Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (2 Corinthians iii. 4)

SUCH trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

The Gospel (St. Mark vii. 31)

JESUS, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

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Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O GOD, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 Corinthians xv. 1)

BRETHREN, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

The Gospel (St. Luke xviii. 9)

JESUS spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.


Trinity XI - Message in a Minute

Today's readings teach us that Christian belief and Christian behaviour are completely intertwined. The Bible begins with belief, not with behaviour. It does not tell us, "This is how to behave, and if you behave this way you will come to believe certain things." The Bible tells us instead, "If you really believe these things, your behaviour will change for the better."

The central tenets of Christianity are tied up with Jesus' death and resurrection. Saint Paul tells us today that, quite simply, "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." He means that Jesus died on the cross to forgive every act of disobedience anyone ever has committed or ever will commit. A person who tries to base his life on what Paul teaches us is going to end up in the same good position as the tax collector. God is going to love him and forgive him and accept him because he knows the truth, and he lives by the truth.

And the truth is, "I am a sinner. I deserve to die and be shut off from God forever. But God loved me enough to send his son to die to forgive my sins and promise me resurrection and eternal life."

"For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

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Tenth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

LET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 Corinthians xii. 1)

CONCERNING spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to an other the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The Gospel (St. Luke xix. 41)

AND when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple.

Trinity  X - Message in a Minute

God gives every member of the church certain skills which are for the benefit others -- gifts to be used for the benefit of those around them. When everyone concentrates on using their unique gift, it minimizes the focus on ego that ruins so much joy in life. Many people go through life not realizing that the things we do are gifts from God; indeed, they are part of the legacy Jesus left for the church, no matter how mundane or small they may seem to us.

In the readings today we learn that God sends wonder-filled and spectacular gifts to some people. Some people seem to know the right thing to say in difficult situations. Others have an unfailing gift for discerning what is right. Others can miraculously heal bodies and spirits. Some can even speak to God in unintelligible languages -- and others can make them intelligible. These gifts exist to deepen our faith and encourage faithful.

Do we have people who speak in tongues in our midst? Surely. But what keeps us alive is when we show the world our best gifts -- faith, hope, and charity.

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Ninth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

GRANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 Corinthians x. 1)

BRETHREN, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Gospel (St. Luke xv. 11)

JESUS said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Trinity IX - Message in a Minute

Today's epistle is taken from Saint Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. In it he is preoccupied with the issue of how Christians should approach the Old Testament. Remember there was no New Testament as the apostles were in the process of living in the Spirit and writing it. Paul tells us to look for foreshadowings, and today he reminds the Corinthians that the two main sacraments of Christianity: Baptism and Holy Communion appear in the Old Testament in shadowy form.

When Moses and the Israelites escape from Egypt through the Red Sea, that is a foreshadowing of our Baptism. Then when God gives the Israelites manna and water from the rock while they are wandering in the wilderness, that is a foreshadowing of Holy Communion.

Yesterday and today God gives his people miraculous food and drink!

Dear friends, time spend in the Old Testament is well spent if we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest what it says in light of the Christian message. Indeed, "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning: that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

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Eighth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (Romans viii. 12)

BRETHREN, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

The Gospel (St. Matthew vii. 15)

BEWARE of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Trinity VIII - Message in a Minute

We learn from today's readings that the disciples were told by Jesus that he was going to Jerusalem to be killed and they refused to believe him. They thought he was really a prophet from God, but they could not imagine that the fruit of his ministry was going to be found in his execution. As a result, the Transfiguration serves as a way of trying to convince the disciples that Jesus was really going to die in Jerusalem. His death was the will of God, and the Scriptures -- the Law and the Prophets -- bore witness to it.

It is not always easy to discern what the will of God is in our lives. We cannot always be certain that any particular thing we say or decision we make or act that we perform is going to produce good fruit and make us appear as good trees in the forest of God. But as faith-filled believers we are at least called to try.

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Seventh Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

LORD of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (Romans vi. 19)

I SPEAK after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Gospel (St. Mark viii. 1)

IN those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

Trinity VII - Message in a Minute

Today Saint Paul tells us that the ongoing dilemma all Christians face is a choice between two kinds of slavery. In his terms, we can be slaves to God or slaves to sin. What is a slave? A slave is a person who obeys his master's will without thinking about it and without questioning it. When someone becomes a Christian, he stops being a slave to sin, and he becomes a slave to God.

This colourful language is rooted in fairly simple logic. Every one of these choices we have been talking about is the choice between doing what God wants and not doing what God wants. Paul asks us, "Would you really rather go back to the time when you never considered at all what God wanted you to do? Did that satisfy you? Was that a fulfilling and worthwhile way to live?" Remember, letting God change you into what he wants you to be is a process which goes on for your whole lifetime and is never completed in this world.

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Sixth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (Romans vi. 3)

KNOW ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that 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.

The Gospel (St. Matthew v. 20)

Jesus said unto his disciples, Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Trinity VI - Message in a Minute

A natural question that flows from today's lessons is, "What could any government possibly find threatening about what these lessons teach?"

The Epistle makes it clear that if you are going to be a Christian, your first loyalty cannot be to any other human being or to any human system or government. A Christian's first loyalty is to Christ himself and to this, Saint Paul points out that the main reason our first loyalty is to Christ is a practical one -- Christ is the reason we are alive. He teaches through this passage a deeply mystical reality about Christian baptism. When we are baptized we die, literally. We don't stop breathing, but we do die the death we fear - the death that is the fair punishment for disobeying God - the death that means we are lost and cast away from God's holy presence forever. Paul is by no means anti-government - it is he who tells us that "the powers that be are ordained of God." And he taught this while he lived under the domination of an empire that not only outlawed the Christian religion, but went so far as to cut off his head for practicing it.

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Fifth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 St. Peter iii. 8)

BE ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.

The Gospel (St. Luke v. 1)

IT came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: and so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Trinity V - Sermon Message in a Minute

When we read the New Testament we see that Christians are not to live in a system like Israel's where the laws of religion and the laws of government are identical. We are told we are really citizens of heaven and are only passing through here on earth. Because we are only passing through, and because any form of political order reflects God more accurately than anarchy does, we should obey the laws of the government where we happen to find ourselves living.

To this, Saint Paul teaches, "The powers that be are ordained of God." Saint Peter says, "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." And remember that those two men lived when the Roman imperial government was actively hostile to Christianity and they both died martyrs' deaths because of it. Jesus tells Pontius Pilate, who is very impressed with his own power, "You would have no power at all over me if it had not been given to you from above."

All political power comes from the Lord. Obey the laws where you happen to live and remember the words of Jesus: "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

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Fourth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (Romans viii. 18)

I RECKON that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The Gospel (St. Luke vi. 36)

BE ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Trinity IV - Message in a Minute

The last part of this morning's Gospel lesson is directed at people who tend to be critical of others. Jesus is saying that if you are mercilessly critical of others, that is a sure signal that there is something about yourself that you have not dealt with.

That is what he means by the mote and the beam -- the speck and the log. He cautions us not to be too quick to tell other people what is wrong with them, and how, in our great wisdom, we might be able to help them out. Jesus suggests that when we are tempted in that direction, we should first ask ourselves, "is it possible that the thing that drives me crazy about this other person may be something of which I am guilty -- but I would rather point it out in him than face it in myself?"

His advice is, of course, to face it in ourselves, confess it, and try with the Holy Ghost's help to do something about it. Then we shall be ready to straighten everybody else out. He concludes, rather acidly, "Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."

Take heed of Christ's words, it is later than you think.

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Third Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may, by thy mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Epistle (1 St. Peter v. 5)

ALL of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel (St. Luke xv. 1)

THEN drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.


Sunday Sermon in a Minute

A wise Christian friend of mine pointed out to me that humility comes from the same root word as humus -- earth. Humility implies receptivity. As humus finds its true purpose as it is receptive to seed and to sunlight and to rain, so humble people find their true purpose when they are receptive to the help and the guidance of God.

Our model of humility is Jesus. But even the most superficial examination of the Gospels shows that Jesus is not at all humble in anything approximating the popular sense. Jesus is opinionated, forthright, argumentative, even verging upon insulting and downright nasty. His humility, as the New Testament means it, is something St. Paul explains in Philippians. Even though Jesus was God's equal, he was willing to lay aside all of the power and privilege and prerogatives his position gave him. He became a weakened, limited human being--who lived and suffered and died.

St. Peter reminds us that "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." That doesn't mean that God punishes proud people by denying them his help. By definition, proud people set themselves above and apart from God's help. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting every care upon him; for he careth for you."

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Second Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 St. John iii. 13)

MARVEL not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

The Gospel (St. Luke xiv. 16)

A CERTAIN man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Trinity II - Message in a Minute

In today's epistle Saint John reminds us that talk is cheap, saying, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." And he reminds us as well that Jesus has set the bar of loving obedience quite high, saying, "Hereby perceive we the will of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

If we do not remain faithful to Christ - if we don't make any effort to love our neighbours or repent of our other sins or try to understand things and do things the way God would want - then we run the risk of not getting to go to the heavenly party. We shall lose out just as surely as if we had said no to the invitation in the first place.

So what should we do? First, take the commandment to love God and love our neighbours seriously. Try to structure our actions around that standard - which is promoting the welfare of others, not yourself. Pray for guidance, read your Bible, receive communion, ask for help.

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First Sunday after Trinity

The Collect

O GOD, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 St. John iv. 7)

BELOVED, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

The Gospel (St. Luke xvi. 19)

THERE was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Trinity I: Message in a Minute

What is going to count on the day of judgment is how much you loved your neighbour -- how much you acted toward other people the way Jesus did. Saint John says that if we let God love other people through us with his own love, we won't need to be afraid of the final reckoning.

The best way to examine your life is to ask yourself: Am I really trying to do what is best for other people?

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Trinity Sunday

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle (Revelation iv. 1)

AFTER this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. And the first was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third had a face as a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created.

The Gospel (St. John iii. 1)

THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Trinity Sunday - Message in a Minute

Time and time again we see in scripture that human beings use freedom badly. We set out to act in our own interest, but our perceptions are distorted, so we go against what the Lord wants us to do. To get everything back on track God had to intervene.

God's cure is for people to be born again through a new outpouring of God's creative activity. Jesus teaches us that we have to be born again to go to heaven. We have to be born of water and the Spirit. We use water to baptize because Jesus says so and we use the formula "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" because Jesus says so.

Jesus prescribes this Trinitarian formula, because in baptism we are taken up into the life of the Holy Trinity and united with it. We are born again as organic parts of God. God the Father adopts us as his own children. We experience the death and resurrection of the Son as we become grafted into his body. The power that makes this all happen, and which ties us to God forever, is the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Trinity is not a theological riddle, or a reality that exists only in some misty realm far away from us. The Trinity describes the life of God. The purpose of his life is to send himself out to us and to all of creation. Love and power radiate from the Father. The love and power is the Holy Ghost who reveals himself perfectly in the Son. We are members of the Son's body.

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Whitsunday

The Collect

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle (Acts ii. 1)

WHEN the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

The Gospel (St. John xiv. 15)

JESUS said unto his disciples, If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

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Sunday after Ascension

The Collect

O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle (1 St. Peter iv. 7)

THE end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel (St. John xv. 26, and part of Chap. xvi)

WHEN the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

Sunday after Ascension - Message in a Minute

The most important thing about the Ascension of Christ is that it is a preview and promise of our own ascensions. It is the end of the process through which we connect what happens in our own lives to what happened in the life of Jesus. We are baptized into his body. We are part of him. Because we are part of him, we know that what happened to him will happen to us in the same pattern. Birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. All those things happened to him; all those things will happen to us. Of the connection between his ascension and ours, Jesus says quite clearly, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also." Again, it is all very straightforward., He went away so he could send the Holy Ghost to help us while we are alive. He is up in heaven getting our places ready. He is going to come back to earth to gather us up and take us there.

So we can look forward to heaven because Jesus ascended. And because we know we are going to go, there is a sense in which we are there already. One of the purposes of the liturgy of Holy Communion is to give us a foretaste and a preview of being in heaven. The angels and archangels sing "Holy, holy, holy" there all the time, so we sing along. The angels and archangels are in the presence of God all the time, and we enter his presence when he comes to us on the altar in his body and blood. We do all this in the company of our family and our church friends, and they are part of the group with whom we will spend eternity in God's presence. That is why this religion of ours is good news. And that is why at the center of our life together we remember "his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; rendering unto (God) most hearty thanks for the innnumerable benefits procured unto us by the same."

Christ has ascended, and so have we. Thanks be to God.

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Fifth Sunday after Easter, commonly called Rogation Sunday

The Collect

O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Epistle (St. James i. 22)

BE ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The Gospel (St. John xvi. 23)

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Rogation Sunday - Message in a Minute

We are now in the waning days of Eastertide. The forty days seem to have gone by pretty fast -- certainly faster than the forty days of Lent ever seem to pass by. The Book of Common Prayer's calendar winds up Easter with a mini-season we call Rogationtide. It is composed of today, Rogation Sunday, and then the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week -- these are the days leading up to Ascension Day which we call the Rogation Days.

Rogation comes from the Latin word which means to ask -- as in interrogate. In this morning's Gospel Jesus says, "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." What he says justifies our practice of asking God almighty for things in prayer. We ask for things because he tells us to, not necessarily because we have a complete understanding of how the process works. It is much like Holy Communion -- Jesus says it's his Body and Blood, we take him at his word. He tells us to ask for things, and so, we ask for things.

As we enter Rogationtide let us take encouragement from St. Paul's stirring description of what is going to happen on the last day when the fruit of our faith will be made manifest:

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed... thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ ... therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

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Fourth Sunday after Easter

The Collect

O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (St. James i. 17)

EVERY good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

The Gospel (St. John xvi. 5)

JESUS said unto his disciples, Now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit 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. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Easter IV - Message in a Minute

In today's readings Jesus teaches us that the Holy Ghost will lead the disciples into all truth, that is, he will teach them what they need to know that they do not know or cannot know right when he goes back to heaven. We see that promise working itself out in the history of the church as decisions get made about what the truth is -- what books should be in the Bible, how the church ought to be structured and governed, how the church should worship and so on. Those large consensus decisions are the work of the Holy Ghost.

We can look at the theological controversies of our time -- the disputes that have made the existence of this church necessary -- in the terms Jesus uses this morning. We believe the Holy Ghost speaks to us about God and teaches us in an authoritative way in the pages of the Bible. We live with the Bible, and we interpret and apply the Bible within the two-thousand year tradition of the church.

We can trust what God has said and promised us. He does not and will not change his mind. Understandings grow and deepen. Different historical situations bring different parts of the Bible into prominence. But God will not contradict himself. The test of whether something is of God is whether it squares with what we know for certain already. What we know for certain already is the Bible, where the Holy Ghost reveals, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

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Third Sunday after Easter

 The Collect

ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Epistle (1 St. Peter ii. 11)

DEARLY beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

The Gospel (St. John xvi. 16)

JESUS said to his disciples, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Easter III - Message in a Minute

At the beginning of today's Epistle, Saint Peter addresses the Christians to whom he is writing as strangers and pilgrims. That too is what is at the heart of Jesus' Gospel message. In this world, we Christians are in a sort of interim state.

We know our sins have been forgiven, but we know we are not yet perfect. We know that Jesus conquered death for us by rising from the grave, but it hasn't happened to us yet. God has promised us that we are going to heaven in the end, but we are, quite clearly, not in heaven yet. We are trapped in a state of being perpetually in between -- we are in the midst of a rather extended little while. We know it won't go on forever, but we still can't be sure just when it will end.

As far as the world is concerned, this is not our real home. In the deepest sense, we don't really belong here -- we are only strangers. We are not expecting to hang around here forever, either. We are pilgrims -- only passing through -- on our way to somewhere else. This life is exactly what the Book of Common Prayer says it is, transitory or passing away.

In baptism and confirmation Jesus gives us his Spirit to keep us going until the last little while has ended. His Spirit is the Holy Ghost -- the presence and power of God in our hearts, working on us from the inside to change us into exactly what he wants us to be, "No more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God."

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Second Sunday after Easter

 The Collect

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 St. Peter ii. 19)

THIS is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

The Gospel (St. John x. 11)

JESUS said, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.

Easter II - Message in a Moment

The key lesson that Jesus teaches in this morning's Gospel is, "I am the one the prophets were talking about - I am the good shepherd. I am not like other shepherds who run away when trouble comes. I stand and face the trouble down, and I am willing to sacrifice my life to save my sheep."

This sheep-shepherd idea is one of the most satisfying and reassuring spiritual images the Bible gives us; but the question remains: How should we apply it? 

This idea has something to tell us about our relationships to other people. We all need people to whom we are responsible and for whom we are responsible - people we take care of and who take care of us - people with whom we check in and who check in with us. That is all part of God's plan for shepherding we can all be, to some degree, shepherds and sheep to one another.

This question as begs a proper understanding of what shepherding is from the clergy. One of the lessons at the Prayer Book's service for the ordination of a priest is the 'I am the Good Shepherd' lesson in Saint John. The priest is told to 'feed and provide for the Lord's family', and his parishioners are described as, 'the sheep of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood'. A bishop is told, 'Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour them not'.

Let us fulfill our Christian duty in the name of the Good Shepherd, amen.

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First Sunday after Easter

The Collect

ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (1 Saint John v. 4)

WHATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The Gospel (Saint John xx. 19)

THE same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Easter I - Message in a Minute

On Holy Thursday we remember that Jesus said to his disciples, "in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." His statement is a perfect expression of the completely realistic attitude toward life that Christianity promotes. On the one hand, life in this world is full of difficulty and trouble, and there is no way around it. On the other hand, in his death and resurrection Jesus has beaten the world. Easter shows that difficulty and trouble don't last forever, and they don't get the last word either.

Those ideas constitute what we might call, an Easter attitude -- the cast of mind Saint John talks about in today's Epistle. He tells us that by faith and by the power of the Holy Ghost inside us, we can share Jesus' victory over the world. It is a similar idea to what Saint Paul teaches in last week's Epistle, "if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above."

When we are baptized, we become part of Christ's body. What happened to him will happen to us. He died, we shall die. He was buried, we shall be buried, he rose from the dead in his body, we shall rise again from the dead in our bodies. He went to heaven to live with God forever, we shall go to heaven to live with God forever.

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