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.

Epiphany I- Luke 2:41-52

 Historically, the First Sunday after Epiphany has had several associations. At some points in church history, it has simply been the Sunday within the octave (ecclesiastical week) of Epiphany and repeated the collect and lessons of that ancient festival. From early times, it was also associated with Christ's Baptism. (In the 1928 American BCP, the commemoration of Christ's Baptism is for Epiphany II). In traditional Books of Common Prayer, the Gospel for this Sunday continues Luke's Christmas-Epiphany sequence with the one recorded episode from Christ's later childhood: the episode of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple (St. Luke 2:41-52).

This Gospel shows how Jesus continued to fulfill all righteousness in His human nature. As a pious Jew, He was concerned with studying and applying the Scriptures. In His case, there was a special awareness that He was about His "Father's business" (Luke 2:49). Along with this awareness, He remained the ideal son who at that age was subject to His earthly parents' authority.

On the one hand, the episode shows something unique about Jesus. It is a manifestation or epiphany of God the Son incarnate as the perfect young human being. At the same time, it is also a call to us to follow Jesus' example. As sinners, we never follow His example perfectly, but aided by His grace, we are called to be about our heavenly Father's business and to seek to grow in service.

Epiphany Journey- Matthew 2

Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian observances along with Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost. The word “epiphany” means “appearance” or “manifestation.” The day and the season are associated with several manifestations of Jesus Christ. In particular, in the Western Church tradition, we think of the manifestation of the Christ Child to the Gentile Wise Men in St. Matthew 2.

There are several ways to approach this account, but this year, I have been thinking about the story of the Magi as a journey of hope, faith, and love of God. It shows a faithful response to the Savior of the world, and there are three broad aspects to the journey of the Wise Men: 1) seeking a Savior, 2) learning the message of Scripture, and 3) meeting, worshiping, and serving Christ.

These aspects of their journey can also be applied to our journeys or pilgrimages of faith. First, like the Magi, most Christians are Gentiles who seek the Jewish Savior. God reaches out to us and gives us signs in creation that can help lead us. Our world is still filled with struggles between light and darkness, good and evil. And like the Magi, we still long to see goodness. Such a longing, such a hope, can start us on the way to see Jesus.

Secondly, although our natural human hopes can point us in the right general direction, we need more specific guidance. Like the Wise Men, we must also learn about God’s plans from the Bible. The Savior is not a philosophical abstraction. He fulfills the message of the Hebrew prophets. He is the personal Incarnation of God’s eternal Word. He is the One who comes as the babe of Bethlehem, grows in wisdom and stature, and later is crucified and rises from the dead at Jerusalem.

Thirdly, like the Wise Men, we must come into Jesus’s presence in humble adoration and faith. We rejoice to find Him and worship Him. We offer Him our best, knowing that He offers us more than we can ever give Him.  We refuse to cooperate with evil forces that oppose Him. We seek to do His will in this world, and we follow our way in life, continuing to praise Him.

Sometimes, our journeys for Christ may seem long or difficult. Just as the Magi faced hardships, trials, and threats from evil along the way, so do we. But like them, we have faith that every encounter with Christ- in Scripture, in daily experience, in the Sacraments- makes the journey worthwhile.

Second Sunday after Epiphany- Vocation

The Epistle for this Sunday is from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, 12:6-16b:

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.

These words of the Apostle come from the more practical or application part of the Epistle and remind believers of their ministries. Romans 12, verses 6-8 point out that every Christian has a calling to use his/her unique combination of gifts and talents in God's service. Verses 9-16 are a general exhortation about living a Christian way of life, a life full of love and other virtues. All this is possible because of faith in the redemptive grace of Jesus Christ which the Apostle emphasizes in the first chapters of Romans.

The points of this Epistle can have a special application as we consider the season of Epiphany. During this part of the church year, there are two emphases: 1) the epiphanies or manifestations of Christ in the Gospels and 2) ways that Christians serving the living Lord can continue to manifest Christ in the world. From prophesying or proclaiming Christ's message to helping the needy, each of us should be as active as possible in living out our individual callings. In addition, beside or through our unique vocations, each of us should seek the divine grace to embody the holy characteristics that Christ manifested in His ministry.