The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the third Sunday before Lent

Want to know more about Septuagesima?  There is a nice explanation at the end of the report. 

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.

Dru Arnold 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.  Paul tells us that we must strive for mastery over ourselves so that we can gain the crown of eternal life offered us at great cost by our Lord Jesus Christ.  We must each do our own personal best to control our own actions and behavior so we can follow God’s Plan for each of us.  We must be bold and certain in our actions.

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.

Hap 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 – Reverend Deacon Jack Arnold - 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:

… we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness …

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. 

Eternal salvation is a far more valuable prize than anything we could possibly acquire here on Earth.  We have to keep this foremost  in our thoughts as we continue to run the race set before us!

Our eyes should be focused on the finish line, not our competition.  All that counts is that we each that finish line.

So how do we run the race? 

With our eyes focused tightly on the finish line, not on those around us, wondering are they doing better than we are?  That is not a useful question.  The useful question is, “Am I doing the best I can?” 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.  We need to give each team member all the help we can.  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!

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

Bishop Ogles’ Sermon

We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s sermon notes.  Today is one of those Sundays.  Today’s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart.

Sermon Notes

Septuagesima, or the third Sunday before Lent

27 January 2013, Anno Domini

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.

23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? ²⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? ²⁶ But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. ²⁷And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. ²⁹He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. ³⁰ And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. ³¹Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. Matthew 21:23-32

Today, Septuagesima Sunday, begins the period of Shrovetide (Pre-Lenten period) in the Church Calendar. The great worth of the Church Calendar gives us a chronological perspective of the life of Christ and His Gospel. This is a time to begin preparing ourselves for the solemn observance of Lent which leads up to Calvary.

In Matthew, we note Jesus has entered into the gates of Jerusalem for the last time in His earthly ministry. We read that Jesus was met by multitudes of the City of Jerusalem who welcomed Him with royal acclamation throwing before the feet of His donkey their garments, palm branches, and shouting Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (Matt 21:9) Ironically, the same multitudes would be screaming for His crucifixion in the courtyard of Pontius Pilate less than one week later. (Revealing the fickle nature of man's heart) We saw in verses 12-13 of this same chapter that the first order of business for Christ in Jerusalem was to enter into the Temple and cleanse it of the money changers and those who those who dealt in commerce by buying and selling therein. He further demonstrated His Divinity by healing the sick and lame, and restoring sight to the blind. This was considered a terrible offense, not by those healed, but strangely enough, by the Pharisees and rulers of the Temple. They burned in their jealousy and greed for such a compassionate soul as Christ. To these calloused culprits, compassion and love were undesirable traits, especially if it threatened their power.

The question at hand is one of AUTHORITY! The Scribes, Pharisees, and rulers of the Jews had their own neat little nest built which separated them from what they considered to be the common rabble of the people. They were much better, you see, than the common people. They had had their tickets punched and been granted this high status simply because THEY deserved it – or so they believed. Though their station was a Godly station, they disqualified themselves through a lack of love and obedience to the God whom they pretended to serve. Whatever authority they had was no longer of God, but of political man. It may be true that the overwhelming number of pretenders to the cloth today is likewise without authority from God to preach. It is my firm belief that, though I am less than I should be, I am in the first instance a preacher under authority of God. A true and devout Church (the AOC) has confirmed that belief in my ordination to Holy Orders. Being consecrated a bishop does not relieve one of his role to serve as priest and preacher, and the ultimate authority for his Calling must come from God. It matters not the number of heads touched in Apostolic Succession if those heads have not hearts touched and called by God. God is the prime authority and, in the end, the ONLY authority for preaching. The authority to perform works of righteousness does not derive from men, but from God.

Beginning in our assigned text, we learn that, after threatening their profit margin in Temple sales, the chief priests and elders confronted Jesus to know by what power He had worked such ruin to their daily sales: and they wanted to know by what authority He did such wonderful miracles of healing. In my thinking, it is flabbergasting to learn that they considered this a thing that required some superficial authority of some council of Temple wimps to grant. A miracle is an authority unto itself, for only God can do these things. I am stunned to believe that these men KNEW the miracles came from God, but chose to ignore the fact for the sake of their own impoverished souls. ²³ And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?This is the day following His cleansing of the Temple and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. By now, they have rallied their political forces to challenge Jesus. These deceivers were hoping to catch Jesus off balance and catch Him in a slip of the tongue – perhaps a claim that would justify them in accusing the Son of God of blasphemy! It is not an easy debate when the Other Side is able to read your words before they are spoken and your motives before they are revealed. Their pettiness is likened to the lowest officials of the Palace asking the King's Son by what authority does He wear garments of royalty. Today, churches such as the AOC and other of the faithful, are ridiculed for holding so tenaciously to the Ancient Landmark remaining faithful to morals and virtues long grown stale in popular culture.

All who ever argued with God before have lost the contest– either through ignorance of His Will, or power. These wicked priests and elders are about to have the same experience – an experience to which they should, by now, be accustomed. He thwarted their best wisdom so many times that a continued debate makes them appear as imbeciles. ²⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?The battle, though the smoke will rise a bit more but briefly, puts the chief priests and elders squarely in their place. There is no answer that will achieve their original design after this inquiry from the embodiment of Wisdom. The subsequent reasoning of the Temple leaders reveals the poverty of their argument:

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? ²⁶ But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. ²⁷ And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. At the end of this chapter and this discourse, having lost any advantage by subterfuge, they resort to their favored weapon – brute force. However, being politicians and not men of God, they feared the people and burned in their evil hearts awaiting a more opportune moment of treachery.

Now comes a parable of two sons whose natures are at contrast one with the other. It is a short, but beautiful, parable of hope and grace to you and me; but it could also have applied to the Temple leaders had they had hearts that were acceptable to God.

²⁸ But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. ²⁹ He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.³⁰ And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.³¹ Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.³² For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

You and I may find our own identity revealed in this wonderful parable. The Two Sons featured represent all of professing Christendom combined. We all most likely fall into one category or the other. Please do not insist that you have never been a publican or an harlot, for you and I certainly have been in one sense or the other. We have sold out our hearts for what we considered a cheap profit at some point (harlot). We have denied God at some point with our unfaithful lifestyles or public testimony (again harlot, for spiritual adultery against the Bridegroom is greater sin than physical adultery). We have all benefitted the interest of the world more than the interest of God at some point in our lives. (Publican). The publican was a Jewish public tax collector who worked for the bosom enemies of the Jews– the Roman Empire.

The parable presents us with two different members of one supposed family. One will be a true son (one who at first has rejected God through his life's choices, but relents later and comes to God), and the other unfaithful to the father (who, like the modern professed Christian who enthusiastically, and with great fanfare insist on following Christ but later renege).

Alfred Lord Tennyson has written in The Ancient Sage:

Faith reels not in the storm of warring words,

She brightens at the clash of `Yes' and `No,'

She sees the Best that glimmers through the Worst,

She feels the sun is hid but for a night,

She spies the summer through the winter bud,

She tastes the fruit before the blossom falls,

She hears the lark within the songless egg,

She finds the fountain where they wailed `Mirage!'

We are directed to the key to Godliness and that is Faith in God. Whether that faith comes to the desperate sinner's heart, or the accomplished artist; the morally but godless upright, or the depraved drunk; the mistress or prostitute; the physician or the addict - is immaterial to the result. The faith that comes to the unsuspecting heart through the unmerited grace of God is ALWAYS sufficient for thee.

Promises are not taken with any degree of solemnity in today's society. A newly elected President may swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, yet act with immediate dispatch to dismantle that Constitution once the swearing is done. A bridegroom or bride may swear an oath before God to remain faithfully wed "until death do them part" and yet in the next year apply for divorce. Their promises before God seem to have meant very little to them.

So many evangelical churches today will go to great lengths to gain a public profession of faith from their charges, but leave them wondering by the roadside of faith as to what more may bless their souls. There is no nurturing, so often the profession of faith will die of neglect. How can we know if the profession of faith by a stranger who enters one night at church is genuine, especially if that stranger has not come to learn who Jesus is in an intimate way?

If we say that we believe and later abandon our profession, are we not as the second son? If we have lived lives of sin and vice for many years, yet come to knowledge of our Lord so true that all of our life is turned upside down, do we not represent the first son. Which would you rather be – the first who said he would not obey, and later came to obey: or the second who said he would obey, and later disobeyed? Would we not be as the seven women of Isaiah 4:1? And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

(Isaiah 4:1) Do we, like these seven women, desire only to be called by the name of Christ – CHRISTIAN –and not wear His garments of righteousness? Do we prefer to be identified with His Holy Name for the sake of appearance by eating our own bread and not His Bread of Life? Are we nominal Christians only when we enter into public life, or the political scene; or do we remain committed to the Christian faith in season and out? Which are you, my friends?

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon

We are fortunate to have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon.  If you want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, expouse the truth and live the truth.    This is really a good piece and I commend it to your careful reading.

Sermon for Septuagesima

Our sermon hymn for today, Crown him with many crowns (Hymn #352, 1940 Hymnal) supplies us with several reasons that we should crown our Lord Jesus Christ with many crowns, and principal among them because he is King of all. But did you know that we as born-again believers will also receive one or more crowns from our Lord and Saviour when he sits in judgment of our lives here in the flesh? The scriptures speak of five different crowns which will be given to those whom the Lord shall deem worthy to receive them. They are: 1) the Incorruptible Crown, 2) the Crown of Life, 3) the Crown of Glory, 4) the Crown of Righteousness, and 5) the Crown of Rejoicing.

The Incorruptible Crown is found in our epistle lesson for today ( I Corinthians 9:24-27). As St. Paul explained, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?... Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. The corruptible crown which the secular runner received as an award was a wreath of made of laurel leaves. The apostle referred to it as corruptible because it was made from materials which were not meant to last. It was literally a crown for that moment, for following the next race another one would be given, and another in the race after that, and so on. The apostle reminded Christians that upon the completion our race in this mortal life, we will receive a crown from our Lord which will never fade or fail if we run and faint not. It will be ours for eternity and will be our badge of honor, which like all the others, we will gladly cast them at the feet of our Lord and Saviour in honor of his great gift to us via his saving grace.

The Crown of Life will be given to those believers who have been faithful to our Lord unto death (Revelation 2:10). As Matthew Henry noted, The life so worn out in his service, or laid down in his cause, shall be rewarded with another and a much better life that shall be eternal. When one reads the accounts of the early church fathers who served God unto death, we find listed men such as St. Paul, St. Peter, St. James, St. Andrew and St. Thomas. In fact most of the disciples as well as a host of early Christians were martyred for the faith. Add to them the Reformation saints who perished rather than reject the truth of God’s word written. Inclusive within that number are our Anglican fathers, such as Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper and Latimer, who chose the stake over their acceptance of the doctrine of the real presence in the Holy Communion. We could also include all those men and women whose lives were used up in service to our Lord in the mission fields over the centuries: spreading the good news to those in remote regions of the world where the light of Christ had yet to pierce and who labored even in the face of death to preach the word of God to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. What graciousness they shall receive at the hand of our Lord we can only imagine and that poorly.

The Crown of Glory will be given to those church elders, bishops, priests, pastors and deacons who properly tended their flocks. As St. Peter noted in his first epistle (5:2-4), Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. The Lord has promised good to them that love him and that feed his flocks which are scattered across the earth. Pastors and bishops are supposed to love God and preach rightly the truth of God’s word written. Those who do will be blessed with the gift of this crown.

The Crown of Righteousness will be given to those who love the Lord’s appearing. As St. Paul wrote in second epistle to St. Timothy (4:8), Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. The Bible tells us to fix our hearts on the coming of the Lord. The wise virgins of St. Matthew’s gospel (25:1-13) have been supplied as an apt example for us. The regenerated Christian will make provision for his watch, and should he nod off to sleep, he will eagerly awaken to go and greet our Lord at his coming. Ergo, as the apostle has written, all who will do likewise will receive this crown.

The Crown of Rejoicing will be given to those who have happily brought souls to Christ. In his first epistle to the Thessalonian church (2:19-20), the apostle Paul penned these words: For what is our hope, or joy or crown of rejoicing: Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming: For ye are our glory and joy. Because the regenerate Christian bears fruit— bringing others to the Lord as he has been called to do— the same shall receive of the Lord a crown of rejoicing on account of that joy in their hearts upon seeing others entering the fold of Christ. Do we tell others about our Lord? Do we desire that others be saved? Do we pray for those who are lost that perhaps God will influence them to come to him either by our witness or that of another regenerated believer? If we love the Lord, then we will also seek to bring others to him, and we will rejoice with them in their victory over sin and death.

While salvation is a gift of God to all who are born again of the Holy Ghost, the awarding of crowns is merit-based as we will be judged on how well we performed our duties in our Lord’s service. Consider the parable of the Talents as found in St. Matthew’s gospel (25:14-30). The Lord will extend to those who are faithful a hearty Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord (v.21). God has plans for all who are of his elect beyond the precincts of this life. Therefore be faithful and not fearful. Be considerate of God’s word written and follow it. Stand fast and contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Do all these things for a crown awaits you in heaven with our Lord’s greeting. Such is my hope and my prayer for each of you in Christ’s name.

Let us pray,

G

racious and loving God, assist us by means of the Holy Ghost that we might live each day praying for and looking for the coming of thy dear Son; that we would not miss the joy of the marriage feast which thy wilt prepare for all who love his appearing; for this we ask in the name of him who wears many crowns, and who is our Lord, our King and our Saviour, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have a blessed week,

Bryan+

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).