Quinquagesima, or the second Sunday before Lent

The Propers for today are found on Page 122-124, with the Collect first:

The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the

second Sunday before Lent.

The Collect.

O LORD who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoso-ever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

The Epistle for today came from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, starting at the First Verse of the Thirteenth Chapter. Paul talks of charity , “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” Paul goes on to say that no matter what you do, if in your heart you have not that love for others, it is all to naught. Our understanding here on earth is limited, we will never here see the fullness of God’s plan, yet the part most clear is the love we must have one for another, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, for no reason other than we know that is right so to do. Paul uses the phraseology “through a glass, darkly”, which is very interesting inasmuch as CS Lewis uses a variation to describe earth as compared to heaven. He calls the earth The Shadowlands and says in heaven all is clear and bright, not dark and muddled as here on earth.

THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Luke, starting at the Thirty-First Verse of the Eighteenth Chapter. The Gospel starts out telling of Jesus’ trying to prepare his disciples for what was to come, and they could not grasp it: “Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” The Gospel goes on to tell of Jesus’ healing of a blind man near Jericho, “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

If you take nothing else from today’s Gospel, take this – Faith will save you. After you are saved, you need to act on your faith. The order is clear.

WHEN Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany

Today is the Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany, or revealing of Christ to the Gentiles. As always, the collect is interesting and helpful, the Epistle makes the point that all power flows from God and God has ordained the civil government of our earthly existence. Yet that power sometimes runs towards evil. Indeed it does, but the wrath of God will be on those who mis-use His power. But, today I would like to talk about the Gospel. I want to talk about the leper. The Centurion lent his name to our church, but it is the leper we will talk about today. So go ahead and read:

The Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

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GOD, 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; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle for today came from the Thirteenth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans beginning at the First Verse:

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ET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves condemnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

The Gospel for today came from the Eighth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, beginning at the First Verse.

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HEN he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Think about this …There came a leper … Leprosy is one of those biblical diseases, not real, just a bad thing we don’t want to associate with. Or, is it? No, leprosy is real and has nothing to do with leopards. Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. It is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract with skin lesions as the primary external sign. During biblical times, there was no treatment. As leprosy progressed, it permanently damaged skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Body parts become numb, infected, infection results in tissue loss, so fingers and toes become shortened and deformed as cartilage is absorbed into the body. Leprosy is a terrifying, horrific, disfiguring and debilitating disease. On the other hand, about 95 percent of the population is actually immune to the disease, though no one knows who or why, though the immunity seems genetic. The disease seems to be spread by respiratory droplets, so the wearing of facial masks was actually helpful.

So dreaded was the disease that leprosy became synonymous with being an outcast, one beyond the pale. To the people of the time, it appeared the person was disintegrating from the extremities inward, rotting away in a form altogether hideous and awful. At the time, there was no treatment. Yet, like the centurion in the verses right after, the leper knew Jesus could heal him. He had faith.

So he asked. When he asked there was no bargaining, no – If you do this, I will do that. He asked Jesus’ help with no conditions. What he got was likewise freely given. Go thou clean. No one ever asked Jesus for help and was refused.

If leprosy is not the best description of our human condition, I don't know what is. Yet, His Cure never fails.

Mary – Mother of God – Special Person – Not God

Mary, mother of Jesus, chosen by God to bear His Son. Yet, in every place in the Bible in which she is mentioned Mary is treated just like any other mother. In no place does Jesus refer to her in any terms which suggest she was more than his human mother. In no place does the Bible record any special treatment given her. In no place does the Bible accord her any of the special status we find in the invented Marianism.

Mary is to be admired, for the role she undertook was no easy task. The way was certain to be fraught with sorrow. Yet, she did undertake to do the thing which God asked of her. Most mothers are faced with similar joys and sorrows. Yet do not underestimate her strength. She answered when God called.

It might be comforting to have someone lower than God to talk to; someone we don’t have to look so far up to. But, what does Jesus say? Don’t pray to me, pray to the Father in my name. If we are not to pray to Jesus, but rather to pray to God in his name, what does that say about praying to Mary, or Saint Bob for that matter?

God, Blessed Trinity, God in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. No mention of Mary.

The Prime Paradox of Christianity

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English defines the word PARADOX as:

Paradox - A tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact.

WordNet is a lot simpler:

Paradox - a self-contradiction

There is a paradox in Christianity. It is the prime paradox of our lives here on earth.

The Bible is very clear, we are saved by faith alone, no “good” thing we do brings us salvation, for we always make more mistakes than we make perfection. Nothing we do will bring us salvation. Our eternal life is given freely to us when we follow our Lord Jesus Christ. He asks nothing for the Single Perfect Sacrifice, made One Time, for All Mankind, for All Time. Nothing. The sacrifice would not be a sacrifice if it were not freely given.

But, what about good works? Are we saved if we do no good works?

We can do all the good we want, but if we believe not in our Lord, in the Gospel of Saint John, in the Sixth Verse of the Fourteenth Chapter He tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Yet, if we “believe” and do not our best to act in accordance with His instructions, we do not believe, but merely claim to believe. In the Gospel of Saint Luke, Chapter Six, Verse Thirty-One we read Jesus’ words, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” In Verse 46, He says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Saint James counsels us to “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.” Actions.

Those good works which we have the ability to perform do not save us; but they are the manifestation of our faith. You will note the title of Saint Luke’s second book is The Acts of the Apostles, not the Thoughts or Prayers or Feelings of the Apostles. God looks to us for action. Thoughts, prayers and feelings are nice, they just won’t take the place of action. Action is the name of the game!

Do you believe? And, if you do, what are you doing about it?

Somewhere around 90 percent of the United States population at least vaguely identifies themselves as Christian. After all, it would appear to be “the christian thing to do.” Too many people equate doing the kind or right thing with doing the Christian thing. Well, being a Christian involves way more than doing the kind thing. While Christians should be doing the right or kind thing, there is far more than that to being a Christian. Christians have a set of beliefs and attempt to live their life in accord with those beliefs.

If you want to be a Christian, by definition you must believe in Triune Monotheism; that is a single God composed of three persons, Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Three persona of a single entity. Each a separate being, yet an integral part of the same being. Each is God, each is not the other. Got that? Probably not. No one else, outside of heaven, really understands more than that. They will claim to, but that is really all God has told us so far. More than that is not really needed for now. Don’t worry.

God the Father is the maker of all that is. Seen and unseen, visible and invisible, heaven and earth, spiritual and physical. Before all we know, He was. After all we know, He will be. In the meantime, despite all we know, He is.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, is the source of the name of Christianity. The central tenant of Christianity is the understanding that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Christians believe God the Father sent His Son Jesus to earth to give His earthly life as a propitiation for our sins that we might be counted as acceptable to God the Father and as a result attain life eternal. His death did not make us perfect, any more than calling a dog’s tail a leg will give the dog five legs. His death does account us as perfect before God for His purposes; as a result we gain life eternal. How does that work? We don’t know. Many will give fine explanations, they don’t know either, they just made it up; that is really all God has told us so far. More than that is not really needed for now. Don’t worry.

The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, that Third God Guy, is referred to in Genesis as the breath of God, it is He with whom God breathed life into the earth. It is He whom God used to spread life around the earth. He is the Comforter; the Spirit of Truth; the Giver of understanding and peace, the key to the treasures of scripture. With Him in our hearts, we gain faith, comprehension and peace. Without Him knowledge is obscured.

Three in One.

That is who God is, what little we know of Him. He is the one true God, there are gods, all false, who live in the hearts of men, whose statues or ideals they worship, but one true God. He who IS. He revealed Himself to the Hebrews over the course of several millennia. In the fullness of time, He sent His Son to make a New Covenant with mankind. A new and significantly different set of rules by which to live. Simpler. In place of 613 rules of the Mosaic Law; but two. Just two; Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and Love thy neighbor as thyself. Simpler, but harder. It is far easier to live around 613 rules than to live within two.

There is a paradox in Christianity. We are saved by faith alone, no “good” thing we do brings us salvation, for we always make more mistakes than we make perfection. Yet, true good works are a manifestation of our faith. You will note the title of Saint Luke’s second book is The Acts of the Apostles, not the Thoughts or Prayers or Feelings of the Apostles. God looks to us for action. Thoughts, prayers and feelings are nice, they just won’t take the place of action.

Please walk through this decision tree with me; if you answer no, then you get to exit:

· Do you believe in God?

o If you do, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?

§ If you do, do you believe that He holds the key to your personal salvation?

· If you do, do you understand that as the Son of God with the key to your personal salvation He has left a personal set of instructions to you in a book called the Bible?

o Do you understand He calls you to worship Him weekly, to study about God and His plan for you?

§ Are you looking to find the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit or are you looking to hide from Him?

· Do you understand that Jesus wants you to come together with other fellow believers in the manner of a closely knit team to strengthen your beliefs, provide you with support and increase the effectiveness of your actions.

· So, what are you doing about it?

o Not thinking or feeling, but acting!

If you think you believe in God, read the Bible. You might start with a paraphrase version such as The Message. You will eventually want to read the definitive King James Version, but often people find it too slow going for a first shot. It has a few words you may not be familiar with. When you read the Bible, there is a lot of information that people did not fully understand at the time it was written. To make it usable, the Bible was written in a form that would be understandable at the time and still make sense in the present, whenever that present might be. The Bible, like God, is Timeless. Reflect on the story of Creation. For years and years people studied and came up with version upon version of how the world came to be. All they had to do is read the story of the Creation in the Bible and then contemplate how long each of God’s days was. For the story of the Creation as told in the Bible is identical to what science has revealed after millennia of study. While you are at it, note the Bible reflects the world as a sphere, not flat like so many people believed until so recently.

There are interesting and fast moving stories in both the Old and New Testaments. At the same time, there are a few parts that drag a bit. Frankly, Numbers could use some flow charts and bullet points. But, all in all it is a great book to read with a tremendous amount to think about. The first time you read the Bible cover to cover, you will find a whole bunch of catch phrases you never knew where they came from. The contents of the Bible permeate our world and rightly so.

Anyway, get in to the Bible and find out what God is all about. Don’t believe in God? Not to worry, He believes in you. Hopefully, you will come to believe in Him before you meet Him.

Worship regularly at a Christian Church, one whose belief structure is aligned with scripture not at cross purposes with it. If you are perfect, you don’t need church. Given there has only been one perfect Man, you aren’t. Go every week and find out how to be better. Go worship the Lord. Go to have a great time. If you don’t look forward to church each week, change churches. Church is designed to prepare you for the week ahead and look back on the week behind. It is a necessary component of your life.

Seek out others with whom you can share your salvation, support them in their struggles and depend on their support in your life. They need your help, you will benefit from helping them, sometimes you need help and it will always be there.

If you have problems in your life, you are human. No more, no less. No matter your problems, reach out and help others. By your helping them, you will be helped. If you think of others problems and seek ways to help them, you will gain. Jesus promised this. He always delivers.

Remember the primary benefit of being a Christian is eternal life. Eternal life does not start when you die. Eternal life starts when you accept it. You have it, act on that reality of eternal life and enjoy it.

A second benefit of being a Christian is a set of values that will make your life here on earth more enjoyable. Christians have much more enjoyment in this life. You have it, enjoy it.

A third benefit of being a Christian is being truly worry free. God promises to take your cares and put them on His broad back so you can get on with life here to make life there a reality.

Go forth and spread the Word!

What Star is this?

VOYAGE OF THE STAR SEEKERS

( from "Logos of St Andrew" Winter 99)

Across the desert plains they came,

By wise men gifts were Borne,

From distant eastern lands of Fame,

They journeyed on forlorn.

They sought for news at Herod's throne,

But no such word was heard -

Of king or priest it was not known -

The STAR foretold Messiah's Birth!

The STAR stopped over Bethlehem,

A stable yard the Scene.

A manger held the precious One.

The cold, night air was keen.

The gifts of Frankincense and Myrrh

and Gold were offered then.

The stable yard was all Astir

With beasts, and Love and Men.

So strange in royal palace grand

No Christ child was revealed;

But then in Ramah's humble sand

The eastern kings had Kneeled.

The ages since are lost in Time,

But time no burdens cast

Upon the minds of all Mankind -

The STAR outshines the Past!

by jerry ogles

Copyright ©1998 Jerry Levon Ogles

Third Sunday in Advent commonly called Rose Sunday

Today was the third Sunday in Advent, the period including the four Sundays before Christmas; the first Sunday of which is always the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew (30 November). Advent is a season of preparation and penitence. We prepare ourselves to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas, but we also look forward to his second coming. The liturgical color for this season is purple reminding us of the Kingship of Jesus and that Advent is also a season of penitential preparation. Rose-color may be used on the third Sunday of Advent, signifying for us a lightening up of the penitential nature of the season as we draw closer to Christmas.

The Epistle for today came from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, starting at the First Verse of the Fourth Chapter.

Paul calls on those who would be the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God to be good and faithful stewards leading their flock rather than commanding from the rear. He tells them not to be fearful of the judgment of man. In fact, he tells he is not concerned of the judgment of men, or even that of himself, but rather that of God. God knows our hearts and when He judges, He “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. “

LET a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, the Eleventh Chapter, beginning at the Second Verse. Now when John the Baptist “had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? ” John was Jesus’ cousin and the one who baptized Him and heard God say, THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. ” Yet, he and the rest of the Jews of the time expected the Messiah to come into Jerusalem in triumph, sit in the temple and rule, commanding, nay compelling the Romans to leave. No doubt marveling at the question, for it was asked of Him who had performed countless genuine miracles, healing the blind, the deaf the lame, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. ” As John’s disciples parted, Jesus talked to those about him. He asked them concerning John, “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. ” Because Jesus came into this world, not to be the King of the Present, but rather the King of that to Come.

NOW when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.