From Inn to Church

The Ark of Salvation

Most of the times, when I read Luke 10: 23-37, I always think that the message is just about becoming a good Christian like the Samaritan. There are many layers to this passage. I would like to point out just one today, which is the place where the Samaritan took the wounded man. He brought him to an Inn. The word Inn has been defined as “an establishment that provides accommodations, food, and drink, especially for travelers.” (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/inn)

The Greek word for Inn is Kataluma which means a place of lodging, where people to a break from their journey; a place to refresh; a place of comfort.

The "inn" mentioned in Exodus 4:24 was just the halting-place of the caravan. Later on, places like this were erected for the accommodation of travelers. In Luke 2:7 Kataluma is a place for loosing the beasts of their burdens. It is "guest-chamber" in Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11 .

Now, please pay attention to this, in our gospel, Kataluma is more than just a halting place. This place, this Inn had an "inn-keeper," who attended to the needs of the travelers.

What does this Inn represent? This is what we call ecclesiology, meaning the theology as applied to the nature and the structure of Christian gathering that we call Church.

So Jesus is using this parable to teach us what the Church is called to be: a place of healing, a place of safety, a place of refreshment, a place of maturity.

Now, please allow me to quickly go over three aspects of the church as an Inn. 

1. Aspect of being a Hospital. The Good Samaritan brought the wounded man to the inn, which represents the church. The church is the hospital for sinners. It is the place where people are reconciled with God and other people. We can only answer broken relationships by developing new, healthy relationships in their place. This is why the church is so important.

2. Aspect of being a place of teaching. I used to think that the church could just give without calling people to join the church; that the church could be involved in some social projects (hospitals, schools, orphanage, etc.) I now believe that’s not the only thing the church is called to do. We cannot really help the wounded without developing relationships with them. We need to keep a bond with them. This requires a place where people can learn about God and begin to develop a network of stable and healthy relationships with God’s people. It is the place where they learn a new sense of their own identity and learn how to function more effectively in the world. This requires the church.

3. Aspect of being a place where gifts are used for maturity. The Good Samaritan committed himself to the wounded man, but he did not do everything. He brought him to the church, where the gifts of other people could minister to his needs. This shows that the church needs both external missionaries who go out and bring others to the people of God and internal missionaries, who minister to those who are brought to church. I challenge everyone of you to discern where your gifts fit into this mission.

But all this is NOT about making us happy. It’s not just about us. It is for us to be able to love our neighbor as ourselves and to do a true and laudable service to God.

Peace and blessings!

Fr. Thierry

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay??? (Habakkuk 2:3).

SERVICE OF SONSHIP AS STEWARDS

We continue our study and presentation of P. M. Scott's work with The Service of Stewards.  So far we have progressed from our baptismal incorporation into the Church, admission into God's service, adoption as sons of God, and now take a look at the responsibility of our higher calling as such.

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.  ~ 1 Cor. 10. 1

JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP

The Jews enjoyed special privileges and Paul reminds his listeners of all Israel received and yet forgot their savior God. Paul emphasizes the magnitude of blessing by using the word 'all' five times in a row- all have received of God's blessings and provision- "I would not have you ignorant."  The Jews were baptised unto Moses and the Law, delivered from death, given meaning of the Exodus, provided with living water and Spirit, a sea of protection, supernatural food, and yet were overthrown in the wilderness because they failed to remember and honor God. Paul surely must have stung the conscience of his listeners. How vivid the types and figures that certainly flashed across the minds of those addressed in the Epistle.

Previously we talked about Jesus leading the 4000 into the wilderness and performing the miracle for the 4000, like the Red Sea invoked here, it cut them off from temptation and bondage. Like the slave whose service is absolute- there is no turning back. As with the Manna, Jesus had compassion on them and fed them in the wilderness. These things are recounted for our example- to convey what was given to sustain Israel and fulfilled in the birth of the Church- the Body of Christ. Types are fulfilled. Our Exodus from slave into sonship. The Cloud and Red Sea prefigures our baptism by water and the Holy Spirit. The Law becomes Love. Manna and living water prefigure our Holy Communion- Miracles of 4/5000, Cana, the Upper Room.

The Christian blessings are far greater than that of the Jews because they are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus (S. Luke 10:23)! It follows then that our duty is also greater- we must give back to God being so richly endowed with sonship!

Misuse of Stewardship

Then comes the sobering reminder- they were overthrown! God was not well pleased as they trusted in what they could see rather things spiritual- the things of God. “They despised the pleasant land,” “they forgat God their Saviour,” “they murmured in their tents,” “they were mingled among the heathen and learned their works.”(Ps. 106.) We see Jesus recount all these things in John 6 against the Pharisees who, as did their forefathers in the desert, refused to see and understand the spiritual feeding Jesus will provide his Body. We still see it today. "Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread (Numbers 21:5) "When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you??" (John 6:61)

Indeed they forgot their covenant position and they forgot the spiritual things and idolized the material world, trading heritage for lentils, unable to fathom the invisible and eternal, they lusted, worshipped gods, fornicated, murmured, and provoked the Lord their God.  They received no rest. There is no stewardship in any of that.

Remembering in Christian Stewardship

We have a far higher position than the Jew, but we retain the liability to temptation and the perennial significance of the Jewish history in the Old Testament underscores this for us. We are also fallen and these things are written for our example.  Our greatest dangers are feeling overly secure in material things and by doing so take the "Promise" for granted. Secondly, we must be on guard for despair which is a form of unfaithfulness and also temptation.  A lacking of trust and faith in the God who led Israel through the desert and provides spiritual food to sustain us today.  Fear not though, for our God always provides a way out- that He will not lay on us more than we can bear. We have an escape- the Hope within us, the indwelling Spirit, testifies to it.  More on that next week.

A PARABLE OF STEWARDSHIP

This is one of those tough parables on the surface it might seem Jesus is condoning white collar crime but that is certainly not the case. He teaches the duties and faults of a steward in a parable of responsibility.

JESUS said unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

~ Saint Luke 16. 1-

Responsibility

A steward has a higher calling in being both master of servants and as servant to his Master, but he is only responsible to the later.  In the parable the servant fails in his responsibility by wasting his master's goods and by not earning the love of his servants. His selfishness has put him into a precarious position of losing his job and his means of living.  He has no options as he cannot dig, to beg he is ashamed.

What's a crook to do? Before the boss gets back he comes up with an ingenious scheme! Of course this is easier than going to his master and making amends.  He calls the servants in under the pretense of duty and cuts a deal on their payments if they pay up. He secures his future by being shrewd and gains the admiration of both the servants and the master!  If only he had been so shrewd in serving the master as himself.  Yet the Master still seeks the heart of his wayward his servant if only that servant realized he is a son.

The Moral Of The Story:

"The children of this world are wiser than the children of light, for they can see what the children of light so often fail to discover—that duty to others is so necessary that if a man does not do it he must at least make the best pretence he can". ~P. M. Scott  

Isn't it sad that a servant is often more ingenious than the son in his use of God's provision? Of course the servant is like Israel being preoccupied with outward, visible, and perishable things rather than the inward, invisible, and eternal.

So the moral is if keeping up appearances is wise, isn't it much wiser and true to be good without pretending? Those in bondage to flesh- politicians, actors, criminals, tradesmen, and professional types, regularly employ virtue as a cloak.  We all do!  But the Christian is called to wear virtue as skin.

As good stewards our sonship compels us in the labor of love of our brethren in fullness and truth and without pretense which gives us confidence towards Him whose name is Love.  Pray that our works are not so weak that He will not “receive us into everlasting habitations,” and that our works of love may follow us before the judgment seat of Christ. 

Let's pray these scriptures for a right desire and sufficient power of our baptism and spiritual feeding through the Body and Blood of Jesus to never forget his bounty and benefits and to do his will in the care for that which we have been entrusted:

Grant to us, Lord, we plead, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without you, may be enabled by you to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We hope you enjoyed this lesson* and will consider joining us for Christian Education at St. Athanasius next Sunday as we finish our study of duty towards God with more on stewardship and spiritual gifts.

Peace of Christ,

John Dixon

Warden, St. Athanasius Anglican Church

www.glenallenanglicans.org


For further reading: Psalm 115; 103; 91; Ezekiel 14:1-11; Genesis 28:10-20; I Thessalonians 4:1-12;
St. John 8:1-11; II Corinthians 9; and from the Septuagint and KJV Apocrypha: Wisdom 11:22-12:2 


Sources: The Holy Bible; *The Harmony of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels by P. M. Scott D.D.; Ancient Christian Commentary; Book of Common Prayer; Sermons on the Epistles and Gospels by Isaac Williams.

The Service of Slaves and the Master We Serve

Last week we learned about Christian duty and the higher standard of obligation that comes with our baptism in the New Covenant. This week we move on to Romans chapter 6:19-23, and notably Paul's use of use of the word slave to show the nature of our new relationship to God and His character and disposition towards us.  Slave is a culturally loaded word in our day but Paul has a purpose and it demands our fullest service. In return we discover our truest liberty.  Let's take a look.

"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."

Slaves To Seven Deadly Sins

Paul suggests his presentation "in the manner of men" will be imperfect and rightly so as up to this point in history revelation hadn't been fully revealed much less the teaching of bondage to Christ. Bondage? Paul doesn't use the metaphor lightly and points out that we have been slaves to sin and makes a demand on our baptism calling us to be slaves to righteousness. We were consecrated into God in baptism and it's gifts and we are expected to make full and constant effort to consecrate (commit) ourselves to God's service.  Certainly we can not serve Christ less than we served sin and the imagery of slavery conveys the absoluteness of our service towards God. There is no middle ground here, we pass from one master to another. Our servitude to sin must be reversed.

Liberty of Seven Gifts of The Holy Spirit. Isaiah 11

Slavery wasn't new to Paul's audience and they understood at least the term in context of the Law. The Sabbath Year and Jubilee Year liberated slaves to remind the Jews of their deliverance from Egypt.  So in the New Covenant what is our deliverance, our recompense? We know Jesus stated he hadn't come to change the Law but fulfill it and he does so by freeing us from our old master... sin.

So we must put off the old man as the effects of sin are immediate- sin blinds us, blocks reason, brings us down, effects our morality and intellect and separates us from God. The wages of sin is death and we must leave sin behind to gain the immediate fruits of our new relationship with Him: the fullness of gifts of the Holy Spirit that come with our baptism and bear witness to His providence and compassion.


Mark 8:1-.

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.

Jesus has led the 4000 into the wilderness and after 3 days of teaching shows compassion on them with a miracle of abundance. He knows their needs and provides for them so they can go back without faltering.  He has demanded their all for three days and now he rewards their faith.

Jesus brings them to the wilderness for a reason. Just as the Father led Moses and the Jews into the desert and fed them manna to sustain them we see a fulfilling of the Old, a completion of a means in this miracle.  The wilderness serves to break the grip of their old master in unrighteousness, temporalities, and temptations. The flock is forced by their surroundings to recognize and acknowledge their new Master, and in return, he demonstrates grace and providence and bounty by feeding them not merely to relieve physical hunger but to feed the soul as well.

The Gospel testifies this is the second time Jesus performs this creation miracle because they didn't get it the first time. And we all know we need to hear things repetitively to commit them to memory and habit.  Isn't it wonderful that Jesus has infinite patience with us?  Now the flock gives their all in the effort for the trip and Jesus has compassion on them and blesses them with life giving bounty such as only He can give! The fruit of righteousness in the life and ministry of Jesus-- freely shared by simply acknowledging Him as our master.

"Does this offend you" John 6:61

Let me state it again -- this miracle illustrates the fullness of Christ's grace and providence. Just as Paul outlines the immediate effects of sin in the Epistle,  Jesus' miracle reveals an immediate reward for serving the new Master. A demonstration of divinity confirming his mission and edifying future generations as to his continued bounty not the least of which is the cup of salvation -- His Body and Blood taken in communion, of which he exhorts the crowd in John Ch 6 and refers directly to this miracle, is that life giving bounty.  We see affirmation of this reality when Jesus tells Peter "If you love me feed my sheep" and he says it three times because we just don't get it without repetition. And again, Paul reminds- The cup of blessing which we bless , is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break , is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  We receive immediate reward in the feeding of our souls to help us overcome sin.  A reward for our service but we have to partake... we have to Remember.

What's the takeaway?

The people who saw the miracles were hard of heart and slow to see the truth but Jesus, in his infinite love, didn't give up on them and in these trying times we must not give up on Him or each other.  We must freely choose to become slaves to righteousness and give our all in love to Him as he accepts no less. These miracles of creation confirm his Kingship and Messiahship and a means of keeping his promise "I am with you alway" and as a means to feed the sheep. This is our means into the coming Kingdom.

Man's tendency is to rely on the creation rather than the Creator in slavish pursuit of material needs and we lose sight of things spiritual just as in Egypt.  Grain is multiplied for our bodies and yet this feeding is literally more than the manna in the desert.  We need to surrender our sin before we can accept the bounty which is the spiritual food.  Jesus lays it out in no uncertain terms in St. John Ch. 6.

These Scriptures remind us that material things perish and that the real bounty is spiritual and eternal-- we were not made to be satisfied with bread alone and here it is provided.  The lessons also demonstrate we have to be active participants in our conversion if we want the reward. True liberty comes with acceptance of that high standard of service in baptism, our consecration of our whole self and the recognition of our new Master and for that we receive our spiritual feeding to strengthen us for our journey home!

Let's pray these Scriptures:

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.

Devotion: Ps 47:1-4

Clap your hands together, all ye peoples; O sing unto God with the voice of melody.
For the Lord Most High is to be feared; he is a great King over all the earth.
He subdued the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us, even the glorious land of Jacob, whom he loved.

We hope you enjoyed this lesson and will consider joining us for Christian Education at St. Athanasius next Sunday as we continue our study of service to Christ next week as slavery becomes sonship.

Peace of Christ,

John Dixon

Warden, St. Athanasius Anglican Church
www.glenallenanglicans.org

For further reading and devotion on this lesson: Psalms 18:1-20; 133; 134; 138; 40:1-16; Hosea 14; Ecclesiasticus 6:5-17; Genesis 22:1-18; Romans 6:12-18; John 15;12-27; Hebrews 6

Sources:  The Holy Bible; The Harmony of the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, P. M. Scott D.D.; Ancient Christian Commentary; Book of Common Prayer.



*We use the KJV as it is a literal translation rather than a thought for thought dynamic equivalent translation such as NIV. If it helps you, just open your bible to Rom 6:19-23.

A Lenten Daily Devotion: Zechariah 12:10-14

Another daily devotion for Lent. We hope you enjoy these and will visit us to learn more.

Zechariah 12:10-14  And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.

Although Zechariah spoke these words, they were the words of the Lord. Yet how could this be? How could God say, “They look on me, on him whom they have pierced?” Could God be wounded? Even more puzzling, could God be “pierced” – which indicated a killing? In other words, could God die? Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy. Not only was he fully God, he was also fully man. Moreover, as the prophecy predicted, Jesus was the “only child” and “firstborn” Son of the Father (John 3:16). He died and, on the cross, he was pierced: “One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (John19:34).

The prophecy, however, said more. It said that those who pierced him would mourn because God would pour out on them “a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy.” In other words, the Spirit would open their eyes to see what they had done and how grievous their sin had been. This mourning would be widespread yet intimate – “the land shall mourn, each family by itself.”

In part, this prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost. Peter said to his listeners, “You crucified and killed [Jesus] by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23). Then, upon hearing the gospel, they were “cut to the heart” and 3,000 were saved that day (Acts 2:37-41). Today, this prophecy is still being fulfilled. As the Spirit fills us with grace, we mourn over Christ’s death because we know that “he was wounded for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). In our sorrow, however, we also rejoice because his death “brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). 

Prayer

Lord, we confess that our sin pierced Jesus. Thus, we mourn and ask you to pour out your Spirit of grace and mercy. In humility, we rejoice that your loving-kindness never fails – while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). In Christ’s Name, Amen. 

Peace and blessings!


Fr. Thierry

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay”(Habakkuk 2:3).

Lenten Devotion Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1-11, 29-31  My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Psalm 22 is the first in a cluster of psalms that describe the suffering of someone which seems to echo the accounts in Isaiah of the suffering servant of the Lord. The first line of this psalm is likely to be familiar to us because Jesus cried out these exact words when he was being crucified on the cross. Yet this psalm was written by David, many generations before that. Whatever suffering of his own that David was recounting, he was also prophetically describing the redemptive suffering of Christ on the cross thousands of years later. Jesus would have read this psalm many times in his life during worship at the temple. He no doubt had it memorized, for it to come so readily to his mind when he was on the cross. Knowing what he was going to face, Jesus could have spent his life in fear or dread. Instead, he, like David before him, clung on to what he knew was true: God is holy, God is his God, and God has been trustworthy throughout his life. And then, based on these truths, David appeals to God to stay close to him. Jesus knew, though, that the greatest suffering he would face would be abandonment by God, so that God would never abandon his people. The psalm ends with praise and a note of triumph at the end: “for he has done it.” Jesus stayed to the end, bore our sins, and purchased our reconciliation with God. The messianic nature of the psalm becomes clear as David declares that past generations that have died as well as future generations not yet born will all come to know that his God is a God who delivers his people from suffering. After all because Jesus really was completely forsaken by God (for us!), we can be confident that we never will be abandoned, even if, in our suffering, God seems far away or silent when we call out.

Prayer

Gracious God, we glorify you that because Jesus knew what it meant to be utterly separated from you, we will never have to experience that. Strengthen our faith to truly believe this especially when we think we have reasons to doubt it. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Peace and blessings!

Fr. Thierry


"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay”(Habakkuk 2:3).

Psalm 109: Today's Lenten Devotion

Psalm 109:21-31  But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me! For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me. I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust. My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads. Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak! With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

In a world that is broken, the psalmist appeals to God to deal with his false accusers. The idea of such a plea (“May my accusers be clothed with dishonor”) can be uncomfortable to those of us who are not exposed to the injustices of war, genocide and sex trafficking as others throughout the world are. And yet, at some point we have all chosen to repay evil for evil. But instead of addressing injustice on his own, the psalmist takes this injustice to God and appeals to him to act on his behalf. He chooses to allow a just and holy God to deal with those who have wronged him instead of seeking retribution himself. If God were only forgiving but not just, there would be nowhere for us to go when we are sinned against. But God’s holiness will not tolerate injustice. As comforting as that sounds at first, we also are unjust, so unless there is some remedy for us, we will be judged with the same judgment as our oppressors. The only reason the psalmist (or we) can appeal to God is because Christ has already spoken on our behalf. When Christ cried out to God from the cross, he was rejected and scorned because he was taking the place of a sinful humanity. Now we can appeal to God because he looks at us through the sinless Christ who spoke on our behalf.

Prayer

God, our Father, we praise you for sending Christ to cover our own acts of injustice towards you so that we can have a relationship with you, who are perfect in holiness. We thank you that you listen to our appeals when we have been wronged and that you will hear us in your compassion and mercy. Help us to bring our pleas to you instead of seeking our retribution when we are sinned against. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Peace and blessings!
Fr. Thierry
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay”(Habakkuk 2:3).

Lenten Devotion: Psalm 69

Psalm 69:1-12  Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.

David is drowning in his troubles (vv. 1-3). He is crying out in solitary agony, cast aside by his friends and family (v. 4) and set upon by his foes (v. 8). His reputation is under attack. The champion whose name was once celebrated in the streets is now being mocked in the taverns (v. 12). Israel’s savior is crying for salvation and he hears no reply (v. 3).

The pain we feel when our reputation is under attack is uniquely excruciating. No matter whether we come from cultural backgrounds that prize the family name or are individualists who seek to make a name for ourselves, that name is our resumé. Kill it and we are in danger of a full-blown identity crisis. How are we tempted to respond when it is our reputation that is being assaulted? Do we cover up our flaws? Do we succumb to despair? Do we drive ourselves (and others) crazy in a hopeless quest for perfection? David is on a different track.

Even in his distress, David’s mind is not on himself. He is not preoccupied with his own honor. His zeal is for the Lord’s house. This is what consumes him (v. 9). Honestly confessing his faults, he prays there would be no collateral damage from his own folly that would defame the God of Israel or those who look to him (vv. 5-6). David makes his appeal, boldly staking his claim upon the steadfast love and faithfulness of his just and omniscient Lord (v. 13). In short, he locates himself in God’s own reputation.

Many years later, the one called the Son of David entered the temple in Jerusalem at Passover, driving out the merchants and money-changers. His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house has consumed me” (John 2:17). This confrontation sparked the events that would culminate in the greatest loss of dignity imaginable. The creator of the universe, humiliated as a criminal on a cross, prayed for his enemies, offering them all the benefits of his good name. In Jesus, we inherit an eternal reputation that can never be tarnished.

Let's Pray Together:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of God, we confess that we have sought too much to make a name for ourselves, and have considered too little the name you have given us. You, whose name is above all names, made yourself of no reputation. You humbled yourself, taking the form of a servant, and endured the violent scorn of those to whom you offered your title. Through the ultimate exchange, you have written your name on our foreheads, and written our names, indelibly, in your Book of Life. Give us the wisdom and faith necessary to humbly receive your exaltation. Teach us by the Spirit and the word to grow together into that name, and thereby to begin to reflect the traits associated with it. For your kingdom, by your power, for your glory, Amen.

Peace and blessings!

Fr. Thierry


"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay”(Habakkuk 2:3).

Today's Lenton Meditation

Genesis 22:1-14 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

This is one of the most well known and difficult passages in the Bible. Abraham is introduced in Genesis 12 as the one through whom “all the peoples on the earth” will be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). And so as we arrive at the scene above we find that what started as God’s call to Abraham to leave his home has now reached a dramatic climax. God has now included in that call the ultimate sacrifice and test of Abraham’s faith — the willingness to sacrifice his only son. The pain and poignancy of this moment is heightened by the fact that Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had waited years without seeing the fulfillment of God’s promise of a son. God’s promise that a nation would come through their family seemed impossible to Abraham and Sarah, given their inability to have a child.

So now having answered their prayers and given them a son, God has asked Abraham to do something that seems completely cruel and irrational. How will God create a people through the sacrifice of Abraham’s only heir? How will this death lead to the blessings promised in Genesis 12? The answer comes as we move from the events of Abraham’s life to the events of the life of Jesus.

As you reflect on this story of faith and sacrifice in light of this season leading up to Holy Week, take the time to reflect on the way it foreshadows the faith and sacrifice of Jesus. Abraham’s declaration that God himself will provide the lamb (Genesis 22:8) reminds us of God’s gift of the Lamb to save the world (Mark10:45; John 1:29, 36). God’s provision of the ram on Mount Moriah foreshadows his sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ — the true Lamb without blemish who died in our place on the cross. Like Isaac, Christ is the lamb led to the slaughter, yet unlike Isaac, Jesus didn’t open his mouth. Just as Isaac carried his own wood for the altar, Christ carried his own wooden cross (John 19:17). Go back and re-read the passage with eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Prayer

Holy Father, I thank and praise you for sending your only Son into the world. Give me eyes to see the beauty and perfection of Jesus, the spotless Lamb who willingly sacrificed himself so that I might receive forgiveness and new life. And in light of your grace may I live a life of faith, trusting in your goodness and laying down my life for others. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

 Peace and blessings!

 Fr. Thierry

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).

The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth

In Christmas we see the coming of our promised Savior- the Incarnation of Christ.  As we stand in awe and gaze at the Infant King in Epiphany we realize that He has come not only for Israel but for all nations and races.  He is given to us and brings the whole truth of God's message and plan for each of us through not only 2000 years ago but also in Word and Sacrament today.

P.M. Scott says this regarding our Scripture lesson (below) today in Ephesians 3. 1.

"To Paul was committed the assertion of the infinite scope of Christianity, and as the chosen messenger of the King, “to bear His Name before the Gentiles.” 

A. The Commissioned Messenger.
S. Paul did not come upon his own errand, and, in answer to those who doubted his commission, he appeals: 

(1) To his Sufferings. His chains are a proof of the reality of his mission, a mark of his devotion to the cause of Christ, and more especially of his championship of the Gentiles. No man would have sought bonds and imprisonment, and thus they were a proof of a dispensation committed to him, and of a necessity laid upon him. 

(2) To his Knowledge.  It is the mark of a messenger to know, and to know at first hand. S. Paul lays claim to direct revelation, and points to his writings as a proof of his knowledge in the mystery of Christ, and this proof remains. The denial of Christ leaves S. Paul unexplained, but accept Christ and S. Paul is fully accounted for. 

B. The Contents of his Message. The sum and substance of S. Paul’s message is contained in the baptismal formula, which by Christ’s command was to be administered to all nations. By baptism into the name of the Father the Gentiles became “fellow heirs” with the Jews as children of God. By baptism into the name of Christ they became “of the same body of Christ.” By baptism into the name of the Spirit they became “fellow partakers” of Christ’s promised Comforter. The mystery of Christ is, in short, the baptismal covenant. 

C. The High Importance of this Message. S. Paul is overwhelmed at his own unworthiness compared with the freedom and fulness of this wide Gospel, and with its vast importance, as witnessed by— 

(1) Its long preparation—“hid in God from the beginning of the world.”
(2) Its intended scope—as wide as creation.
(3) Its still wider issues—as part of the eternal purpose of God for the whole universe. 

The work of the Church is the application of the Incarnation, and the history of the Church is to be one Epiphany. So unspeakable is the grace of the baptismal covenant that to S. Paul it appeared the very “mystery of Christ.” We often regard the Incarnation as a mystery of nature, but to S. Paul it appeared as a mystery of grace. To him the Virgin birth was of less wonder than the love of Christ, and the point of the mystery lay in what he knew rather than in anything yet kept secret. To us mystery increases with ignorance; to S. Paul with knowledge, for the more he knew the greater need of adoring wonder. It would be well for us to extend this thought to our view of nature, of miracles, of sacraments. These are all mysteries of love, and their mystery is their witness to a love that passeth knowledge. It is little mystery that God can do everything; it is a great mystery, or “revelation,” that He can love everything and everyone that He has made.

Let us now turn to S. Matthew 2:1-12
"This is the central chapter of the season, and the first unveiling of the mystery, the open secret of God.

A. The Seekers after Christ. They were seeking truth, and no path that leads to truth can ever lead away from Christ. Let any man follow the truth at all hazards, and regardless of consequences, and he will be on the road to Bethlehem. The wise will ever follow the star, but there had been no star unless God had put it there. God was seeking the wise men, and lit His star-candle to find them. Man cannot by searching find out God, but there is hope when God searches that He will not miss. Only let us not hide among the trees of the garden. 

The Jews searched the Scriptures, but they did not find the Christ, for they had no mind to seek Him. They knew when He should be born, but they would not go to find Him. Herod searched, but with an evil motive, and he did not find. God will not reveal Himself to His enemies. Those that love lies shall find lies. Those that love the truth shall find the truth, and even if, like S. Paul, they seek amiss, the Truth Himself shall go after them till He find them. 

B. The Seekers Directed. They were eager in seeking direction, and came to those who should have known the way, to the guides of God’s Church. Let these never lose the key of knowledge, or how can they open the door to others, and how can they know the door who go not in thereat? When God’s ministers have ceased to guide, God will guide without His ministers. He will light the star of truth, and guide earnest seekers from the darkness of sin and ignorance into the full knowledge of His Son. 

C. The Search Ended. “He that seeketh findeth” is the promise of Christ. We learn from the wise men three marks of true religion— 

(1) It is ever a discovery, or, better still, a succession of discoveries, and is, therefore, rich with the joy of finding. The “wise men rejoiced with exceeding great joy,” and in proportion as we find Christ shall we find joy. 

(2) It is known by worship—“they fell down and worshipped Him.” When we fail to find truth upon our feet, we may often succeed better upon our knees.
Christianity is more of the heart than the mind, and its deepest expression is worship. 

(3) It is known by sacrifice—“they opened their treasures.”
What we have received from Christ is best measured by what we are ready to give to Christ. We cannot do better than give our gold to God’s Kingdom, our hallowed incense to His Name, our myrrh of submission to His Will; but every gift is appropriate if we each give of our treasures that which we love best. He Who has our treasures will have our heart.

Let's pray that we may pass, even if by starlight, through faith, into the comforting fullness of Divine Light and walk the straight path of love and faithfulness, in Word and Sacrament:--

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy 

only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant, that we, 

which know thee now by faith, 

may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 

 Amen.

Ephesians 3. 1.
FOR this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ, by the Gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Matthew 2:1-12
WHEN Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

art not the least among the princes of Judah:

for out of thee shall come a Governor,

that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Emmanuel, God Is With Us. Christmas Day Sermon

Christmas is not just a holyday like any other. It is the foundational mystery of our Christian faith because it marks the beginning of the redeeming work of God. It reminds us of what had been announced by the prophet of the Old Testament: how God decided to come into our humanity so that we can again have access to Him.


God Became Human
John 1: 14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

To get the full understanding of that verse you have to go back up to verse 1 of the first chapter of the gospel of John: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Word was God and the Word became flesh. Here is the logical assertion of this verse: If the Word was God and the Word became flesh, then God became flesh. God became human. Jesus Christ was human and Jesus Christ was God.


The Prophet had announced his coming
1. Micah prophesied of the pre-existence of the Messiah to come - Mic 5:2:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

2. Isaiah spoke of the King to come as "Everlasting Father" – Isa 9:6-7:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

3. Zechariah recorded the Messiah’s own promise to come - Zech 2:10-11: 

"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming and I will live among you," declares the Lord. "Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord almighty has sent me to you."

God is now with us
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The word for "dwelt" is the word for "set up a tent" in Greek. I used to think that this implied mainly that he was here only temporarily. But when I looked up all the places this word appears in the New Testament, I found that it doesn't imply temporary status. For example, in Revelation 21:3 where the eternal new heavens and new earth are described, it says, "Behold the dwelling [tent!] of God is with men. He will dwell [pitch his tent!] with them, and they shall be his people."

I think what pitching a tent with us implies is that God wants to be on familiar terms with us. He wants to be close. He wants a lot of interaction. If you come into a community and build a huge palace with a wall around it, it says one thing about your desires to be with the people: you don’t want to be bothered by the “noise” and “smell” around you; you just want to separate yourself from the rest of the community. But if you pitch a tent in my backyard, you will probably use my bathroom and eat often at my table. This is why God became human. He came to pitch a tent in our human backyard so that we would have a lot of dealings with him. He will eat with us; he will interact with us.

The implications of “the Word was made flesh”?
What is the connection between all this revelation and you? Verse 16 of the first chapter of the gospel of John gives the answer: "And from his fullness have we all received grace upon grace." This means that God came not just to show us grace but to be gracious to us.

God doesn't just want to load your head with knowledge about his truth and grace, he wants you to receive it and experience it. This Christmas he wants to give you personally a foundation of truth and reality to stand on so you won't collapse under stress. This Christmas he wants to treat you with grace—to forgive all your sins—all of them!—to take away all your guilt, to make your conscience clean, to help you with your problems, to give you strength for each day, and to fill you with hope and joy and peace. And that is the Good News of Christmas!

Let’s pray and thank God for sending His Son, Jesus! Dear God, Thank you that you love us. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be here with us. Thank you for Christmas. We love you. Amen.


Peace and blessings!

Fr. Thierry

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).