Easter V- Rogation- John 16:23

The Fifth Sunday after Easter has long been called Rogation Sunday. This name is derived from the Latin verb rogare, which means "to request, to pray." The theme of prayer is found in the Gospel for the Sunday. In John 16:23, Jesus promises His disciples, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." This verse marks the beginning of the Christian practice of praying in Jesus' name.

Sometimes, we may wonder how this promise can be true. Disciples ancient and modern have not always prayed wisely or consistently. Even prayers for clearly good things do not always receive an obviously affirmative or immediate answer. Often our human requests are limited in outlook or intention. There may even be times when with hindsight we are happy that our original petitions were not fulfilled exactly the way we had in mind. Nevertheless, we do believe Christ's promise is true. We believe that God does hear and answer prayers that are truly in Christ's name.

So what does it really mean to pray in Jesus' name? Praying in Christ's name, for His sake, or through Him means that we pray according to His nature and intentions. It means praying with a humble and faithful attitude. Such prayers may include various specific requests, but more importantly, they always include the idea, spoken or unspoken, "thy will be done." The privilege of praying in the name and in the spirit of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus is one of the greatest gifts for us as Christians, Let us make good and continuous use of this gift!

Easter IV- John 16:13-14; James 1:18-21

The Epistle and the Gospel for this Fourth Sunday after Easter seem to be different and distinctive texts. James 1 has some very practical everyday advice for living. John 16 contains high theological thoughts about Christ's departure and the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost. Yet, there is a theme in common. That theme is "the truth."  In James 1:18, we are told that as believers, God has begotten "us with the word of truth." In John 16:13-14, Jesus says, "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

What is this word of truth? It is several things. Ultimately, the word of truth is Jesus Christ, God the Son, the eternal Word. And the word of truth is the Holy Scriptures, especially the Gospel of salvation through faith in our crucified and risen Lord. This message is the greatest truth of the universe, and as James 1:21 indicates, when received in humble faith, the word is able to save our souls! Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Easter II- The Shepherd of our Souls- John 10:11; I Peter 2:25

On the traditional calendars of western churches, the Second Sunday after Easter has been called Good Shepherd Sunday (newer calendars shift this theme to a week later). Of course, this theme is related to the Gospel, in particular, John 10:11 where Jesus says, "I am the good Shepherd." This time, let us focus on a related statement in the Epistle. In I Peter 2:25, the Apostle Peter writes, "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

This verse presents two truths. 1) Human beings are like sheep, and we go astray. We do not think or live as we should. We wander away on our own and get into all kinds of danger and trouble. 2) Despite our tendency to wander, Jesus Christ is our Shepherd. He wants to guide us and protect us. He is the bishop,  that is, the "overseer," who watches over our souls. So Christians are those who have returned to our Good Shepherd. We have returned to Jesus, and we need to stay close to Him. The risen Lord is the only one who can properly guide and care for us! Thanks be to God for this message of hope!

Easter I- Shalom- John 20:19-23

The Gospel for the First Sunday after Easter is John 20:19-23. In these few verses,  the risen Christ comes to where the timid and fearful disciples are hiding. He greets them in the common Jewish manner, saying “Peace be with you.”  This greeting is an implied prayer for God’s peace that acquires a special meaning in light of Christ’s resurrection. The greeting is now a blessing from the risen Lord. Jesus is the personification of God’s peace, and He has established a new relationship with the heavenly Father for all who truly believe in Him.

The fearful disciples need to hear these reassuring words, but Jesus does not stop there. Jesus wishes them peace a second time, and this time, He adds something. He gives them a mission. As the heavenly Father has sent Him, likewise Christ sends the apostles and through them, all His Church. Jesus shares His resurrection victory over sin and spiritual death with His disciples. He shares His Good News of peace with God, and He asks His followers to share that spiritual peace with others.

Christians still need to hear and believe this two-fold message of peace with God through the crucified risen Christ. First, despite our failings, Jesus Christ still offers us true, deep, and lasting peace. He brings us renewal, reconciliation, and hope. He simply asks us to accept Him and His message in faith. Secondly, as people who have received such peace from Him, He asks us to share this good news with others who need to receive the same divine blessing. These two points are the perennial message of Easter for us and for all people.

Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ- Romans 6:9-11

 Alleluia! Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Easter is the greatest of Christian celebrations, and discussing it sometimes strikes me as overwhelming in a good way. The resurrection of the crucified One is the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and His Resurrection relates to all the themes of Christian worship, doctrine, and living. In reading various Scripture and Prayer Book references this week, my attention was drawn to the Easter Anthem (pp. 162-163 in the 1928 BCP; p.118 in my 1662 BCP), In particular, I noticed the verses from Romans 6:9-11:

"Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; * death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: * but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, * but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

These beautiful and sublime words have lasting significance. Jesus Christ has been raised and accomplished a definitive and unique victory over sin and death. As people who have been united with Christ in baptism and faith, we are also dead to sin and alive to God and His goodness. Despite the trials of earthly existence and our own failures, Christ has won a victory for us, a victory that He graciously offers to us again and again in Word and Sacrament. Let us give thanks and rejoice in the good news of our risen Lord! Alleluia!

Easter Even or Holy Saturday- Matthew 27:57-66

This Saturday before Easter, called Easter Even in the Book of Common Prayer, has traditionally been a quiet day for Anglicans, a time of reflection and preparation. This fact is reflected in the Gospel for the day, Matthew 27:57-66. Jesus has been buried and descended to the dead. The disciples mourn. Wicked human beings are still plotting to contain the crucified Christ in the tomb by sending armed guards to watch. In the meantime, God is preparing to bring about an amazing victory over sin and death!

Good Friday- Isaiah 53:6

How can this day be called Good Friday? Crucifixion in itself was one of the more cruel and shameful forms of execution ever devised. Furthermore, Jesus of Nazareth was the holiest man and the pure Son of God falsely accused and plotted against by evil. Yet, it is a good day because it shows the love of God reaching out to fallen and corrupt human beings. The Crucified One is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, and the apparent defeat of goodness on this day will be turned into an eternal cosmic victory over sin, death, and the devil.

In the words of Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Thursday before Easter, commonly called Maundy - I Corinthians 11

All the days of Holy Week remind Christians of Jesus' Passion and Death,  but Maundy Thursday is primarily for the commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, or the Eucharist. The Epistle in the BCP is from I Corinthians 11 and contains St. Paul's version of Christ's words of institution.  Theologians may discuss these words and their meanings, but on this day, we should sense that the Lord's Supper goes beyond academic discussions. Rather, these simple words are about the heart of Christian worship and devotion. The Eucharist focuses on the work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. It points us to His continuing offer of forgiveness and grace, and to our need for humble faith in His presence with us, especially as He comes to us through His Supper. "Let us give thanks unto our Lord God."

Holy Week, the Passion Gospels

 Since the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, Anglicans have continued the ancient Christian tradition of reading large portions of the Gospel Passion narratives during Holy Week. Indeed, such readings may go back to the earliest years of the Church when the Passion and Resurrection narratives were probably the first parts of the Gospels to be written and read in worship. Some lectionaries since the 1970s have modified the selections, but the sequence from 1549 through 1962 remained basically the same in all versions of the Prayer Book.

So during this Holy Week, whether one can attend services where the Passion narratives are read aloud or one must simply read at home, I would encourage the following readings along with any other services or devotions.

Palm Sunday- Matthew 27

Monday- Mark 14

Tuesday- Mark 15

Wednesday- Luke 22

Maundy Thursday- Luke 23

Good Friday- John (18 and) 19

Palm Sunday- What Kind of King? Matthew 27, Isaiah 53

 In the twentieth-century, many churches began observing an autumn Sunday in honor of Christ the King. The intention may be good, but it sometimes seems a redundant afterthought. The Christian Church has long had another, older, and more directly biblical Sunday with the theme of Christ as King. That is, the last Sunday in Lent, commonly called Palm Sunday. This Sunday already highlights the Messianic kingship of Jesus.

The Scriptures often read on this Sunday reference Jesus as king in different ways. The Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah 53 shows the Suffering Servant who becomes ruler of God's people. Zechariah 9 prophesies the peaceful arrival of God's king to reign over Israel. The Epistle from Philippians 2 refers to Jesus Christ as the great ruler to whom every knee must bend. The four Gospel accounts of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem show Him being honored as the Davidic king. 

The Passion narratives from the Gospels also contain references to the kingship of Jesus. For example, consider the traditional Gospel for the Sunday from Matthew 27. Jesus and Pilate discuss kingship. The Roman soldiers in their hall cruelly ridicule Jesus as a Jewish king. At Golgotha, the crowds, the Jewish leaders, the Roman soldiers, and the impenitent thief all taunt Jesus for being a humiliated king. Roman officials mock Jesus and the Jews by attaching the official accusation "King of the Jews" to the cross. Although His enemies and even His disciples fail to understand the spiritual nature of His kingdom, He suffers and dies because He is king of God's people.

It should be clear that Palm Sunday and Holy Week concern Jesus as the divinely anointed King. The question is what kind of king He is. Many people in the first century were looking for a king, and some hoped that Jesus might be the One, but He did not meet their expectations. They wanted a king who offered external worldly power and material benefits. They did not want a king who humbly offered spiritual and moral benefits. Unfortunately, many people, even many who claim to be Christians, still have similar worldly expectations. However, Jesus transforms the idea of king, and in humility, He offers us a different way. Let us use this Holy Week to reflect on Him, cast off our false hopes, and turn to Him as true king of our minds, hearts, and souls!

Lent V, commonly called Passion Sunday- John 6, Hebrews 9

Some newer liturgical calendars call the Sunday before Easter (popularly called Palm Sunday) Passion Sunday because the Passion Gospel is read. However, some other calendars (including the 1927/28 Proposed English, the 1928 American, the 1962 Canadian, and the 2019 ACNA Books of Common Prayer) use the older popular designation of the Fifth Sunday in Lent as "Passion Sunday."

The readings in the 1928 BCP are consistent with the Passion Sunday designation. The Gospel from John 6 points to the theological conflicts that led to plots against Jesus. The Epistle from Hebrews 9:11-15 turns our thoughts to the significance of Christ's passion and death. Hebrews 9:11 speaks of Christ as "high priest of good things to come." Hebrews 9:12 adds, "... by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Comparing the self-sacrifice of Christ to the old temple sacrifices, Hebrews 9:14 exclaims, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God"! Hebrew 9:15 concludes that Christ brings "the promise of eternal inheritance."

On Palm Sunday and during Holy Week, we will spend a lot of time focusing on the details of our Lord's Passion and Death. On the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday, let us take time for some preliminary and personal reflections about why He suffered and what His sacrifice means for us.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary- 25 March- Luke 1

Since the early centuries of the Church, some Christians have observed the Annunciation of Christ's Incarnation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, usually on March 25.  On this feast, we think of many things: the redemptive purpose of God the Father, the splendor of the messenger Gabriel, the humility, obedience, and faith of the Virgin Mary, and the mystery of our Lord's Incarnation. Since this feast usually falls during Lent, we also see the strong connection of these wondrous aspects of the story with the Passion, Cross, and Resurrection of the One whose Birth is announced.

The Collect of the Day admirably summarizes the relationship between the Annunciation and the other events of redemption that we contemplate during Lent:

We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought into the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lent IV- The Prophet That Should Come- John 6:1-14

The Gospel for the Fourth Sunday in Lent is from St. John 6:1-14. These verses form one of the four accounts of the miraculous Feeding of Five Thousand, an event found in all the gospels. These accounts have several themes., but, this time, I would simply focus on one theme that is sometimes neglected.  That theme, especially noticeable in St. John's presentation, is a Messianic theme related to Moses. The passage contains Messianic allusions comparing Jesus with Moses. 

At the beginning of John 6, Jesus goes up on a mountain or hill to teach the people. This is a reminder of Moses who went up on the mount and came down to proclaim God’s Law to the Israelites. Providing food for God’s people in the wilderness is also reminiscent of what Moses did. And at the end of our passage, the people acknowledge Jesus as "that prophet that should come into the world" (John 6:14). In Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses predicted that God would raise up a prophet like him and that Israel must listen to that new Moses.

 In the first century, being a new Moses was one of the roles expected from the Messiah, and several New Testament passages see Jesus fulfilling this prophecy. Jesus brings the last great revelation from God the Father. He restates, re-applies, and deepens the divine Law. As the Transfiguration implies, Jesus completes and supersedes Moses and the other prophets. As Hebrews 3:3 says, “For this man [that is, Jesus] was accounted of more glory than Moses….” In other words, Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. He is the new and greater Moses. He brings the ultimate message from the Lord God, and we must listen to Him and heed Him in all that we think, say, and do. 

Being more deliberate in hearing and obeying Jesus as the greatest prophet and Messianic king is one of the great purposes of Lent. During Lent, many Christians focus on devotional preparations and spiritual disciplines. And we do need renewed dedication in these matters. Yet, our Gospel from John 6 reminds us that renewal is not just about our efforts. Lent is about focusing on Jesus. He is the great prophet, priest, and king. He reveals God’s will, and He seeks to save us. So in faith, we must heed Him and accept His guidance.

Lent III- For Him or Against Him? Luke 9:50; Luke 11:23

The Gospel for the Third Sunday in Lent is from Luke 11:14-28 and contains a variety of sayings. A striking verse is Luke 11: 23a "He that is not with me is against me." Taken in isolation, this saying may seem to contradict an earlier saying from Luke 9:50b "for he that is not against us is for us." Of course, orthodox Christians do not think that Christ really contradicts Himself. He is truth personified. So we look at the Scriptural context to understand the two sayings.

In Luke 9, the context is about "unofficial" disciples. Someone who is not part of the band of disciples is doing good things in Jesus' name. Although John and the other apostles are zealous to protect Christ's reputation, the Master warns them not to go too far. Anyone who is really trying to follow Jesus and bring healing in His name is not an enemy.

In Luke 11, the context is very different. Opposition to the person and ministry of Jesus is becoming more intense. Some in the crowds have doubts, some blasphemously accuse Him of being in league with the devil, and some cynically and hypocritically want to test Him and show Him up. In such circumstances, neutrality and mild admiration are no longer options. In this context, people face a radical choice: one is either for Jesus Christ or against Him.

We can see these two sayings of our Lord within the development of Jesus' earthly ministry. In the earlier days of His work, the lines between support or opposition tended to be more fluid. However, as evil forces and people became more determined to destroy Jesus Christ, the choices became more drastic.

The same sort of development continues to take place in our time. Sometimes, there are sincere followers of Jesus who may not have the best instruction or credentials. Such people may still serve Christ and not be against Him. On the other hand, we are surrounded by a "post-Christian" culture where opposition to Christ has taken on a new fury. In such a context, we must make clear spiritual and moral choices in order to be for Jesus Christ. Let us pray for grace and wisdom to distinguish such contexts and make good choices! Guided by His Word and His Spirit, may we always be for Him!

Lent II- Humble and Persistent Faith- Matthew 15:21-28

The Gospel for the Second Sunday in Lent is the striking story of the Canaanite woman from Matthew 15: 21-28. In this encounter, a Gentile from a despised pagan background seeks healing for her daughter. After testing both the woman and His disciples by a delay, Jesus recognizes the woman's faith and heals the daughter. 

Besides highlighting the importance of faith in Christ, this event points us toward two virtues that complement faith. The woman is both humble and persistent. She does not claim great things for herself; she simply appeals to Christ's grace and mercy. And she does not give up despite Jesus' hesitation or the disciples' opposition. Her humble and persistent faith allows Christ to work in an unexpected way among unexpected people. Such is the good news at the end of the story.

The dynamics of this story apply to us. Our faith in Christ also needs to be humble and persistent, and Lent should be a special reminder of these characteristics. We are all sinners who have no right to demand things from God or to set a timetable for His responses. We are all lowly petitioners seeking divine favor. So let us trust that He is merciful even to the least worthy, and let us continue to seek His blessings!