"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3: 5-8
Makes sense to me.
Fr. Michael+
Monday, August 19, 2013
Sermon from 13 Pentecost - August 18, 2013
Someone told me after Mass, "Wow, you went all in today, Father." I think that is a good review.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Not So Random Bible Verse(s) of the Day
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15)
Jesus the Cause of Division
"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Luke 12: 49-53
Sometimes we disagree. Look at the political landscape of our country today, and it quickly becomes clear that we are divided quite evenly along party lines. Among families, among friends, there is disagreement over any number of political problems and their possible solutions. Jesus acknowledges in the closing verses of this chapter of Luke that he will divide friends and families. Those who follow him will often be placed in opposition to others who reject Christ. Among the Jews, Christians will eventually be thrown out of the Temple and the Synagogues, and family members will be rejected and persecuted for proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah. In today's world, we are still faced with a division. Today, Christians who reject the false gods of the secular world and seek to live according to their tradition and their Faith are often criticized, and maligned. In some parts of the world, they are persecuted and martyred for their faith. We must not shy away from that division. It is acceptable, even mandatory, to stand in opposition to the evil that permeates the world and threatens to ensnare and beguile us; even when that is uncomfortable and difficult.
Fr. Michael+
Jesus the Cause of Division
"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Luke 12: 49-53
Sometimes we disagree. Look at the political landscape of our country today, and it quickly becomes clear that we are divided quite evenly along party lines. Among families, among friends, there is disagreement over any number of political problems and their possible solutions. Jesus acknowledges in the closing verses of this chapter of Luke that he will divide friends and families. Those who follow him will often be placed in opposition to others who reject Christ. Among the Jews, Christians will eventually be thrown out of the Temple and the Synagogues, and family members will be rejected and persecuted for proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah. In today's world, we are still faced with a division. Today, Christians who reject the false gods of the secular world and seek to live according to their tradition and their Faith are often criticized, and maligned. In some parts of the world, they are persecuted and martyred for their faith. We must not shy away from that division. It is acceptable, even mandatory, to stand in opposition to the evil that permeates the world and threatens to ensnare and beguile us; even when that is uncomfortable and difficult.
Fr. Michael+
Friday, August 16, 2013
Random Bible Verse(s) for the Day
"Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake." Dt 15: 10
This is strictly speaking not a random verse because it is one that appears in the e-mail newsletter that I received today from Operation Christmas Child of Northwest Louisiana. We are three months away from collection week, November 18-25. That means that we need to start focusing on collecting our items and planning our packing parties. I am thinking that our first packing party should be in mid-October. I'll finalize that date and announce it in the coming week. I am also thinking about ways to use Halloween as a way to collect and pack shoe boxes. Anyone with ideas about that should let me know.
If you are not familiar with Operation Christmas Child, or would like more information about it or Samaritan's Purse, please check out Operation Christmas Child
Fr. Michael+
This is strictly speaking not a random verse because it is one that appears in the e-mail newsletter that I received today from Operation Christmas Child of Northwest Louisiana. We are three months away from collection week, November 18-25. That means that we need to start focusing on collecting our items and planning our packing parties. I am thinking that our first packing party should be in mid-October. I'll finalize that date and announce it in the coming week. I am also thinking about ways to use Halloween as a way to collect and pack shoe boxes. Anyone with ideas about that should let me know.
If you are not familiar with Operation Christmas Child, or would like more information about it or Samaritan's Purse, please check out Operation Christmas Child
Fr. Michael+
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Random Bible Verse(s) of the Day
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love;
according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight,
so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgement.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Psalm 51: 1-5
The Forgiveness of Sins
Even now, however, the angels are in concord with us when our sins are forgiven. So in our confession of faith the forgiveness of sins comes next in order after mention of the holy Church. It is because of this that the Church on earth stands, because of this that what was lost is found and does not perish. With the exception of the gift of baptism, which has been given to us against original sin, so that what was contracted through birth might be taken away through rebirth - and it also takes away actual sins which it finds to have been committed whether in the heart or the mouth or in deed - with the exception of this great forgiveness, the beginning of man's regeneration in which all guilt whether inborn or acquired is removed, the rest of our life once we have come to the age when we can use our reason, however rich it may be in fruits of justice, is not lived without forgiveness of sins, since God's children, for as long as they live this mortal life, are in conflict with death. The Augustine Catechism: The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Love; St. Augustine of Hippo, section 64.
according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight,
so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgement.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Psalm 51: 1-5
The Forgiveness of Sins
Even now, however, the angels are in concord with us when our sins are forgiven. So in our confession of faith the forgiveness of sins comes next in order after mention of the holy Church. It is because of this that the Church on earth stands, because of this that what was lost is found and does not perish. With the exception of the gift of baptism, which has been given to us against original sin, so that what was contracted through birth might be taken away through rebirth - and it also takes away actual sins which it finds to have been committed whether in the heart or the mouth or in deed - with the exception of this great forgiveness, the beginning of man's regeneration in which all guilt whether inborn or acquired is removed, the rest of our life once we have come to the age when we can use our reason, however rich it may be in fruits of justice, is not lived without forgiveness of sins, since God's children, for as long as they live this mortal life, are in conflict with death. The Augustine Catechism: The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Love; St. Augustine of Hippo, section 64.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Random Bible Verse(s) of the Day
"The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head, and will seat him among the great. Do not praise a man for his good looks, nor loathe a man because of his appearance. The bee is small among flying creatures, but her product is the best of sweet things. Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, nor exalt yourself in the day that you are honored; for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works are concealed from men. Many kings have had to sit on the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown. Many rulers have been greatly disgraced, and illustrious men have been handed over to others." Sirach 11: 1-6
Watch out Hollywood and Washington D.C.
Fr. Michael+
Watch out Hollywood and Washington D.C.
Fr. Michael+
Monday, August 12, 2013
Random Bible Verse(s) for the Day
"Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household; and if the household is too small for a lamb, then a man and his neighbor next to his house shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you shall take it from the sheep or from the goats; and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in the evening. Then they shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them." Exodus 12: 3-7
The blood of the lamb that was slain on the night of the Passover protected the people of Israel from the final, and most gruesome, of the plagues to strike Egypt. The Angel of Death passed over the houses of the faithful because the doorposts and lintels were washed in the blood of the lamb. We who are washed in the Blood of the Lamb of God receive the same gift. Death has no dominion over us; and we shall be afraid.
Just a thought.
Fr. Michael+
The blood of the lamb that was slain on the night of the Passover protected the people of Israel from the final, and most gruesome, of the plagues to strike Egypt. The Angel of Death passed over the houses of the faithful because the doorposts and lintels were washed in the blood of the lamb. We who are washed in the Blood of the Lamb of God receive the same gift. Death has no dominion over us; and we shall be afraid.
Just a thought.
Fr. Michael+
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Not So Random Bible Verse(s) for the Day
12 Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 14
"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of he-goats." Isaiah 1: 11
Isaiah was called by God to be a prophet to the leaders and the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. When the united kingdom divided following the death of Solomon, the people of the Israel were cut-off from the Temple in Jerusalem in Judah. Therefore, they began to sacrifice at the ancient holy place of Bethel and at the a place in Dan, both places adorned by order of the king with a golden calf. What was the greatest sin of Israel? They did not worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They instead worshiped idols and the Ba'als of the people of the land. God does not want empty sacrifices offered to lifeless idols. He wants his people to worship HIM. More importantly, he wants his people to know him and follow him because it is right to do so.
"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil. learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow." Isaiah 1: 16-17
Friday, August 9, 2013
Random Bible Verse(s) of the Day
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a sham even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.'" Ephesians 5: 11-14
Notes from my Bible:
5: 14 - awake O sleeper: Possibly an excerpt from an ancient baptismal hymn. it resonates with the surrounding themes of light, symbolic of purity and truth, and darkness, symbolic f sin and ignorance (5: 7-13). The summons to 'arise from the dead' is a call to break away from the sinful world and live as children of light (5: 7-8; 2 Cor 6: 14).
Fr. Michael+
Notes from my Bible:
5: 14 - awake O sleeper: Possibly an excerpt from an ancient baptismal hymn. it resonates with the surrounding themes of light, symbolic of purity and truth, and darkness, symbolic f sin and ignorance (5: 7-13). The summons to 'arise from the dead' is a call to break away from the sinful world and live as children of light (5: 7-8; 2 Cor 6: 14).
Fr. Michael+
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Rector's Article from the August Newsletter
We Shall Study God’s Word Together
One of my very good friends at seminary came up with a brilliant description of how the Church should relate to the secular world. He said that the Church is supposed to be a thermostat not a thermometer. In other words, the Church is not supposed to merely measure the temperature or condition of the world, like the thermometer that mom puts in the mouth of a sick child to gauge the amount of fever present; rather, the Church’s role is to impact society and influence its condition much like the thermostat in our houses makes it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In short, do we affect the world, or does the world affect us?
How then do we do that? We start with each of us and where we place our priorities. We start by committing ourselves to not only study but to live in the Word of God. We commit ourselves to know God better so that when we come together as a community of believers to worship God in the Mass, we know who we are worshiping, and, more importantly, he knows us! In order to do this, there will be some changes made in the way we gather to study and know God.
September 8, the first Sunday after Labor Day, will mark the beginning of a renewed emphasis on how we study and live the Word of God. This will involve a few major changes in the way that we do our Sunday Bible Study. Most significantly, Sunday School will be a family affair. We will unite as a church family of many different ages and experiences to hear, discuss and be challenged by Holy Scripture.
At 8:55 a full breakfast of eggs, meat, biscuits, fruit and beverages will be served the first Sunday of every month. Continental breakfasts will be served every other Sunday. At 9:15 am, we will begin our weekly Sunday Bible Study with prayer, and we praise God with hymns or worship songs. Following the announcements, I will then lead the Bible Study which will use St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians as the central fixture of a broader study of how we are to live as Christians in the modern world. There will be time for discussion, and significant time devoted to prayer: intercessory prayer for each other, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of supplication or whatever the body of Christ gathered together feels called upon to offer to God. Then we celebrate the presence of God in our midst with Mass at 10:30 am.
Yes, Mass will be at 10:30. Our renewed focus on Sunday School necessitates having more time between the services on Sunday so that we can do justice to our study and then to our worship. In order to do this, beginning on September 8, the time of the Principal Mass on Sunday will be moved from 10:00 am to 10:30 am. This will hopefully give more time for study and fellowship, both integral parts of our common life together.
Two thousand years ago, a group of dedicated believers set out to change the world. They did. Today, we are called to continue that commission, and we do so with the same tools that they used: The Word of God, the Real Presence of Christ in our Celebration of the Mass and the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit within us. To be effective, we must immerse ourselves in his Word; we must unite at the Altar of Christ as one and we must be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit and all the possibilities he brings. I hope that our renewed emphasis on the study of God’s Word will excite and challenge the people of Christ Memorial and provide a means to bring new families into our church. God is calling us to greater things, and this, I’m convinced, is how we are going to heed his call.
Fr. Michael+
Random Bible Verse(s) of the Day
Sacrifices Well-Pleasing to God
From the Notes in my Bible:
13: 4 - "the marriage bed": Prohibits every form of sexual immorality inside (e.g. adultery) and outside (e.g. fornication) the boundaries of lawful wedlock. This standard of chastity applies to the married and unmarried alike.
13: 5 - "love of money": A deadly vice that, left unchecked, can destroy our hope of salvation (Mt 6: 24; 19: 23).
Give up the idols. Fornication (sex outside of marriage) and adultery (sex with someone other than one's spouse) are both forms of idolatry. It is a disordered worship of a God given aspect of our humanity. Money becomes an idol and a controlling factor in our lives when we forget that God provides for us, and we instead worship the coin of the realm as the provider of our needs and source of our happiness.
Just a thought.
Fr. Michael+
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
From the Mouths of Babes
This is an article of mine that appears in this week's edition of The Enterprise and Interstate Progress.
The Mouths of Babes
Recently, at our Wednesday night Bible Study, we
considered why it was important for us, the followers of Jesus Christ, to spend
time studying Holy Scripture. On the
face of it, this seems a very simplistic question, but it is one that is still
worth asking. Maybe it would help to
rephrase the question: With all the
distractions and temptations of the world around us, and the obligations of
work and family that occupy so much of our time, why should we make Bible study
a priority?
As we went around the room, the answers given were
accurate and appropriate and heartfelt.
“Because it brings us closer to God,” said one person. “Because the Bible teaches us how we are
supposed to live and relate to each other as well as God,” said another. “Reading it deepens our faith,” said
another. “Because the more time we spend
in the Word the more we want to be in the Word and to know God better,” came
and excellent answer. All these are
absolutely true and excellent reasons, but then we got the one that really hit
the nail on the head: “Because God wants us to!”
We need only look at the natural world and study the way
the universe works to realize the existence of a creator. The complexity and the beauty of the world
point directly to God. Modern science
has peered into the deepest recesses of space and time and concludes that
everything had a point of origin but those who are honest and humble also
recognize that something or someone made something out of nothing The
chances that the complexity of life on our planet could come about merely by a
series of random mutations and accidental combinations of organic chemicals are
so remote as to be ridiculous.
Therefore, there must be a creator; there must be a God.
We might not doubt his existence, but what do we know
about him or his intentions for his creations?
That’s where the Bible comes into play.
The Bible is a collection of inspired documents, written by man under
the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It solves the problem of how we are to know
God because it is his revelation of himself to his people. In Holy Scripture, God tells us who he is. He shows us his intentions for his people:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Why should we make reading the Bible a priority in our
lives? Because that is how God reveals
himself to us. God wants us to know him
and his plan for us. In short, God wants
us to.
By the way, the answer “Because God wants us to” was
given by a 7 year old. Truly words of
wisdom from the mouths of babes.
Fr. Michael+
Open Again for Business
I have decided to resurrect (overt Christian overtone) this blog after too long a time away. I hope to post to it regularly, and maybe even to have others from Christ Memorial posting as well. The posts might be cute, deep and inspiring or topical and possibly snarky.
Enjoy!
Fr. Michael+
Enjoy!
Fr. Michael+
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