St. Michael and All Angels- 29 September- Revelation 12; Matthew 18 (Trinity 18)

This year Trinity XVIII is also the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. The origin of the feast of St. Michael the Archangel goes back to fifth-century Rome when a church in the region was dedicated in honor of St. Michael. This feast became very popular in medieval England, and when the sixteenth-century reformers simplified the church calendar, this was the only observance dedicated to angels that was retained.

In Scripture, angels are mentioned many times. For example, the Gospel from Matthew 18:10 refers to the guardian angels of children. St. Michael and his angels are mentioned in today's reading from Revelation 12:7 ff. Michael the archangel is also mentioned in Daniel 12 and the Epistle to Jude. He is the warrior angel who defends God's people from the Devil. While we would certainly want to avoid superstitions and the distorted angel worship that St. Paul warns about in Colossians 2:18, Christians should recognize and honor the work of St. Michael and all the angels. Angels are spiritual beings created by God, and they are at work in the universe to praise God and to aid His people. We should remain open to their continuing assistance in our spiritual development.

Trinity XVII- Luke 14:1-11

 The collect for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity speaks of God's grace preventing and following us. In modern English, this use of the verb prevent is archaic and interesting. Here the word is used in the original Latin sense, "come before" (a sense that still exists in some other languages). Beyond that bit of trivia, the real reason to appreciate this collect is that it reminds us that we are surrounded by grace, and that it is only through such divine grace that we can do any good works.

Today's Gospel from Luke 14:1-11 is a passage rich in spiritual applications. In it, we see Christ having the Sabbath meal with a group of Pharisees. This religious and social situation becomes the occasion for two messages to the Pharisees. These two messages still apply to us. 

First, there is the message taught by Christ's healing of the sick man on a Sabbath. Jesus responds to the man with compassion and points out that an act of compassion takes precedence over our human rules- even if our rules originally have a good devotional purpose. Secondly, in view of human pettiness in seeking social honors, our Lord emphasizes the need for humility. True honor does not come from self-promotion; it comes from a humble attitude rooted in faith. May the divine grace which surrounds us lead us into greater compassion and humility!

Trinity XVI- Luke 7:11-17

The Gospel for the day is from St. Luke 7:11-17. This selection is one example of our Lord's compassionate work- the restoration to life of the son of a widow from the village of Nain. Certainly, the death of a young person can cause a strong emotional response. However, in this case, let us notice that Christ's compassion is more focused on the woman. Her situation is especially desperate. The young man is her only son, and she is already a widow. In first-century society, the loss of her son means that she is being left alone and without livelihood or protection. Thus, in compassion, our Lord uses His divine power to raise the young man and restore him to his mother. 

We should also notice the crowd's reaction to this miracle. They are fearful when they see the divine power at work through Jesus, and they glorify God for the work of Christ. Thus, Christ's compassion is important in itself, but it also points beyond itself to the power and rule of God. In Jesus of Nazareth, the kingdom of God comes into the world in powerful new ways. The presence of God in Jesus Christ calls for awe and praise.

On this Sunday then, as we notice the mercy and compassion of God for His people, let us also notice that God's work in Christ calls for appropriate responses. The divine work of Jesus Christ should lead us to awe, to praise, and ultimately to faith and gratitude.

Holy Cross Day- 14 September- Galatians 6:14

Holy Cross Day, also known as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, is observed on September 14. It is one of the medieval feasts that is included as a "black letter day" or minor commemoration on the calendar of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The 1962 Canadian BCP provides a Collect for Holy Cross Day and suggests the Epistle and Gospel for Passion Sunday (Lent V). The day is also referenced indirectly in the 1928 American BCP (page li) and wherever the autumnal Ember Days have continued to be observed. These traditional days of special prayer for Christian ministry occur on the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following Holy Cross Day.

While many Anglicans do not accept all the ancient legends and medieval accretions associated with this festival, Holy Cross Day can be a useful reminder. The cross is a basic symbol of Christianity, and good theology is centered on Christ's cross. In a sense, every day is a holy cross day for Christian believers. We have been baptized into the cross of our Lord, we continue to be saved by the work Christ performed on the cross, and we anticipate the final triumph of the Crucified Savior and our heavenly fellowship with Him. It is appropriate for us to pause and give thanks that the horrible instrument of death has been transformed by God's redeeming work in Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 6:14, "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."

Trinity XV- Matthew 6: 24-34

The Gospel for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity is from St. Matthew 6:24-34. The reference to God's providence or provision is appropriate for the changing of seasons and harvest time. Yet, this Scripture speaks of more than nature or the harvest. It points us to divine providence and mercy in all their forms. Every aspect of creation depends on God for its existence and survival. God watches over and cares for the birds and the wildflowers. He gives them good things. How much more must the Creator care for human beings created in His image, especially for His faithful people! Therefore, God expects a faithful response from us. We must cast aside faithless anxieties. We must reject the idolatry of mammon or materialism. God calls each of us to place God's kingdom and His righteous standards first if we wish to know a truly meaningful life in this world and the next.