Tag Archives: Easter

May 12, 2013 · 12:00 am

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C

shekinahThe Glory of God

Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26

Jesus prayed that His disciples see His glory:

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.   (John 17:20-24)

To see the glory of Christ is a great gift, but it is not without conditions. One of the difficulties with the lectionary readings is that, on occasion, the authors seem to pick and chose what to emphasize while apparently skipping over more difficult or controversial issues. Let us examine a more complete reading from the Book of Revelation:

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.   (Revelation 22:12-15)

Disciples must wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb of God. This requirement should never be overlooked. But there is a more subtle requirement that seems to escape some of our churches today. The magic arts are ruled out. Witchcraft is a way of seeking spiritual power or experiences that are outside of the blood. There are leaders in the church today who are practicing witchcraft.

We should not be surprised by this. Witchcraft followed the Apostle Paul:

With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.   (Acts 16:16-18)

Witchcraft follows after the Church. Leaders must not allow it in and they must not participate in it themselves. Let us heed the warning of Jesus:

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Behold, I have told you before.   (Matthew 24:24-25)

The glory of God is offered freely to those who believe. Let us not look for shortcuts. We must go to the author and giver of life:

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)

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May 9, 2013 · 12:00 am

Ascension Day, Year C

Above all Rule and Authority

Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47  or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

Perhaps the greatest struggle on this earth is who has the authority. Battles have been fought and lives have been lost over this question. There are those today who question whether or not there should even be an authority. We are living in a time of lawlessness.

The Apostle Paul prayed for the Church in Ephesus that they might know the authority of Christ:

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  (Ephesians 1:17-23)

Whom are we to follow? Whom do we trust? Who is worthy of our praise? Are we open today to the teachings of Jesus?

Jesus said to his disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you– that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”   (Luke 24:44-49)

True disciples of Jesus are open to His teachings. They are  open to His revelations. They are open to His Spirit. Are we?

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”   (Acts 1:3-11)

We need the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. That baptism comes with obedience to the authority of Christ:

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”   (Acts 5:31-32)

What is our witness today? Whom do we obey?

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May 5, 2013 · 12:00 am

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C

new-jerusalem-from-heaven01The New Jerusalem

Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29; or John 5:1-9

In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day– and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.   (Revelation 21:10, 22-27)

The Christian world view and the secular world view are at odds today, but they always have been since the resurrection. For Christians, only Christ can repair a broken world.  Secularists believe that, if the world is broken, man will be able to repair it. For the Christian the return of Jesus is anticipated with great hope. This was true from the beginning of the Church and is true today. In fact, Jesus cautioned that we should live in preparation for His return:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.   (Matthew 24:42-44)

There are no shortages of biblical “scholars” who tell us that the apocalyptic literature of the Bible is just that — literature. It is not to be taken too seriously. They believe that the element of time is on their side. Jesus has not returned yet. A similar theme emerges with the story of creation. The universe has evolved over a long period of time. How long? Well, a very long time. To remove God from the equation the formula requires an extended period of time.

God is involved. He is not removed. He is Immanuel, God with us. The Psalmist wrote:

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide all the nations upon earth.

What is our world view today? Are we anticipating the return of Jesus? Or is our lives not in need of His guidance? If we are hungry for Jesus then we may have a taste of the new Jerusalem in our lives today:

Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  (John 14:23)

Alternative Homily

31-days-18-The-Infirmed-ManDo You Want to be Made Well?

Based on John 5:1-9
 

Jesus asked the paralyzed man at the Sheep Gate a strange question: “Do you want to be made well?” The man had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Why would he not want to get well? Why do I not want to get well?

There are many reasons for not receiving God’s healing. Healing may require some hard work on my part. The paralyzed man answered Jesus question with an excuse:

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”   (John 5:7)

We can sympathize with him but Jesus did more than that. He healed the man but first He required that the man take a bold step:

Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.   (John 5:8-9)

The paralytic had made excuses up to this point but he boldly accepted Jesus challenge. He really wanted to be made well and was able to quickly put the past behind him. How quick would I be to respond to such a bold challenge?

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May 1, 2013 · 12:00 am

St. Philip and St. James

Philip-and-James-615x3591Greater Works Ministry

Isaiah 30:18-21; Psalm 119:33-40; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; John 14:6-14

Today we celebrate the lives and ministries of the Apostles Philip and James. We do not know much about the Apostle James other than he was the brother of the Apostle John. He must have been a disciple of great faith and devotion. When Jesus went up the mount of transfiguration He took with Him Peter, James, and John. When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane he again took with Him Peter, James, and John. James must have been a valuable and trusted disciple.

Let us focus now on the disciple whom seemed to be a skeptic and a little slow in understanding who Jesus was. Philip’s line of questioning could seemingly exhaust the patience of Jesus:

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”   (John 14:8-14)

When the words of Jesus sank in this same Philip became a great evangelist. He began performing the “greater works” which Jesus promised. The signs and wonders he performed made a great impact on the people of Samaria when he preached the word there:

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.   (Acts 8:4-8)

How did the skeptic Philip grow into this powerful ministry? He meditated on the teachings of Jesus. Jesus explained to Philip that the greater works that he was called to do would be accomplished in the same manner as Jesus’ own ministry on earth. Jesus did not do the works. He explained: “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”

Are we ready to step into our place of ministry? We must first step into Jesus and the Father by faith. Then we must receive the promise from the Father which is the Holy Spirit. If a skeptic like Philip could answer the call then why should we remain a skeptic when there is an exciting ministry ahead?

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April 28, 2013 · 12:00 am

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C

globeThe Whole World in His Hands

Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35

Do we define the Church by declaring who should not be included? That was how it was done in Jesus’ day. In His days on earth the Church was Judaism with its temple and synagogues. The church leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, knew who belonged and who did not. Tax collectors were hated and certainly not considered members in good standing. Jesus did not seem to follow their conventions:

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”   (Matthew 9:9-11)

After Jesus’ resurrection Peter had difficulty accepting Gentiles as even prospective members of the Early Church. When the Spirit of God told him not to make a distinction between Jews and Gentiles he had to reevaluate the Church criteria. He was sent to minister to Gentile believers in Caesarea. To the circumcised Jewish believers who criticized him, he offered this explanation:

Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”   (Acts 11:16-18)

Are we members of the one true church today? If so, who defines that church? This is what Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees who claimed that role:

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.   (Matthew 21:42-43)

Do we limit the grace of God by way of our definition of the Church? Isn’t our role to welcome people into the Church?  Before His ascension into heaven Jesus proclaimed:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

Notice that we are to make disciples of those we reach through the Gospel. We, indeed, must teach these disciples to “observe all things that Jesus commanded.” But our evangelism should not begin by disqualifying anyone from the start. Jesus did not do so. Have we eaten with tax collectors and sinners lately? What about anyone from another denomination? The Great commission is not the great omission.

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April 25, 2013 · 12:00 am

Saint Mark, Evangelist

saint-mark-1621Repent and Believe

Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 2 or 2:7-10; Ephesians 4:7-8,11-16 ; Mark 1:1-15  or Mark 16:15-20

The evangelist Mark was a traveling companion of Peter. He recorded Peter’s sermon and later wrote the Gospel of Mark. It is clear that Mark’s Gospel was written by a masterful storyteller. Though short, this Gospel has great impact and meaning. The point of the writing was to win souls for Christ and the kingdom of God. Mark understood the work of an evangelist. In the opening of his Gospel he gets right to the point:

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”  (Mark 1:9-15)

Right from the beginning Mark makes it clear that disciples of Jesus must repent of their sins and believe that God has received them into His kingdom. Repent and believe, these are key ingredients to the Gospel. Mark was willing to risk everything for the sake of telling the Gospel message. Ultimately, he paid the price with his life. What are we willing to risk today?

Jesus said to the apostles, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  (Mark 16:15-20)

Are we prepared to join St. Mark? What will the Lord say about our feet?

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the LORD to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.  (Isaiah 52:7-10)

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