on this day, we remember and give thanks that our Lord called people such as Matthew. God's grace extended to Matthew and allowed him to be a witness to the Gospel. Likewise, our Lord calls other sinners including us. He offers us His divine grace, and He can empower us, just as He did Matthew, to witness in word and deed to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Trinity XII- 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

 For this Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, my attention was drawn to the Epistle from II Corinthians 3. The Apostle emphasizes the true nature of the common Christian ministry that he and other believers share. In II Corinthians 5-6, Paul asserts, "not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." Even the great missionary apostle who had been given great gifts and a strong will knew that he was not self-sufficient. He acknowledged that God was the source of all that was good and truly valuable. Certainly, the same must be true of every faithful Christian. In some sense, depending on our gifts and circumstances, every believer is called to be a minister (or servant) of the Gospel. From the greatest pastors and preachers to the humblest greeters, cleaners, and workers, we are all asked to serve the cause of Christ, and none of us is up to the task on our own. We all have weaknesses which can only be remedied by the grace of God.

This also means that Christian service must be spiritual. While we value the literal meaning of Scripture and Creed, we must not be literalists. While we respect the guidance of divine law, we must not be legalists. In other words, in serving Christ, we must seek to go beyond letter and law. We must be open to the Holy Spirit who makes the Word alive in our lives, and by grace, transforms us. The Spirit makes us truly alive and enables us to share the life-giving message through serving our Lord Jesus Christ. The ways that we do this are varied (a sermon, a kind word, a prayer, a simple unnoticed act, etc.), but through God's grace in Christ, every believer is asked to serve the Gospel.

Church Calendars and Lectionaries

 Since seminary days long ago, I have recognized the value of church calendars and lectionaries. They help provide order, connections with the Christian past, and variety in Scripture readings. The church year and lectionary reflect accumulated Christian wisdom, and they reduce dependence on any individual's whims. 

On this blog, I have followed the calendar and lectionary of the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer, with occasional references to the 1549, 1559, and 1662 English BCPs, as well as the 1962 Canadian BCP. Now in retirement, I find myself far from any congregation that follows a traditional BCP calendar or lectionary. The nearby parishes that use a lectionary follow variations of the three-year calendar and readings. I can respect that choice. The three-year lectionary, newer church calendars, and updated English have some good points and promote devotion among some users. In certain respects, they are less archaic and cover more passages of Scripture on Sundays. 

Nevertheless, in my heart and mind, the traditional Books of Common Prayer, calendars, and Scripture readings remain standard. Despite some difficulties arising from a long history (for example, archaic use of words such as "prevent," Latin names for Sundays in pre-Lent, and deciphering the procedures at the end of an unusually long Trinity season), the traditional calendar and lectionary still nourish and guide my theology and personal devotion.

Augustine of Hippo- 28 August

 Augustine (354-430) was born in North Africa and spent most of his life in several cities there. In addition, he spent 5 very significant years (383-388) in Rome and Milan. The prayers and Christian witness of Augustine's mother, St. Monica, had a great impact on him. St. Ambrose of Milan was another important Christian influence. After his conversion and Christian baptism at Milan, Augustine returned to North Africa where he led a monastic life. He was ordained, and in 395, he was consecrated bishop. He served as a faithful bishop for the rest of his life, and he died while the Vandals were besieging the city of Hippo.

 Augustine of Hippo has traditionally been honored as one of the four ancient Latin doctors (from the Latin root, doceo, "teach") of the universal Church. Of the four of these teachers, Augustine has had the most widespread and long-lasting influence among Western Christians whether Catholic or Protestant.

Augustine's two most famous works are The Confessions, a spiritual autobiography, and The City of God, a Christian philosophy of history, but he also wrote essays, letters, manuals, and sermons. His theology, especially on themes such as faith, grace, and the Sacraments, had a great influence on Anglican Books of Common Prayer and the Thirty-nine Articles.

Trinity IV- Luke 6:37

This Sunday's Gospel is from St. Luke 6. This selection is from a section of Luke that is parallel to much of the Sermon on the Mount in St. Matthew. One of the sayings of our Lord is “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged” (Luke 6:37). These apparently simple words of Scripture are not always easy to apply. In practical terms, we know that no human being could survive in daily life without making certain judgments about health and safety. And even in moral and spiritual matters, people must make practical judgments.

So Scripture does not prohibit certain types of judging. The Lord does not forbid us from forming reasonable opinions about things or people. Neither does the Bible abolish the legal process; instead, it promotes higher standards of fairness. In fact, Christ urges His followers to have high standards in judging. In John 7:24, He says, “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Christians are called to seek a better way. Whether in practical matters or in religious and moral matters, we should seek righteousness. We should try to look beyond worldly appearances, and we should reflect God’s holiness, mercy, and grace in our judgments.

Nevertheless, Scripture does prohibit some kinds of judgment.. Christians must recognize their human limitations and avoid judging in certain ways. We must not judge hastily or unfairly. We must not judge harshly or unmercifully. And we must not presume that even our best human judgments always live up to divine standards.

Even at our human best, we are not competent ot judge the ultimate fate of other souls. As neighbors, relatives, parents, teachers, pastors, jurors, or magistrates, we only know part of the story. Although we must make some practical judgments, such judgments remain provisional. Only God is the perfect judge who finally evaluates each individual soul. So let us always seek to evaluate situations and people with humility, wisdom, fairness, and mercy, and let us not assume that our human ideas always reflect God's perspective.

Trinity III- Luke 15:1-10

 The Gospel for the Third Sunday after Trinity is Luke 15:1-10, and it contains two brief parables- about the lost sheep and about the lost coin. In this context, our Lord is talking about sinners lost to God. Although many contemporary people resist such descriptions, Scripture in general and our passage in particular are clear that at some points in this life, all human beings are lost. We need finding and saving by divine grace. As the daily general confession in the Book of Common Prayer says, "We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep" (based on Isaiah 53:6 and 1 Peter 2:25). 

Such human lostness has two important applications in our lives. First, each of us needs to admit that at different times, we have all been lost. We also need to acknowledge our tendency to get lost repeatedly. So we all depend upon God's mercy, grace, and persistence in seeking us out-- in the past, in the present, and in each new day. 

Secondly, in addition to being sought by God, as Christians, we are called to participate in the Lord's work of seeking and finding the lost. We are asked to be lowly instruments of God's grace. We have benefited from the mercy and grace of God, and we want to share that good news with others. We want each lost person to be found. We want all people to know the joy of returning to God. May each of us be found by God, and may each of us humbly do our part to help others be found by God!

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary- 2 July- Luke 1:39-45

 The second day of July is a lesser feast or on traditional Anglican calendars, a "black letter day."  The day is the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Some calendars since the 1970's observe the Visitation on 31 May.)  Although in certain aspects a minor observance, the Visitation is a significant biblical commemoration. This significance is seen in the Gospel from St. Luke 1:39-45:

"And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

This Gospel account contains several points. It shows the kinship of Mary and Elizabeth, as well as the devotional and theological ties between them and their sons. Elizabeth also points to the blessedness of Mary and the fruit of her womb. Note that even this early in the Christian story, Mary is called "the mother of my Lord." Mary's pregnancy is unique from the beginning; it is the Incarnation of our Lord, the Christ, God the Son. So it is certainly appropriate to recall this event and to meditate on the importance of the Incarnation and Mary's role in God's redeeming work.

St. Peter the Apostle- 29 June (Trinity II)- Matthew 16; John 21

 Besides being the Second Sunday after Trinity, this Sunday, June 29, is also set aside to remember and honor the apostle Peter. This commemoration is one of the oldest saints' days on the Christian calendar. In 258 A.D., the Church at Rome set aside this day to honor Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Besides this feast, on medieval calendars, the two saints were honored separately on several different days. At the time of the English Reformation, the Book of Common Prayer reduced the number of saints days. June 29 was kept to honor St. Peter while January 25 commemorated St. Paul.

Throughout the New Testament, we see the importance of Simon Peter. Although he has obvious human weaknesses, he is a leader who often speaks for the whole band of apostles. Such is the case in today's Gospel from St. Matthew 16:13-19. The most important thing about St. Peter is not some personality trait or human accomplishment. He is not an authoritarian human ruler over Christ's Church. Instead, Peter is important because of his witness to the common faith which unites all faithful disciples. The authority that he is granted comes from his confession in St. Matthew 16:16, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Despite his human failings, misunderstandings, and denial of Jesus during Holy Week, John 21:15-21 shows us Peter's restoration by the risen Lord. His mission to care for Christ's sheep is renewed, and the Apostle dedicates the rest of his life and his death to serving the Lord.

As the collect for the day indicates, Peter was blessed with "many excellent gifts." Nevertheless, he was all too human and fallible. He was a strong character with good leadership potential, but he did not always stand up for his convictions. Ultimately, his most notable characteristic was his willingness to accept divine grace for repentance, renewal, and service. In this, Peter provided an encouraging example for all Christian ministers and believers. So commemorating St. Peter is not just about Peter himself or even about bishops and priests; it is about the faithfulness of the entire Church. The example of the Apostle is a call to all of us. Through divine grace, may we all be faithful followers of Christ, the Son of the living God!

Saint John the Baptist- 24 June- Luke 1:57-80

 The Nativity or Birth of St. John the Baptist is observed on June 24 June, six months before Christmas Eve. The Gospel from St. Luke 1 is about the birth and naming of John. It contains his father Zacharias' hymn, the Benedictus.  The significance of today's Gospel is nicely summarized in Cranmer's 1549 collect:

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching repentance; Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Trinity I- I John 4: 7-21; Luke 16:19-31

In different ways, both the Epistle and the Gospel for the First Sunday after Trinity talk about love. The Epistle from I John 4 speaks of the love of God the Father who sent His Son to save us. Because of such divine love, believers are called to respond with love for God and for our neighbors, especially for our brothers and sisters in faith.

Today’s Gospel from Luke 16:19-31 is a parable of Jesus which speaks of love with a concrete illustration. This is the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The parable shows us the arrogant, unmerciful, and faithless example of a rich comfortable man and the humble believing example of a poor sick beggar called Lazarus. The parable also indicates that the way people live in this world has consequences in the afterlife.

The parable is simple, but it is also a practical spiritual and moral exhortation and warning. It reflects three common teachings of Holy Scripture. First, God loves all human beings, great and small, rich and poor. He is gracious and merciful, and He wants what is best for us in this world and the next. Secondly, although God is merciful and forgives repentant sinners, He is also holy and just. He expects human beings to respond to His gifts in humility and faith, and He expects us to reflect His merciful nature in our dealings with those around us. Thirdly, we need to be aware that our attitudes and our actions concerning God and other people have consequences in this life and the next. 

Of course, we are all sinners, and none of us always loves God or our neighbors as we should. But God gives us a basic knowledge of His wishes, and He offers us His grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. With divine help, we can seek to become more humble, faithful, and loving in thought, word, and deed. This is the Good News underlying our parable.

Trinity Sunday- John 3: 1-16

Observing Trinity Sunday on the Sunday after Pentecost is fitting because the powerful descent of the Holy Spirit disciples marks a final point of the Trinitarian revelation. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity tells us about the nature of God and summarizes the whole Biblical message. Although this doctrine is a high mystery that transcends natural human understanding, it also has practical implications for Christian faith and practice.

There are numerous New Testament texts (such as Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19, John 3: 1-16, Ephesians 2:18, 2 Corinthians 13: 14, and 1 Peter 1:2) which show a Trinitarian understanding of God's revelation to humanity.  For example, there is today's Gospel from John 3: 1-16 where Jesus discusses the nature of redemption with Nicodemus. In these verses, we see an affirmation of the love of God the Father, the sending of Jesus Christ, God the Son, to save humanity, and the work of the Holy Spirit in giving a new spiritual birth to those who believe in Christ.

A belief in the Holy Trinity was expressed in ancient Christian baptismal questions about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These questions and answers became the basis for creeds such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. So even though the Trinity can be discussed using complicated philosophical and theological concepts, Christians affirm or confess this basic doctrine for reasons of living faith. The doctrine of the Trinity is a biblical Christian belief that is deeply rooted in the experience of redemption and in Christian worship and prayer. The God we worship and pray to is Triune. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share one divine essence and work together in perfect love to redeem poor sinful human beings. The doctrine of the Trinity is really at the heart of the Gospel!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

St. Barnabas and Ember Wednesday

This year, two distinct Prayer Book observances fall on the eleventh of June, the Wednesday after Pentecost. Today is an Ember Wednesday and the feast of  St. Barnabas. The Ember Days are days of prayer and fasting that occur four times a year on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Whatever their ancient origin, they have become associated with ordinations and prayers for the ministry. Especially in Pentecost week, we sense a relationship between the work of the Holy Spirit and the call of ordained ministers and all Christians to witness to Christ. So on these Ember Days, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will call and inspire both the ordained ministry and all believers in lives of service to Christ and His Gospel.

St Barnabas was not one of the Twelve, but Scripture (Acts 14:14) and the Books of Common Prayer call Barnabas an apostle. Barnabas is mentioned numerous times in the Acts of the Apostles and in the letters of St. Paul. In Acts 4:36, Barnabas is identified as a Levite from Cyprus named Joseph. His added name Barnabas is interpreted to mean "son of consolation." He and Paul the Apostle joined in missionary journeys among Jews and Gentiles. They participated in the Council of Jerusalem (ca. 50 AD) and defended the mission among the Gentiles. So on this day, we give thanks for the contribution and example of St. Barnabas. May we also be faithful witnesses who help spread the consolation of Christ's Gospel!

Pentecost and the Church- Acts 2:41-42

Traditional calendars emphasize the importance of Pentecost by providing propers for Monday and Tuesday of Pentecost week as well as including the early summer Ember Days on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. In thinking about Pentecost, many have called this feast "the birthday of the Church." Although one might trace the birth of the Christian Church to the beginnings of  Jesus' ministry and the calling of the Twelve, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples really marks a new beginning. We see this in the first verses of Acts 2 read at the Communion service on Pentecost. 

Unfortunately, we sometimes forget or ignore the rest of the story as it continues in Acts 2. There we see that Pentecost has specific and tangible results, not just for individuals but also for the community of believers, the Church. Peter as spokesman for the apostles and other disciples preaches a sermon. He proclaims the gospel of the crucified, risen, and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. He calls for repentance, faith, and baptism. The responses to this sermon are individual, but the results are manifested in the believing community. In Acts 2:41-42, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Thus, we see several basic characteristics of the Church, characteristics which have continued and will continue through history. These characteristics are preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Christian Baptism, apostolic teaching and fellowship, the Eucharistic meal, and basic and daily prayers. In these verses and the characteristics they describe, we really have a basic Christian catechism. We see the concrete results of the descent and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. We see what the Church is and what it does. Of course, there is much to contemplate, and there are innumerable applications. There are many sermons, discussions, written volumes, and personal developments, but the basics are clear. So during this week, let us recall the basic workings of the Holy Spirit and renew our dedication to be open to them!

Pentecost or Whitsunday- John 14:26

 This Sunday is the fiftieth day after Easter and the tenth day after Ascension Day. The biblical name is Pentecost, and on this day Christians think about the coming of God the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other disciples. Some Anglicans also call the day by the nickname “Whitsunday.” Apparently, this name arose in northern Europe from the white gowns worn at Baptisms on this day.  After all, in northern climes, the temperatures were likely to be better for baptisms than they were seven weeks earlier.

In Christian doctrine, the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit is the invisible or hidden person, nature, and power of God, especially as it is at work in the world and in human lives. But sometimes it’s hard for us humans to deal with invisible things like a spirit; so we like to visualize spirits having forms. The Bible itself gives us some concrete ways to think about the Holy Spirit. At Jesus’ Baptism (Matthew 3:16), we are told that the Spirit came down like a dove- a peaceful and innocent bird. In Acts 2, the Spirit comes like an invisible but powerful wind. It is also full of energy and movement like flames of fire.

At Pentecost, we remember the descent of the Holy Spirit in a powerful new way upon Christ’s followers fifty days after Easter. Besides the account in the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospels, especially the Gospel according to St. John, also promise the blessing of the Spirit.  In John 14:26 (KJV), Jesus teaches, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

By these words, Jesus teaches us about the basic work of the Holy Spirit among Christians. The Spirit has done, is doing, and will do many things, but the central work of the Spirit is related to the message of Jesus Christ. The work of the Spirit of Truth is to inspire believers. The Spirit of Truth is to remind, motivate, and help the disciples apply the Truth they have already heard from Jesus. Although the Holy Spirit certainly brings new life and new insight, He never brings some sort of new gospel. The Spirit does not and will not change the core message. The Divine Spirit’s chief work is to help us apply the Word incarnate in Jesus in new contexts. The Spirit gives new life to the Gospel and to the Church, but the Spirit always works with and through the message revealed in the Scriptures (especially in the incarnate Word Jesus Christ), summarized in the Creeds, and applied to us through the Sacraments. So today let us recall that basic message and give thanks for it!

Ascension Day- Acts 1; Luke 24

 This year, Thursday, May 29, is Ascension Day, the fortieth day after Easter. The Ascension is an important teaching of Scripture (Luke 24; Acts 1; Matthew 28; Mark 16; John 20; Ephesians 1 & 4), and it is a core Christian belief affirmed in the ancient creeds. Unfortunately in our time, this key event in Christ's ministry is often overlooked, and it deserves more attention.

Among the many meanings of the Ascension of Christ, here are three key points. 1) The Ascension marks the end of Jesus' Resurrection manifestations to the band of original disciples, the completion of His earthly ministry, and Jesus' return to His heavenly Father. 2) The Ascension also points toward and prepares for Pentecost. As Christ tells His followers more than once in the "Farewell Discourses" in the Gospel according to John, His return to the Father will lead to a new and powerful working of God the Holy Spirit among them. Christ's return to heaven means that the mission of His disciples can become less local and more universal. 3) Christ's Ascension also means that His followers have a heavenly mediator and intercessor at the right hand of the Father. From heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ watches over us in all places and at all times. He intercedes for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and for our eternal salvation. 

Thus, we see that Christ's Ascension ties many Christian beliefs together. It reminds us of all that Jesus Christ has done and is doing to pour His grace into our lives. It is an affirmation of Jesus' earthly ministry and His Resurrection. It is a kind of seal of divine approval on the Incarnation. The Ascension is also a concrete illustration of His continuing work as our unique heavenly intercessor and mediator. In addition, as the angels tell the disciples in Acts 1, the Ascension is a reminder of the Christian hope that Jesus Christ will come again to complete earthly history. Thanks be to God for our crucified, risen, and ascended Savior!