Verse of the Day

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Septuagesima Sunday


What is Septuagesima?
Septuagesima Sunday is the name given to the third Sunday before Lent. The term is sometimes applied to the period of the liturgical year which begins on this day and lasts through Shrove Tuesday (with the following day being Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins). This period is also known as the Pre-Lenten season or Shrovetide. The next two Sundays are labelled Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, the latter sometimes also called Shrove Sunday. The earliest Septuagesima Sunday can occur is January 18 (Easter falling on March 22 in nonleap year) and the latest is February 22 (Easter falling on April 25 in leap year).

Septuagesima comes from the Latin word for "seventieth," with Sexagesima and Quinquagesima equalling "sixtieth" and "fiftieth" respectively. They are patterned after the Latin word for the season of Lent, Quadragesima, which means "fortieth" because Lent is forty days long (not counting the Sundays, which are all considered little Easters).  Because a week is only seven days long, not ten, and since even then only six of those days might be counted if the pattern of Quadragesima is followed, Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima, don't literally correspond to the periods of time they imply. It is interesting, however, that just about 70 days (68 actually) is the minimum number of days between the octave day of the Epiphany on January 14 and Easter, implying that a season just about 70 days long can always fit between the two.

The 17-day period beginning on Septuagesima Sunday was intended to be observed as a preparation for the season of Lent, which is itself a period of spiritual preparation (for Easter). In many countries, however, Septuagesima Sunday still marks the start of the carnival season, culminating on Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Mardi Gras. The Gospel reading for Septuagesima week is the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16).

The Propers for today are found on Page 118-120, with the Collect first:

The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the
third Sunday before Lent.

The Collect.

O
 LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Ryan Hopkins read the Epistle for today, which came from the Ninth Chapter of the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians beginning at the Twenty-Fourth Verse:

K
NOW ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Deacon Striker Jack Arnold read the Holy Gospel for today which came from the Twentieth Chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew beginning at the First Verse.  Often quoted, this is the very important parable of the vineyard.  While it appears to be principally directed towards Christians wanting to be “first” in importance and the like, it has a more direct meaning.  It is a fine lesson in “buyer’s remorse” or coveting of jobs or similar concepts.  If you got a good deal, it does not change because someone else got a “better” deal.  Take what you got, go forth and be happy.  Other meanings abound.  For a very direct application, what this means is “cradle” Christians are no more likely to go to heaven than this morning’s convert.  They just get to enjoy the Christian experience longer.  One note, if you wait until the last minute to join the gang, your time here might end before you get around to it. 

Sometimes people act like being a Christian is an unpleasant experience that they will do when they get a round tuit.  It is not.  Christians aren’t perfect, they just have more fun being imperfect and imperfectly trying to improve!  Anyway, here is the Gospel according to Saint Matthew:

T
HE kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Sermon – Time and Action
Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above. 

 Consider these words from the Collect:

… who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations …

In the Collect, we ask God who knows we should be “…justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour …”  Eternal salvation is the delivery we are promised by Jesus.  This is the reward of the race we run here on earth.  Our race is for that eternal prize, not just, as they say, filthy lucre.  So how do we run the race?  With our eye on the finish line, not on our competitors.  And, remember this is a Team Effort.  We want the Christian Team to win.  If an outsider joins, they join the team fully from then on.  A death bed conversion gains the same prize in the end as a life long Christian.  The life long Christian will have had the more rewarding life, but eternity is a long time after that.

We are all so far from perfect that Holier than Thou is pretty damning praise.  Don’t even go there.  The best you can really do is not to be as evil as another, even that is pretty doubtful.

The Gospel for today, the very important parable of the vineyard, also gives us very good advice on the conduct of our daily lives and contains a crucial key to happiness

It is a fine lesson in “buyer’s remorse” or coveting of jobs or similar concepts.  If you got a good deal, it does not change because someone else got a “better” deal.  Take what you got, go forth and be happy.  Other meanings abound.  For a very direct application, what this means is “cradle” Christians are no more likely to go to heaven than this morning’s convert.  They just get to enjoy the Christian experience longer.  One note, if you wait until the last minute to join the gang, your time here might end before you get around to it. 

Sometimes people act like being a Christian is an unpleasant experience that they will do when they get a round tuit.  It is not.  Christians aren’t perfect, they just have more fun being imperfect and imperfectly trying to improve!

Bishop Ogles’ Sermon
We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s sermon notes.  Today is one of those Sundays.  Today we get a brilliant analysis of a portion of the Gospel according to Matthew for this week:

Septuagesima Sunday
5 February 2012 Anno Domini
St Andrews Anglican Church

The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the
third Sunday before Lent.

The Collect.

O
 LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

This Collect prepares our hearts for Grace and disavows any personal merit we may consider that we have. First, we pray that our prayer, offered out of a contrite heart, may be heard by the Lord. Secondly, our punishments regardless the severity are all deserved for we have all come short of the righteousness of God. Thirdly, not claiming any righteousness now on our own behalf, but that righteousness of Jesus Christ, we ask only for His mercy and His Glory.

Matthew 5:1-16
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
     3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
     13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The multitudes always flocked to Christ but only for their own benefit. "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him." That is true today as well. The multitudes that flock to churches on Sunday are not truly seeking Christ, but social, political and financial advantage. Those who come truly seeking Him are the smaller remnant of the people – the true disciples.

  Jesus, when wearied, often went up to the mountain. It is a place where the world is less and heaven is nearer. There He may find solitude.

"…when he was set" Unlike many moderns who love to make a show of jumping about in the pulpit, Jesus often sat down (as one having authority) to preach and teach. Wild gesticulations will not nurture faith, but Jesus spoke in calm and even words.

The multitudes will come readily on easy terrain, but they are less likely to go so far as to climb a mountain.

We see now a division between the reward of those who are blessed (and who they are) and the nature of those who are truly blessed of the Lord.

"And he opened his mouth, and taught them," In the military we would call this an Alert Order – Christ is about to speak words of surpassing importance:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

There is one common thread running through all of the Blessed – they are humble and lacking undue pride. If they have pride, it is in Christ and not themselves.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  Here we have a perfect example of the kind of persecution that takes place from the world, and often regrettably, the people of the Church itself. The prophets of old times were not persecuted by the world as much as by the rulers of Israel. The same is true today. If you question their extravagant spending plans, you will find yourself outside the gate, beaten and tortured by the tongues of men.

Who are the blessed of God in the final equation? Have you ever heard an honest and good man or woman described in this way: "That man is the salt of the earth!"?

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

What is the nature of salt and who made salt?

All things were made by God. He made salt for our good. What are some benefits of salt?

1.     Makes food taste better. The Christian makes those about him enjoy his company.
2.     Preserves meats and vegetables so that they can be stored for long periods. The witness of a Christian nation will preserve it in liberty and safety for long periods.
3.     Valuable – salt was used to pay Roman soldiers at the time of Christ. The Roman name for salt is salarius – this is the origin of our term `salary.'
4.     Salt is not found every place. It must be mined at hard labor and then transported to the source of need. God's Word must be studied (mined) and transported to the source of need – a perishing world.
5.     Salt creates thirst just as salty popcorn in a theater (to entice us to buy soft drinks). The Christian example of the Church should make people thirsty to come and know of our joy.
6.     Salt is stored in shakers. If it is kept too long without being shaken, it will harden and not able to be used on food. The Christian is the same way. If we stay apart from the lives of others, we will get hardened and of no benefit to our fellow man.
7.     Salt is necessary for life.

Salt is a Compound comprised of two atoms – which are they? Remember your junior high chemistry class? NaCl 

Na = Sodium, a soft, yellowish, poisonous metal never found in pure form in nature. It will always be combined with some other element such as carbon, sulphur, or hydrogen.

     Chlorine is an odorless, colorless gas which cannot be seen, but is so deadly that it was the first chemical used in chemical warfare in WWI.
 It kills without the victim being aware of its presence. The lost sinner dies not being aware of the presence of God.
     But when these two poisons are combined, they create a compound essential for life!
     If we allow sodium to represent man (a soft yellow medal) we see that man is lost in his natural state, always joined to the elements of the world.
     If we allow chlorine to represent God as an invisible Spirit, we find that He is deadly to man if man is not joined to Him as in the case of NACL. But when combined, the result is something essential for life.
     If we place salt in a bag on the ground and leave it alone for a long while, it will begin to separate from the Chlorine and join with other elements of the world. How like a Christian who is overly close to the things of the world.
     If we view common table salt under a microscope, we will find that the invisible chlorine gas, and soft yellow metal have formed perfect cubes of white. These cubes maintain a structural integrity that maintains their form even when beaten into small pieces. Should not the Christian maintain his integrity and form as well when subjected to persecution?

We are, if we are committed to Christ, the salt of the earth.
Now let us turn to light. What is light?

     Nobody knows, not even our NASA scientists.

     Science can only describe the behavior and characteristics of Light, but cannot define exactly what Light is.

     Light is invisible. Strange to you? You can only see light in the manner in which it reveals reality to us. We can see each other today because light has revealed our visage to each other. God is like Light – we cannot see Him, but we can see the Truth and Promise He has revealed to us. We know Him too because we know His Son, Jesus.

     According to Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, there is only one absolute known to man – the speed of Light. Christ tells us that He is the Light of the World! He is absolute and His Truth is unassailable!

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Sun is our great physical light without which there could be no life on earth. Christ, to us, is like the Sun. We must be blessed by His warm, life-giving rays daily.

If there is a lunar eclipse, we have allowed some physical object to come between us and our Sun of Righteousness. "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. " (Mal 4:2)

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

     Wait! Jesus says that WE are the Light of the World, and here He says HE is the Light of the World. How may we reconcile these seemingly conflicting statements?

     Have you ever basked in the light of the moon on a warm summer evening? The moon is the brightest light in the sky at night, but it does not own its light, it borrows it from the Sun and reflects it down to us. We, too, are the only light is a darkened night of the world, but our light, too, is borrowed and reflected. We get our Light from the Sun of Righteousness and it is not ours – but His.

     A hidden light is not light at all. We must be openly burning for Christ. If we are bright lights for Christ, our lights shall be seen at great distances across the Wilderness of the World. Are you a shining light for Christ, or is your light darkened?

Bishop Dennis Campbell’s Sunday Sermon
As is oft the case, we are honored to present Bishop Dennis’ Sunday sermon presented to his parish.  Dennis has an excellent command of scripture and is able to present it in a manner which is completely understandable to the rest of us.  This year’s sermons are drawn from the book of Psalms, or, as it is known by Anglicans, "The Psalter" which begins on page 343 of the Book of Common Prayer.

God Our Help
Psalm 121
Septuagesima Sunday
5 February 2012
                                                           
Psalm 121. Levavi oculos.
                                                           
I
WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills; * from whence cometh my help?
2 My help cometh even from the Lord, * who hath made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; * and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord himself is thy keeper; * the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
6 So that the sun shall not burn thee by day, * neither the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; * yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy com- ing in, * from this time forth for evermore.

"From whence cometh my help." These words, like many in literature and music, have a double meaning. So to say, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help" is first a statement of confidence that the hills are a help to Jerusalem.  Ancient Jerusalem was set on the famous hill known as Mount Zion.  Like most cities of its time, it was enclosed by a thick wall upon which soldiers could walk and fight to defend the city.  The walls were surrounded by the small valleys of Tyropoeon and Kidron, which, in turn, were surrounded by another wall, a natural wall of rugged hills of which the Mount of Olives is the most famous. This made Jerusalem a natural fortress.  An attacking army would have to scale the surrounding hills, cross the Tyropoeon and Kidron, under fire from archers on the wall, scale the wall of the valleys, advance further up the hill, still under attack by defending archers, and, finally, climb the wall of Jerusalem itself before it could even begin to fight the Jerusalem soldiers.  So the hills around the city were a natural defense, and it is to these hills that Psalm 121 says in confidence; "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills; from whence cometh my help."

Yet, "from whence cometh my help?" is also a question.  Wonderful as the hills are, they cannot do everything.  They cannot comfort those who sorrow.  They cannot heal the sick, or give meaning or hope to life.  Only God can do these things; "From whence cometh my help? My help cometh even from the Lord."

One of the points made by the Psalm is that God is able to help.  It is hard to describe the help a hill gave to soldiers in days past.  It gave those on the hill a commanding view of the enemy's movements, but it also enabled them to fight better.  An arrow fired downhill had more range than an arrow fired uphill.  A large stone rolled downhill was a danger to all in its path; a large stone rolled uphill was more dangerous to the soldiers rolling it than it was to the enemy.  So, the high ground was always an advantage, always a help.  And Psalm 121 is making a comparison; it is saying, as the hills are a help to the physical city of Jerusalem, God is the help of the spiritual Jerusalem, His people.  He made heaven and earth.  He made the universe.  He created the stars and the galaxies.  "He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names." "Great is our Lord, and of great power." "In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." If God has the power and wisdom to do all these things, then it must be true that, as 2 Chronicles 25:8 says, "God hath power to help." This God of power and strength is like the hills around Jerusalem.  He surrounds and protects us. He is a wall of defense. Can any enemy harm us if God is our defense?  "If God be for us, who can be against us?" asks St. Paul.  It is God who justifies us, and it is God who makes us to be more than conquerors so that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:31-39).  Daniel 3:17 sums this up very well.  Faced with death in the fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say plainly, "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us."

But what good is power to help if it is not used?  What good is the ability to do good without the will to do it?  Therefore it is important that our God is able and willing to deliver us.  "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved" according to verse 3.  When you live in a city set on a hill, there is always someone who wants to knock you off.  The city of Jerusalem had many enemies who would have gladly destroyed it.  But God would not let Jerusalem's "foot" be moved.  Secure footing is essential to making the high ground an effective help in battle.  You can't fight if you can't stand, and you can't stand if the footing is not secure.  The Psalm pictures Jerusalem standing secure and firm on Zion, because God upholds the city. God holds the feet of the city, so that instead of standing on loose sand and rocks that can slide out from under it, Jerusalem stands on the unmoving and powerful hand of God.

It is easy to see the spiritual meaning here.  God's Church is always surrounded by enemies.  They attack in wave after wave, and we see their numbers and power, and our faith almost fails us because we know we are no match for them.  It is true, as Martin Luther wrote;

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be loosing.
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He
Lord Sabaoth His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

God is on our side.  More importantly, we are on God's side, and He will not allow His church to be vanquished.  And He won't allow you to be either.  If you truly are in Christ through Biblical faith, He has promised you that He will keep you by His power in this world and in the next. He does not say you will not have to fight.  He does not say you will not grow weary or weak.  He does not even say you won't be wounded in the battle. He does promise that "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved."  In other words, after all the battles are over, by His power, the Heavenly Jerusalem will still stand, and so will you if you are a citizen of that city.

Verse 5 tells you, "The Lord Himself is thy keeper; the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand." The Psalm imagines the hills around Jerusalem as soldiers standing guard.  They are always there in the burning sun and deepest night.  On a moonlit night you can see them standing there, but even in the darkest night you know they are there protecting you.  They never take a vacation.  They never sleep. What a wonderful symbol of God watching over His people.  He is there in the heat of the day and the cold of the night.  The sun shall not burn thee by day because God is on guard so you can rest in the shadow of His wings.  The moonlit winter night will not harm you because God is on duty, allowing you to rest in the warmth of His love.  You can sleep and take your rest because He never does.  He never sleeps on duty, never deserts His post.  He never quits.  He never takes a day off, or a vacation or a rest.  He is always on duty, ever vigilant.

The Psalm does not mean to say you will never experience hardship or trials in this life.  It does not teach that you will always prosper, always enjoy good health, or always have things and people go the way you want.  It is not so much a promise of good things for the flesh as it is a promise of good things for the soul.  This is brought out in verse 7, "The Lord shall preserve thee from evil; yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul."

It is often very difficult to remember that God is more concerned about the health of your soul than the comfort of your body.  You, if you are like the rest of us mortals, are busy with the things that contribute to your physical comforts.  You work and plan and play and rest, and, even pray to God to increase your comfort in this world.  There is a sense in which this is right and good.  I believe God wants you to enjoy life, and that He gives good things to be enjoyed.  There was a time in the history of the Church when many people thought God wanted them to be miserable.  So they joined monasteries and convents where they starved themselves, slept in the snow, and even beat themselves with whips while rejecting even the most basic comforts of the flesh.  Many died of their self inflicted sufferings; others were perpetually worn and sick.  Thanks be to God we now understand the Bible better and do not murder ourselves thinking we are pleasing God.  But, I wonder, have we gone too far in the other direction?  Today you rarely hear a call to perseverance, self-discipline, or self-restraint.  You hear instead that God is going to give you health and wealth and indulge all your wants, like Santa Clause, only better.  Both of these views are heresies.  You need to remember that God is investing in you for the long term.  His concern is about fitting you for Heaven rather than giving you luxury and ease on earth.  It is your soul that concerns Him most, and He is not afraid to prune a few branches to make your soul produce fruit.

We close today's message remembering that it is to the grace of God in Christ that we ultimately look for our help.  He is the hill that surrounds and protects us.  He is the one who makes our feet to stand firm upon the mount.  He is the one who overcomes our foes and delivers us safe to the Mansion of Heaven.  Everything promised in the 121st Psalm is accomplished by Christ for us on the cross.  We only receive it by faith as His gift to us.  It is through Him that you can say, "My help cometh from the Lord."
--
tR. Dennis Campbell
Bishop of Diocese of Virginia
Rector, Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church
Powhatan, Virginia
www.HolyTrinityAnglicanOrthodoxChurch.org
www.lifeinthescriptures.blogspot.com

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