Confession of St. Peter- 18 January

In the sixth century, the Gallican (French) church began to observe January 18 as the feast of the Chair of St.Peter. This feast highlighted Peter's apostolic/episcopal authority by focusing on the symbol of the cathedra. In the sixteenth-century Reformation, Anglicans and Lutherans simplified their calendars by reducing holy days, eliminating this one. (Roman Catholics eliminated this feast with Vatican II modifications.) Later, some Anglican and Lutheran calendars re-introduced a commemoration of the Confession of St. Peter on this date.

Certainly, Simon Peter's confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah is an important point in the Gospels. The extended account in Matthew 16: 13-20 points to core affirmations about Jesus and the foundation of the Christian Church. Peter is a leader among the Twelve and his affirmation of faith has remained at the heart of Christianity. Sincere believers still profess and trust that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the living God. Such faith is the rock on which Christ's Church is built, and the Church will endure till the end of earthly history.

During the twentieth century, ecumenical dialogues among Christian groups designated the week or octave beginning on January 18 as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, This observance was first proposed by an Anglican priest in 1908, and it was later promoted by inter-church groups. The groups associated with ecumenism have had their problems. They have often been weak on theology and basic Christian morality. Nevertheless, praying for better communication and understanding among those who claim to follow Jesus is an admirable cause, So as we contemplate St. Peter's pivotal confession of faith, let us pray for all who sincerely believe in Jesus, and let us pray for the Church's Scriptural mission in a fallen world.

Second Sunday after Easter- The Good Shepherd- John 10:11-16

This Sunday has often been called Good Shepherd Sunday because of the Gospel from St. John 10:11-16. This short selection can be approached in a number of ways, but the key idea, as in much of St. John's Gospel, is the identity of Jesus Christ. Two times in these verses, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd" ( St. John 10: 11 and 14). These are "I AM" sayings where Christ alludes to His divine nature (see Exodus 3:14). Indeed, throughout the Old Testament, the primary shepherd is the Lord God (for example, Psalm 23). This is a unique role; Christ is not just "a" good shepherd, but rather "the" good shepherd. 

Some of the things that being the good shepherd means are highlighted in our Gospel. Jesus says, "the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (10:11- and in slightly different words in 10:15). An ordinary conscientious shepherd faces danger for his sheep, but Christ the Good Shepherd does more. He offers Himself as a sacrifice for His flock. This refers to the unique redemptive work of Jesus through His Passion and Death. 

The overwhelming significance of His self-offering is further developed later in John 10. There our Lord points out that since He lays down His life voluntarily, He can also take His life up again (10:17-18). In other words, the Good Shepherd does more than just die for His sheep. He also rises to life again and continues to care for His flock. Christ the Good Shepherd is not like a hired hand who does not have a sense of ownership. Instead, Christ can affirm, "I am the good shepherd and know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father" (10:14). The relationship between Christ and His flock is deeply personal and loving; it reflects the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. There is a closeness and a deep knowledge of one another. There is an abiding and profound commitment to mutual well-being. 

This close relationship between Christ and His sheep has further implications for Christ's flock, that is to say, for His Church. Our Lord sums it up in these words, "And other sheep I have... and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd" (10:15). The close tie that the sheep have with their Good Shepherd means that they also have a close tie with each other. Even if they are scattered among different folds and have never met one another, they are still united because of their relationship with their shepherd. All true followers of Christ are related to each other. This relationship among believers is not their accomplishment; it is Christ's. In this world, Christians may be better or worse at expressing their unity in Christ. But the unity already exists; it is an underlying reality based on our unity with Christ Himself.

Trinity XVII- Ephesians 4: 1-6

The brief collect for this Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity is one of my favorites: 

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. 

As a linguist, I find the archaic use of the verb prevent interesting. Here this word is used in the original Latin sense, "come before"- a sense that still exists in modern Romance languages. Aside from that tidbit, the real reason that I 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 good works. 

Today's Epistle from Ephesians 4:1-6 continues the discussion from the selection last week about the interplay of Christian doctrine and ethics. In 4:1, the Ephesians are exhorted "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." The Christian walk or way of life is based on the divine call to believe in and follow Jesus Christ. In verses 2-3, this way of life is presented both as an individual embodiment of virtues such as humility, patience, and loving forbearance and as a communal way of life that holds on to the unity given by the Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 4:4-6 develops the theme of true Christian unity. Such unity is not some human achievement or organizational structure. While greater cooperation among Christian organizations is often desirable, the unity presented in this portion of Scripture is of a different nature. It is rooted in the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Christians are already members of "one body" empowered by "one Spirit." They share "one hope..., one Lord, one faith." They have been grafted into the Body of Christ by "one baptism." And above all these aspects of oneness, there is "one God and Father of all." He is the ultimate source of any good unity.  True unity is awareness of a common faith in God through Jesus Christ, and it exists despite external human differences of race, language, culture, or church background.

Trinity XVII- Ephesians 4- Unity of the Spirit

Today's traditional epistle reminds us of the true basis for unity among Christians. We have many differences in nature, culture, and personal preferences, but certain things are necessary. In Ephesians 4: 2-6. St. Paul exhorts Christian believers to seek "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Christians must walk a fine line between the dangers of doctrinal weakness and intolerance. Not every religious option is acceptable. Even some things that are tolerable are not necessarily edifying. So we must stand up for our convictions. On the other hand, we must be careful about the ways that we assert our convictions. Even in disagreement, we must try to remain kind and charitable. And we should also seek common ground based on the matters that Paul mentions. There is one body- one universal church of Jesus Christ, and one Holy Spirit at work calling all believers to a common hope in redemption. There is one Lord, that is Jesus Christ, God the Son, who suffered, died, and rose to save us. There is one faith, which is both belief in and trust in the Lord Jesus. There is one baptism, the sacrament of entry into the body of Christ through water administered in the name of God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And the ultimate unity is in one God and Father who reigns over all.

Different Christian individuals and groups have distinct preferences and practices. Some of those differences are important, and some are not important. Some of those things may be more or less edifying for specific people, and there is room for compromise on some non-essential points of theology or practice. However, on the basics mentioned in Ephesians 4, Christians need to strive for mutual understanding and spiritual unity.