A cherished Daughter – 5 May 2023, Anno Domini

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 HAT our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.  (Psalm 144:12-15)

 

            I read somewhere of a man of God who lived in the highlands of a far country whose faith suffered a long silence from his God. He had continued to minister, but his teaching from the ancient texts seemed unfulfilled and incomplete. Yet, he continued to serve his God with whatever light had been given him.

 

            This man of God was a simple man who loved his wife and verily doted on his young daughter. That is quite understandable for there is nothing of greater charm and loveliness than a young daughter. 

 

            But one day as he was leaving his place of worship, a servant came running with the news that his precious daughter had taken gravely ill with a serious illness. Rushing home, he found his daughter in bed with a very high fever. The man was eager to see his daughter healed for he could not face life without her – she was his only child. He sought the local physician of the village who sadly shook his head and departed. The man prayed desperately for her recovery, but his prayers seemed to bounce back from a brazen sky. Wasn’t there someone who could heal his daughter?

 

            It was during this darkest hour of the minister’s life that a servant pulled him aside and reminded him of a physician who could heal any disease; moreover, that physician was passing through the village as they spoke. It is true that Jairus had heard of this great Prophet and Healer, but Jairus had never spared the time to learn of Him firsthand. But in this fleeting moment of despair, a man will grab hold of any possible answer to alleviate his anguish. He rushed out the door to find this Great Physician. “Seek and ye shall find” was a reliable proverb even spoken by the Man whom Jairus sought.

 

            Hurrying down the dirt path to the village center, Jairus heard the discordant voices of a large crowd of people. He was drawn to that sound since it must herald the presence of that Great Physician of whom he had heard so much. Finding him, he knelt before Him and pleaded the case for his daughter. But our Lord Jesus Christ was busy, as was always the case, in healing another who had also sought a Physician who could not only heal but would take no material reward for His services. Of course, the heart of poor Jairus was aching with the pain of the possible loss of his daughter. Falling before the feet of Jesus, Jairus pleaded his case, and the heart of Jesus, always overflowing with compassion, compelled Him to begin to go to the home of Jairus. 

 

            Unfortunately, as they embarked to go to the girl, a messenger came to inform Jairus that his daughter was already dead – that he should trouble the Master no more. This was the worst possible news Jairus, or any man, could have received. His heart literally broke as all hope seemed lost. But Jesus heard the news before the words were spoken. He turned to a despondent Jairus and uttered these incomprehensible words: “Be not afraid, only believe." Of course, in every hard turn of life, this is the answer to our hurt.

 

            Jesus went to the house of Jairus and was met with many of the neighbors mourning the death. "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth," Jesus said. True, the neighbors knew death when they saw it, but Christ only knows LIFE! Even committed Christians often mourn exorbitantly at the loss of a family member not fully believing they sleep in the ‘bosom of Abraham’ beyond the reach of pain or suffering.

 

            Our Lord entered the room of dying where the child lay accompanied by her parents and Peter, James, and John. He stood beside the young girl’s bed and beheld the face of this beautiful child, cold and immovable, in the grips of death. He gently took her by the hand and said, “Talitha cumi;"which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” (Mark 5:41) Well, what happened next? Did the daughter begin to gradually recover? Not at all! “And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.” (Mark 5:42-43)

 

            I need not remind you only a healthy person desires food and nourishment. It is true as much of the Spirit as of the Body. If we hunger for the daily serving of God’s Word, we are healthy souls in Christ. We, too, shall one day hear that loveliest of all Voices say, “My son, or my daughter, Arise!”

Running for the Prize – 4 May 2023, Anno Domini

 

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 NOW ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.  (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

 

            Foot races that are run for victory are not aimlessly run. They run a given course, direction and distance. Every runner begins at the starting line, and each awaits the gun signal to begin. There are two primary classes of people present at competitive races – the athletes, and the observers. A sub-category would be observers who insure the race is properly conducted and all rules of the sport adhered to.

 

            This is a bit like life itself and Paul, who was a runner of races as well, used the example of ‘running the race’ as being like unto those of faith who persevere to victory. The devoted Christian prepares himself for the race by intense study of Gods Holy Word, by careful discipline in diet and rest. He practices running until his proficiency has reached a level that qualifies for the race of life.

 

            The Duke of Wellington (victor of Waterloo) defined perseverance in military terms. He said,  . . . the British soldier was not braver than the soldiers of other countries, but he was brave five minutes longer, and, of course, the result could be only one thing, namely, victory – to keep brave the last five minutes. Many an army has surrendered when just at the point of victory. And the same is true of many a man. How many outwardly devout Christians have you known who exhibited extraordinary evidence of Christian character over an extended period of time but, at some accident of fate or nature, turn away completely before surrendering the spirit?

 

            The race of man is run by designated routes and boundaries – socially, politically, professionally, and athletically. So is the race of the Christian believer. The track is clearly marked by absolute boundaries. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thougoest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:5-6)  There you have it – a clearly marked path or way that we should go. It is marked by the Lamp of Love and the Light of Truth. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

 

            Most often, the path that man runs is not a straight path. It is usually circular so that man’s race ends where it begins. So, in running the race of man, the victory is fleeting and empty of real gain. The glory of the praise of others is the primary reward. But with the race that God has laid out before us, the path is straight. It is run in diligence with the goal in plain sight far ahead at the finish line of Jordan Banks. ¶Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.(Matthew 7:13-14) 

 

            The shortest distance between two points, except perhaps in intergalactic space physics, is a straight line. It is a straight Way. That is God’s race-track, or Way, set before us. It is filled with no detours that waste our lively resources.  It is plainly marked, and it is provided with encouragements and angelic applause along the way. We are not running our Christian races to excite the attention of men, but to please God our Father. Our Lord has clearly shown us the manner in which our race is to be run – and it is filled with sacrificial love. 

  

            The spiritual race is afforded with a second wind as we grow weary at the half-way marker. The world’s race-runners grow old and weary and are vanquished from the field: Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who run the Race, and finish the same, of God have this consolation: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint  (Isaiah 40:28-30. 31)

 

            Perhaps, my friends, we all; may proclaim in the end of our days the words of the Apostle Paul:

 

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 HAVE fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

(2 Timothy 4:7)

Hymns of the Church – My Mother’s Hymns – 3 May 2023, Anno Domini

 

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ET the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by hi.  (Colossians 3:16-17)

 

            My mother was no famous singer, in fact, few heard her sing but those in our family of the 1940s and 50s. But mother sang beautiful hymns throughout the day as she went about her daily gardening and house-keeping chores. When I was a very young toddler, I had no idea of the depth of meaning of those hymns, but the words were planted in my heart to bear fruit at a time of the Lord’s discretion.

 

             My mother did not sing only hymns – she sang other old Irish tunes such as the Mountains of Mourne, In Dublin’s Fair City, Barbara Allen, and an especially memorable version of an Irish Lullaby. I can remember her singing the latter song as she rocked me in her breast:

 

Over in Killarney, many years ago

My Mother sang a song to me in tones so sweet and low,

Just a simple little ditty, in her good old Irish way,

And I'd give the world if she could sing

That song to me this day.

[Refrain]

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,

Too-ra-loo-ra-li,

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, etc., etc.

 

            But it was the hymns that had such a powerful and continuing impact on my heart. Among those that I heard almost daily as a child were Jesus Keep my Near the Cross, Abide with Me, In the Garden, The Church’s One Foundation, Rock of Ages, I am Thine O Lord, and many more. Of those mentioned here, In the Garden was her favorite and she actually sang it often when in her garden tending her roses and other flowers.

             

In times of homesickness in foreign ports of Asia and the Middle East, these hymns became a comforting balm to my soul. In remembering those simple and precious stanza’s, I made aware of a constant and unchanging Lord who never leaves nor forsakes us regardless of distant and time. It also reminded me that I will always have my mother’s love to comfort and sustain me in times of sorrow and hurt. I know this because love is one resource that survives death:

             

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OR I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

             

            My mother died in Christ and her love there is kept in safe deposit forever.

 

Because of my mother’s love, I seldom need a hymnal to sing many of those dear old hymns. The words themselves are powerful:

 

I come to the Garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses

He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet

That the birds hush,  hush their singing

And the melody that He ...

 

These words were a great comfort to my mother always, especially when my father was off fighting in the European Theater of World War II; their meaning was wonderful to Mary Magdalene outside the open Tomb in the Garden; and they remain wonderful words of comfort to me.

 

I hope you will be comforted by the words and meaning of the great classical hymns of the Church. And I pray that God will continue to use mothers to nurture up their children in the love of God.

 

 

May Day, May Day, May Day – 1 May 2023, Anno Domini

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 ND the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.  (Revelation 18:9-11)

 

            May Day brings happy memories to my mind of the days of youth. We still danced around the May Pole with ribbons attached in elementary school. But May Day has a different meaning for many different cultures. It may mean a celebration to the honor of the Virgin Mary in the Roman Church.  It means a welcome to the mid-day of spring to many others. But it also bears a more somber meaning to the political totalitarians of the world. To them, it is known as the International Day of the Worker of the Communist Party – as well as that of the unions of the world that has more recently shared the same mission as the Communist Party.

 

            I have been a military aviator for more than half of my eighty years of life. To me, May Day, May Day, May Day! is a distress call. Any time a serious emergency arises in the air, or at sea, a May Day message is sent out. May Day, May Day, May Day! is an international distress call used around the world. 

 

            Perhaps at this point in the history of our great nation, it may be appropriate to send out a May Day call to the nations of the world as well as our beloved country. We have ceased to be the nation founded in 1776 by our Fore-Fathers. It is true that we have a remnant of men and women willing to die rather than live in chains, but our wealth and ease of living has spoiled our younger generations and convinced them that they are entitled to all the benefits of the labors of others. 

 

            There is an excellent parable recorded in the Gospel according to Matthews= that addresses the ‘entitled’ dilemma:

 

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OR the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard." 2 "And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard." 3 "And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace," 4 "And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way." 5 "Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise." 6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?" 7 "They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive." 8 "So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first." 9 "And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny." 10 "But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny." 11 "And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house," 12 "Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day." 13 "But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?" 14 "Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee." 15 "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" 16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20:1-16)

 

            We, today – all of us – are living on the blessings God has granted to past generations of America when our people still revered God as Sovereign and Guide of our nation. What has been the result of banning School Prayer, the Bible, approving abortion as an unwritten Constitutional right, or the national approval of a law demeaning the sanctity of marriage. Has our nation become more sophisticated, more law-abiding, more respectful, or less unrestful, more civilized – or do we observe the very opposite.

 

            The plan of the Great Deceiver in the Garden of Eden was to destroy the man that God had created. He has used an array of weapons in his abundant arsenal – disease, endless war, murder, hate of others, abortion, and the destruction of biblical marriage, among other destructive means, to achieve that purpose. How is that working out for that old Serpent? We have lived lavishly as Babylon. We have controlled world trade and its money, we have turned from God to hedonism. Now what?

 

Shall we, like the Babylon of Revelations, be destroyed in a single hour - sans God, sans love, and sans pity?

 

AOC Sunday Report – Third Sunday after Easter

Happy Third Sunday after Easter!

The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

I apologize for the very late posting, but I was kept away from the computer.  We have great sermons from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack and Bryan.  Rev Jack brings the Propers together today.  His sermon is not available on video was I was unable to record it. 

In the Collect, we acknowledge God is a Triune God; Father, Son, Holy Ghost; what does that mean? In his General Epistle, Peter tells us our actions need to be consistent with the principles of Scripture and of Jesus’ message.  In John’s Gospel reading this morning Jesus tells of His impending bodily death and resurrection.    He reminds us if we have eternal life, sorrow, even the sorrow of death is transient. 

There are always a lot of people who need your prayer, I implore you to take time to pray a bit at least.  Start with the Smouse family, Tricia, Shamu and Laurie and work out from there.  Also, if you have someone on the prayer list and their needs have changed, please let us know.  We’d like to update our prayers to reflect the need and most important to give thanks!

I know Rev Jack talks a lot about that Third God Guy, the Holy Ghost; but He is really your key to understanding life.  Without Him, Scripture is so much babble; with Him,  it all makes sense.

There is a great week ahead!

Godspeed,

Hap
Church of the Faithful Centurion
Descanso, California
United States of America

Third Sunday after Easter

Rev Jack brings the Propers together today.    His sermon is below the propers.

The Propers for today are found on Page 173-174, with the Collect first:

 

The Third Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

 

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LMIGHTY 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 for today came from the Second Chapter of the First Epistle of Saint Peter beginning at the Eleventh Verse.  Peter tells us to live a good life, to follow the directions Jesus left us, to make ourselves positive examples of citizen to others, to be leaders of our community, drawing people towards God.  To live out the life Jesus commanded, to do nothing to draw ill repute on the Word of God.  To be truly free and follow freedom to where God wants us to be, not to Donkey Island, where false freedom takes so many. 

 

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EARLY 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.

 

Today’s Gospel came from the Sixteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John beginning at the Sixteenth Verse.

 

Jesus warns his disciples of the events about to unfold.  He is to be taken from them shortly by the painful death on the Cross for our redemption.  He will not be with them here on earth.  Yet, after three days time He will Rise from death, having overcome death for us.  When He is gone from us we are sorrowful, just like the disciples.  He came back from death for us.  And yet He was to leave again, yet not be gone from us as the Father would send the Holy Ghost to make His abode in our hearts and bring Jesus to us.

 

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ESUS 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.

 

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

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

 

We are in the Easter Season which consists of Easter and the following four Sundays, through Rogation Sunday.  This is a time we should work on centering our lives on the central figure in our religion, Jesus Christ.  

 

Consider these words from the Collect:

 

… 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…

 

God is a Triune God; Father, Son, Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost’s job is to open our souls, hearts and minds to God’s Will.  It is to help us see where we are in error and how to fix those errors.  Thus, open our “ears” to His Voice so we can listen and make our improvements based on His Words.  He is there to guide us when we have gone astray from the path. What the Collect asks is we let the Holy Ghost in so He can change us.  Without the Holy Ghost, change is impossible.   Consider this quote from Jack Lewis out of Mere Christianity:

 

“When He said, ‘Be perfect,’ He meant it. He meant that we must go in for the full treatment. It is hard; but the sort of compromise we are all hankering after is harder—in fact, it is impossible. It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”

 

It does not matter if it is hard for us to listen to the Holy Ghost, we must do it.  He is our perfect instructor and if we will listen to Him, God will always provide the light to show us where “We have erred, and strayed from His ways like lost sheep. Where we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. Where we have offended against His holy laws. Where we have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done[1]…”   He will shine His Light onto the dark areas in our heart and souls so we can focus on removing those evil attributes and replacing them with more Godly attributes. We just have to focus on letting Him into our hearts, souls, minds and bodies that he might be able to help us change our course guidance. In order to do that, we can’t resist Him, we have to let Him in. He will not force his way in, He has to be invited in.

 

The Holy Ghost does this this so that we can remain on the course which brings us to His World.  For without that guiding light, we will be forever lost on the path to darkness. He is our infallible navigator/GPS. If we will always rely on Him, He shall never fail us. We more have to worry about failing Him than Him failing us. 

 

Then we can shine that Light for others to see, to lead them to that Light, that they might pick up their torches and bring His Light into the darkness of the world, be it the Western Civilized Word or the Eastern World. First, we have to let His Light into our hearts before we can shine it to others that they may see the works of His Light. We cannot lead others to a Light we do not have within us. So, we must first make sure we have the Light of the Holy Ghost within us before we can think of leadings others to that Light.

 

We must start in our own little corner of the world and work our way outward.  That is the best place to start. We cannot change the whole world at once, but it must be changed by us, individually, one little corner of the world at a time. We are always striving to work towards total transformation of our area to the light. However, we will always find opposition from evil. If evil is thwarting our efforts then we all must put in 110% to stop evil and combat it across the world wherever it is. We must never, never, never, ever give up on this fight. 

 

We must fight evil wherever and whenever we run across it. Evil anywhere is Evil everywhere[2].  We must not let the little and big evils in this life get us down or defeat us. We must rely on the guiding power of the Holy Ghost and God’s unlimited grace to save the day. His Grace can help you out of any horrific situation; only if you ask for and accept His help, which is a universal theme in our sermons here, because it is a truth and one that Jesus preached, that is that we have to accept Him into our hearts, if we are to become truly Christians. 

 

Peter tells us our actions need to be consistent with the principles of Scripture and of Jesus’ message. In short, we need to be good citizens, be good neighbors, take particular care of our Christian family.  In short, do what Christ would do, as far as it is in us. We need to cling to the good and reject the evil thoughts and actions of our old sinful selves.  Let us do our best to think, in hard and trying times, what would Jesus do in our situation, and then act in a manner most like Him. In order to make the world a better place, we first have to start with our selves then work out word, applying the principles of Christ to our lives. God does not ask us to be perfect; He does ask us individually to do our best to try to be perfect, to follow Jesus’ lead to the extent we have it in us.  Each of us is different, some are in truth less bad than others.  God holds us each to the same standard, that is to do our best. 

 

We are not competing against each other. All of us in the Church are on the same team. We are just called to do the best individually for our Team and to stay on that narrow uphill path towards heaven. We are also called to encourage and support each other on that trek on the uphill path towards heaven.

 

In the Gospel according to Saint John, Jesus tells of His impending bodily death and resurrection.    He reminds us if we have eternal life, sorrow, even the sorrow of death is transient, for He has conquered death. It is a very minor thing in the long term view the sorrow of a temporary parting of a loved one. For that is all that is, if we put our trust and hope in God and do our very best to follow Him.  We have to keep this in mind throughout our travel along the straight and narrow upward path. His One Sacrifice, made One Time, for All Mankind, for All Time is that joy that no man can take from us.  But, if we want to share in that eternal life, we need to see the error of our ways in the Light of His Light and take actions to follow Him.

 

Often it seems much easier to take the path of least resistance, to quit our work at the first sign of effort, to goof off when “no one” is looking.  But in the end, the right thing to do is always the easiest, the most profitable.  The one that will result in happiness.  It might seem hard, but it will not be as hard as doing the “easy” thing.

 

The time is now, not tomorrow.  The time has come, indeed.  How will you ACT?

 

It is by our actions we are known.

 

As we go off on our business, please recall this quote from GK Chesterton:

 

Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

---

[1] General Confession – BCP Page 6

[2] Lord of the Rings

Sermon Notes - Third Sunday after Easter - Christ and His Church - Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide - 30 April 2023, Anno Domini

The Third Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

 

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LMIGHTY 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.

 

I

 AM come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. 2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. 5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. 6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is a bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (Song 5:1-6, 14-16)

 

Just as our communion with our Lord began in a garden at Eden, so does our walk with Him as our Bridegroom end in the Garden of the open Tomb.

 

The Song of Solomon is a beautiful story of Christ and His Church. It is written in metaphor and parable. It reveals the intimacy of expression and deep love which Christ has for His Church and which His Church should have for Him.

 

“I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse:” Sadly, we often doubt the presence of Christ with us. He loves His Bride so much, and us individually, that He cannot let us out of His sight. How can we allow His presence to go without acknowledgement. Is it possible, when we need Him most, He is right beside us as He was to Mary Magdalene at the Tomb, the two travelers on the Road to Emmaus, and the fearful disciples aboard the ship on the stormy Galilean Sea? So, He must announce He has come to us! In fact, He often stands at the door and knocks while we remain oblivious to His coming. In speaking to the churches of Revelations, He says, “I stand at the door and knock.” (Rev 3:20). Unfortunately, that places Him OUTSIDE – not INSIDE – the greater number of churches.

 

“I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” He has done all required for the dowry of His Bride. He has received the myrrh of the burial and the sweet spices of His resurrection. Because He has drunk His wine (Cup of Suffering) with His milk (Morning Joy), He insist the entitlement for us to do so as well, for all that is His is all of His Bride’s, too. We are ‘beloved’ to Him. What a special title we have from such an exalted Lord and King.

 

“I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.” The Bride is not so watchful as the Groom. She sleeps while He has suffered the dews of the night. But she does, indeed, hear His Voice and knows the Voice. And the Bride is not only a Bride, but a Sister as well. “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” (Luke 8:21)

 

“I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?” What deplorable excuses the Church makes to cover its unwillingness to bear the cross. It is not convenient! It is not the proper time! I have been sleeping and need rest to regain my bearings? Today’s church is quick to act on matters involving power and pelf, yet slow to do those things necessary to nurture wisdom and knowledge of God in her members. It is a small thing to build a two million dollar Taj Mahal, but quite a burden to put one’s self out to bring the sheaf to the barn.

 

“My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.” He will use His charms and His Spirit to beckon and to lure us and, yet, we still are slow to respond. If we are too slow, He will not linger at the door always. The term ‘bowels’ here is used in the same manner the term ‘heart’ is used today. Our hearts are moved for Him because His heart was first moved for us. “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

 

“I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.” Too slowly does the church arise to open its door to Christ, and too often is Christ OUTSIDE the Church and not INSIDE. (Rev 3:20). Her hands are full of the myrrh of repentance, but the lock of the door is the sin that has kept Him out.

 

“I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.” The Spaniards have a beautiful name and title for Christ: “Jesus es el Senor!” or ‘Jesus is a Gentleman’. And so He is. He does not intrude where He is not welcome. We may avoid Christ to the point that He will not answer without prevailing prayer. She awoke from sleep when He called, else He would have departed for ever. Now she must be chastened for her reluctance to watch and wait.

 

“His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are aspillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.” The precious stones mentioned are those stones of the foundation for New Jerusalem. (Rev 21:19,20) The gold rings are symbols of authority. His is tall and majestic as the Cedars of Lebanon. “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This ismy beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” From His mouth we have heard only kindness and loveliness. He is my Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Pro 18:24)  He is the only One for the Church for there can be no other. She LOVES Him, and so must we all.

 

Perhaps we should stop to consider well what a marvelously wonderful Savior we have. He is madly in love with His Bride, the True Church. Should that love go unrequited by those who are showered with love without merit?