01 November 2007
Patristic Quote of the Day
While natural food is changed into him who feeds on it, and fish and bread and any other kind of food become human blood, here it is entirely opposite. The Bread of Life Himself changes him who feeds on Him and transforms and assimilates him into Himself. As He is the Head and the Heart, we depend on Him for moving and living since He possesses life. --St. Nicholas Cabasilas, *The LIfe in Christ* p. 126
All Saints Day Homily
There are days when the sun shines, the flowers bloom, our hearts swell with joy and we are glad simply to be. But then there are the other days. The gray days. The days when we feel down and discouraged and sometimes defeated. St. John knew something about those gray days. He knew something about being down and discouraged and defeated.
After all, he was sitting alone on an island called Patmos, banished from the company of his beloved churches. He’d seen all of his fellow apostles fall to the sword or flame or cross one by one until he alone was left. He’d seen the bright beginnings of the Church, the excitement of new converts, wither and fade. He’d seen heresies creep into the church right under his nose and he’d fought them every inch of the way, but they kept on coming in. One perversion after another arose to corrupt the simple and glorious Gospel that he had been given to preach. And then there was the persecution - the Roman state didn’t take too kindly to the announcement that there was another King of the world besides Caesar. With an exercise of brute force Rome brought its iron fist crashing down on these little communities of the rival King with the intention of wiping them out once and for all. Hard not to be a little down with all that going on, eh? Especially when it looked very much as though what you’d given your whole life to might not last as long as you lasted.
To such a discouraged disciple, sitting lost and lonely on Patmos, the Lord Jesus sent a series of visions. We call them the Book of Revelation. The visions were meant to put new courage and hope into John, and John by writing them down was to pass that new courage and hope on to others who were struggling like he was, just to hang on, just to make it through another day.
In all of those visions that John was given, none can compare to those moments when the veil of time is drawn back and we are given a glimpse of heaven and of the joys of those who have died trusting in Jesus Christ. The faithful departed loom large in the visions of Revelation. The whole book could be understood as an expansion and elaboration on the famous words of St. Paul: “For I consider the sufferings of the present to be not worth comparing to the surpassing weight of glory that shall be revealed in us.”
In our first reading you saw them before the eyes of your mind. There they were, standing before the throne of the Father and of the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world. They stand before him clad in white, the palm of victory in their hands, and they sing a song that ascribes their salvation solely to their God and to the Lamb. They know they have nothing to boast of on their own. They have only been given to. They know that their robes are white only because they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb - because He bled and died to redeem them and set them free they stand before God holy and pure. They are there always, day and night, never departing from God’s presence, delighting to give him endless liturgy, praise and doxology. God covers them with his tent - that is, they live in His house - and He protects them from all harm and in that act of awesome gentleness, he reaches out his nail-scared hand to wipe away every tear from their eyes. Their sorrows are gone. They have eternal joy.
“Who are they?” asked the Elder. John said in effect, “You tell me.”
The answer was: “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation, the great sorrow.” These are people like you and me. People who have had their share of heart-ache and pain. People who sometimes had to struggle day by day just to hang on and keep going. People for whom faith didn’t come easy. People who struggled to trust in God and to believe that in the midst of their troubles God was still there and still in control and most importantly still loving them, forgiving them, holding them. Yet they hung on, they clung to God’s promises, and found that he was truthful and didn’t let them down. Who are they? Well, among them are those that you have known and loved; fellow sinners who put their hope in Jesus’ words and died. That’s who they are. They’re the Church that Christ has already gathered home. We’re the Church that struggles still. But we’re not two churches: we’re one Church, one communion. As the words of that great hymn we just sang have it: “O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine, yet all are one in Thee for all are Thine. Alleluia. Alleluia.”
That can be a big comfort and encouragement for us. When we gather for worship on Sunday, it’s not just the hundred or so folk in the room that are gathered together. Oh, no! If we only had the eyes to see it, we’d discover that we never gather with less than a few million at a time. Listen to what Hebrews says of it: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks a better word than that of Abel. (Heb 12:22-24).” You have come to all this, the sacred writer reminds the people. So when we gather for worship, it’s never just us in this room. It’s also the angels in heaven, the spirits of the righteous made perfect, that is, the saints in heaven with their blood-washed white robes, and most of all Jesus with His blood, that established the new covenant of forgiveness. We’re always a mega-church when we’re at worship. And the song of those the triumph, the voice of them that feast, gives us the courage and strength to go on, and muddle through, and know that in the end, our God will take us out of the great sorrow and bring us into eternal sunshine, when we will see with our eyes those who have gone before us and we will lift our voices in song with theirs forever.
So today we’re not just remembering those who died in faith. That would be rather sad, don't you think? Today, we’re worshipping with them. At the same throne. Before the same Lord. Surrounded by the same angels. They are indeed the blessed ones to whom all the promises of the beatitudes have been fulfilled. We can’t see them with the eyes of the body yet, but that’s only because our vision is so poor. It’s a reality none the less. Together with them we cry out: "Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb! Amen."
After all, he was sitting alone on an island called Patmos, banished from the company of his beloved churches. He’d seen all of his fellow apostles fall to the sword or flame or cross one by one until he alone was left. He’d seen the bright beginnings of the Church, the excitement of new converts, wither and fade. He’d seen heresies creep into the church right under his nose and he’d fought them every inch of the way, but they kept on coming in. One perversion after another arose to corrupt the simple and glorious Gospel that he had been given to preach. And then there was the persecution - the Roman state didn’t take too kindly to the announcement that there was another King of the world besides Caesar. With an exercise of brute force Rome brought its iron fist crashing down on these little communities of the rival King with the intention of wiping them out once and for all. Hard not to be a little down with all that going on, eh? Especially when it looked very much as though what you’d given your whole life to might not last as long as you lasted.
To such a discouraged disciple, sitting lost and lonely on Patmos, the Lord Jesus sent a series of visions. We call them the Book of Revelation. The visions were meant to put new courage and hope into John, and John by writing them down was to pass that new courage and hope on to others who were struggling like he was, just to hang on, just to make it through another day.
In all of those visions that John was given, none can compare to those moments when the veil of time is drawn back and we are given a glimpse of heaven and of the joys of those who have died trusting in Jesus Christ. The faithful departed loom large in the visions of Revelation. The whole book could be understood as an expansion and elaboration on the famous words of St. Paul: “For I consider the sufferings of the present to be not worth comparing to the surpassing weight of glory that shall be revealed in us.”
In our first reading you saw them before the eyes of your mind. There they were, standing before the throne of the Father and of the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world. They stand before him clad in white, the palm of victory in their hands, and they sing a song that ascribes their salvation solely to their God and to the Lamb. They know they have nothing to boast of on their own. They have only been given to. They know that their robes are white only because they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb - because He bled and died to redeem them and set them free they stand before God holy and pure. They are there always, day and night, never departing from God’s presence, delighting to give him endless liturgy, praise and doxology. God covers them with his tent - that is, they live in His house - and He protects them from all harm and in that act of awesome gentleness, he reaches out his nail-scared hand to wipe away every tear from their eyes. Their sorrows are gone. They have eternal joy.
“Who are they?” asked the Elder. John said in effect, “You tell me.”
The answer was: “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation, the great sorrow.” These are people like you and me. People who have had their share of heart-ache and pain. People who sometimes had to struggle day by day just to hang on and keep going. People for whom faith didn’t come easy. People who struggled to trust in God and to believe that in the midst of their troubles God was still there and still in control and most importantly still loving them, forgiving them, holding them. Yet they hung on, they clung to God’s promises, and found that he was truthful and didn’t let them down. Who are they? Well, among them are those that you have known and loved; fellow sinners who put their hope in Jesus’ words and died. That’s who they are. They’re the Church that Christ has already gathered home. We’re the Church that struggles still. But we’re not two churches: we’re one Church, one communion. As the words of that great hymn we just sang have it: “O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine, yet all are one in Thee for all are Thine. Alleluia. Alleluia.”
That can be a big comfort and encouragement for us. When we gather for worship on Sunday, it’s not just the hundred or so folk in the room that are gathered together. Oh, no! If we only had the eyes to see it, we’d discover that we never gather with less than a few million at a time. Listen to what Hebrews says of it: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks a better word than that of Abel. (Heb 12:22-24).” You have come to all this, the sacred writer reminds the people. So when we gather for worship, it’s never just us in this room. It’s also the angels in heaven, the spirits of the righteous made perfect, that is, the saints in heaven with their blood-washed white robes, and most of all Jesus with His blood, that established the new covenant of forgiveness. We’re always a mega-church when we’re at worship. And the song of those the triumph, the voice of them that feast, gives us the courage and strength to go on, and muddle through, and know that in the end, our God will take us out of the great sorrow and bring us into eternal sunshine, when we will see with our eyes those who have gone before us and we will lift our voices in song with theirs forever.
So today we’re not just remembering those who died in faith. That would be rather sad, don't you think? Today, we’re worshipping with them. At the same throne. Before the same Lord. Surrounded by the same angels. They are indeed the blessed ones to whom all the promises of the beatitudes have been fulfilled. We can’t see them with the eyes of the body yet, but that’s only because our vision is so poor. It’s a reality none the less. Together with them we cry out: "Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb! Amen."
All Saints
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Lucy's Adventure
Well, she's born and bred a hound dog. And a hound dog IS a hound dog. We're out for a walk today and Lucy hunting around in the grass stirred up a cottontail. This was the first time she'd ever even seen a bunny. Off it bounded and we liked to never held onto her. She wanted that rabbit something awful! We tried to walk with her further, but we were literally DRAGGING her because she was only interested in the rabbit. This went on for some time. And then when we tried to go home, she reached the spot where the rabbit bounded up behind a barn and she stopped. Wouldn't go. I ended up picking her up and carrying her. After several hundred yard, I sat her down and tried to get her to move up the road and all she'd do would be to tug at that leash in the other direction. They say dog's can't remember what they don't see. Ahem. Bull twinky. Lucy remembered her first rabbit. And I'll bet she still does.
31 October 2007
New Bishops for Lutheran Latvia
His Grace, Archbishop Vanags (the youngest looking archbishop!) with several assisting bishops consecrates two new bishops for the Lutheran Church in Latvia. My own Synod, the LCMS, is in full fellowship with the Latvian Church.
Bishops
Bishops
Compline
"Before the ending of the day..." Tonight Rebekah joined us for Compline. She'd never attended the service before (how on earth did that happen?), and she was very taken with the beauty of it. I wouldn't be surprised if she showed up again! Mary said on the way out that she would like to end every day like that. I know what she means. It astonishes me no end how it just wipes all the fretting and worrying of the day away in one clean sweep. "...and be our Guard and Keeper now."
Just in CASE
anyone out there wanted to see even MORE wedding pics from Lauren and Dean's wedding, you can! These are from Pastor David Ritoch, who was our professional photographer that day:
More Wedding Pics!
More Wedding Pics!
A Tale of Two Englishmen
I believe it was John Henry Newman who said that to discover history is to cease to be a Protestant.
Nevertheless, sacred doctrine makes use of these authorities as extrinsic and probable arguments; but properly uses the authority of the canonical Scriptures as an incontrovertible proof, and the authority of the doctors of the Church as one that may properly be used, yet merely as probable. For our faith rests upon the revelation made to the apostles and prophets who wrote the canonical books, and not on the revelations (if any such there are) made to other doctors. Hence Augustine says (Epis. ad Hieron. xix, 1): "Only those books of Scripture which are called canonical have I learned to hold in such honor as to believe their authors have not erred in any way in writing them. But other authors I so read as not to deem everything in their works to be true, merely on account of their having so thought and written, whatever may have been their holiness and learning."--Summa Theologia, Part 1, Question 1, Article 8
What is utterly ironic is that at roughly the same time, it was Cardinal Manning (likewise an Englishman) who insisted that we must overcome history by dogma.
Newman believed that history was all on the side of the Roman Church; Manning knew it wasn't. I bring it up because Josh over at Cruising Down the Coast of High Barabee has raised an interesting point about the study of the fathers. The beauty of being a Lutheran and reading them is that one doesn't have to front load them with infallibility or assume that they MUST mean exactly what one's Church at the moment insists that they always DID mean. We can actually hear what they say! We are free to hear them because we happen to agree with Thomas Aquinas - some words from the Summa I posted back in June, but they're worth repeating:
Nevertheless, sacred doctrine makes use of these authorities as extrinsic and probable arguments; but properly uses the authority of the canonical Scriptures as an incontrovertible proof, and the authority of the doctors of the Church as one that may properly be used, yet merely as probable. For our faith rests upon the revelation made to the apostles and prophets who wrote the canonical books, and not on the revelations (if any such there are) made to other doctors. Hence Augustine says (Epis. ad Hieron. xix, 1): "Only those books of Scripture which are called canonical have I learned to hold in such honor as to believe their authors have not erred in any way in writing them. But other authors I so read as not to deem everything in their works to be true, merely on account of their having so thought and written, whatever may have been their holiness and learning."--Summa Theologia, Part 1, Question 1, Article 8
Wednesday
This morning we anticipated All Saints during the chapel. We sang: "Ye Watchers" and I really preached upon that hymn, so that the children (and adults) might realize the great assembly we join with in our worship. We call to the angels - all 12 choirs - and to the Blessed Mother and the Patriarchs and Prophets and the Apostles and the Martyrs and all the saints, to join in the endless song. Or more accurately, to permit us to join with them in praising Father, Son, and Spirit. Hebrews 12 is one powerful passage of Scripture! Each time I hear the children sing Matins it cheers my heart. They sing it so well! "Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: Oh, come, let us worship Him!"
After chapel I hit the road: visited some shutins to bring them the life-giving Body and Blood of the Savior, dropped by the hospital, attended pericopal study, went to lunch, and then came home. I ran down to the Church basement to visit briefly with our Quilters (yes, we still have a cadre of ladies who do as their mothers and grandmothers and greatgrandmothers did and who quilt here at Church each week).
Then when I came home, Lucy looked sad and so I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk. That always perks her right up and she runs to the door. I put her on the big leash and she went chasing all kinds of scents in the ditches. We walked about a mile. So, dear Doctor, see, I AM getting some exercise!
Still ahead is our Old Testament Catechesis and then Compline. Oh, and dinner! Cindi's got a crockpot of chili on and the smell has filled the house and keeps the tummy grumbling. I'll try to settle it with another cup of java. :)
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
We can speak for hours about the Cross, but we shall never know what the Cross of Christ is, until we have become Cross-bearers, until we have learned to lay down our life for others, until we are crucified with Christ. The Cross-bearers are not those who make an easy thing of their religion. -- von Schenk, *The Presence* p. 81
Patristic Quote for the Day
When a man has fallen it is not possible for him to be raised by human power, nor can human evil be destroyed by human righteousness. The commission of sin involves injury to God Himself, for it says, "you dishonor God by breaking the law" (Rom 2:223). There is need of virtue greater than is found in man to be able to cancel the indictment. -- St. Nicholas Cabasilas, *The Life in Christ* p. 117
30 October 2007
Reminder!
For resources on learning Gregorian chant and to hear Pastor Benjamin Mayes chant the whole Psalter and the Canticles, please check out:Lutheran Prayer Brotherhood
I was recently asked why I pray the daily office. My answer?
It provides a disciplined and orderly method for praying, for study of the Scripture, and for offering a sacrifice of praise to God. It has the very best antecedents in Lutheranism and the undivided church. And most of all, I just can't imagine another way to live! It's integral to what I, as a pastor, as one serving in the office of the holy ministry, am called to do.
Pastor Mayes' contribution toward the praying of the Office is a great treasure for our whole Church. Check it out!
David said...
A Hallowed Space
It hangs in the air. You can sense it upon entering the building. Something happens here that doesn't happen everywhere (though it should and it shall). Here is a place of prayer, of sacrifice and praise, of thanksgiving and song, and above all, of the gifts that call all that forth. Every time I enter the nave of St. Paul's it hits me. Silences me. Calls me to stop being trivial and to lift up the heart to God. It's just after five, and time to go over to pray Vespers. There is a remarkable peace that comes from praying in such a hallowed space - the prayers of previous generations swirl around you and you know in a way that defies explanation that you are not alone.
Favorite Season
Have you ever been asked? I never know what to answer. I really love them all. Each in turn. I love the fading afternoon light in the Fall, and the splash of yellow and red against the deep blue of an October sky. Last Sunday as I walked to Church for services, the cows next door were lowing. I thought: "How cool is that!" I love the wind and rain and bare trees of November and the snow and ice that (sometimes) visit us in December and January. Well, I like the ice provided it doesn't take away the electricity! To walk outside to Church on a frosty night and to see my breath and the pulsating stars in the deep sky - beautiful. I especially love it when we have snow at Christmas (who doesn't?). And then with the gradual growth of the light, the trees waking up and stretching their fingers and the first flowers and buds of Spring. Who could not love Spring? Well, I imagine those who suffer from allergies. And then the warm days, the roasting days, the days of floating in the pool or in the ocean, drinking in the the sunlight. Then the grass-hoppers and the katydids. It's all a wonderful round, and when you think of how few times we really get to experience each in a life-time, I am determined to savour each as it comes.
And as if all that were not enough, within the dance of the outside world comes the dance of the Church. To move from Reformation to All Saints and the month of the dead, to sing the hymns of Advent and look forward to Feast of Christmas and the bright shining joy that is Epiphany. To move to the somberness of Lent and the call to struggle against the flesh (again!) and to experience it as sheer liberation. To sit in the silence and darkness before the Cross, before the Love of all loves manifested to us. To ring the rafters with Easter alleluias. And then to celebrate His Ascension and the coming of the Spirit - the beginning of an eternal Springtime. The summer festivals of Trinity, Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Laurence and the falling alseep of the Blessed Virgin. It all rings round and round, dancing around the seasons' change and bringing us closer with each step of the dance to the glorious moment when we will see with our eyes what we have believed in our hearts.
Seasons. In my life, if things go as they often do, I'm on the threshold of Autumn. The Church's cycle prepares me daily to walk into the Autumn and bleak Winter months without needless hankering for Spring and Summer. I know they'll come again.
Joy!
Alfred received the Sacrament today!!! It's been a few months since we've managed it, but today he smiled, prayed much of the Lord's Prayer, said "Amen" at the appropriate spots and opened his mouth to receive his Savior's body and blood. It is always such a joy when he is able to receive! Clara said he looks so sweet when he smiles (and he does). I told her that's what she fell for all those years ago. She laughed.
Some shutins were rather down (I wonder how much is due to the disappearing light) and some seemed as chipper as ever. We watched a squirrel for a while outside of Ella's room absolutely pigging out on the bird feeder just the other side of her window. Really cute, and he could care less that we were there watching him. He was interested in only one thing: eating ALL that food!!! Ella turns 83 tomorrow; I told her she was just a child. :)
It was a blessing to see them all - well, almost all. Two more to visit tomorrow! All these folks with so many reasons to be down, and yet leaning hard on the presence of their Lord, the One who comes to them in His body and blood to strengthen and sustain their faith until He sees fit to bring them home.
Patristic Quote of the Day
But if the life to come were to admit those who lack the faculties and senses necessary for it, it would avail nothing for their happiness, but they would be dead and miserable living in that blessed and immortal world. -- St. Nicholas Cabasilas, *The Life in Christ* p. 43 [with echoes of *The Last Battle* ringing in and the dwarfs who would not be "taken in."]
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
Christ died for the sins of the world. The Resurrection, then, was the Absolution for the world, the liberation of the world from the bondage of sin, the emancipation of a sin-enslaved humanity. The Resurrection is our Absolution, our triumph, as Paul writes: "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." - von Schenk, *The Presence* pp. 98,99
29 October 2007
Never Ceases to Amaze Me
...the time and effort members of the parish pour into various aspects of our ministry that they totally believe in. I was at our Daycare meeting tonight. The dedication of the board blows me away. They are not only ready to meet for long hours each month, but to do so much to make the outreach to the children of our community a priority in their lives. Thank God for all of them - especially for our chair, Bonnie. And thanks be to God for Terri, our director. What an opportunity to reach these young lives and touch them with a love that can truly transform them. Glory to God in the highest!
A Cover that Says It All
Pastor Asburry sent me this photo of his copy of The Presence that arrived today. Yup. The artist definitely understood what the book was preaching!
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