tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125436132024-03-07T08:59:38.268-05:00Heaven and EarthJust a simple parish priest who believes that we are all one in Christ whatever race, ethnicity, class, gender or orientation. An advocate for the poor, the middle class, that the working people. It is time for us to rise up and fight back against the greed of the rich the super rich and the multi-nationals who seek to rob the people of our place in the sun"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.comBlogger533125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-63731243769190686822023-08-23T15:22:00.000-04:002023-08-23T15:22:42.350-04:00Toward a Vision for the Future of EDS<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Toward a Vision for The Future of The Episcopal Divinity School</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXrWetXfYeZCDxG6PIPgkmnC2jqLKhKaOCCJKbaB23_XLEOuQnVvDZWYsk2a_sbn9RypnUKr0YRby0h4DSsIa-UW3FX6GEz7yjyxpkFECuw_5ZLvOrwIYcgbtizA5h96d6TGufoIVDmjLXU4SFj9bv-szO8UlsnxDbJ7wmGKzKRXOAKA7EO1i2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXrWetXfYeZCDxG6PIPgkmnC2jqLKhKaOCCJKbaB23_XLEOuQnVvDZWYsk2a_sbn9RypnUKr0YRby0h4DSsIa-UW3FX6GEz7yjyxpkFECuw_5ZLvOrwIYcgbtizA5h96d6TGufoIVDmjLXU4SFj9bv-szO8UlsnxDbJ7wmGKzKRXOAKA7EO1i2" width="240" /></a></div><br /><b style="text-align: left;">Historic Context</b><p></p><p>Throughout our history as The Episcopal Divinity School in Philadelphia, The Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge and the The Episcopal Divinity in Cambridge and then at Union in New York City, we were an educational institution located within the fabric of treasured buildings. The cost of maintaining these buildings as part of the cost of theological formation has become unsustainable. By some estimates the cost per student can be as much as $90,000 per year. A disproportionate amount of that cost is in the bricks and mortar and not in the formation and education. </p><p>The sudden and catastrophic onset of the COVID epidemic taught us that it was not only possible to function without bricks and mortar, it was necessary. Other colleges and enterprises have learned the same lesson. Leslie College has now placed the buildings it brought from us in Cambridge on sale. It seems they too found the cost of these buildings prohibitive. </p><p>Demographically we remain a predominantly white wealthy, upper middle and middle class institution while our church and the communities in which we serve are rapidly changing. We are called to serve a much more diverse and inclusive demographic. Without regard to race, gender identity, class, ethnicity, language or nationality (or any other human category we humans can invent), we need to be a faith community that values all without systemic bias.</p><p>The demographic fact is that we are a product of white middle and upper class white privilege. If we continue along this track then we are perpetuating structural racism within the institutional enterprise of theological formation.</p><p>We cannot rectify this situation unless we do so systemically and intentionally. </p><p><b>Historic Opportunity</b></p><p>Many business enterprises such as Amazon have taught us that we can jettison bricks and mortar and become more nimble at redesigning and reimagining the theological enterprise. For the first time in our history we are free from the institutional boundaries of the overhead costs of many institutions. We have no buildings to pay for. We have very little overhead. We have an endowment of $80,000,000+ to provide for the theological enterprise. We are as free and as creative as our imagination will allow to be.</p><p>For instance, imagine a theological enterprise where the cost of formation and education would be just that. We no longer operate under the constraint of the costs of bricks and mortar and other overhead. We are free to offer a theological education in which the cost is for education and education alone.</p><p>Nor are we constrained by geography. We need not require folks to come to a particular place for three years to earn an MDiv for instance. Nor do we need to have laity attend classes in a particular place for theological formation. Using the EFM model of education from Sewanee various satellite gatherings throughout the United States and elsewhere for that matter can gather in person or via Zoom to engage in theological formation. </p><p><b>Purpose Statement</b></p><p>The School we seek to establish will exist to incarnate the struggle for Justice <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>1. Based on the systemic dismantling of racism and white supremacy. </p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2. Eliminating bias based on gender, sexual orientation and identity</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3. Eliminating bias based Class and economic status, language, ethnicity and <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>nationality</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4. A renewed commitment to the care and stewardship of our God’s Creation <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>through Environmental advocacy and service. </span></p><p><b>Academics</b> </p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All members of the church are ministers. Most seminaries have effective programs like Sewanee with Education for Ministry. This program has taken root especially in the Diocese of Massachusetts. An effective and articulate laity is essential for the church to carry out our mission. </p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ordination Track: Before we became privileged white folks with sufficient wealth to build schools with bricks and mortar we were like plumbers and electricians. We learned our trade through apprenticeship programs. I imagine Bishops might assign what we used to call “postulants” to clergy in the diocese as approved by Standing Committees and Commissions on Ministry. Note: God’s call does not always conform to formal diocesan structures. Part of our responsibility as a school is to discern God’s call with those seeking to respond faithfully. The Scripture is full of examples in which human discernment is not always congruent with God’s. A good school will be watchful for the God’s activity outside of human structures.</span></p><p>Another example of effective ministry formation is the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, “theological education for all people” </p><p>https://www.bishopkemperschool.org/</p><p><span style="white-space: normal; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><b>Faculty:</b> </p><p>The faculty be a hybrid collaboration of full time and part-time academics in various settings</p><p>We will probably need a full time base staff of Dean and support staff. </p><p><span style="white-space: normal;">We will likely recruit Adjunct faculty. The church has many brilliant academics working in various settings throughout the church.</span></p><p><b>Faculty & Student Body:</b></p><p>Under the old model of education the faculty and student body were required to located geographically in one place composed of bricks and mortar. For students a professional MDiv degree required a three year period of study. The demographics of this model predisposed EDS to be predominantly white and upper middle class. Likewise the cost of providing a full time faculty in this model is prohibitively expensive. </p><p>What if we dispense with the requirement of sustaining ourselves with the bricks and mortar. Perhaps a hybrid model for education could permit more direct and individual relational learning in which a student and a faculty member could form a more direct relationship. “Classwork” could be via Zoom. Some arrangement could be made to have face to face contact throughout an academic career in a way that would be more sustainable financially both for the institution and the student. </p><p><b>Accreditation</b> </p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>EDS at Union is still listed by the American Association of Theological Schools as fully accredited. </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How we provide for ongoing Accreditation has yet to be determined. </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We are not the only Theological school reimagining the enterprise of <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Theological Education and Formation. </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I imagine an ongoing conversation with the American Association of <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Theological Schools to determine what accreditation might look like under new models that are emerging</span></p><p><b>Courses of Study</b></p><p>I'd like to leave this to brighter minds than mine. One of the purposes for our year of listening is to imagine, dream and be creative. That's where all of you fine folks come in. Please feel free to speak as our EDS leadership folk listen. </p><p><b>Board of Trustees</b></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It might be helpful to the wider support and investment in the Theological <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>enterprise if The Board of Trustees would issue an Annual Report to all Stakeholders; i</span>ncluding Faculty, Students, and Alumni, congregations and dioceses who support the school.</p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To maintain a high degree of confidence and trust candor and transparency are necessary</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Election of Trustees: Stakeholders shall have an opportunity to nominate and participate in the election of trustees much in the same way as stock holders in a corporation</span></p><p><b>Scholarship Funds</b> </p><p>Among the funds we may seek to establish might be as follows</p><p><span> </span>The Trustees Fund?</p><p><span> </span>The Alumi Fund?</p><p><span> </span>The Jonathan Daniels Fund?</p><p><b>Admissions</b></p><p>Lots of thought needs to go into this. Again we need to overcome our biases as a predominantly white middle class/upper middle class demographic. We need to recruit folks into ministry who reflect the fullness of our human diversity. </p><p>Google Workspace for Education offers a technology that can be used very effectively for our purposes.</p><p><span style="white-space: normal;">Each student needs access to high speed internet and a Google Chromebook at the very minimum.</span></p><p><b>Summary</b></p><p>The above represents a brainstorming of opportunities of how we might about theological education and formation as we build toward a new future. </p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-3412586832565037312023-01-08T16:40:00.000-05:002023-01-08T16:40:07.033-05:00So Many Baptisms<p> <b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">First Sunday after the Epiphany</b></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>The Baptism of our Lord</b></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>So Many Baptisms!</b></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAfmzChEPyLqvO92jXxYg_WAHsE4sp-a03go0b6u-1E8CQvx3GmG9K3HrUF6ov9pXrNjP1R4MXG_PSvavB3N5Sin7XsXD-loNZrFoaeOc7FrkjF11ENb1DaGTrCekjfDDsh8QNIo37t2fzGGQDeol0ju6LI1jnS9_rv4oNaKyQ8jZLJyKuiA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAfmzChEPyLqvO92jXxYg_WAHsE4sp-a03go0b6u-1E8CQvx3GmG9K3HrUF6ov9pXrNjP1R4MXG_PSvavB3N5Sin7XsXD-loNZrFoaeOc7FrkjF11ENb1DaGTrCekjfDDsh8QNIo37t2fzGGQDeol0ju6LI1jnS9_rv4oNaKyQ8jZLJyKuiA" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What a joy it is to be here with the beloved of God. Jack, thank you so much for this invitation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Last Sunday you folks had 8 Baptisms. On "la dia de los reyes" there were 3 more. It is as though Jack Clark and Angela Soto and all the rest of you have become a kind of Pied Piper to the whole Merrimack Valley. It is fitting therefore that we have so many Baptisms because today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When Jesus came to the River Jordan to be Baptized, John objected;<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> “</span>I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus recognizes the place of John in God’s Great Salvation Plan and said; <span class="s1" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At that moment something happened to Jesus that defies human language to describe. As today’s Gospel says; “when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, <span class="s1" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’”</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Imagine being there. Well, here we are right now in the company of God in the Person of Jesus at this altar rail and in communion with one another. This is Jesus. Make no mistake, this is God’s Son. Right here. Right now. You and I are Jesus now. And what do I see when I encounter Jesus?</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When I look at the manger, what do I see, I see the love of God made flesh and blood. When I see him heal the sick? Visit the poor and the outcast? Teach us on the hillsides of Galilee? When I look upon the cross. What do I see? I see the love of God made flesh and blood.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In today’s first lesson the Scripture describes who Jesus is for us; “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And what did I see when I watched the Baptisms last Sunday? Or Friday evening? I saw a family’s love in getting all excited about going to church all dressed up for God. I can imagine the hastiness of all the preparations, just like when I was a lad and my grandmother fussed over me to get me ready for church; “Hurry you’re going to be late!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But there you all were, gathered around the Baptismal font. All beaming with joy, proud as punch, brim full with hope for your children, dressed to the 9’s. What do I see when I look at you, but the love of God made flesh and blood. In all of us who are blessed to be witnesses of the power of God who makes all things new.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Who then are you in your Baptism?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Class? Listen up. What does the Catechism say?</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A child of God</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A member of Christ</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>An inheritor of the kingdom of heaven</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God it? Repeat that with me</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Who am I?</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A child of God<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A member of Christ</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>An inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And one more time;</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A child of God<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A member of Christ</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>An inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Because Jesus loves you. You receive new life. All your sins are forgiven and you receive eternal life.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When we live in Jesus we become truly free again. Because now we can live the life of Jesus. We can tend to the sick and to the poor like Jesus did. We can extend our arms of love to the outcast and the marginalized like Jesus did. We can work to set the prisoner free and bring freedom and justice to the oppressed just like Jesus did. Now we can proclaim the Gospel and tell the story.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In other words you become the church; the Body of Christ.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As Terese of Avila said in her prayer;</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yours are the hands.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yours are the feet.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yours are the eyes.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You are his body.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ has no body now but yours.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Look at you! You are Christ’s Body, the Church. Behold God’s forgiven forgivers. God’s reconciled reconcilers. God’s beloved who love the world!</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Is it easy to love the world? Is it easy to love everyone in it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Good heavens, can you even get along with everyone in your family? Like your brothers and your sisters? It is not easy when you have brothers like I have!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Conflict, sometimes hatred and even warfare are all real human realities.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But so is the love of God made flesh and blood in Jesus. And that’s why Jesus was Baptized in the River Jordan by John on this day. And that’s why Jesus requires us to be Baptized. God seeks to make the whole world new again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And the message of the Gospel? Peter summed it up in his first Easter sermon.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who loves God and does what is right is acceptable to him.” That means anyone. Whatever nationality, language, race; rich or poor, male or female or whatever gender description, whoever you are you are one with each other in Christ Jesus. Because “God shows no partiality.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Therefore take heart and be of good courage. It is the Great Feast Day of the Baptism of our Lord. In all the days of our Baptism may we pray with Teresa of Avila</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Let nothing disturb you, </p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let nothing frighten you, </p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All things are passing away: </p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God never changes. </p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Patience obtains all things</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Whoever has God lacks nothing; </p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God alone suffices.”</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God, the Most Holy Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYMG_gGXpgLQZ8234WKNCWLFC9bvcZ5si7NzK0QS4dt7J3rqlVj4Wfh8rwQ51cFBJf71JMVwe9-I8v6vapRsYCnl-CociCltot12rdUfoZh1-llDQiwB0BWPd6wStP6lRmdREg1z8PWuLkLr34SiqThEZ4rUF6LjuysqqGxCkVl74nBQE8bA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYMG_gGXpgLQZ8234WKNCWLFC9bvcZ5si7NzK0QS4dt7J3rqlVj4Wfh8rwQ51cFBJf71JMVwe9-I8v6vapRsYCnl-CociCltot12rdUfoZh1-llDQiwB0BWPd6wStP6lRmdREg1z8PWuLkLr34SiqThEZ4rUF6LjuysqqGxCkVl74nBQE8bA" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Isaiah 42:1-9</b></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations</span>. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness</span>. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm: Psalm 29</b></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *<br /> ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.<br />Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *<br /> worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.<br /><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;<br /> the God of glory thunders;</span> *<br /> the Lord is upon the mighty waters.<br /><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *<br /> the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.<br />The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *<br /> the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;<br />He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *<br /> and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.<br />The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;<br /> the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *<br /> the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.<br />The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *<br /> and strips the forests bare.<br />And in the temple of the Lord *<br /> all are crying, </span><span class="s3" style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">Glory!”<br /></span>The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *<br /> the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.<br />The Lord shall give strength to his people; *<br /> the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Second Lesson: Acts 10:34-43</b></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">Then Peter began to speak to them: </span><span class="s3" style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.</span> You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.</span> That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. </span>He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”</p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17</b></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him</span>, saying, <span class="s1" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, <span class="s1" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw<span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;"> the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, </span><span class="s3" style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff045;">This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased</span>.”</p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Primer domingo después de la Epifanía</b></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>El Bautismo de nuestro Señor</b></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>¡Tantos Bautismos!</b></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAPlkA1k9OvEn9Jv9c3UawSkqoJB3aldX7aJ7ghDlELzawE0-eJll-kt0a1KH91Bc7QlIzdRiLctjWchpGDJz7h6u-_osbOarzFNaftfRid1mC3Eip735ovwFKU3NQP_Kwe9TLmTTevM97mrqsiZUF9MMdZ1F21fP21P6k8zwSViM7zdl-gw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAPlkA1k9OvEn9Jv9c3UawSkqoJB3aldX7aJ7ghDlELzawE0-eJll-kt0a1KH91Bc7QlIzdRiLctjWchpGDJz7h6u-_osbOarzFNaftfRid1mC3Eip735ovwFKU3NQP_Kwe9TLmTTevM97mrqsiZUF9MMdZ1F21fP21P6k8zwSViM7zdl-gw" width="180" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><br /><br /></b></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px;">Qué alegría es estar aquí con los amados de Dios. Jack, muchas</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">gracias por esta invitación.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">El domingo pasado ustedes tuvieron 8 bautismos. En el día de</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">los reyes había 3 más. Es como si Jack Clark y Angela Soto y</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">todos los demás se hubieran convertido en una especie de</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">flautistas de Hamelín para todo el valle de Merrimack. Conviene</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">pues que hayamos tenido tantos Bautismos porque hoy</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">celebramos el Bautismo de Jesús.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Cuando Jesús vino al río Jordán para ser bautizado, Juan objetó;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">“Necesito ser bautizado por ti, ¿Y tú vienes a mí?” Pero Jesús</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">reconoce el lugar de Juan en el Gran Plan de Salvación de Dios</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">y dijo; “Que así sea ahora; porque nos conviene de esta manera</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">cumplir toda justicia.”</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">En ese momento algo le sucedió a Jesús que desafía el lenguaje</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">humano para describir. Como dice el evangelio de hoy; “Cuando</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Jesús hubo sido bautizado, apenas subía del agua, de repente se</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">le abrieron los cielos y vio al Espíritu de Dios que descendía</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">como paloma y se posaba sobre él. Y una voz del cielo dijo:</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">“Este es mi Hijo, el Amado, en quien tengo complacencia.”</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Imagina estar allí. Bueno, aquí estamos ahora mismo en la</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">compañía de Dios en la Persona de Jesús en este altar y en</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">comunión unos con otros. Este es Jesús. No se equivoquen, este</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">es el Hijo de Dios. Aquí mismo. Ahora mismo. Tú y yo somos</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Jesús ahora. ¿Y qué veo cuando me encuentro con Jesús?</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Cuando miro al pesebre, qué veo, veo el amor de Dios hecho</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">carne y sangre. ¿Cuando lo veo sanar a los enfermos? ¿Visitas a</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">los pobres y a los marginados? ¿Enseñarnos en las laderas de</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Galilea? Cuando miro la cruz. ¿Que es lo que veo? Veo el amor</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">de Dios hecho carne y sangre.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">En la primera lección de hoy, la Escritura describe quién es</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Jesús para nosotros; “Aquí está mi siervo, a quien yo sostendré,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">mi escogido, en quien mi alma se complace; he puesto mi</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">espíritu sobre él; traerá justicia a las naciones.”</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¿Y qué vi cuando vi los Bautismos el domingo pasado? O el</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">viernes por la tarde? Vi el amor de una familia al emocionarse</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">por ir a la iglesia vestidos para Dios. Puedo imaginarme la prisa</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">de todos los preparativos, como cuando yo era niño y mi abuela</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">me mimaba para prepararme para ir a la iglesia; &quot;¡Date prisa que</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">vas a llegar tarde!&quot;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Pero allí estabais todos, reunidos alrededor de la pila bautismal.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Todos radiantes de alegría, orgullosos como un puñetazo,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">rebosantes de esperanza para sus hijos, vestidos formales. Qué</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">veo cuando los miro, sino el amor de Dios hecho carne y sangre.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">En todos los que somos bendecidos por ser testigos del poder de</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Dios que hace nuevas todas las cosas.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¿Quién eres entonces en tu Bautismo?</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¿Clase? Escuchen. ¿Qué dice el Catecismo?</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">soy</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">un hijo de Dios</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Un miembro de Cristo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Un heredero del reino de los cielos</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Dios eso? repite eso conmigo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¿Quién soy?</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">soy</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">un hijo de Dios</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Un miembro de Cristo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Un heredero del reino de los cielos.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Y una vez más;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">soy</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">un hijo de Dios</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Un miembro de Cristo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Un heredero del reino de los cielos.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Porque Jesús te ama. Recibes nueva vida. Todos tus pecados son</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">perdonados y recibes la vida eterna.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Cuando vivimos en Jesús, volvemos a ser verdaderamente libres.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Porque ahora podemos vivir la vida de Jesús. Podemos atender a</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">los enfermos ya los pobres como lo hizo Jesús. Podemos</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">extender nuestros brazos de amor a los marginados y</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">marginados como lo hizo Jesús. Podemos trabajar para liberar al</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">prisionero y traer libertad y justicia a los oprimidos tal como lo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">hizo Jesús. Ahora podemos proclamar el Evangelio y contar la</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">historia.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">En otras palabras, te conviertes en la iglesia; El cuerpo de</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Cristo.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Como decía Teresa de Ávila en su oración;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Cristo no tiene cuerpo ahora sino el tuyo, ni manos, ni pies en la</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">tierra sino los tuyos.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Tuyos son los ojos con los que mira compasivo este mundo.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Tuyos son los pies con que camina para hacer el bien.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Tuyas son las manos con que bendice al mundo entero.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Tuyas son las manos.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Tuyos son los pies.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Tuyos son los ojos.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Eres su cuerpo.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Cristo no tiene cuerpo ahora sino el tuyo.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Amén.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¡Mírate! Vosotros sois el Cuerpo de Cristo, la Iglesia. He aquí a</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">los perdonadores perdonados de Dios. Los reconciliadores</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">reconciliados de Dios. ¡Amados de Dios que aman al mundo!</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¿Es fácil amar al mundo? ¿Es fácil amar a todos en ella? Santo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">cielo, ¿Puedes siquiera llevarte bien con todos en tu familia?</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¿Como tus hermanos y tus hermanas? ¡No es fácil cuando tienes</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">hermanos como yo! El conflicto, a veces el odio e incluso la</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">guerra son todas realidades humanas reales.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Pero así es el amor de Dios hecho carne y sangre en Jesús. Y es</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">por eso que Jesús fue bautizado en el río Jordán por Juan en este</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">día. Y es por eso que Jesús requiere que seamos bautizados.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Dios busca hacer que todo el mundo sea nuevo otra vez.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">¿Y el mensaje del Evangelio? Peter lo resumió en su primer</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">sermón de Pascua.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Realmente entiendo que Dios no hace excepción de personas,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">sino que en toda nación cualquiera que ama a Dios y hace lo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">correcto le es aceptable”. Eso significa cualquiera. Cualquiera</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">que sea la nacionalidad, idioma, raza; rico o pobre, hombre o</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">mujer o de cualquier género, seas quien seas, sois uno con el</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">otro en Cristo Jesús. Porque “Dios no hace excepción de</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">personas”.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Por tanto, anímense y sean valientes. Es la Gran Fiesta del</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Bautismo de Nuestro Señor. Que en todos los días de nuestro</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Bautismo oremos con Teresa de Ávila</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">“Que nada te turbe,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Que nada te asuste,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Todas las cosas pasan:</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Dios nunca cambia.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">La paciencia todo lo consigue</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Quien tiene a Dios nada le falta;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Solo Dios basta.”</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">En el Nombre de Dios, Santísima Trinidad Indivisa y Eterna.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Amén.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">La colecta:</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Padre que estás en los cielos, que en el bautismo de Jesús en el</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">río Jordán lo proclamaste tu Hijo amado y lo ungiste con el</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Espíritu Santo: Concede que todos los que son bautizados en su</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Nombre guarden el pacto que han hecho, y lo confiesen</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">valientemente como Señor y Salvador; que contigo y el Espíritu</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Santo vive y reina, un solo Dios, en la gloria eterna. Amén.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Primera Lección: Isaías 42:1-9</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">He aquí mi siervo, a quien yo sostendré, mi escogido, en quien</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">mi alma se complace; he puesto mi espíritu sobre él; traerá</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">justicia a las naciones. No clamará, ni alzará su voz, ni la hará</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">oír en la calle; no quebrará la caña cascada, ni apagará la mecha</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">que arde débilmente; fielmente traerá justicia. No se fatigará ni</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">será aplastado hasta que haya establecido la justicia en la tierra;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">y las costas esperan su enseñanza.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Así dice Dios, el Señor, que creó los cielos y los extendió, que</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">extendió la tierra y lo que de ella brota, que da aliento al pueblo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">que sobre ella y espíritu a los que andan por ella: Yo soy el</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Señor, yo en justicia te he llamado, te he tomado de la mano y te</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">he guardado; Te he dado por pacto al pueblo, por luz a las</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">naciones, para que abras los ojos de los ciegos, para sacar de la</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">cárcel a los presos, y de la cárcel a los que moran en tinieblas.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Yo soy el Señor, ese es mi nombre; a ningún otro doy mi gloria,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">ni mi alabanza a los ídolos. He aquí, las cosas primeras se han</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">cumplido, y ahora anuncio cosas nuevas; antes de que broten, os</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">las hablo.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Salmo: Salmo 29</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Atribuid al Señor, sus dioses, *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">atribuid al Señor la gloria y el poder.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Atribuid al Señor la gloria debida a su Nombre; *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">adorar al Señor en la hermosura de la santidad.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">La voz del Señor está sobre las aguas;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">truena el Dios de la gloria; *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">el Señor está sobre las aguas impetuosas.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">La voz del Señor es una voz potente; *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">la voz del Señor es una voz de esplendor.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">La voz del Señor quebranta los cedros; *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">el Señor quebranta los cedros del Líbano;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Hace saltar al Líbano como un becerro, *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">y el monte Hermón como un joven buey salvaje.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">La voz del Señor parte las llamas del fuego;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">la voz del Señor hace temblar el desierto; *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Jehová hace temblar el desierto de Cades.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">La voz del Señor hace temblar las encinas *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">y desnuda los bosques.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Y en el templo del Señor *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">todos están clamando, “¡Gloria!”</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">El Señor se sienta en su trono sobre el diluvio; *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">el Señor se sienta entronizado como Rey para siempre.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">El Señor dará fuerza a su pueblo; *</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">el Señor dará a su pueblo la bendición de la paz.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Segunda Lección: Hechos 10:34-43</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Entonces Pedro comenzó a hablarles: “En verdad comprendo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">que Dios no hace aexcepción de personas, sino que en toda</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">nación, cualquiera que le teme y hace lo correcto, le es grato.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Vosotros conocéis el mensaje que envió al pueblo de Israel,</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">predicando la paz por medio de Jesucristo, que es el Señor de</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">todos. Ese mensaje se difundió por toda Judea, comenzando en</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Galilea después del bautismo que Juan anunció: cómo Dios</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">ungió a Jesús de Nazaret con el Espíritu Santo y con poder;</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">cómo anduvo haciendo bienes y sanando a todos los oprimidos</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">por el diablo, porque Dios estaba con él. Somos testigos de todo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">lo que hizo tanto en Judea como en Jerusalén. Lo mataron</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">colgándolo de un árbol; pero Dios lo resucitó al tercer día y lo</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">dejó aparecer, no a todo el pueblo, sino a nosotros, que fuimos</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">escogidos por Dios como testigos, y que comimos y bebimos</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">con él después que resucitó de entre los muertos. Él nos mandó a</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">predicar al pueblo y a dar testimonio de que él es el que Dios ha</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">puesto como juez de vivos y muertos. Todos los profetas dan</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">testimonio de él, de que todo el que cree en él recibe el perdón</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">de los pecados por medio de su nombre”.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Evangelio: Mateo 3:13-17</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Jesús fue de Galilea al río Jordán, donde estaba Juan, para que éste lo bautizara. Al principio Juan quería impedírselo, y le dijo: —Yo debería ser bautizado por ti, ¿y tú vienes a mí?</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px;">Jesús le contestó: —Déjalo así por ahora, pues es conveniente que cumplamos todo lo que es justo ante Dios.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px;">Entonces Juan consintió. En cuanto Jesús fue bautizado y salió del agua, el cielo se le abrió y vio que el Espíritu de Dios bajaba sobre él como una paloma. Se oyó entonces una voz del cielo, que decía: «Éste es mi Hijo amado, a quien he elegido.» </span></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-41317097900260194142022-12-31T08:06:00.001-05:002022-12-31T08:07:52.453-05:00David Roche and Grandpa's Roll Top Desk<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>David Roche</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>July 8,1948—December 24,2022</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-iIjIDPY5lFxiXatq9M7jkJ99wBXyv72UJYZ6PLSs1pu5t8gnXYIKGQt-9NjU-1qTkQjNWTJZMyeZ7LuSQi-zmOqAjgb4GvuFy42myQoOmyULkPrMHXHfxfHIT7MsscUqVKretLxBZKH5npqbJmPmStOw0KJeWflOAuAxojYQB3YUURSCLA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="137" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-iIjIDPY5lFxiXatq9M7jkJ99wBXyv72UJYZ6PLSs1pu5t8gnXYIKGQt-9NjU-1qTkQjNWTJZMyeZ7LuSQi-zmOqAjgb4GvuFy42myQoOmyULkPrMHXHfxfHIT7MsscUqVKretLxBZKH5npqbJmPmStOw0KJeWflOAuAxojYQB3YUURSCLA" width="192" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus said </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I Am the Resurrection and the Life</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Scripture says;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I know that my Redeemer lives</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After my awaking, he will raise me up;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and in my body I shall see God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">who is my friend and not a stranger.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So, then, whether we live or die,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">we belong to God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let us pray</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God, we remember our loved one David. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Messianic Banquet: Isaiah 25:6-9</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On the mountain of the LORD of hosts God will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, for the LORD God has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Christian Hope: John 14:1-6</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus said; if you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Grandpa’s Roll Top Desk</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The most precious thing we have in life is each other. We are all devastated at the loss of David. I share many precious memories with you. On August 1, 1975 I became the rector of Christ Church in Hyde Park and Jackie Roche was the secretary. That’s the first precious thing we share. Your family and my family became acquainted from that day to this. That’s 47 years! When Jackie hugged you she held you so tight you knew what love is, pure unbridled affection. I miss her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And so it was that my grandmother wanted me to have my grandfather’s roll top desk. She figured I needed a good desk in my line of work. I had nobody to get it from Aunt Hummie’s house in Beverly to the rectory in Hyde Park. But Jackie knew someone with a truck who would be glad to help. That’s right, David Roche.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I didn’t even know the man. But you do. Each one of you knows he is the kind of man who will give you the shirt of his back. And there he was, ready to help, bright and early one Saturday morning with a smile as broad and bright as a sunny day. There was something of the devil in his sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. I found him delightful to be around. It took some doing to haul that heavy and awkward piece of furniture out of Hummie’s house and up to the second floor of the rectory. But David was there with me. He didn’t bat an eyelash, but was only too eager to help.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At some point during the day the subject of church came up. After all, I am a priest. David did serve the church in his younger years as an acolyte. But then the subject of his son Michael also came up and I understood. I spoke softly to him then and tried to find words of comfort. And here I am again today trying to find words of comfort.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When death comes suddenly we are ill prepared to comprehend our loss or make much sense of it. So we do the only thing we know to do which is to gather with each other because the most precious gift we have is each other.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You have hundreds of stories to tell, countless memories. Remember them. Share them, write them down if it helps. I’ve walked with many a family through the years at times like this. We always begin with our stories.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I began with the story of David Roche’s kindness to me in helping to move my grandfather’s roll top desk to the rectory. Because of that kindness and generosity of spirit, I have spent countless hours at that desk writing whatever words of comfort I could find for families I care about down through the years. That includes these very words I share with you to day.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That desk is the center of my prayer life as I search for some way of making sense of all the joys and sorrows of life down through the years.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christmas seems like a cruel time to lose a loved one. My dad died at Christmas when I was 8 years old. And that was also cruel. Every time I hear a Christmas song, trim a tree gather with loved ones or say a prayer, whatever joy I have is always mingled with the tears of my sorrow.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings me to my faith. Faith is a mystery to me. To understand it and come to terms with all that life and death brings to my faith is well beyond my pay grade. But for good or ill I am a priest.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One reason I am a priest<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is that along the way I have met so many wonderful people whose goodness and kindness have enriched my life and made the world a better place to life in. Jackie and Martin, David and Cindy, Christopher and Kim, Brian and Betsy and your precious children Brennan, Michael, Lily, Cara and Mary. And of course Debbie, Gaby and Megan we go a long, long way back together.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Some of you I know better than others. But you honor me in asking me to be here today.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But there is another reason why I am a priest of the church. Please understand, as I wander this world I wonder about this God I love. After the loss of my dad at Christmas in 1953, I decided that the goodness and kindness of people like David exists only because of the goodness and kindness of God. Which is why I became a priest. And all I have is a hope and a prayer that there is an abundant answer to our faith in the resurrection and the life.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is not an easy thing to believe but I will tell you where my mind went when I heard about David’s death. After the initial shock and devastation, I went to the desk that David and I lugged up the steps of the rectory so many years ago and I lit a candle and I shed a tear. I do this time and again not just because I am a priest but because I am a human being. And I care.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I prayed to the One who was born in a stable and asked him to remember David. The Holy Child is the love of God made flesh and blood and there is no finer example of that love for family than there is in David Roche. And I imagined him gathered to all those who have come before led by Jackie. I imagined Jackie welcoming him with such a hug as you cannot even begin to imagine. As I prayed I wondered suppose it is all true. Suppose there is Jackie and Martin and myriads more, suppose there is Michael too.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Scripture says that God will wipe away all the tears from our eyes. Today I am your priest. And the best I can do is offer you my love, my hope and my prayers. Today I offer you my faith.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Because the most precious gift we have is each other. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Prayers</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God our Father,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Your power brings us to birth,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Your providence guides our lives,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and by Your command, we return to you at the end of our lives</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We pray in hope for David and his family and friends,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and for all those gathered into your nearer presence.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">may they rejoice in Your kingdom,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">where all our tears are wiped away.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the fullness of time unite us together again as one family,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">to sing Your praise forever and ever.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty God we entrust David and all who are dear to us to your never failing care and love, both in this life and in the life that is to come knowing that you are doing for them better thing than we can ask or even care for.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our Father, who art in heaven,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>hallowed be thy Name,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>thy kingdom come,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>thy will be done,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on earth as it is in heaven.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Give us this day our daily bread.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And forgive us our trespasses,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as we forgive those</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>who trespass against us.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And lead us not into temptation,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but deliver us from evil.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For thine is the kingdom,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and the power, and the glory,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for ever and ever.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And now may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Jesus Christ, and may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you this day and forevermore. Amen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Committal</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Everyone the Father gives to me will come to me; I will never turn away anyone who believes in me.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also give new life to our mortal bodies through his indwelling Spirit.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also shall rest in hope.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God David, and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious to him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our Father, who art in heaven,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>hallowed be thy Name,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>thy kingdom come,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>thy will be done,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on earth as it is in heaven.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Give us this day our daily bread.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And forgive us our trespasses,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as we forgive those</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>who trespass against us.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And lead us not into temptation,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but deliver us from evil.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For thine is the kingdom,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and the power, and the glory,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for ever and ever.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Other prayers may be added.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord;<br />And let light perpetual shine upon him.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Alleluia. Christ is risen.<br />The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.<br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant: Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let us go forth in the name of Christ.<br />Thanks be to God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NgoUFMj3HAUodXsVHu_ZU-pmJFmDFaAfBLRd_XTJWvS_RjDS0Be5W0gXY_JHbay65ixE8La2PfexBrcEozz1FEG5qfbp1beViEwkbhv2bqb9DXNLYMtU-OrNjLPM14N-4iAJ-W7S1CgHR81IISGyZrf7Q2TQwf7GC0F7df3GHfI5ehFaow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="189" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NgoUFMj3HAUodXsVHu_ZU-pmJFmDFaAfBLRd_XTJWvS_RjDS0Be5W0gXY_JHbay65ixE8La2PfexBrcEozz1FEG5qfbp1beViEwkbhv2bqb9DXNLYMtU-OrNjLPM14N-4iAJ-W7S1CgHR81IISGyZrf7Q2TQwf7GC0F7df3GHfI5ehFaow" width="170" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-87690711929475433682022-07-09T12:09:00.000-04:002022-07-09T12:09:17.818-04:00Isn't this fun!<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Isn’t this fun!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVoAbUzGxVr7GMx4XAhQ6OJTGJIWFEQipfSDrD5TEPSjUFsG-1IqrhN0bNUIC5c9Ldr9weOO8FzuTX6wfs-5SB7O2TohyJzEju-EuKc4bxZWfInnLuHz8h92tQqrgS8ubsSGTq-cWuDbV1J7MeI1C6wMnqsmDSBvbtdao8hxwP3O5O0QE4bg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVoAbUzGxVr7GMx4XAhQ6OJTGJIWFEQipfSDrD5TEPSjUFsG-1IqrhN0bNUIC5c9Ldr9weOO8FzuTX6wfs-5SB7O2TohyJzEju-EuKc4bxZWfInnLuHz8h92tQqrgS8ubsSGTq-cWuDbV1J7MeI1C6wMnqsmDSBvbtdao8hxwP3O5O0QE4bg" width="240" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He Qi "The Good Samaritan"</i></div></i><br /><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Two weeks ago I “retired” and celebrated 50 years of ordination. I did not put myself on the supply list and all I wanted was to take a few months off before deciding what else to do with my life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But then Edwin emailed me, and this is St. Mary’s, and my son David does go to church here, and I do know many of you, so how could I say; “No?”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings me back to my priesthood and us to the question of the day; Eternal Life? I was confronted with that question early on in life because my dad died when I was eight years old. The whole question of life and death and what happens when a loved one dies was front and center even before I knew how to fully comprehend or process the enormity of that kind of loss or those kinds of questions.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eventually, after more than a year of sadness and bewilderment I came to understand that the Silence I poured out my heart to in the night season was actually God, and Jesus and that that most beautiful Hagia Sophia; or the Holy Spirit as we call her liturgically.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then I read the Gospel and I discovered that Eternal Life has more to do with the here and now than the bye and bye. To be sure it involves both but Jesus consistently redirects us to the more immediate concerns of life and the living.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When the lawyer in today’s Gospel questions Jesus about “eternal life” it is easy to think that he is talking about what he needs to do to make his way toward heaven.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus’ answer is the first and great commandment; The Shema:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hear O Israel “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.” In traditional Judaica that’s the sum and total of it.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Jesus doesn’t leave it there. He adds “and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He lifts those words from Leviticus 19:18b. One half of one verse of all the hundreds of rules in the Levitical law code, but Jesus homes in on only one.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus puts our social responsibility on a par with our responsibility to God. We are not required to love one or the other. Jesus says we are required to love both.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At the end of his life we face another shift in teaching. So important is our social responsibility that when he faced the final conflict, he make this law the New Commandment.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Remember? At the Last Supper, after the foot washing, Jesus leaves them these words; “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” <i>~John 13:34,35.</i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eternal Life then is; first and foremost about the here and now. Don’t wait until you’re dead to live the Way of Jesus. It won’t do you much good then. No, let’s get on with it and live it now!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sacramentally, eternal life begins in our Baptism and we feed on it in the Eucharist. You may have heard a priest or two say; “The Body of Christ keep you in Eternal Life.” Or “The Body of Christ; the Bread of Heaven”. Biblically in the Gospel and Sacramentally in the Eucharist Jesus teaches us Eternal Life begins now.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Secondly, Eternal Life is relational. The lawyer wanted to justify himself, which is to say that he wanted to establish his righteousness, and so pressed the question with Jesus; “And who is my neighbor?” In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus holds up a mirror to the soul of the lawyer to demonstrate how far from righteousness he was. On that treacherous road from Jerusalem down to Jericho a certain man fell into the hands of robbers, leaving him half dead. The story strikes close to home. The ones we’d expect to be righteous, the priest and the levite, passed by on the other side. But it was the theologically, politically, and socially marginalized Samaritan who stopped and ministered to the victim of violence.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus seems to be saying that this is Eternal Life; when you see someone suffering, in sorrow, in pain or in any other kind of need; stop what you were doing and tend to that first. If you claim to love God then show it by loving your neighbor. God does not measure righteousness by the labels we wear, God measures us by how we treat one another.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eternal Life is about our relationships to God and to one another.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thirdly, Eternal Life is prophetic. It is about Justice. What did Amos see in today’s first lesson? He saw God “setting a plumb line in the midst <i>of the people</i>.” In this particular historic context, God was measuring the household of Jeroboam, and found it wanting. In those days, the power brokers were eager to get past the Holy Day observances so that the fraudsters could get back to business. Corporate greed is nothing new. I love reading Amos. It has such a contemporary sound to it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">From ancient times our faith tradition requires us to look out for the poor and the vulnerable. This fragment from the Psalmist today is a case in point.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It sings;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Save the weak and the orphan; *<br /> defend the humble and needy;<br />Rescue the weak and the poor; *<br /> deliver them from the power of the wicked.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is how we are to organize our lives; around the the needs of the poor and the marginalized. Jesus goes even further than biblical norms to be inclusive of tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers and sinners of all sorts.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Where do we draw the line? You know the answer to that question. We draw it over our hearts and souls <i>(making the sign of the cross)</i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings me back to my initial point; isn’t this fun! To live in Eternal Life is to live inside the Joy of Jesus. It is here and now. It is about our living relationships with God and each other and becoming be agents of God’s Justice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus said; “I have come to bring you life in all of its abundance.” <i>~John 10:10</i>. And “I have told you these things that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” <i>~John 15:11</i>. “Go and do likewise”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thank you for embracing me on such short notice today. I pray the church in Baltimore and Fr Edwin and all the rest are having a grand time of it living inside Eternal Life. Knowing Edwin and the Episcopal Church as I do, I have every confidence they’e having a wonderful time sharing all that life has to offer! Let us do likewise this day in Eternal Life!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below, the readings for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and highlights of those words and phrases that speak to my hearts and soul.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Amos 7:7-17</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">plumb line</span>, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “See, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel</span>; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’” And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” Then Amos answered Amaziah, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees</span>, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’</span> “Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.” <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.</span>’”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 82</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">God takes his stand in the council of heaven</span>; *<br /> he gives judgment in the midst of the gods:<br />“How long will you judge unjustly, *<br /> and show favor to the wicked?<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Save the weak and the orphan; *<br /> defend the humble and needy;<br />Rescue the weak and the poor; *<br /> deliver them from the power of the wicked</span>.<br />They do not know, neither do they understand;<br /> they go about in darkness; *<br /> all the foundations of the earth are shaken.<br />Now I say to you, ‘You are gods, *<br /> and all of you children of the Most High;<br />Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, *<br /> and fall like any prince.’”<br />Arise, O God, and rule the earth, *<br /> for you shall take all nations for your own.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 10:25-37</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“what must I do to inherit eternal life?</span>” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.</span>” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">wanting to justify himself</span>, he asked Jesus, “And <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">who is my neighbor?</span>” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">a priest</span> was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">a Levite</span>, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">a Samaritan</span> while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?</span>” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Go and do likewise.</span>”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-64830447052310740142022-06-25T13:03:00.002-04:002022-06-26T05:16:32.420-04:00A Simple Parish Priest<p style="text-align: left;"><i>Fr Paul Bresnahan preached the following sermon in observance of the 50th anniversary of his ordination.</i> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; text-align: center;">A Simple Parish Priest</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; text-align: center;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiB1lT31CfDk3SbkbMY9t-9jajO4j3A0jv3oVGPj91SdoizEH_08wHQJBMcnosFgYqL33-tqMqZO7l-YlK1mKrVnWVn3zENXRydbFplUIYYkQMietn5tVaNcB_E-zKHQwfv-1og_BpDcbUsUDQN_73AQ7X6Gp2XxM8BOLTyD9ch3JEYlwCug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="880" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiB1lT31CfDk3SbkbMY9t-9jajO4j3A0jv3oVGPj91SdoizEH_08wHQJBMcnosFgYqL33-tqMqZO7l-YlK1mKrVnWVn3zENXRydbFplUIYYkQMietn5tVaNcB_E-zKHQwfv-1og_BpDcbUsUDQN_73AQ7X6Gp2XxM8BOLTyD9ch3JEYlwCug" width="237" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s all I ever wanted to be.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We called her “Ma”. After supper before bedtime, Bob and I would sit in her bedroom which was right off the kitchen. We’d listen to old time radio with her; Jack Benny, Fibber McGhee and Molly, George Burns and Gracie Allen and the like. She’d laugh from her toenails. She was so much fun to be with. She loved us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As her stories wound down, she’s take out her old, dog eared, binding busted Bible and read one of her favorite stories like the Call of Samuel which I read just a few moments ago.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The story caught my attention. “The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.” That sure sounded like current events to me. Nobody ever said thing one about God in Somerville except Ma. Every night she told us about God from that sacred and holy book. These were the stories I loved. She told them by heart.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">She closed over the book, looked at me, her eyes sparkling with the twinkle of heaven; “Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; <i>go</i> lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for <i>did</i> you <i>call</i> me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; <i>go</i> lie down again.’ </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To me this was like the Silence I cried myself asleep to every night after my father died. I wondered about my dad and whether I’d ever see him again. And this story seemed to suggest that God could call to my heart in the night season. It was as though the Silence I poured my heart out to night after night was not Empty Space. The Silence I spoke to at night was nothing less than God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So I asked my grandmother;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Ma, does this mean that God can call children to serve the church even now?”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My grandmother’s eyes danced with the joy of heaven and she said; “I wonder!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And that’s how it happened. The long journey to priesthood began. I was nine years old at the time. There was high school, college, and seminary. Then ordination and now all of a sudden, here I am 50 years later.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is all I ever wanted out of life: to love God and to love God’s people. And that’s what I did. That’s what I do.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Along the way, God kept insisting. “Oh, by the way. No there will be no exceptions.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Outside every one of our churches there is a sign that says “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Does that really mean Everyone?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It so happened that while I was in Seminary there was a Civil Rights movement. God said; no exceptions. Black or white you are all one. At seminary there were also women and gay folks. And there were controversies about where all that fit into God’s salvation plan. Again the bottom line was; <b><i>no exceptions</i></b>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">During every one of my fifty years I have worked for Civil Rights. Human Rights. No exceptions.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I remember my uncle speaking to me in that blue collar Boston way of his, dripping with sarcasm. He was not fond of the church’s tendency to play exclusion games against gays, Muslims, or Hindus and the like. He’d often say to me;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“What makes you people think you’re right and the rest of the world is going to hell?” History showed that the church often played exclusion games. My uncle was gay and at that time gay folks were not welcome to ordination or anywhere else for that matter. Neither were women. All this irritated Al. This was all 50 years ago.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All I had was an amorphous hope that God’s love extended to all without regard to all human categories of race, ethnicity, economic status or gender.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One day my uncle said to me; “I don’t give a good blankety blank what your church thinks, I want to know what you think of me.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Geez All, you’re fine in my book.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“If that’s the case kid, I want you to stand up for me in that blankety-blank church of yours someday.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I did that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Al, I hope you see that now. I did. I stood up for you.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I also stood up for the poor and the homeless.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus said “feed my sheep”.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’ve always taken part literally. Whether it was a soup kitchen or a food pantry or both. I’ve always seen to it that we fed the poor.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And because we did that, we always saw the homeless. Particularly during my time in West Virginia, I became involved in an effort to build a homeless shelter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One of the two times during my ministry that I received death threats was because of my obedience to Jesus to tend to the poor. During the struggle to build a homeless shelter in West Virginia Cindy received a phone call one time from someone who said; “We’re going to kill your husband.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In her best Boston accent she said; “Oh yeah, take a numbah. I want to kill him too sometimes.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Is it any wonder that the harvest remains great and the laborers are few?</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Discipleship can cost you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Nevertheless, I love it. Every minute of it. This is God’s work we do my friends. And God’s work deserves to be done well.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">50 years ago I was given a number of tokens representing this ministry we share. Now I seek to present them to some special people in my life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When you come up to Communion please leave these gifts for ministry before God on this table from which I present them to you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bob & Jim — this is Ma’s <b>Bible</b> — Let’s continue to tell our stories and God’s Story so that many may be drawn to the knowledge and love of God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cindy & David — this <b>Celtic Cross</b> comes from our Pilgrimage to Ireland. Thank you for helping to carry this cross throughout our family life.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Lynette & Daryl<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>— <b>Stole</b> — This stole is a sign of our priesthood. Jesus said “my yoke is easy, my burden light”. May he sustain us in every joy and every sorrow of our life especially when our burdens become too much for us to bear alone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Patty & Bruce — <b>Book of Common Prayer</b> — you know me to be a man of prayer. May we continue faithful in prayer in season and out of season. How precious our times of prayer with this book.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bruce & Betty — <b>Bread & Wine</b> — Jesus said; “Feed my sheep”. You have done that all your life for the church and her people. May this Bread and Wine sustain us unto our life’s end.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Deb & Diane — <b>Water<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b> — We are all Baptized one in Christ Jesus our Lord; Behold the Rainbow. I remember that day when you came to the Bean Supper at the church. It was the eve of Palm Sunday and nobody wanted to be the criminal for the reading of the Passion Narrative. I looked at you and said; “Will you be my criminal?” You weren’t even a member of the church but you said yes. When you walked into that church you knew you were home again. There is room in God’s heart for you. No exceptions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Angela Soto & Children — <b>Oil of Unction</b> — This holy oil represents Christ’s healing touch. In whatever language we say it may we always be one in Jesus. Este aceite sagrado representa el toque sanador de Cristo. En cualquier idioma que decimos que siempre seamos uno en Jesús</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Drs. Janet & David — <b>Hymnal</b> — “Singing is praying twice” as St. Augustine said. Thank you for your sacrifice and generosity and and the gift of music today and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>all through these many years. It is a blessing to serve along side you.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Kaylen & Luca — <b>Incense</b> — Thank you for your service at the altar of God. May this incense represent our prayers rising to God’s praise and and devotion in serving God’s people. It rejoices my heart to serve with you at the altar of God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bill & Phil — <b>Flowers</b> — Their flower shop was called “Beautiful Things”. It was their ministry to comfort the bereaved and shield the joyous. They provided flowers for our wedding day in 1979. They are dear, dear friends. They are going through a rough patch right now. I ask your prayers for Phil and Bill who cannot be here today.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Which bring me to my mother. I have no desire to engage in controversy on this of all days. But I can hear her voice of sorrow and outrage rise from the grave today. It was during the war and he promised to respect her in the morning but when the rabbit died, he left her holding the bag. What happened then was illegal and dangerous. She could have died. I haven’t said this in a very long time, but “Mom, I love you and these flowers are for you this morning.” I’ll bring them over to Phil and Bill a little later on. But right now, they are for you. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cathy — <b>Keys</b> — It is time to hand back to you what you entrusted to me. Keep these doors open so that the inclusive arms of Jesus may extend to all. May God raise up another faithful servant who will continue God’s work with you in Word and Deed in this portion of God’s vineyard.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John Parnell — <b>Constitution & Canons</b> — Fifty years ago the Diocese of Massachusetts and Bishop John Melville Burgess entrusted this ministry to me. Thank you for that trust. Cindy and I are ready for a break now, but God only knows what lies ahead. I have tried to retire 9 times.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Whatever else God has in mind this I know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All I ever wanted was to be a simple parish priest.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">By the grace of God, this is who I am.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided, and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>The following readings are appointed for use on occasions of ministry</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Collect of the Day</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10: The Call of Samuel</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Epistle: Ephesians 4:11-16</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The gifts are that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Gospel: Matthew 9:35-38: The Harvest Is Great, the Labourers Few</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’</p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-55343749248800365902022-06-18T12:48:00.003-04:002022-06-18T12:48:36.734-04:00Juneteenth; Our Freedom Song<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Juneteenth; Our Freedom Song</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbeLyBXazI2eWBubQosbnOqntBM-DKffa4c_LDR_42vBBUNLcFUnP07eBj7DpGzUB9AmSea3oK8bE6TxNOT7AgsZHDNu1S0zLyv07PKVmfuJ7qy8sQsg2X-NwRPo2xBhw_WI3zkX7gfNeXZ9jT073AybX7u8nF1w5pESuwXWHInHLT22cddQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbeLyBXazI2eWBubQosbnOqntBM-DKffa4c_LDR_42vBBUNLcFUnP07eBj7DpGzUB9AmSea3oK8bE6TxNOT7AgsZHDNu1S0zLyv07PKVmfuJ7qy8sQsg2X-NwRPo2xBhw_WI3zkX7gfNeXZ9jT073AybX7u8nF1w5pESuwXWHInHLT22cddQ" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Juneteenth is a Freedom Song for every American. If ever there were a way to mark our obedience to God, it would be in abolishing slavery. It is as much a celebration for white folks as it is for black folks. On August 1,1858 Abe Lincoln said; “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is not democracy.” It took until this day, June 19,1865 for General Gordon Granger of the Union Army to announce General Order Number 3 proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thus Emancipation became complete in America!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today is a cause of celebration for all Americans. Much more work to be done to assure the continuation of freedom and democracy for all. So much of our democracy remains under growing threat if we do not remain vigilant.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our struggles for Justice are always accompanied with music. Whether it is in the Reformation, slavery in this country, or the Great Hunger in Ireland, music has accompanied every struggle for freedom. Anglican chant, the great hymns of the church, , Negro Spirituals, jazz and the blues, or Irish folk; all our music is sacred music.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The formation of faith itself begins with a song. The Psalter is the Hymn Book of Jesus.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today, the Psalmist sings;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“As the deer longs for the water-brooks, *<br /> so longs my soul for you, O God.<br />My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My ministry began with a song. When I was first ordained, before marriage and family, I knew I needed three things to engage all the struggles of ministry; a roof over my head, a serviceable means of transportation, and a good hi-fi system. A few months ago we traded out our old TV for a new Roku TV and matching Roku speakers. We love old TV reruns and when that has run its course, we listen to good music on any station we choose on iHeart Radio. This allows us to settle down a bit and rest our souls after a long day of appointments and errands. Thus we can maintain something akin to sanity.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Without sanity there is madness. Jesus’ encounter with the demoniac in today’s Gospel is illustrative of the inclination in the human spirit toward legions of madness. From war in the Ukraine to shootings in Uvalde and now St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Vestavia Hills, Alabama there is an inclination toward violence within the human breast. Hatred has infected the human heart and we are loath to allow Jesus to cure our wanton madness. There is too much divisiveness, too much anger, too much hate and way too many guns. White supremacists would take away our freedom in a heartbeat unless we hold them in check.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I for one want to live in a country where we love one another more than we love our guns.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Like my Celtic ancestors before me, I go through life unarmed. The only weapon I have is the Gospel. That Gospel is stirringly articulated by Paul in today’s letter to the Galatians. My soul rejoices with the inclusive love of Christ for all in obedience to the God. Paul’s reading of that Gospel is compelling to our spirits. He writes; “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jew or Greek; that means any race, ethnicity or language.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Slave or free; that means all folks no matter how rich or poor.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Male or female; that means you are all one in Christ without regard to gender, orientation or sexual identity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All my life I have worked along side you seeking to become a more inclusive church. Bishop Shaw once imagined God embracing humankind in ever widening circles of inclusive love.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This makes the rise in hate crimes all the more disquieting. There will always be an Ahab and a Jezebel seething with murderous threats against the prophets of God. Just like there are gun toting madmen ready to slaughter innocent children or the elderly at a church pot luck supper. Who wouldn’t recoil in terror?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Elijah fled in fear. After all, Jezebel said; “You’re next!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But God pursued the prophet. “What are you doing here, Elijah?”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God said “Go stand on the mountain and I will pass by.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And God did pass by but God was not in the earthquake the fire or the flood. God was in the sheer silence or the “still small voice” as other translations put it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What are we to make of our encounter with God? How can we ever fully understand it. The best we can do is embrace the will of God and do what God would have us do and sing our freedom songs. Without that song we’re lost.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Basil the Great once wrote; “When the Holy Spirit saw that <i>humankind</i> was ill-inclined toward virtue and that we were heedless of the righteous life because of our inclination to <i>madness</i>, what did <i>she</i> do? <i>She</i> blended the delight of melody with <i>Scripture</i> in order that, through the pleasantness and softness of sound, <i>we might come to righteousness unaware that wise physicians might heal the soul as we drink from Christ’s cup rimmed with honey.</i> For this purpose, these harmonious melodies have been designed for us, that we, may in reality be educating their souls. ~freely adapted from Basil the Great.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today we come to a day of great significance in the lives of Janet and David King, the choir and congregation of Trinity Church. It is time to commend them for their service to this church and providing us with “harmonious melodies” for all these years. As you prepare to retire we wast to say to you; “Thank you”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thank you Janet. Thank you David. “Music is praying twice.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No mediation on music would be complete it without remembering what Johann Sebastian Bach wrote of all his prodigious efforts;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.” “I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.” “The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the human spirit.” ~J.S. Bach</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are deeply grateful to you for honoring God the way you have done with your music. May it always be part of our Freedom Song. Glory be to God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the reading for the Second Sunday after Pentecost with thoughts and words highlighted that speak to my soul.</i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Second Sunday after Pentecost</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: 1 Kings 19:1-4, 8-15a</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Ahab</span> told <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Jezebel</span> all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">he was afraid</span>; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors</span>.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“What are you doing here, Elijah?”</span> He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">of sheer silence</span>. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“What are you doing here, Elijah?”</span> He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” Then the Lord said to him, “<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus</span>.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 42 and 43</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">As the deer longs for the water-brooks, *<br /> so longs my soul for you, O God</span>.<br />2 My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; *<br /> when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?<br />3 My tears have been my food day and night, *<br /> while all day long they say to me,<br /> “<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Where now is your God?</span>”<br />4 <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I pour out my soul when I think on these things</span>: *<br /> how I went with the multitude and led them into the<br /> house of God,<br />5 With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, *<br /> among those who keep holy-day.<br />6 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *<br /> and why are you so disquieted within me?<br />7 Put your trust in God; *<br /> for I will yet give thanks to him,<br /> who is the help of my countenance, and my God.<br />8 My soul is heavy within me; *<br /> therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan,<br /> and from the peak of Mizar among the heights of Hermon.<br />9 One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts; *<br /> all your rapids and floods have gone over me.<br />10 The Lord grants his loving-kindness in the daytime; *<br /> in the night season his song is with me,<br /> a prayer to the God of my life.<br />11 I will say to the God of my strength,<br /> “Why have you forgotten me? *<br /> and why do I go so heavily while the enemy<br /> oppresses me?”<br />12 While my bones are being broken, *<br /> my enemies mock me to my face;<br />13 All day long they mock me *<br /> and say to me, “Where now is your God?”<br />14 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *<br /> and why are you so disquieted within me?<br />15 Put your trust in God; *<br /> for I will yet give thanks to him,<br /> who is the help of my countenance, and my God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 Give judgment for me, O God,<br /> and defend my cause against an ungodly people; *<br /> deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked.<br />2 For you are the God of my strength;<br /> why have you put me from you? *<br /> and why do I go so heavily while the enemy<br /> oppresses me?<br />3 Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, *<br /> and bring me to your holy hill<br /> and to your dwelling;<br />4 That I may go to the altar of God,<br /> to the God of my joy and gladness; *<br /> and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God.<br />5 <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *<br /> and why are you so disquieted within me?<br />6 Put your trust in God; *<br /> for I will yet give thanks to him,<br /> who is the help of my countenance, and my God</span>.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: Galatians 3:23-29</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith</span>. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith</span>. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus</span>. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 8:26-39</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">a man of the city who had demons met him</span>. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Legion”</span>; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">a large herd of swine</span> was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear</span>. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-74832901573665706672022-06-12T17:22:00.003-04:002022-06-12T17:22:56.296-04:00The Pure Simplicity of God<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>The Pure Simplicity of God</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVCdBleRPbEPkay-KFxIpKQknLrxDDYT0tm7kygSR0am1eJFPjhBMQxZ7OsBAdhEnwdt7zNGHslHcxZowoh0p6pcuduT8J2S9eM4qkQoPf9EBKjdwSvH9rI29PNG0Sj5XJpziVWQMoycYUuEeHVOXB-bvf6tMyA-Py3mPe6aDp_nOHlvROqA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="770" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVCdBleRPbEPkay-KFxIpKQknLrxDDYT0tm7kygSR0am1eJFPjhBMQxZ7OsBAdhEnwdt7zNGHslHcxZowoh0p6pcuduT8J2S9eM4qkQoPf9EBKjdwSvH9rI29PNG0Sj5XJpziVWQMoycYUuEeHVOXB-bvf6tMyA-Py3mPe6aDp_nOHlvROqA" width="211" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It it’s all so simple; this whole business about God. Here is how I found out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I ran home as fast as I could to confirm what Something had spoken in my heart of hearts. I ran into the kitchen where my grandmother was presiding over her stove as a priest might preside over an altar.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I asked; “Ma, is there a God?”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I needed to know. Everything depended on the answer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Of course there is!” That was simple.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Ma, is there a heaven?” She glanced sidewards at me with just a hint of irritation. After all, she was cooking and this was not a good time for theology.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Yes, of course there is!” Still, pretty straight forward.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Ma, is my daddy there?” Ah, now we come to a complication. There had been a messy divorce. He was at fault apparently. When he died, there were hasty words about his “deserving” what he got. Someone even said he couldn’t go to heaven because he didn’t go to church. All these things got said so I could hear them. I was eight years old at the time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mind you my mom was a feisty lady and I wondered more than once if she had a part to play in the divorce when I heard them arguing with each other. And even my grandmother said more than once that the Irish ruined Boston. It all left me bewildered. My question hung there for what seemed an eternity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Is my daddy there?”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s when she knelt down right there in the kitchen. She held me close and folded my head into the nape of her neck and she said;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Of course he is!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And that’s why I’m a priest today.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is pure simplicity.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yes there is a God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yes there is a Heaven.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And Yes my daddy’s there as are all our loved ones. All have been gathered up one by one into God’s nearer Presence.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is all so simple.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">First, God is “Our Father who art in Heaven”. God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth and everyone in it. When we said our prayers at night we blessed everybody by name in the family, all my friends, those at school and finally everybody in the “whole wide word”. God made every single one of us. See. Simple!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Secondly, God is Jesus Christ our Savior. It took a while to figure out how he saved us. The world didn’t look particularly saved to me. At the time we had air raid drills in an old school built before the Civil War. I’m not at all sure the building could have survived a nuclear attack. Nowadays kids do mass shooter drills, and there have been well over 230 school shootings just this year alone. I wondered; “How can you call this world ‘saved’”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But then I figured it out. Jesus brought the world Forgiveness and Eternal Life. The one is related to the other. When we Forgive, we are in Eternal Life. And when we do come to our life’s end there is forgiveness. There is room in God’s heart for each and every one of us, even if we miss church once in a while or even if the only time you mention our Lord’s Name is when you loose a bet at the race track as my daddy often did way back in those days.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How do I know? The Bible tells me so; “Yes, Jesus loves me.” And my daddy too. And each and every one of you too.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And third God is the Holy Spirit. She is everywhere present. She permeates all of existence. “<span class="s1" style="background-color: white;">Does not wisdom call</span>,” the Scripture says; “and does not understanding raise her voice?”<br />We know her first by prayer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We also know her through the the Holy Wisdom from on High. My grandmother knew her well. As did all my elders. How I looked up to them. Not to mention my priest and teachers. How I loved them all. Such Wisdom!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Spirit imparts gifts for ministry. As a child I wanted to be Ted Williams or a parish priest. This also was pure simplicity. I loved baseball and I loved God. Who wouldn’t, growing up a short subway ride to Fenway Park. We spent our summers in the bleachers chasing home run balls hit by Teddy Ballgame and all the others. Or going to St. James’s Church, North Cambridge. That priest, that choir, that pipe organ, those stained glass windows; that breathtaking building.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As it turned out my batting average was not so hot, so that left the priesthood. I learned so much in school, in college, at seminary and of course in life itself. Life, Wisdom’s own teacher.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is the gift giver of every good gift from above. As Jesus says; “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All of which tells me that there is nothing complicated or difficult about faith.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are born into it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today we at Trinity Church come to our Name Day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We know Who the Holy Trinity is:</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is Creator.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is Savior.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is Holy Spirit.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Father, Son and Holy Spirit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pure simplicity.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As is our duty to God and our neighbor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love your neighbor.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It just can’t get much simpler than that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So straighten up your act. I’ve already spoken to Jesus about each and every one of you throughout these very nearly fifty years.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I will not go to heaven until each and every one of you gets in there first. There, I said it. Black and White. Did you hear that Jesus? So don’t go holding things up. Get things right between you and God and each other. Love God. Love one another.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yes there is a God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yes there is a Heaven<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And yes, not only is my daddy there, each and every one of us is Heaven bound.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God. The simple Name of God;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below, the readings for Trinity Sunday with highlights indicating thoughts and phrases that stand out to me and resonate in my soul.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Trinity Sunday</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">the glory of the eternal Trinity</span>, and in the power of your divine Majesty <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">to worship the Unity</span>: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">to see you in your one and eternal glory</span>, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">Does not wisdom call</span>,<br />and does not understanding raise her voice?<br />On the heights, beside the way,<br />at the crossroads she takes <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">her</span> stand;<br />beside the gates in front of the town,<br />at the entrance of the portals she cries out:<br />“To you, O people, I call,<br />and my cry is to all that live.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">The Lord created me at the beginning of his work</span>,<br />the first of his acts of long ago.<br />Ages ago I was set up,<br />at the first, before the beginning of the earth.<br />When there were no depths I was brought forth,<br />when there were no springs abounding with water.<br />Before the mountains had been shaped,<br />before the hills, I was brought forth—<br />when he had not yet made earth and fields,<br />or the world’s first bits of soil.<br />When he established the heavens, I was there,<br />when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,<br />when he made firm the skies above,<br />when he established the fountains of the deep,<br />when he assigned to the sea its limit,<br />so that the waters might not transgress his command,<br />when he marked out the foundations of the earth, </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">then <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">I was beside him, like a master worker</span>;<br />and I was daily his delight,<br />rejoicing before him always,<br />rejoicing in his inhabited world<br />and delighting in the human race.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm: Psalm 8</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 O Lord our Governor, *<br /> how exalted is your Name in all the world!<br />2 Out of the mouths of infants and children *<br /> your majesty is praised above the heavens.<br />3 You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *<br /> to quell the enemy and the avenger.<br />4 <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *<br /> the moon and the stars you have set in their courses</span>,<br />5 <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">What is man that you should be mindful of him?</span> *<br /> the son of man that you should seek him out?<br />6 <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">You have made him but little lower than the angels</span>; *<br /> you adorn him with glory and honor;<br />7 You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *<br /> you put all things under his feet:<br />8 All sheep and oxen, *<br /> even the wild beasts of the field,<br />9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *<br /> and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.<br />10 O Lord our Governor, *<br /> how exalted is your Name in all the world!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: Romans 5:1-5</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Therefore, <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ</span>, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 16:12-15</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I still have many things to say to you, but <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth</span>; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-49992517850978314952022-06-04T13:04:00.000-04:002022-06-04T13:04:17.971-04:00Of Nightmares and Visons <p style="text-align: center;"><b> Of N</b><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">ightmares and Visions</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7qE-VC5OImJoWLLsq_Kp244cHGGC-yFZOk7VxIR74GqhEi-jZV56BuEp9eVtSEcOXSwDIMTJPIRcweKDVzeiGfIjVXCanpaw8k8UTHNSXR4OboF3D9euyVGZr_IU32lkgBMzNbSdfehe9UofGyqn2BCTaxQ1RasVio77OyTWVBszbqd7TTQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7qE-VC5OImJoWLLsq_Kp244cHGGC-yFZOk7VxIR74GqhEi-jZV56BuEp9eVtSEcOXSwDIMTJPIRcweKDVzeiGfIjVXCanpaw8k8UTHNSXR4OboF3D9euyVGZr_IU32lkgBMzNbSdfehe9UofGyqn2BCTaxQ1RasVio77OyTWVBszbqd7TTQ" width="185" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When I was a child I had terrible nightmares. I remember waking up in a cold sweat, falling and spinning through an endless vortex of nothingness begging for somebody to help me. I’d sit bolt upright calling out for anybody. Then I’d hear my brother roll over in bed and tell me to go back to sleep.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“It was just a nightmare, Buddy!”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It took a while to settle down as I realized I was safely in my own bed at home, quite securely ensconced on a good solid mattress. But then there was a terrible darkness and silence to talk to. I felt terribly alone. It only got worse after my dad died when I was 8 years old at Christmas.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I clearly remember pouring my heart out to the Silence which now seemed to have the ability to listen to me. I’d cry myself to sleep and the Silence seemed to understand and even comfort me sometimes.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Little did I know at the time that this Silence had a Name. It came to my heart of hearts on the way home from church one day when Something in my heart told me; “Don’t you know there’s room in my heart for your daddy!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s when I learned that the Silence did have a Name; God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A little later I grew to know that the Name is also Jesus.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Later still did I discover that the Holy Name is the yet again the Holy Spirit.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Blessed Silence I spoke to then and listen to now is the Blessed and Holy Trinity in whose name this church is dedicated; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God, Jesus and Holy Ghost as we used to call her.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yes, I know I said <i>her</i>. It took a while to learn that God had a feminine dimension. I had to learn a bit of Greek and Hebrew to know that Holy Spirit is literally <i>Sancta Sophia</i>. Sophia is a woman’s name as you and I both know. I always dedicate my sermons to this Sacred Silence which I call God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity; God the Creator, God the Savior, God the Holy Spirit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Silence is the first Gift of the Holy Spirit. We call her Prayer. She is as natural to us as a child calling out for Someone to listen in the darkness of a lonely, frightening night. She is always there and her name is God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wisdom is the Second Gift of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Wisdom from on High. I often wondered where my grandmother got all her Wisdom. I remember her swaying to and fro in her rocking chair crocheting something beautiful to decorate our home or to keep us warm on long, cold winter nights. There she’d spin her yarns night after night and I’d sit entranced as I listened. Where did she get all this? I remember coming home from College with my degree and she’d smile proud as punch. And then to keep me grounded she’d often remind me;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“You may know <i>mo-ah</i>, but I know <i>bett-ah!</i>”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It takes years and years of living and learning and listening to the Silence to gain this kind of Wisdom but as we do, we gain some insight into life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wisdom has a particularly feminine dimension to it as I have already said. One time during an interview for a church, I was asked by a gentleman in his fifties what my expectations were of my wife. Cindy was sitting right next to me. I knew that the situation was highly charged in that moment but God gave me the Wisdom to say;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“She’s sitting right here; why don’t you ask her?”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To which Cindy rather promptly said;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“He has none and neither will you!”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Needless to say our mutual discernment was that this church would not extend a call to us, nor would we accept it in the unlikely event that one was issued.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On another occasion and in yet another interview I was asked how I deal with “difficult personalities.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I hemmed and hawed a bit as to how I exercised a diplomatic approach in conflict situations and gave the example of an especially troublesome volunteer individual.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cindy finally piped up from the background and said;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Let’s face it Bresnahan, that woman was a pain in the blankety-blank!”<br />In that case, the Search Committee thought that having such a wise woman as this behind the rector was exactly what the congregation needed and they extended a call and we accepted it.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wisdom comes in all forms and shapes and sizes and like the wind it blows where it wills we know not where or how or when it comes or where it goes. But it is God’s own Wisdom nonetheless.<i> ~para John 3:8</i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">She finds herself deeply embedded in our hearts and is a gift for all who listen closely to her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Holy Spirit’s third gift to us is the many gifts she gives for ministry. She is as beautiful as a rainbow of color shining through a crystal. Or as brilliant and fascinating as shapes, patterns and colors in a kaleidoscope. The gifts of ministry are as limitless as the human imagination.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Theses gifts come to us as divided flames of fire over our heads giving us understanding in every language upon earth. The language of the Holy Spirit is not just like Spanish, German, French or English; the language of the Holy Spirit is able to comfort and give encouragement to our weary souls.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our souls are often worn down by life’s many struggles be they warfare, gun violence or political division or gridlock. Our souls are worn down so often with grief and loss of all sorts.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But here we are, <i>for</i> one another, equipped by God with gifts for ministry. We give each other understanding and encouragement. The traditional gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, faith, and the love of God. We also give God and each other whatever is necessary to do the work God has given us to do. This is what the prayer of oblation requires of us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The catechism defines oblation as “an offering of ourselves, our lives and labors, in union with Christ, for the purposes of God.” In other words, as I might put it,“You can count on me to do whatever needs to be done”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is the ultimate gift of the Holy Spirit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It requires all that we have and everything we are. That’s not too much to ask is it?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is most certainly necessary in any marriage, family, church, workplace or school to work well. Look at the multiplicity of gifts required to be the member of any gathering of people; few or many . What is required of us? Everything we have and everything we are. And whatever the Holy Spirit gives us to exercise our ministry, we never stop giving.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am grateful beyond words for my marriage, my family, and my church and you for instance. I love you. It is as simple as that. I sense some of that coming from you too. Thanks be to God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thankfully, I don’t have so many nightmares anymore. Now I dream dreams and see visions like any old man might and exactly as the Scripture said I would in today’s first lesson.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But the Silence is always there for me as I fall off to sleep these days. But now the Silence has a Name; the Name I learned so many years ago.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; The Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity; God the Creator, Jesus the Savior, and Sancta Sophia. Amen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings for Pentecost with highlights indicating passages, thoughts, phrases that speak to my soul.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Day of Pentecost</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Whitsunday</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Acts 2:1–21</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind</span>, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Divided tongues, as of fire</span>, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">speak in other languages</span>, as the Spirit gave them ability.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. </span>Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm: 104:25-35,37</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *<br /> in <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">wisdom</span> you have made them all;<br /> the earth is full of your creatures.<br />26 Yonder is the great and wide sea<br /> with its living things too many to number, *<br /> creatures both small and great.<br />27 There move the ships,<br /> and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">there is that Leviathan, *<br /> which you have made for the sport of it</span>.<br />28 All of them look to you *<br /> to give them their food in due season.<br />29 You give it to them; they gather it; *<br /> you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.<br />30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *<br /> you take away their breath,<br /> and they die and return to their dust.<br />31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *<br /> and so you renew the face of the earth.<br />32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *<br /> may the Lord rejoice in all his works.<br />33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *<br /> he touches the mountains and they smoke.<br />34 <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *<br /> I will praise my God while I have my being.<br /></span>35 May these words of mine please him; *<br /> I will rejoice in the Lord.<br />37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *<br /> Hallelujah!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Second Lesson: Romans 8:14-17</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry,<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;"> “Abba! Father!”</span> it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 14:8-17, 25-27</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">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.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">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. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the Holy Spirit,</span> whom the Father will send in my name, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">will teach you everything</span>, and remind you of all that I have said to you. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you</span>. I do not give to you as the world gives. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Do not let your hearts be troubled</span>, and do not let them be afraid.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-20296003314568182342022-05-28T13:14:00.002-04:002022-05-28T13:14:42.408-04:00The Gift and Joy of Children<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">The Gift and Joy of Children</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8biw0iw0VvDS2ceoqwDx0BDabeu2Z6cO8kOgupj3ZwfWA5Y37iBKuiEGR7nWIS3hCbkmt_YMdoe2v4bsP0LLoe2uMiIb1USxcf6nYXkXaQAhKqOpnKY9MAL_7_UBBwjW4cc6Ddhr9SjabeVjxXyj1bTBtYcQZYEycodP0wDY2qQ-tE9jS6w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8biw0iw0VvDS2ceoqwDx0BDabeu2Z6cO8kOgupj3ZwfWA5Y37iBKuiEGR7nWIS3hCbkmt_YMdoe2v4bsP0LLoe2uMiIb1USxcf6nYXkXaQAhKqOpnKY9MAL_7_UBBwjW4cc6Ddhr9SjabeVjxXyj1bTBtYcQZYEycodP0wDY2qQ-tE9jS6w" width="320" /></a></b></div></div><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After my mom remarried in 1956 we moved to Toronto where my step-father worked for the Weston Biscuit Company, Canada’s answer to Nabisco. There, I attended a little mission church called St. Richard of Chichester. Because, even then I sought to be ordained, Fr Hall allowed me to teach Sunday school. Second grade was my favorite. Their minds full of wonder I’d engage them with fanciful stories and tales and not just biblical ones. I’d make them up as I went.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One day I happened upon a caterpillar on the way to church and brought the little centipede to class. I shared the experience of allowing the little one to climb all over my hand and held the children in awe. Then one by one, those who wished were allowed to experience the magic of that creepy crawly thing to roam about their hands. To round out the wonder of it all I asked the children to imagine that one day this little one would be a magnificent butterfly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then I proceeded to tell the story of the early church and how it used the butterfly to tell of Jesus’ resurrection. I told the children that one day they too would turn into something beautiful for God; something like a butterfly from the creepy crawly caterpillars they were today. We all laughed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Being a child with children is a pure delight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In College I lived with a family who had two young children and partly paid my room and board in exchange for babysitting. Again I told bed time stories. I’d make up something as I went along. J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling had nothing on me. And just this week I spent a delightful evening with Sara Mato from St Paul’s and her two children with Bob and Anne Barney, thank you very much. I fancy myself a bit of a lovable grandpa. This is how Sara’s children see me. And Cindy is grandma.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The gift of children. The joy and care of children as the Prayer Book puts it. How precious!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All of which makes the events of this past week unbearably and exquisitely excruciating in sorrow and pain. And yet I feel as though I am silenced from what I want to say. So politicized is everything that anything I might want to say will likely be characterized as “political”. And politics should be kept out of the pulpit.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So, I’ll hold my tongue. I will bottle up the pain within me. I will keep a silence. But as I do that, the children’s screams cry out to me from somewhere beyond the grave. In fact the voices are clearly recorded; “Please send the police” a child begs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">An hour passes before the police breached the barricades.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If it were up to me I’d lock up gun control advocates and NRA leaders into the same room with the children’s voices. I wouldn’t let them out until they agree on something. But I have to hush my mouth. I have nothing to say. I don’t want to be political.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But I do have to be prophetic. That’s why I ask us to listen to the voice of Jesus. In today’s Gospel; Jesus prayed to God; “that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I have no voice. No opinion. I have nothing to say. But the children’s voices are haunting me with their screams. They are the prophets now and I will let them speak for me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are told that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun. Why then did the good guys with guns wait so long?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Alas I have to learn to hold my tongue.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Maybe Congress can come up with something this time!</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hold your tongue, Bresnahan.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When our children were little, I told them the tales of Fern Hollow, this wonderful fanciful place of thatched cottages in a pastoral setting in a lovely little village.Various and sundry barnyard animals held forth in their homely adventures.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No longer can I protect my children and provide for them a safe, warm, and affectionate home. All that is gone now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I have nothing more to say.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I must keep a holy silence.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The pain will not go away.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus I pray to you for the children. Make us one that we may protect them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we nurture and protect them. Give us Grace that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">A Dialogue</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now, Jesus is glaring at me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Don’t just sit there praying to me while the children die.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do something!”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Do what? Anything I do would be political.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus is increasingly impatient.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Am I not the Good Shepherd.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Did I not lay down my life for the sheep.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What about you?</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What about my children?</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Did I not say ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me’.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Did you not teach that song to the children when you taught Sunday school?”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“But they keep telling me that guns are not the problem.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">These are people I love.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What do I say?</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Anything I say will be heard as political.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I just don’t know what to say or what to do.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Tell the Truth.” <i>~Ephesians 4:15</i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I did that. They will not listen.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Remember what they did to you Jesus when you told the Truth.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I know.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Did that stop me?”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“All right you dragged it out of me. Let the chips fall where they may. Here’s the Truth as I see it. ‘A well regulated militia’ as the Second Amendment says would be one in which guns would be registered, gun owners licensed and insured, based on universal background checks.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“But my loved ones say that guns are not the problem. Mental Health is. We need to arm teachers.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“You see, Jesus we are a ‘house divided’<i>~Matthew 12:25</i> and as you wrote in the scriptures so many years ago. Such a house cannot stand.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“All right. Start there. That’s the truth. Now ‘Come let us reason together’<i>~Isaiah 1:18</i>. “It is written.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-51976144375579592692022-05-14T12:47:00.000-04:002022-05-14T12:47:56.295-04:00The Milky Way and the Way of Jesus<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">The Milky Way and the Way of Jesus</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYN4QRngBRlXEDrV_H5ahLaBlk_6l3EiMWixdmRJqm-UyRefR1YIeFWpICQprmO-D2O8mbI69iZQ4YDkidDOuJ3GAe4fp29iKeaSfQOtFi5mHjxfAkqMgFu60gakl45zN_ipAX42lQPlSG3u0krHaffUz6ObHGIY5HSd261Gu5FX6t7xIQTw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYN4QRngBRlXEDrV_H5ahLaBlk_6l3EiMWixdmRJqm-UyRefR1YIeFWpICQprmO-D2O8mbI69iZQ4YDkidDOuJ3GAe4fp29iKeaSfQOtFi5mHjxfAkqMgFu60gakl45zN_ipAX42lQPlSG3u0krHaffUz6ObHGIY5HSd261Gu5FX6t7xIQTw" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After my mom remarried we moved to Toronto where my stepfather worked for Canada’s version of Nabisco; namely, the Weston Biscuit Company. There I spent my high school and college years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My buddy Dave Appleby and I used to love going to the family cottage in the Haliburton Highlands about 150 miles north of Toronto. We drove up in his dad’s 1953 Pontiac Star Chief. What a car! I remember the windshield wipers which operated on a vacuum pump so that when driving uphill and the engine labored, the windshield wipers would stop. This was inconvenient when it was raining which it always was when using them! It was an adventure driving up to the North Country.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I loved the out of doors in those days. We went canoeing at night and studied the heavens. It was unlike anything you could see in the city. There in the dark, dark skies nothing would impede or interfere with that amazing sight. It was as if God had spilled an enormous salt shaker across the canopy of heaven. For the first time in my life I was able to see the Milky Way. It was an enormous pinwheel in the sky and spun about in all its glory. For me at least, it declared the Glory of God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As the Psalmist says;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and the firmament shows his handiwork.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">2 One day tells its tale to another, *<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and one night imparts knowledge to another.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3 Although they have no words or language, *<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and their voices are not heard,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">4 Their sound has gone out into all lands, *<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and their message to the ends of the world.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Or in today’s Psalm</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3 Praise him, sun and moon; *<br /> praise him, all you shining stars.<br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As I leaned back in that canoe, there was absolute silence. But I could hear God’s voice with crystal clarity. It spoke to my heart of the mysterious dimension of Creation and the unfathomable depths of its riches.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I loved reading “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking. Science fascinates me. How does this magnificent universe work? I cannot say that I fully understand all that there is to understand about The Big Bang, Black Holes, The General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, but that doesn’t stop me from gazing into the minds of Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein or explore the thinking of other great physicists. Mind you, I flunked grade 12 algebra so how in heaven’s name do you think I can manage this subject material? Still I study it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">News of the first image of the Black Hole at the center of our Galaxy hit the streets this week. Dennis Overbye’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/12/science/black-hole-photo.html?smid=url-share"><span class="s1">article</span></a> in Thursday’s issue of the NY Times is well worth reading. He explains that at the center of our Galaxy there are forces so strong that the whole of our vastness spins around it. As Carl Sagan would say “billions and billions” of stars and all their planetary systems spin around the center of that dense force so powerful that light itself cannot escape it. To my way of thinking, it is very simple. The vast pinwheel around the center of our Galaxy is like the vortex at the center of a full sink of water draining into nothing but and empty swirl of low pressure. That’s probably over simplified!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What does all this have to do with the Gospel? What is the most powerful force at the center of our lives? Who is at the center of our lives around which everything else revolves like a vast pinwheel? Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life for me but the Way of Jesus! In the same way that the heavens declare the glory of God in that long ago Canadian sky to this then teenager and his buddy David, so too “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It all boils down to one very simple declaration. For as Jesus proclaims in today’s Gospel; “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There are no exceptions to that rule. “The apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God.” That was a problem for some of our ancestors in faith. The word “Gentile” literally means “outsider”. In Jesus, God has declared that there are no “outsiders”. There are no more “Gentiles”. We are all one in Christ! When Peter sat down to eat with these “outsiders”, the “insiders” criticized him. This whole business of “circumcised” and “uncircumcised” is all about who’s in and who’s out. And God help us, the church still plays all kinds of “inclusion/exclusion games.” All the complexities of dietary laws factor into the conversation at that point, and when Peter declared; ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ A vision from God’s had begun to declare a new heaven and a new earth to him and it was centered on the love of God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings us back again to the Way of Jesus, the Way of Love. It is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. Without Love we become a black hole and the truth and the life are not in us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But when we love God, when we love one another, and when we love ourselves as God commands us to do, then we begin to see a New Heaven and a New Earth! Much like a star lit heaven in the Canadian North Country; “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Such is the Glory of the Milky Way to my eyes!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God knows we’ve seen a lot in these past few years with the loss of over 1 million Americans to COVID and millions more around the world. And now untold destruction of a whole civilization in the Ukraine. Human suffering is indeed a Black Hole out of which no light can escape.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Unless we put Jesus at the center of our Universe. It is a fascinating paradox that at the same time that a Black Hole is the darkest thing in the Universe from which no light can escape,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>its magnetic power is such that it releases a light that is brighter than any other force in nature. Wrap your head around that if you can!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings me back to Jesus as the Way and the Truth and the Life. There at the center of my universe there is a force around with everything in my life is organized.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love God.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love one another.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love yourself.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now when I gaze into the heavens I see what John the Divine saw in the center of the human heart; “<i>God</i> will dwell with <i>us and</i> we will be his peoples; God will wipe every tear from <i>our </i>eyes. And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There, I’ve come a long way from those wonderful rides to the North Country in David’s fantastic 1953 Pontiac Sky Chief!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter with thoughts and phrases highlighted that speak to my heart and soul.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Fifth Sunday of Easter</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty God, whom <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">truly to know is everlasting life</span>: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life</span>, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Acts 11:1-18</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">Gentiles had also accepted the word of God</span>. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’</span> This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’</span> If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.</span>”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 148</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 Hallelujah!<br /> Praise the Lord from the heavens; *<br /> praise him in the heights.<br />2 Praise him, all you angels of his; *<br /> praise him, all his host.<br />3 <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">Praise him, sun and moon; *<br /> praise him, all you shining stars</span>.<br />4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *<br /> and you waters above the heavens.<br />5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord; *<br /> for he commanded, and they were created.<br />6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *<br /> he gave them a law which shall not pass away.<br />7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *<br /> you sea-monsters and all deeps;<br />8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *<br /> tempestuous wind, doing his will;<br />9 Mountains and all hills, *<br /> fruit trees and all cedars;<br />10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *<br /> creeping things and winged birds;<br />11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *<br /> princes and all rulers of the world;<br />12 Young men and maidens, *<br /> old and young together.<br />13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *<br /> for his Name only is exalted,<br /> his splendor is over earth and heaven.<br />14 He has raised up strength for his people<br /> and praise for all his loyal servants, *<br /> the children of Israel, a people who are near him.<br /> Hallelujah!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Second Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">I saw a new heaven and a new earth</span>; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband</span>. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”</span> And the one who was seated on the throne said, <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">“See, I am making all things new.”</span> Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life</span>.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 13:31-35</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ <span class="s2" style="background-color: #fff046;">I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.</span>”<br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-40749237363097515352022-05-07T13:31:00.000-04:002022-05-07T13:31:50.979-04:00Once Upon a Time<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Once Upon a Time</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9QB-nTeLENAPXIMIMPYHjTcA7e5TDTPIbZ3G8I4lyQ8gkR1Rz0Dm6GuZ-BgxmUL8HQQq9MY6LRytxKOVOpgB9ByrVLtT98Z32A0KhhEo_3ATY5oRV8ZYGb_ZM7YrwlxV9alP5ionpLQWJqD_nh_EIByjYxq85tGubbEDBDJy_G3qduPAx4A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9QB-nTeLENAPXIMIMPYHjTcA7e5TDTPIbZ3G8I4lyQ8gkR1Rz0Dm6GuZ-BgxmUL8HQQq9MY6LRytxKOVOpgB9ByrVLtT98Z32A0KhhEo_3ATY5oRV8ZYGb_ZM7YrwlxV9alP5ionpLQWJqD_nh_EIByjYxq85tGubbEDBDJy_G3qduPAx4A" width="187" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in a far away land I was a very young parish priest. Our congregation was part of a community organizing effort to respond to the ravages of urban crisis in an old shabby Boston neighborhood.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I was at a good size gathering of churches and happened to meet an elderly Greek gentleman who grew up as a shepherd boy in his native land. He was wearing a shepherd’s cap and his tweed jacket looked like he wore it to bed as well as to church and all the rest of the time as well. As he spoke just the stub of a stogie moved around in his mouth. During our conversation I wondered what it took to be a “Good Shepherd”. After all, he was the first real shepherd I ever met and it was near Good Shepherd Sunday and I needed some good sermon material.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He didn’t hesitate for a moment.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Tree tings. First you gotta know de sheep’s names. Second, you gotta have dogs to keep de sheeps togedder. Tird, you gotta have a shepherd’s crook, so when one a dem sheeps steps outa line, you whacken ‘em upside de hed! Dat’s what it takes to make a good shepherd”. I took careful note of what the wizened old shepherd had to say.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today is Good Shepherd Sunday in the Church Year. Jesus is the Good Shepherd of this flock. Today’s Gospel proclaims; “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To the casual bystander it may seem that the sheep are indistinguishable one from another but not to the Good Shepherd. Not only does he know the names of each of the sheep, but he knows the background, the history, and the personality quirks of each and every sheep. Jesus knows us not just by name, Jesus knows the secrets of our hearts. Not only does he love us no matter what he sees there, he is willing to lay his life down for us. He did lay down his life for us.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I remember my best teachers, the ones I loved because they loved me. The first thing they did every year in September was to line us up in rows and seats and they’d learn our names. But it was more than names they learned about us. They learned exactly where we were in our learning capabilities. Then they encouraged and cajoled us as they taught us our lessons.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Sunday by Sunday I take attendance. Every parish priest worth his or her salt does so. Every week Alice sends out an email to Cathy and me taking careful note of who is new, who is visiting, who is missing. Cindy and I do the same thing as we drive home. We count noses because every single life matters.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You may think of the disciples as the trained sheep dogs keeping us together. God has deployed us all to look out for each other. We tend to stray each to his or her own way. We tend to wander preoccupied grazing with the humdrum of our daily routine. Or when we are wounded, hurt, or sick we may tend to recoil or withdraw in fear. Then we especially need someone to seek us out to keep us together as one in God’s flock.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There are those times when we may think we know better than the shepherd. We may even head off on a tangent. After all, there is a stubborn streak that runs in the human heart. It may take a quick whack upside the head to wake us up. Or we may come to our senses and return “sheepishly” to the flock. <i>Sorry I couldn’t resist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Scripture knows all this about us. Which is why God sends the Good Shepherd to us. Like Tabitha, something in us may even become sick and die. Not to worry. Peter comes to us kneels down and prays and raises us from the dead.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To be sure, life is such that something dies in us day in and day out as life wears us down. There is so much tragedy, trauma and death all around us. Where is our life to come from in the world we live in? It comes from the Risen Christ and someone with the courage of Peter and the disciples who are not afraid of kneeling down to pray. “Tabitha, get up.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Don’t be afraid to ask the impossible when you pray to God. It is not unusual for God to make possible what we think of as impossible. Just because the answer to our prayers so often is “No” does not mean we should not keep asking.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Just because violence is a daily reality in the Ukraine or in our neighborhoods does not mean we should work and pray for peace with a sense of urgency. All wars eventually come to an end. At some point God whacks someone upside the head and knocks some sense into the human heart and mind.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Look at all the multitudes gathered before God as John the Divine does in today’s lesson from Revelation. If this vision of heaven does not whack us upside the head, I don’t know what will. There we are are gathered “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” , and we stand “before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in <i>our</i> hands”. We have all come out of “the great ordeal”, scripture tells us. All of us are gathered together as one flock before one Shepherd. “The Lamb at the center of the throne will be <i>our</i> shepherd, and <i>God</i> will guide <i>us</i> to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from <i>our</i> eyes.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thankfully we are never alone. Which is why we need dogs. When I go for my daily walk along Lynn Shore Drive, I get my daily doggie fix. There is such unconditional love in dogs even for perfect strangers. Like a well trained sheep dog each and every one of us is called by God to look out for everyone else and for ourselves. As Jesus so succinctly put it. Love God. Love each other. Love yourselves. Each one of us is charged with keeping the flock together.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">These past few years have really tested us and the test is not over, not by a longshot. But here we are. There are days when we have become very discouraged but just when we may have begun to loose hope a new resurrection brightens our life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Take a look at our life here at Trinity. Fridays twice a month Alice Mann, Lynn Peterson, Nancy Morrissey and Bruce Malborn have begun to gather with as many as a dozen folks from Dinah’s House for a Mass in Spanish. I’ve begun sharing my Sermons and Newsletter articles in both English and Spanish so that the Gospel reaches as many as possible within our numbers. There is some exciting, emerging new life in this congregation. And I thank God for each and every one of you and your ministry which makes that life possible.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are learning more than each other’s names. We are learning of each others lives. The Good Shepherd knows us each by name and just the wizened old Greek Shepherd taught me so many years ago. Names, dogs and the occasional whack upside the head! It’s all a sign of the degree to which God cares about us and about the degree to which we care about one another.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God, whose Son <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Jesus is the good shepherd</span> of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">calls us each by name</span>, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings for Good Shepherd Sunday with highlights that speak to my heart and soul<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Acts 9:36-43</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Tabitha</span>, which in Greek is <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Dorcas</span>. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">she became ill and died</span>. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Peter </span>put all of them outside, and then he <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">knelt down and prayed</span>. He turned to the body and said, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Tabitha, get up.”</span> Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 23</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">The Lord is my shepherd</span>; I shall not want.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:</span> for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Second Lesson: Revelation 7:9-17</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After this I looked, and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,</span> standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“These are they who have come out of the great ordeal</span>; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd</span>, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">God will wipe away every tear from their eyes</span>.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 10:22-30</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.</span> No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-88531115398256276522022-04-23T12:45:00.002-04:002022-04-23T12:45:39.842-04:00"I Cannot Believe" <p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I Cannot Believe"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHUHlfsUgKsCr5_puDnbEcLiSd8xaYeo5cqqz5SRWZ25EZ194AOI8rAQeaMzGLBi8YBOc4oNWG1kxal7mD7jg5SiljRg17prj9R4TRbtnSrWm6sFlLztryvLTD9DHZgBRr9-RDcHO7dN_Hpp65e27cVbrHHTJEam4AHWY-K2O7jAyXgjEVIg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHUHlfsUgKsCr5_puDnbEcLiSd8xaYeo5cqqz5SRWZ25EZ194AOI8rAQeaMzGLBi8YBOc4oNWG1kxal7mD7jg5SiljRg17prj9R4TRbtnSrWm6sFlLztryvLTD9DHZgBRr9-RDcHO7dN_Hpp65e27cVbrHHTJEam4AHWY-K2O7jAyXgjEVIg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px;">Like Thomas, Elaine could not bring herself to believe. But it wasn’t just the resurrection of Jesus she could not believe, she couldn’t even bring herself to believe in God.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px;"> </span><p></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Elaine was a bit of an introvert and sat in the last pew in the far corner of the church as far away from the pulpit and the altar as she could get. She came late and left early. It took the longest time to find out who she was.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As it turned out she began coming to church after her mother died. Apparently she was trying to make sense of things. It took quite a while but one day, she worked up the courage to get into the receiving line and greet me. I thanked her for being there and invited her for coffee but she was clearly not ready for that. And so it continued week in and week out for what seemed to be a very long time.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One Sunday, as we greeted each other, she asked if we could make an appointment. We did that. We had quite the conversation. She told me of her mother’s death, and how much she appreciated our church services, the preaching and the liturgy. But then she confessed to me with a heavy heart full of anxiety and guilt that she simply could not believe in God. She simply did not see how she could build a case to support the idea of God when to her way of thinking there simply was no evidence for the existence of God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In getting to know Elaine I found out that there were secrets in her family of origin especially involving her father that left some deep scars. She could not tell me exactly what the nature of those traumatic moments were like but I had my suspicions. For Elaine, God was not there when most urgently needed and that’s when I began to understand the nature of her unbelief.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One day she did confess that she wished she could believe the way I believe. She told me that one of the reasons she came to church as regularly as she did was that she liked hearing stories of faith. Oh how she wanted to believe!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I tried the one about the father of the boy Jesus healed; “I believe, help my unbelief”.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Elaine laughed, “Fr Paul, I can’t even get that far.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To which I finally said; “How about this? God and I both admire your honesty. What if I were to tell you that God believes in you irrespective of your ability to believe in God!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That one stopped Elaine in her tracks. She began to wonder. “What if God believes in me? Do you suppose that’s even possible?”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To which I smiled and said; “I wonder!”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is what happened to Thomas on that Second Sunday of Easter. Thomas was Honest to God and to the Disciples about his doubt. “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It was Jesus who believed in Thomas. “A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Thomas; Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To which Thomas said; “My Lord and my God!”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The idea of belief whether it be in God or Heaven or the Resurrection rests not so much on what my puny human mind can fathom but rather on the power of Jesus to believe in me.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It was Jesus who called us one by one to follow because he believed in us. It was Jesus who broke bread with us in the upper room and got to know us one by one. He was the one who healed the sick, fed the hungry, reached out to the leper, the prostitute and the outcast. It sure wasn’t the likes of us. We couldn’t, we wouldn’t do any of that. We did not; we could not believe. Jesus was the one who did that!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It was Jesus who taught us that God shows no partiality to any one kind but that all are one in Jesus. When I think back I realize how true is that is. I think<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of all the churches I have served in these almost 50 years and the people in them. What a crowd of characters. As Cindy likes to remind me, I’ve served more church since I “retired” than I served during my career.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Last week as I celebrated my 49th Easter Sunday as a Priest I found myself blessing the incense “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.” I found myself caught up in the notion of Jesus as “the Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the Ending who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”, exactly as the Book of Revelation puts it today.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus showed us the way to the Father.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is the way of Love.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Heaven begins in our Baptism; “in the Paschal mystery established <i>in</i> the new covenant of reconciliation” as the Collect for the day puts it. The compelling fact of heaven is that we don’t have to wait until we die to know what it's like, we begin living heaven in the way we come alive now in the Living God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is how we learn to Believe! God. Heaven. Eternal Life. It is all a Way of Life we live now that we have become children of the New Covenant of Reconciliation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If I were to wait until I could understand God, I’d never believe. The same is true of any and all of the Great Mysteries of Heaven. I don’t even fully understand the forgiveness of sins but I’m duty bound to forgive as I am forgiven.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Doesn’t his prayer say as much; “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us?” That what a “trespass” is. It is a sin, an offense against God and our neighbor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Believing for Thomas and Elaine and me and you is not about anything we can figure out, comprehend, or understand. If we are honest to God and one another, we won’t really believe it until we see it with our own eyes.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which is why Jesus appears to us in the Upper Room and says; “Peace be with you.” Notice in today’s Gospel. Jesus says that three times. God knows our unbelief. Which is why he manifestly appears to us time and again to say; “Peace be with you”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To which I reply as Thomas did; “My Lord and my God.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I might add this prayer that You might whisper those words into the hearts of all Christians, Jews and Muslims the whole world round. “Peace be with you”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings for this Sunday with those words, phrases and thoughts highlighted that speak to my heart and soul</i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Second Sunday of Easter</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the new covenant of reconciliation</span>: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Acts 5:27-32</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">We must obey God rather than any human authority</span>. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 150</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hallelujah!<br />Praise God in his holy temple; *<br /> praise him in the firmament of his power.<br />Praise him for his mighty acts; *<br /> praise him for his excellent greatness.<br />Praise him with the blast of the ram’s-horn; *<br /> praise him with lyre and harp.<br />Praise him with timbrel and dance; *<br /> praise him with strings and pipe.<br />Praise him with resounding cymbals; *<br /> praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Let everything that has breath *<br /> praise the Lord.<br /></span> Hallelujah!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: Revelation 1:4-8</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John to the seven churches that are in Asia: <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come</span>, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come</span>, the Almighty.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 20:19-31</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Peace be with you.”</span> After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Peace be with you</span>. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Unless I see</span> the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I will not believe</span>.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Peace be with you.”</span> Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-23748824968303772702022-04-16T12:32:00.001-04:002022-04-16T12:32:03.460-04:00What if it's all true!<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">What if it's all true!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV9BVZJKO_5IIQ0x25CnoUniEJpqkZzdXg2bt3giJtErv0qDnCNRAwKPMTMvN-BXEeDZM31hnCFfXho7NkAgeruscrtUaoABsIBrJkzrQtw7ZVYRNX7T1pLY69naFfwrK8oDDSjb6CU8jhjY5c4ZPLbqKUtxJXVkVvRI2xlJfhekIFmDoTnw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1136" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV9BVZJKO_5IIQ0x25CnoUniEJpqkZzdXg2bt3giJtErv0qDnCNRAwKPMTMvN-BXEeDZM31hnCFfXho7NkAgeruscrtUaoABsIBrJkzrQtw7ZVYRNX7T1pLY69naFfwrK8oDDSjb6CU8jhjY5c4ZPLbqKUtxJXVkVvRI2xlJfhekIFmDoTnw" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Above; A Russian and Ukrainian woman carry the cross the 13th Station of the Cross</i></span></b></div></span></b><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">In the early years of my ministry, I was called to the bedside of a woman nearing death. Her name was Ruthie and there she lay in great weakness. I asked her; “Ruthie, what’s it like?” I don’t know why I said that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Ruthie looked at me excitedly, believe it or not; “Fr Paul, this is the greatest adventure I’ve ever been on. Soon, I shall be in Paradise!” Her faith astonished me. As is so often the case, she was the one who comforted me.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I said the prayers at the time of death and gave her communion. We spent some time in quiet to bask in the holiness of that awesome moment. And then she was gathered to all who have gone before.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s when I thought. Yes. It is all true.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Alleluia. Christ is risen!</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There are those who have their doubts and that is understandable. I know I do. Many make no room in their lives for God or heaven or eternal life. After all, we live in a world that operates as if there’s nothing more than what you can see right in front of you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Warfare, for instance, is an experience of nihilism. As Churchill said; “Wow, look at you! You know how to make the rubble bounce!” Again we are caught up in the brutality of warfare.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This year at the Coliseum in Rome on Good Friday the Pope gathered with thousands upon thousands. It was time for the Stations of the Cross. The thirteenth station marks the death of Jesus. The cross was carried by a Ukrainian and Russian family together. The two women looked at each other with tears mingling with sorrow, faith and a desperate hope for peace. As I watched, I found the moment deeply moving.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And that’s when I wondered; “What if it’s all true? What if Jesus is victorious over sin and the grave?” I said it again with the millions upon millions over the millennia;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Alleluia. Christ is Risen!</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Lord is Risen indeed. Alleluia!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When the women went to the tomb that first great Easter Day they had no idea that it was true. They merely found an empty tomb. Someone died. There’s nothing new in that! There was a good deal of panicky scurrying about as the disciples ran hither and yon trying to figure out what they had done with the body.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then Mary was left alone. She came across one she took to be the gardener. Isn’t that perfectly delightful! The one who tends to the rising flowers bursting forth from the stone cold tomb of winter’s earth. She asked him where they have taken him?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And he says to her; “Mary!”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">She recognizes him; “Rabbouni; Teacher.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I have seen the Lord!”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here is the moment that changes everything</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ has died.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ is risen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ will come again.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This time I’ve seen it with my own eyes!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Like Peter whose Easter sermon proclaims; “We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear…to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Furthermore, Eternal Life for Peter is not just something that happens when we die. Our new life in Christ begins with the first encounter with the Risen Lord. Notice how he begins his sermon. “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him”. Precisely the point. Whatever race, ethnicity,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>class or gender identity, we are all one in Jesus</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As I’ve said many times before, on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land an old woman asked us; “What is the color of God?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We looked perplexed trying to understand what she was getting at. And she said; “The color of God is the color of water.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We were in the Arab quarter in the old city of Jerusalem. We had been to the Wailing Wall with devout Jews, the Al-Aqsa Mosque with faithful Muslims, and the Holy Sepulcher where Christians mark the place of Jesus’ death. But the old woman’s question suddenly challenged all the categories and pigeon holes we humans use to organize our prejudices.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Water is colorless. Our bodies are made up mostly of water. It flows through all life and unites us all as one human family.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Peter finally gets it. God shows no partiality.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Gospel is about this kind of resurrection life. When Peter proclaims the Gospel it is about the simple fact that Jesus went about all Judea “doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil”. It seems there was a good deal of mental illness in those days among the suffering broken people Jesus met day in and day out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And so they put him to death by hanging him on a tree. Mosaic law condemned anyone who dies in this way. <i>(Deuteronomy 21:22–23)</i> And in America why did it take until March 29th of this year to sign the Emmett Till anti-lynching bill into law?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The power of all the hate and sin and death is so strong, isn’t it? But the power of Christ over all that sin and death is stronger still. The love of God made flesh and blood in Jesus overpowers every sin and every death.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s why I decided to live the way I live. That is why you decided to live a Gospel life!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are on the Greatest Adventure of our lives as Ruthie taught me so many years ago. Jesus Christ is Risen today. God shows no partiality and neither shall I nor any of you! He went about doing good and healing folks of all kinds of infirmities and so shall we. We’ve got work to do and its God’s work that needs to be done and that work needs to be done well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And besides, it’s all true!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ has died.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ is risen.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ will come again.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Amen. In the Name of God the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect</b>: </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">his glorious resurrection</span> <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">delivered us from the power of our enemy</span>: Grant us so to <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">die daily to sin</span>, that we may evermore <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">live with him in the joy of his resurrection</span>; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Acts 10:34-43</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">God shows no partiality</span>, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">doing good</span> and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">healing all who were oppressed by the devil</span>, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">They put him to death</span> by hanging him on a tree; but <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">God raised him on the third day</span> and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *<br /> his mercy endures for ever.<br />2 Let Israel now proclaim, *<br /> “His mercy endures for ever.”<br />14 <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">The Lord is my strength and my song</span>, *<br /> and he has become my salvation.<br />15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *<br /> in the tents of the righteous:<br />16 “The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *<br /> the right hand of the Lord is exalted!<br /> the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”<br />17 <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I shall not die, but live, *<br /> and declare the works of the Lord</span>.<br />18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *<br /> but he did not hand me over to death.<br />19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *<br /> I will enter them;<br /> I will offer thanks to the Lord.<br />20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *<br /> he who is righteous may enter.”<br />21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *<br /> and have become my salvation.<br />22 The same stone which the builders rejected *<br /> has become the chief cornerstone.<br />23 This is the Lord’s doing, *<br /> and it is marvelous in our eyes.<br />24 On this day the Lord has acted; *<br /> we will rejoice and be glad in it.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But in fact <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died</span>. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ</span>. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">The last enemy to be destroyed is death.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 20:1-18</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.</span> So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Supposing him to be the gardener</span>, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Jesus said to her, “Mary!”</span> She turned and said to him in Hebrew, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher)</span>. Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“I have seen the Lord”</span>; and she told them that he had said these things to her.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-31576327010730324712022-04-09T12:12:00.000-04:002022-04-09T12:12:53.949-04:00A Palm Sunday Meditation<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">A Palm Sunday Meditation</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>“Imitatio Christi”</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzseB7G4ycg_ctJT-eCSAWk-IQphIE6qZIWkfsavUm7CDdbwQgVdb69KBMfrAjWTMLiecuZfBsnB-GIGRgBvUyl8z83gd6F_lcMqocovhK6sMf9kKPGkPBWd5eZ9FfvDY2oh6aHI6yr3Vfoxa9QfvW-GUZOg4qmrYZu0AtjW061iCIW66vdw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1440" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzseB7G4ycg_ctJT-eCSAWk-IQphIE6qZIWkfsavUm7CDdbwQgVdb69KBMfrAjWTMLiecuZfBsnB-GIGRgBvUyl8z83gd6F_lcMqocovhK6sMf9kKPGkPBWd5eZ9FfvDY2oh6aHI6yr3Vfoxa9QfvW-GUZOg4qmrYZu0AtjW061iCIW66vdw" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"Palm Sunday" by Evans Yegon, Kenya</i></span></b></div></span><br /></b><p></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The “imitation of Christ”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Paul tells us in today’s Epistle; “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We stand at the foot of the cross in silence because we recognize that the mind of Christ is in us.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We suffer as he did.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our public suffering with Jesus is with the people of the Ukraine and the Pandemic that has touched us all.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The mind of Christ is with us in the sufferings we endure personally.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We loose loved ones.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Family, friends and we ourselves suffer all kinds of loss and disease.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We share in the suffering of Jesus.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Interestingly, his equality with God was not something Jesus exploited.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rather he emptied himself.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He was in human form.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And then he became obedient even to the point of death.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is the challenge of the “Imitation of Christ”; the “Imitatio Christi.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Frankly, I find that I am rather full of myself.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Jesus empties himself and looks at me to do the same.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is just a fact of the Cross.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is no other way around the Cross but through it,</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In empty silence.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the same way Jesus did.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Curiously as much as we find the Cross to be the end, for Jesus it is only the beginning.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In fact the logical next step for the death of Jesus is his exaltation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For as the Epistle says; “Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That Name “Jesus” is shorthand for the Love of God made Flesh and Blood in him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He is the one who heals and brings the dead to life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He feeds the multitudes.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He seeks the lost sheep and the outcast.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He gathers us together as a hen gathers in her brood.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And we are called to “Imitate Christ” and be like him.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Like the early church in the days of persecution, the Celts in the time of foreign invasion, or the Confessing Church in Germany during the darkest days of Nazism we are called to live our lives like Jesus did.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We began with the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We stand empty and silent at the foot of the cross.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We live our lives for the sake of those who need our courage and our love.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is our way to proclaim that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is why we sing “Hosanna! Lord, Hosanna.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hosanna in the Highest!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When we thought that the Cross was the end, we discovered it was only the beginning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">These Palms are a sign of that Victory!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ride on King Jesus.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ride on to die.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let every tongue in Heaven and Earth confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God in the Highest!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God, the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus</span>, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">emptied himself</span>, taking the form of a slave, being born in <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">human likeness</span>. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father</span>.</p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-15211527214481769252022-04-02T12:16:00.005-04:002022-04-02T12:16:53.747-04:00An Uncomfortable Gospel<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">An Uncomfortable Gospel</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW6x3qKIFy8j1gZvg-IaJL75iOXiE-hGu_qF5HsFXzfa3eXfZB1VoGOWSg0tX07vn92KXB7OTRkePt9KuH39915FrwmTLjx_Zs393YjuDAL_LUmmi5C8Drr6FKSy96wl-XgJIr-wNFYASvjhgEuam9FemEnxil2STuKzzsDXbO3Z5BN1e9vA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW6x3qKIFy8j1gZvg-IaJL75iOXiE-hGu_qF5HsFXzfa3eXfZB1VoGOWSg0tX07vn92KXB7OTRkePt9KuH39915FrwmTLjx_Zs393YjuDAL_LUmmi5C8Drr6FKSy96wl-XgJIr-wNFYASvjhgEuam9FemEnxil2STuKzzsDXbO3Z5BN1e9vA" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This whole scene today with Mary and Jesus makes me very uncomfortable. The whole idea of a woman wiping my feet with her hair with that amount of perfume in front of the whole vestry the congregation, my wife, family and friends makes me squirm and I think for good reason. It seems awfully personal and frankly a bit over the top.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And the amount of perfume. The last I checked, and I checked, a 10oz bottle of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nard Magdalena Anointing Oil bottled in Jerusalem would cost $8.85 from Amazon. My Prime membership guarantees delivery by Friday. But did you know a pound of the stuff would set you back $2,986.62! I checked on that too!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There’s not a vestry in the Episcopal Church that would’t raise objections if anyone went off and spent that amount of church funds without prior approval. And rightfully so! Can you imagine the debate if someone ventured the idea? I mean even folks who think the world of me would rightly ask good questions about that kind of expenditure especially if it would take away from other valuable programs in the church. We simply don’t have that kind of money to spare; and to what end?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John’s Gospel, in telling this story with the benefit of hindsight sees that Judas was not particularly concerned about the poor. But who among us serving on any vestry could justify such extravagance even if we know that our beloved is destined to die?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Jesus tells them to leave her alone. I mean think of it. There she is wiping his feet with her hair and the fragrance fills the entire house. Good heavens a pound of the stuff you could smell half a block away. What is going on here anyway?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then Jesus mentions his burial as if she alone among them sees what is coming in our Lord’s life. She is preparing his body for the inevitable. She alone sees who he is to the disciples. He is the source of their forgiveness and eternal life. She has seen it time and again and knows of it in her own life. She knows she is personally forgiven and that he has given her eternal life. She alone understands, at some level, that he will die and then will rise again. And she will be there again with the other women to anoint his body for burial and will be among the first to see the Risen One.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The women who follow Jesus play a critical role in the salvation story. The Mary/Martha story is interesting when one is fussing over the cleanup and the dishes while the other sits at his feet hanging on every word that falls from his mouth. Then there is the woman at the well who Jesus meets at noonday. She has had a whole sequence of husbands and the one she had then was not her husband. Another fascinating encounter. And on an on and goes until Easter Day when it is the women who are there front and center to be the first to witness his Resurrection.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When a loved one dies we spare no expense. The average cost of a funeral in Massachusetts is around $10,000.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">By the way, the Book of Common Prayer urges the people to make responsible preparations for death so that the burden of it all does not fall on our families.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many avoid the subject. Clergy and lawyers are notorious for avoiding the subject. But in my experience families are often thrown into the trauma of dealing with the subject and are left on their own to make arrangements. Aunt Shirley didn’t have a will, durable power of attorney or any other arrangements. When urged to do so she merely said that she was afraid if she did make arrangements something might happen to her. Then yes something did happen to her. Namely she died and the State of Florida made all the decisions about the disposal of her estate because she had not done so.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let that be a word to the wise. All this business of death and resurrection and even forgiveness can make us uncomfortable. It is all so personal especially when it happens to us or to a loved one.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But it happens. As the Great Litany cheerily reminds us</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“From from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Good Lord, deliver us.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s the key. From dying suddenly and unprepared! In this Gospel Jesus and Mary were embracing preparations and facing facts. Moreover Mary understood that Jesus was doing something new for us. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us today “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus is about to introduce the idea of Forgiveness and Resurrection into our lives. Do you not perceive it?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is what Paul is turning over in his mind in today’s Epistle. He is looking at life and death, suffering and resurrection and his life in Jesus and what that now means as something entirely new. He says; “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is Paul’s way of understanding what it means to anoint Jesus with costly perfume. Pure nard. Even a whole pound of the stuff.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do you not perceive it, Jesus asks of us?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do you not understand what I am doing for you?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do you have any idea of how much I love you?</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And as to the Resurrection from the dead.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do you not perceive it?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As uncomfortable as this moment between Jesus and Mary may make us feel, it remains a moment of pure innocence in the Gospel. Mary loves Jesus unlike anyone else gathered there that day. It had nothing to do with money but everything to do with the intimacy of her devotion to him and his love for her. No matter what she had done or not done in her life, Jesus loved her. Everything stood forgiven but more than that he gave her something entirely unexpected; Eternal Life. It was a life that had already begun and that she was living in the very moment she anointed his feet with her hair. There was nothing uncomfortable for Mary or Jesus in that moment. It was a moment of organic authenticity and fit perfectly into the plan of salvation Jesus prepared for her and for all of us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which bring us finally to the words of today’s Collect;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below the readings appointed for the Fifth Sunday in Lent and highlights that speak to my heart and soul</i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Fifth Sunday in Lent</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect</b>:</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found</span>; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Isaiah 43:16-21</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thus says the Lord, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters</span>, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I am about to do a new thing</span>; now it springs forth, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">do you not perceive it?</span> I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert</span>, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 126</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *<br /> then were we like those who dream.<br />Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *<br /> and our tongue with shouts of joy.<br /></span>Then they said among the nations, *<br /> “The Lord has done great things for them.”<br />The Lord has done great things for us, *<br /> and we are glad indeed.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *<br /> like the watercourses of the Negev</span>.<br />Those who sowed with tears *<br /> will reap with songs of joy.<br />Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *<br /> will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: Philippians 3:4b-14</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead</span>. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own</span>. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus</span>.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 12:1-8</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Martha</span> served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.</span> The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-18424815197679444002022-03-26T12:54:00.000-04:002022-03-26T12:54:19.259-04:00Family Feud<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Family Feud</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh85YumlGNA2EXhoiIvpRX-BQ_ZXaiYgoEoUaxWSwaRKCL98uw_o-wSEr02RxZ8HN3zu6Y-tpq6V_Jw693c_bzaVhzrZXBSV0scRuX4sTfj8OLwJvRRbgh3eNMIsNONN59smG2mMz_sxbdZbkK1l2z5h6n9tXWLy08Zk5TtGRpKDh0a6uDZ5Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh85YumlGNA2EXhoiIvpRX-BQ_ZXaiYgoEoUaxWSwaRKCL98uw_o-wSEr02RxZ8HN3zu6Y-tpq6V_Jw693c_bzaVhzrZXBSV0scRuX4sTfj8OLwJvRRbgh3eNMIsNONN59smG2mMz_sxbdZbkK1l2z5h6n9tXWLy08Zk5TtGRpKDh0a6uDZ5Q" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Face it. There’s bad blood in the family. I remember the scene in Fiddler on the Roof when Tevye’s third daughter Chava wants to marry outside the faith. Tevye reasons within himself that one the one hand she loves him and then on the other hand, he realizes there is no other hand. This far he cannot bend or he will break. He will not bless this child’s marriage outside the faith. It is a powerful moment when the Jewish family is driven out of their homes by Russian soldiers, and Tevye is finally able to look up from packing his meager belongings and softly, lovingly blesses his daughter. In this statement of faith God’s compassion emerges as primary to the father’s faith.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There was a time when Cindy and I announced we intended to marry. She being the eldest of seven in a large Italian Catholic family, I suspected we’d run into some resistance. We were both marrying outside our faith traditions. But we loved each other. I hasten to add we still do!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The day came for Cindy’s father to take me for a long walk. We spoke of many things when he finally stopped me, looked me straight in the eye and said; “I do not want like daughter marrying outside the faith.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I knew enough about Joe’s practice of faith to readily reply; “The day you start going to church is the day I’ll give your objections any credence!” The rest of our walk was quiet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Eventually we we reached an accommodation and life continued. We grew to mutual bonds of affection, honor and respect.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My mother had lots to say about our marriage but I had long since learned how to dismiss some of her emotional excesses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Still there are stresses and strains in family relationships. My elder brother questions my politics and my faith. And I question his. We have reached something of a rapprochement after all these years and we can still speak to one another, sort of.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Look at how things are in God’s family. We are all one race; a human race, but you’d never know it the way questions were framed in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. There were times this week when I wanted to commit mayhem during some of the interrogation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Still, she maintained her dignity and composure and made us stand proud like that iconic photograph of her daughter Leila Jackson beside her. How inspiring!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings us to the Gospel of the Prodigal Son. Talk of iconic images! The very idea of the Prodigal Son has entered the language as idiomatic not just to people of faith but to the general public as well.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Time and again there are stories of wayward children who wander far in a land that is waste. Some come to their senses, some don’t. When they do, the father rejoices. I dare say the mother does too. We all want the best for our children. And when they suffer, we suffer too. When their heart breaks, so does ours. When they come home our hearts rejoice and we are moved to compassion. Who would not call all our friends together and spend extravagantly and celebrate?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But there’s a problem. What of the son who is faithful and true? The one who is always there? The one we can count on to be dependable and true? He is rightfully indignant just as the older brother is in today’s Gospel;</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ He has a point.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In our Gospel life there are times when we are wayward and profligate. There are also times when you can count on us to be there day in and day out, year in and year out. Either way it is the father’s love we look to, the mother’s compassionate heart we depend on to redeem all our days.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is who Jesus is to us. The parable may be titled incorrectly. Rather than “The Prodigal Son”, should this parable rather be called “The Compassionate Father”?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For a family to function without feuding there will need to be an abundance of love and compassion. Moreover we will need to overlook a multitude of sins. Perhaps most heart rending for any parent is bad blood between siblings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And face it. There’s too much bad blood out there. There is brokenness in our families and in our world. Communication may have broken down. You may be hurt. You may have hurt someone you love.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ultimately you may be the only hope there is to pick up the phone and make a call. A good opening line is; “What was it were fighting about?” It may not work. It may be fruitless, but it’s worth a try. And if you win the heart and soul of a loved one, there will be rejoicing in heaven.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Fourth Sunday in Lent is known as “Laetare Sunday”. The Latin word “Laetare” means “Rejoice”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lent is long and and we need a day to “lighten up”. The Psalmist tells us today; “Be glad, you righteous, and Rejoice in the Lord; * shout for joy, all who are true of heart”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The custom in the British Isles on Laetare Sunday is for the family to return to the mother church, the whole family but especially mothers and their daughters. The day is referred to as Mothering Sunday. It rejoices the heart, especially God’s heart when we all come together.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then there is the preparation of the Simnel Cake also customary. It signifies the feeding of the five thousand and the decoration on top represents the apostles. It was a festive occasion. It was a delicious fruit cake made with layers of almond paste and marzipan. Rejoice! Celebrate! Give thanks to God!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Given the state of the world, and the fact of family feuds, it may take a conscious effort to rejoice this year. But Paul reminds us in the today’s Epistle that the old self has died and behold everything is now new because of our life in Christ. And moreover, “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, <i>and</i> <i>has entrusted</i> the message of reconciliation to us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Therefore insofar as it is up to me, I will pick up the phone and at least give it a try. I might suggest likewise to all nearby and far away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God, the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent with highlights indicating those word, phrases and thoughts that speak to my heart.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Fourth Sunday in Lent</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect</b>:</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the true bread which gives life to the world</span>: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Joshua 5:9-12</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">The manna ceased on the day</span> they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 32</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *<br /> and whose sin is put away!<br />Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *<br /> and in whose spirit there is no guile!<br />While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *<br /> because of my groaning all day long.<br />For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *<br /> my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.<br />Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *<br /> and did not conceal my guilt.<br />I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *<br /> Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.<br />Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in<br /> time of trouble; *<br /> when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.<br />You are my hiding-place;<br /> you preserve me from trouble; *<br /> you surround me with shouts of deliverance.<br />“I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you<br /> should go; *<br /> I will guide you with my eye.<br />Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *<br /> who must be fitted with bit and bridle,<br /> or else they will not stay near you.”<br />Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *<br /> but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.<br />Be glad, you righteous, and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">rejoice in the Lord; *<br /> shout for joy, all who are true of heart</span>.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">From now on, therefore, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">we regard no one from a human point of view</span>; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!</span> All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">entrusting the message of reconciliation to us</span>. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3So he told them this parable:</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ </span>Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”</span></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-47519910335138113132022-03-19T13:40:00.002-04:002022-03-19T13:42:33.291-04:00Who are YOU?<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; text-align: center;">Third Sunday in Lent</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Who are YOU?</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrKmNyz5GLdg1GVAE_1WQVtHWV8gfJNP6fHuyH4pDDlwNOFBnvdowlGgLoCwoArVNNz3ffc3Ta7AoqMQO3fOL0u_f0nt7CyLGI71rgCAKyjbeFoP9Ht8XSc4l7c5HdiFZ29LhTjEk7XXgBbI542VEuTJ-tmiZ-mXKp5X5E3f6eu4Fyc8gpEA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrKmNyz5GLdg1GVAE_1WQVtHWV8gfJNP6fHuyH4pDDlwNOFBnvdowlGgLoCwoArVNNz3ffc3Ta7AoqMQO3fOL0u_f0nt7CyLGI71rgCAKyjbeFoP9Ht8XSc4l7c5HdiFZ29LhTjEk7XXgBbI542VEuTJ-tmiZ-mXKp5X5E3f6eu4Fyc8gpEA" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Above, the traditional "Burning Bush" at St. Catherine's Monastery</span></i></div><p></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All right class; name those gods! To review; for the Canaanites god was Baal. The sun goddess of the Hittites was Arinitti and her consort was the weather god Taru. The god of the Amorites, of course was Amaru, son of the sky god. All we know about the Perizzites is that they were a rural people who probably worshipped a host of nature gods but who knows for sure? The Hivites were equally obscure and probably worshipped a bunch of Canaanite deities. The Jebusites worshiped a god by the name of El Elyon, which is close to the name Eli; a name the Israelites used for God. And of course the Egyptians had a pantheon of gods: Osiris, Isis, Horus, and Seth god of chaos, violence, deserts, and storms. Re, of course was the great and exalted sun god.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For every nation on earth the immediate and existential question is who is our god? Who will fight for us and defend our right to exist? And because the answer to that question has always been national in origin, the resulting conflict has led to the rise and fall of many empires and the tragic reality of human bloodshed.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since the twentieth century we have seen two world wars and subsequently a host of proxy wars fought under the tutelage of Britain, the United States, Russia and China. I hate to say it but here we go again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In today’s first lesson, Moses brings us to the central question all history; “Who are YOU?” Moses addresses God in the second person. “YOU”. For the Ancient near eastern mind God is not a he, she, them, or an it. God is YOU. This is a direct encounter not just for us as individuals but for all of us as human beings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One day Moses was minding his own business and tending the flock of his father in law, Jethro. An angel brings a message. “I have seen the misery of my people. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them…to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It has always been God’s way, to see our suffering and our misery and in far too often our slavery. It is God who will deliver us and set us free and give us a good land to live in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moses has come to the Holy Mountain of God. He steps aside to see this marvel; the bush that burns but is not consumed. He is standing on Holy Ground. Moses take his sandals off and stands in silent awe. God speaks to Moses and tells him what he already knows somewhere deep in his heart; “I want you to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let my people go”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Naturally Moses protests; “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh”. I am sure that behind that question was a concern for his own personal safety. Pharaoh, after all was just another absolutist in the pantheon of absolutists. He did not like being questioned.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But God tells Moses; “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’m not sure how reassuring Moses found that “sign”. If it were me, I’d be quaking in my bare feet on the hot burning desert sand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moses works up the nerve to ask this question, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In Hebrew the Name is rendered “YHWH”. Hebrew scholars have debated for centuries exactly what those four consonants mean. Whatever or however you translate the word, it always comes back to the mystery of BEING. God’s BEING and ours. The Great "I AM” as well as our own somewhat more diminutive “I am”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Some say God is whoever God chooses to be at the time. God will deliver us in our time of need. Time and again God is present to us in history. God was there in the time of our ancestors. God was there to bring us out of slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. God gave us a Law to live by.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And in these last days as Christians have always put it, God gave us Jesus to share our suffering and then to rise again in glory.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But back to Moses and this encounter with the Holy of Holies. Back to the Sacred Name and the four consonants “YHWH”. There are no vowels in ancient Hebrew so we have to introduce what scholars call “breathing symbols”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The translation of the Sacred Name breaks the consonants into two syllables. “YaW” and “WeH”. There is a sense in which the consonants are unpronounceable without breathing symbols. The Holy Name is such that throughout Hebraica we are do not say it. We typically use Adonai or Elohim when we wish to say “God.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But what if we were to breathe the Name.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Perhaps the encounter with God is a prayer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Breath Prayer par excellence.</p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Perhaps “YaH” is the silence inhale.</p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pause then exhale “WeH” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Perhaps the Holiest moment is life is the moment you take your first breath, the breath you take now, and every breath you take until you breathe your last.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Understood in this way all life is Holy. God is God of all life, God of all Being, God of every human being.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Taking a human life has always been contrary to the will of God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Those who refuse to see all life as holy are delusional children of the Evil One. They become agents of destruction. Paul urgently pleads with us today; “We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did…and were destroyed by… the destroyer”. This is yet another historic fact. The children of the Evil one are agents of destruction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The root of all grounded sanity is in the simple, sacred act of prayer; being and breathing. This is who God is. I AM. And me too. I am too. This is who we all are.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is only one God and the only way to Peace is by returning to the Holy One in Prayer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If I ask who are YOU?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The answer is always; “I AM WHO I AM”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings assigned for the Third Sunday in Lent with those words and thoughts highlighted that speak to my heart and soul.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty God, you know that <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves</span>: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul</span>; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Exodus 3:1-15</b></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Moses was keeping the flock</span> of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Horeb, the mountain of God</span>. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush</span>; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">holy ground</span>.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.</p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then the Lord said, “<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I have observed the misery of my people </span>who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians</span>, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites</span>. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”</p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 63:1-8</b></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God, you are my God; <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">eagerly I seek you</span>; *<br /> my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,<br /> as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.<br />Therefore <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I have gazed upon you in your holy place</span>, *<br /> that I might behold your power and your glory.<br />For <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">your loving-kindness is better than life itself</span>; *<br /> my lips shall give you praise.<br />So will I bless you as long as I live *<br /> and lift up my hands in your Name.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">My soul is content</span>, as with marrow and fatness, *<br /> and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">When I remember you upon my bed, *<br /> and meditate on you in the night watches.<br /></span>For you have been my helper, *<br /> and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.<br />My soul clings to you; *<br /> your right hand holds me fast.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13</b></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.</p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">We must not put Christ to the test</span>, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">do not complain </span>as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength,</span> but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 13:1-9</b></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”</p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Why should it be wasting the soil?’ </span>He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”</p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-85905324434593924032022-03-12T12:40:00.001-05:002022-03-12T12:51:23.318-05:00"Jerusalem, Jerusalem"<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">“Jerusalem, Jerusalem”</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3y-JwLlX1odTW0OcWrr5gOYMpNfHbTOFuLSnhMkhV-jagqtdmrsxpJCEeR1E7uwLbz9yKzszpVza14gqTddpUP2sPwrEEiONowLCPPapsQkrlHFpS5Sca70ESffxWesNaAWvMVRNUiMK6YPgrTO3NAOy26baWwjPmWx0v5Z54AZSvDVscKg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3y-JwLlX1odTW0OcWrr5gOYMpNfHbTOFuLSnhMkhV-jagqtdmrsxpJCEeR1E7uwLbz9yKzszpVza14gqTddpUP2sPwrEEiONowLCPPapsQkrlHFpS5Sca70ESffxWesNaAWvMVRNUiMK6YPgrTO3NAOy26baWwjPmWx0v5Z54AZSvDVscKg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Above from the altar of Dominus Flevit Church on the Mount of Olives</i></span></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The root meaning of “Jerusalem” is “cornerstone of Peace”. God choose this place as the location for the death of Jesus. It is as if that one act would become the cornerstone upon which the peace of the world would be built.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Isn’t that interesting! That God would choose Jerusalem, the crossroads of many cultures, empires and religions; here Jesus will die. It is a festival city, occupied throughout all time by one<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>foreign occupation force after another, and a home for the three monotheistic religions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This chief cornerstone is also the crossroads of so many struggles. It is tragically the altar upon which a great deal of human bloodshed occurs. Not only does Jesus die there, so too we find ourselves in conflict, hateful and violent. Countless prophets and people die there throughout the centuries and into the present.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But we needn't look that far away to see hateful conflict. Cast your eyes upon Washington, DC. You may be a Republican or a Democrat, a Conservative or a Liberal. Sooner or later we come to January 6th.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Perhaps you are a mainstream Christian, or a born again Evangelical right wing extremist. Or you may wish too have nothing to do with organized religion. For you the intelligent option is secular humanism or outright atheism.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Truth be told the organized churches have not always distinguished themselves in the struggles for racial justice and freedom for all. In fact too many of our churches harbor superstition and prejudice and are racked with one scandal after another. Like many of our institutions, we question everything.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The nations are in an uproar. Peace has shaken us to the core in the Ukraine. Putin’s invasion has laid waste to one city after another. The whole world is anxiously watching as we ask ourselves how we can contain the conflict or how can we intervene without making matters worse?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The litany of conflict is endless. Race, religion and politics. Too many lives lost.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus does not mince words as he surveys the history of the City.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Using the image of a mother hen, our Lord aches to bring us under his/her/their pinions. It is a stunning image as I see it; the transgendered image of Jesus. As she spreads her wings over her chicks or as he stretches out his arms upon a cross; this is God’s vision of obedience.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Throughout salvation history the vision of expansiveness is beyond human telling. When Abram contemplated being childless, God told him to look up at the stars in the heavens. “Count them if you can. So shall your descents be!” And Abram believed in God and God counted that belief as righteousness. When we have the kind of belief that is able to see things as God does, then we can begin to see the expansiveness of God’s love. It is that faith that becomes the source of our righteousness. This is the rock our our faith upon which God builds the foundation of Peace.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But the Pharisees warn Jesus, “Herod wants to kill you.” </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus is nonplussed in the face of raw power, “You go and tell that fox for me. ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I wish there were something we could do about the Herods of this world. There’s something in me that wants to pray for a celestial being to slip something into Herod’s borscht when he’s not looking. But perish that thought right now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God’s eyes and ours must wait and watch as the children and the elderly, their moms and dads lay awake in the night, bombs and missiles strike their homes. God’s eyes and ours must watch and wait as Jesus dies on the cross. The mother hen hides her brood under her wings but what is she against the might of Herod’s weaponry?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The prayer of St. Francis begins “Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” I wonder how can we hope for a negotiated settlement in the Ukraine when our own Congressional representatives cannot even speak to one with a civil tongue in their heads? How can we hope for a negotiated peace with Russia when we cannot even sit at our family gatherings and manage civil and substantive conversations over things that matter to us like civil policy?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The world we live in is desperately broken. We are divided and enslaved by sin. We have forgotten how to listen and to hear the hearts of one another. There is too much contempt in the human heart.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If this nation cannot find what it means to be one nation under God or if our families cannot come together at Thanksgiving or Easter to Bless God and each other then we have no idea what the Cross of Christ stands for.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The vertical dimension of that cross describes the first commandment; “You shall love the lord your God with all you heart, mind, soul and strength”. And the horizontal dimension of that cross is Jesus’ commandment; “love one another”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">She/he/they stands brooding over Jerusalem as a hen seeks to gather her chicks, but they would not! This is the first and fundamental fact of human and salvation history.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When all else fails, we turn to Jesus because it is in only him that we find unity, faith, love, forgiveness and most difficult of all, reconciliation. What Churchill said of Americans can be said of all humankind; “You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing after they’ve tried everything else first!”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">St Paul surveys the human condition in today’s Epistle; “look at them, the enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus is the cornerstone of Peace. It is on his death and moreover his Resurrection that we find our Peace and our Hope. “Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me. “</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings for the Second Sunday in Lent highlighted by with words and thoughts that speak to my heart and mind.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Second Sunday in Lent</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God, whose <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">glory</span> it is always to have <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">mercy</span>: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I continue childless</span>, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”</span> And he believed the Lord; and the <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness</span>.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 27</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">The Lord is my light and my salvation</span>;<br /> whom then shall I fear? *<br /> the Lord is the strength of my life;<br /> of whom then shall I be afraid?<br />When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *<br /> it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who<br /> stumbled and fell.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Though an army should encamp against me, *<br /> yet my heart shall not be afraid;<br />And though war should rise up against me, *<br /> yet will I put my trust in him</span>.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">One thing have I asked of the Lord;<br /> one thing I seek; *<br /> that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days<br /> of my life;<br /></span>To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *<br /> and to seek him in his temple.<br />For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe<br /> in his shelter; *<br /> he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling<br /> and set me high upon a rock.<br />Even now he lifts up my head *<br /> above my enemies round about me.<br />Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation<br /> with sounds of great gladness; *<br /> I will sing and make music to the Lord.<br />Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *<br /> have mercy on me and answer me.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *<br /> Your face, Lord, will I seek</span>.<br />Hide not your face from me, *<br /> nor turn away your servant in displeasure.<br />You have been my helper;<br /> cast me not away; *<br /> do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Though my father and my mother forsake me, *<br /> the Lord will sustain me</span>.<br />Show me your way, O Lord; *<br /> lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.<br />Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *<br /> for false witnesses have risen up against me,<br /> and also those who speak malice.<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">What if I had not believed<br /> that I should see the goodness of the Lord *<br /> in the land of the living!<br /></span>O tarry and await the Lord’s pleasure;<br /> be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *<br /> wait patiently for the Lord.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: Philippians 3:17-4:1</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Their end is destruction</span>;<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;"> their god is the belly</span>; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">our citizenship is in heaven</span>, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.</p><p class="p5" style="background-color: #fff046; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 13:31-35</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, </span>‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!</span> See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”</p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-30578905775537089972022-03-05T13:53:00.003-05:002022-03-05T13:53:35.956-05:00"I want to go home"<p> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>“I Want to Go Home”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYumT1H5qP8O27TmDrj4LEXq4hhGNIqlo61zeeZ0d_aB-gKbnCKHSrrdkSCb3FaagGbEkU1ssFFz4m8tWGTFOn1b-GhLvHiliPIf1miNTbkigXyxOjKnFMJ3Wn8eUQAKJWgr1cK2o4_um9iScwSiWnL2PG2-ff6tLNKLheqmBRWa9HMTOqmw=s721" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="721" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYumT1H5qP8O27TmDrj4LEXq4hhGNIqlo61zeeZ0d_aB-gKbnCKHSrrdkSCb3FaagGbEkU1ssFFz4m8tWGTFOn1b-GhLvHiliPIf1miNTbkigXyxOjKnFMJ3Wn8eUQAKJWgr1cK2o4_um9iScwSiWnL2PG2-ff6tLNKLheqmBRWa9HMTOqmw=s320" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>This narrative in the Passover Haggadah, begins thus:</i></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>My father was a wandering Aramean.</i></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It was a difficult conversation. Cindy and I had agreed to answer a call to “retirement” and to serve part time at St. Peter’s Church in Salem, Massachusetts. It was our ticket home. We had served St. Mark’s Church in Saint Albans, WV for 11 years. I had enough years of credited service in the church to receive my full pension. That together with income from St. Peter’s would actually give us a respectable salary increase. I had spent many years of my professional life too far away. It was time to go home.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">First however came that difficult conversation. I made an appointment with the Senior Warden. We had lunch at our customary meeting place when important matters needed to be discussed. I think he knew what was coming. When I informed him that I would be “retiring” at the end of December in 2006, his response was not one I could repeat here in exactly the same terms he used at the time. Suffice it to say, we had forged a close relationship as pastor/parishioner. His family had become close to our own.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bruce was a man of enormous faith. He looked intently at me and said after that initial reaction, “Perhaps this is God’s way of looking out for you and your family”.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As it turned out I needed good medical care and I received that at Mass General. Cindy needed to be near her family as her folks approached their riper years. And Joshua was able to find a decent job at Logan Airport with American Airlines.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Deep within all humankind there is a yearning to go home. In our first lesson we hear that ancient creedal formula as recited by all Hebraica as a part of the Liturgy of the Passover Haggadah; “A wandering Aramean was my father”. In Rabbinical tradition the wandering Aramean was Jacob. We understood ourselves to be a people enslaved and in exile, but also a people for whom God would intervene to bring us freedom and the Law.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many of us are a people who wander far from our homes in our origin stories. Unless we are among the peoples whose origin stories are from these lands. Often we were a people driven out of our homes by invading armies. History recounts endless examples of invasion and slavery. The Viking invasions of the British Isles in the seventh century, the European invasion of Colonial America, and of course our own participation in the slave trade. Presently, the Russian invasion of the Ukraine leaves us edgy about what comes next in our own history.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are driven time and again into the Wilderness. There, we are confronted with our demons. Jesus is haunted by the Evil One in today’s fascinating account of his own wilderness experience.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus ate nothing during those forty days. The Devil and Jesus knew he could turn stone into bread if he wished. How tempting,</p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">when you are hungry to make such a command. It would be so easy. But humankind does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The Desert Fathers and Mothers often repeated those very words when they were famished.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In prayer their spirits were fed. And there is the wonderful story of a couple that went to St. Columba for marriage counsel. He fasted with them for one night. God’s word came to them in the long, lonely, hungry silence and they heard God speak to their hearts of their love for each other. That’s a unique approach to marriage counseling. Yes, humankind does not live by bread alone.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It was tempting when the Devil showed Jesus the glory of the nations. Imagine the authority and the power he has at his disposal, and all Jesus had to do was worship Satan. It is easy to give in to the evil of warfare. You can see the rubble throughout the nations during and after armed conflict. It is terrifying. Imagine having all that power at your disposal. But Jesus is unarmed. His only weapon is obedience to the law of God; love, forgiveness and reconciliation. Again and again we have to learn what Martin Luther King reminds us; “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” And hear these words from Dr King; “Evil may so shape events that Caesar will occupy a palace and Christ a cross, but one day that same Christ will rise up and divide history”. There is no room for violence or hatred in the heart of Jesus; his only possible answer to Satan is; “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Last Temptation of Christ is perhaps his most compelling. “Prove it Jesus. Prove you are the Son of God. Throw yourself off the pinnacle of the Temple so we can all believe you.” The tempter quotes Scripture; ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ Jesus’ reply is another quote from Scripture; ’Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ As to proving that he is the Son of God, look, even if he does rise from the dead and manifestly appears to the women first of all, then to the twelve and more than 500 at one time, still they will not believe. How would throwing himself off the Pinnacle of the Temple prove anything?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our faith is tested time and again. We are tempted to turn away in fear. We are now in the Wilderness of War. God knows what will become of us. A mind set of cold and calculating thought is hard to predict as is its stability.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus directs us in the wilderness experience to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, to worship God and worship God alone and not to yield to the many temptations that beset us at times like this.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For as St. Paul puts it; “The word is near you,” it is “on your lips and in your heart”. It is “the word of faith that we proclaim”.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am glad I am at home where I can retire again and again and again. It has been more than 15 years since I retired the first time. The search for peace continues. There have been many wars in all the intervening years. But as long as I am among a people of faith like yourselves, it is worth keeping the candle of faith burning. Because the word of God is always very near.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God, the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr. Paul</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings appointed to be read on the First Sunday of Lent along with highlights of those thoughts that speak to my heart.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">assaulted by many temptations</span>; and, as you know the <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">weaknesses</span> of each of us, let each one find you <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">mighty</span> to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Deuteronomy 26:1-11</b></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, “Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“A wandering Aramean was my ancestor</span>; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders;</span> and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">first of the fruit</span> of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.” You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16</b></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *<br /> abides under the shadow of the Almighty</span>.<br />He shall say to the Lord,<br /> <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“You are my refuge and my stronghold,</span> *<br /> my God in whom I put my trust.”<br />Because you have made the Lord your refuge, *<br /> and the Most High your habitation,<br />There shall no evil happen to you, *<br /> neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.<br />For <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">he shall give his angels charge over you</span>, *<br /> to keep you in all your ways.<br />They shall bear you in their hands, *<br /> lest you dash your foot against a stone.<br />You shall tread upon the lion and adder; *<br /> you shall trample the young lion and the serpent<br /> under your feet.<br />Because he is bound to me in love,<br /> therefore will I deliver him; *<br /> I will protect him, because he knows my Name.<br />He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *<br /> I am with him in trouble;<br /> I will rescue him and bring him to honor.<br />With long life will I satisfy him, *<br /> and show him my salvation.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: Romans 10:8b-13</b></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart”</span> (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”</p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek</span>; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 4:1-13</b></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness</span>, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">He ate nothing</span> at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”</span> Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">I will give their glory and all this authority</span>; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">If you, then, will worship me</span>, it will all be yours.” 8Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down</span> from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-5540943401673912362022-03-01T18:22:00.003-05:002022-03-02T10:25:45.187-05:00"I wish I could do more!"<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">“I wish I could do more!”</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM7HdwW-3OhXQJz9X8ULWWrY_ONbe1VBplhHHo8sO32Q2KLQwkqmOPVIEFA0zp0-sAOJ7MusWroR0Qhu564AZPSp68DWHGAxRwMCV2Y_bWPNDv-nB6t8RUnTy_slPv6k90VFSzl06Tzryn_t0vONfxA_iWiyeRco_WfmIj93_yZiAys3sbhw=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1183" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM7HdwW-3OhXQJz9X8ULWWrY_ONbe1VBplhHHo8sO32Q2KLQwkqmOPVIEFA0zp0-sAOJ7MusWroR0Qhu564AZPSp68DWHGAxRwMCV2Y_bWPNDv-nB6t8RUnTy_slPv6k90VFSzl06Tzryn_t0vONfxA_iWiyeRco_WfmIj93_yZiAys3sbhw=s320" width="210" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Above; Our Lady of Kyiv</i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the past week I’ve heard my heart, my wife and many more say those exact words. “I wish I could do more!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The people of the Ukraine have entered into the Wilderness of War. Young men and old take up arms to defend their homeland and their families. Half a million refugees have already fled into Poland, Romania and Moldova. We are learning our Eastern European geography once again. In our own minuscule attempt at defiance we’re saying Kyiv as the Ukrainians say it and not Kiev as the Russians do. “I wish I could do more!”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The haunting words of the First Lesson are front and center on the world stage of history;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,<br />for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near--</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">a day of darkness and gloom,<br />a day of clouds and thick darkness!</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Like blackness spread upon the mountains<br />a great and powerful army comes.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We hope and pray for God’s army to protect us rather than for Putin’s army to menace a people who only want to live in peace.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Into the Wilderness we go. Ash Wednesday comes to us this year at exactly the right time. Jesus goes into his own wilderness and there he wrestles with his demons. “I wish I could do more”.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But here there is something you can do. In fact I am going to recommend that you do three things as you wrestle with your inner life in the Wilderness of this particular Lent.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">First, let us begin with a period of self examination. I know that sounds vastly inadequate in comparison to what the folks in the Ukraine are going through or in terms of what Jesus was preparing himself to do for us. But we have to begin somewhere.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Take a good look at your own life. Pray as Jesus taught us to pray in today’s Gospel; “Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ask some questions like; What is important to you and what can you let go of? Where are your areas of satisfaction and frustration? In what ways are you energized and joyous? Where are you depleted and downcast? How do you spend the precious time God gives you? Think of your family and friends. They are counting on you and your wisdom, your love and in so many cases your forgiveness. Perhaps you are the one who is lost. You may be the one in need for wisdom, love, encouragement and forgiveness. And so much more. The Wilderness of our own souls has much to teach us. Go there with Jesus this Lent and learn with him. This is something you can do.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Secondly, read something. Turn off the TV and the Radio. Practice Silence for a time. I can recommend all kinds of books to read if you like. Perhaps you could read something from Kenneth Mcintosh. His book; “Water from an Ancient Well” was worth reading. Or anything by John Philip Newell. I recently finished “Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul”. On the other hand, you could pick up any book by any author and learn from it. It really doesn’t matter. Or study with Cathy the book she is planning to share with you during our own congregation’s Lenten journey. There are so many things to read for you heart and soul’s health.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thirdly, sacrifice something. I realize that the idea of sacrifice is not a popular one but I am thinking of the folks in the Ukraine and what little I can do to share the journey with them. Perhaps there is something I can give up. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights. Perhaps there is something to this idea of sacrifice. Every great religion on earth has a time of self discipline and sacrifice. Perhaps it is time to pray.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Finally, be of good cheer. This is what keeps us going as we journey through life’s many wilderness periods. We need each other to talk to, share joys and sorrows. This is what makes me so grateful to be among a people like you. Somehow we’ve made it through all of what history has thrown at us throughout these thousands of years. Your love, your kindness and your good cheer. Your dogged resiliency.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">David Bowman was an impish sort of fellow who loved to banter back and forth with his friends. When he became the Bishop of New Western New York he remained himself. He would call the clergy first thing every Ash Wednesday with a cheerful; “Have a gloomy Lent.” Everybody had a good laugh and to this day I receive a phone call from a former parishioner who loved that story. “Have a gloomy Lent, Fr Paul”, says she. And we both laugh.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We may or may not find a way to do more. But what we will do is to find a way to do enough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-37731075179122830072022-02-26T12:25:00.000-05:002022-02-26T12:25:23.759-05:00The Bible v Facebook<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">The Bible v Facebook</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlF4-7A-echMQLVDPVV1GxFvsOc217C9kfrZ6CmgERoVpLhefLu6LrpttadYyG8zCgMjIfK67xiGySIZVQT-FuRE7j2DVt-PHwYPlgHR_zzsZPOvTBAIOq2UT-NQmHSSlvZIc5c0obSnxCpxA4EyuDr8hLlvez9rg5jt_Rka9rQAy9eIre0g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="889" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlF4-7A-echMQLVDPVV1GxFvsOc217C9kfrZ6CmgERoVpLhefLu6LrpttadYyG8zCgMjIfK67xiGySIZVQT-FuRE7j2DVt-PHwYPlgHR_zzsZPOvTBAIOq2UT-NQmHSSlvZIc5c0obSnxCpxA4EyuDr8hLlvez9rg5jt_Rka9rQAy9eIre0g" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When war broke out in the Ukraine this week, I wanted to pray but prayer alone seemed so inadequate. Then the Spirit moved within me and I heard the ancient cry of Scripture. The words of Psalm 2 came to my heart and I cried out with the millions more of faith throughout time and place;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Why are the nations in an uproar; *<br />why do the peoples mutter empty threats?<br />Why do the Kings of the earth rise up to warfare</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">against God’s People?<br />The Holy One whose throne is in heaven holds them in derision.<br />And now, you Kings, be wise; *<br />be warned, you rulers of the earth.<br />Submit to God with fear, *<br />and with trembling bow before the Most High,<br />Lest God be angry and you perish, *<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For your time on earth is short and you will give and account for all that you have done.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I printed these words to my Facebook page thinking that the ancient words would help to express something deep within us all. But something in what I wrote was problematic.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br />Within moments my account was restricted. Apparently the words of Scripture give offense to one of Facebook’s algorithmic bots. I was astonished to think that the prayer of God’s people of faith down through the ages was met with rejection from this particular ubiquitous electronic medium.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Like many of you, I have been struggling with Facebook’s place in our culture of late and how it has occupied an outsized role in our national and international life. In fact I think Facebook has been used quite effectively to divide Americans and Europeans by a very clever and devious mind. The resulting weakness in the West gives the upper hand to anybody who may wish to launch a military campaign in Eastern Europe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It didn’t take long for me to finally draw the line. If my Facebook account can be restricted for quoting Scripture, then it has come time to delete my account and to declare a Solemn Fast for myself from Social Media.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What happened as a result of that action was a series of conversations with family and friends. And this I believe is what humankind needs more urgently than ever; the sacrament of human conversation. Whatever our point of view, let us at least find a way to speak to one another about it as if we were all children of the same God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In today’s Scripture passages we do more than speak with one another. Moses and Jesus find themselves speaking directly with God. Imagine being in the Presence of the Living God!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When Moses held high converse in the Presence of the Holy One his face would shine and the people were afraid to come near him. So Moses put a veil over his face, until he went back again up the Mountain where the sacred conversation continued. Then he would remove the veil in the Presence and his face would shine yet again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pay attention when you pray, something like that radiance begins to shine in your own heart and soul as you approach the Holy. Think about that for a moment or two…</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In today’s Gospel the sacred conversation reaches a whole new level well beyond human understanding. Here the Disciples are confronted with Moses who represents our deliverance out of slavery and God’s gift of the Law. Elijah likewise appears representing the Prophets and God’s love of Justice especially on behalf of the poor.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus is there too and I can imagine what that might have been like. I’d be dumbstruck. And so they were for a while but Peter couldn’t help himself. “Let’s make three dwellings; one for you one for Moses and one for Elijah.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Peter what are you talking about?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I don’t know.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How can anyone know what to say in the Presence of such an awesome experience of the Living Christ and his Transfiguration? How can anyone know what to say in the Presence of the Law and the Prophets and the Love of God made Flesh and Blood in Jesus?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You think you have something to say about that? Best you hold your tongue, listen and look.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus is Transfigured. Moses and Elijah fade into the background and Jesus emerges from one Glory to another. His raiment is brighter than any fuller’s soap on earth could make.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moses at the Burning Bush asked God; “What is your Name”. Listen up and God will tell you.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moses was summoned up to the Mountain of God and had nothing to say because God laid down the Law.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">After all it is God who asks the questions and we who give the answers. We learn that lesson time and again throughout history. No King or Queen, no Pharaoh, no dictator, no autocrat, no president on earth is god. Only God is God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Peter thought that somehow we could make three dwelling places; one for the Law, one for the Prophets and one for Jesus. But there is no way to put God in a box. God’s Glory shines in and trough and above and beyond anything our minds can fathom. Perhaps it is best for us to keep a holy silence in the Presence of the Living God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But the Good News is not that God is beyond human knowing as Jesus reveals it. In fact it is all so simple. When Jesus died and rose again, the Love of God also came to life within each of us. As Jesus forgave us, so we forgive. As Jesus reconciled us to God, so we reconcile each to the other on earth. As Jesus stretched out his loving arms on the hard wood of the cross everyone comes within the reach of his saving embrace.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings me back to the case of the Bible v Facebook. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">"Why are the nations in an uproar? </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Why do the kings of the earth imagine a vain thing. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do they not know that God is God?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We read in Scripture; “the fool has said in his heart; there is no God.” ~Psalm 14:1. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Perhaps some algorithmic bot would take offense at that too. </p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is a tragic mistake for any King on earth to think there is no God.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which is why I pray the prayer of Scripture.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today we all pray for those who suffer in the midst of warfare. For men, women and children whose homeland is under attack, and for refugees who have no home to go to.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">May our hearts open to them as God’s heart opens to all humankind.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God the Most Holy Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the appointed readings for Transfiguration Sunday with words and sentences highlighted that speak to my heart.</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Transfiguration Sunday</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">changed into his likeness from glory to glory</span>; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Exodus 34:29-35</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the skin of his face shone because he</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">had been talking with God</span>. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out</span>; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining</span>; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Psalm 99</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">The Lord is King</span>;</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">let the people tremble; *</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Lord is great in Zion; *</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">he is high above all peoples.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“O mighty King, lover of justice,</span> you have established equity; *</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and fall down before his footstool; * he is the Holy One.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moses and Aaron among his priests,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">you were a God who forgave them,</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">yet punished them for their evil deeds.”</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and worship him upon his holy hill; *</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">for the Lord our God is the Holy One.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle:</b> 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel</b>:<b> Luke 9:28-36</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. </span>They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. </span>While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!</span>” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">And they kept silent</span> and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.</p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-28521090438227460052022-02-12T17:14:00.000-05:002022-02-12T17:14:16.666-05:00The Beatitudes 2.0<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">The Beatitudes 2.0</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmFaEYlE1SgwycYDsmF-3vhyiHRg_F1aISwuo3MeHK6QKXy0tOBOhpnMttGBW17huA1UdLMlaxYgJ_cBb8rb6Y9XqBNIJODf1pNswSM8_T82tGwhByHWi7tabNOQ_yixB41z3egvBnDBTZHYM1YKpZFYYaJvXfGofgbE1BwWBK_yaiG6nHNQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="584" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmFaEYlE1SgwycYDsmF-3vhyiHRg_F1aISwuo3MeHK6QKXy0tOBOhpnMttGBW17huA1UdLMlaxYgJ_cBb8rb6Y9XqBNIJODf1pNswSM8_T82tGwhByHWi7tabNOQ_yixB41z3egvBnDBTZHYM1YKpZFYYaJvXfGofgbE1BwWBK_yaiG6nHNQ" width="319" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In our home the rule was; “no cursing”! It was honored more in the breach than in the observance. Ours was a multigenerational home. My Grandmother, uncle, mom, brother and me, all lived under one roof. When the language got a little salty, which it often did, my grandmother would become severe. Brandishing her wooden spoon, she’d declare; “I’ll thank you to hold a civil tongue in your head!” Still the air often turned blue with a string of epithets from my uncle and not infrequently from my mother. And that, my friends, would make my grandmother cringe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There’s a part of me that cringes at the thought of God cursing. Today we read what the Lord says: "Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals.” The language makes me wince. But Jeremiah is seeking to make a point.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Namely, that if we trust in mortals and not in God we are indeed invoking some kind of judgment upon ourselves. Do I make flesh and blood a god? Do I trust in my own strength? Or do I recognize that life itself is a gift?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Surely all of us trust in God above all else. But then I wonder do we hedge our bets from time to time. St. Paul wonders how serious we are about living the Risen Life of Christ. As an Easter People the idea of the Resurrection is at the core of everything we do, whether we actually believe it or not. Like every article of faith in the Nicene Creed, the idea of the Resurrection is something we live into.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Who can understand such a mystery as the Resurrection? The Virgin Birth? The Triune God? There is no way on earth we can fully understand every article of faith.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thankfully, faith is not at root an intellectual exercise. Faith is what we do and how we live. As for me I dare to believe everything that Jesus did and taught by living into the way he lived and taught.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings us to the Beatitudes 2.0. We all know the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew. Many of us were required to commit these words to memory as youngsters. And if we didn’t memoize them, we know them at an even deeper level of the spirit. But what of these words from Luke’s Gospel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Class, what is the title of this sermon?</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yes! Excellent, that’s correct, “The Sermon on the Plain” as the scholars call it! It takes place, alongside the Mediterranean Sea, near Tyre, 38 miles and Sidon, 48 miles from the Mount of the Beatitudes. It appears that Jesus had his “stump speech”, something that he would repeat time and again as he made his way from town to town during his ministry. His ideas developed over time, and perhaps varied from audience to audience as the setting and the need changed.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This version of the Beatitudes is much more direct than the more familiar one. Here Jesus talks about the poor. They weren’t “poor in spirit”. They were just plain poor. He blessed them. Likewise those who were hungry, hated, excluded, reviled and defamed. Jesus’ love and compassion reached out to all these; and because it did, they crowded around and he blessed them.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Jesus has sharp words for some in today’s Gospel. He goes on to say; “Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.”</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When Jesus saw oppression he had strong words. In Seminary we are taught to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. In the tradition of Jesus, the fifth century Celtic theologian, Pelagius, wrote “A person who is rich and refuses to give food to the hungry may cause far more deaths than even the cruelest murderer.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Those words are prophetic for the Irish and for many others caught up in famine, poverty, slavery, and oppression to this very day. There are those who have and others who have not. This is not justice.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In one congregation after another, I have taken up the cudgels on behalf of the needy, and folks mostly stood foursquare behind me. It is not unusual for a priest to come into conflict. God knows I’ve had my moments.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Every priest plays to mixed reviews. There’s the old story of the time when the rector fell ill and was hospitalized. Within a few days the recovery was going well when the Senior Warden stopped by with prayerful reassurances. In fact the Vestry had taken a vote that very day for the priest’s speedy recovery. The vote was 7-5!</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today, Psalm 1 takes precedence over the other 149.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is well worth heeding its words.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, * nor lingered in the way of sinners,<br />Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *<br />For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *<br /> but the way of the wicked is doomed."</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Uh-oh…there’s yet another edgy word “doomed”.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If I have a quizzical look about me sometimes when I read the Scripture, it is only because I’m trying to make sense of it. As challenging as that may be, when trying to make sense of the world we live it that will produce far more than quizzical looks on my face. That’s only because I’m still seeking God’s Justice.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If I wish to be happy in God’s world one thing I do know; it will begin with a Blessing. I will bless anyone and anything I can, beginning with those in need. This is what Jesus did both in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Sermon on the Plain. Everything else, I leave to God</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God, the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the scriptures assigned to be read this Sunday with highlights marked that speak to my spirit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect:</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness<span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;"> we can do nothing good without you</span>, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Old Testament: Jeremiah 17:5-10</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thus says the Lord: <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Cursed</span> are those who <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">trust in mere mortals </span>and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">a shrub in the desert</span>, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">parched places of the wilderness</span>, in an uninhabited salt land. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Blessed</span> are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">a tree planted by water</span>, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse— who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Psalm: Psalm 1</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">wicked</span>, *<br /> nor lingered in <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the way of sinners</span>,<br /> nor sat in the seats of the <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">scornful</span>!<br /><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *<br /> and they meditate on his law day and night</span>.<br />They are like trees planted by streams of water,<br /> bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *<br /> everything they do shall prosper.<br />It is not so with the wicked; *<br /> they are like chaff which the wind blows away.<br />Therefore <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes</span>, *<br /> nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.<br />For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *<br /> but the way of the wicked is doomed.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead</span>? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile</span> and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died</span>.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 6:17-26</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">He came down with them and stood on a level place</span>, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">the coast of Tyre and Sidon</span>. They had come to hear him and to be <span class="s1" style="background-color: #fff046;">healed</span> of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.</p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-19042116386208672212022-02-05T12:14:00.000-05:002022-02-05T12:14:54.382-05:00Another Fish Story<p style="text-align: center;"> <br /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Another Fish Story</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg62bqTLvAYKaF0j3rKOMIzRBDzBSKgiTO59rXe2TzBPixabUno2xoQhqunTSIT6aWS5P5MY3hbJdagSWdQklmxVSwv0wQvTrVdoKp4jFsifm-s-2QaQa_l8KDI3cetSZmcSIhmXsmswUoTULYRFjmhkV_ifZ1YBvjbKvoUPsWNliMUxjqiyg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg62bqTLvAYKaF0j3rKOMIzRBDzBSKgiTO59rXe2TzBPixabUno2xoQhqunTSIT6aWS5P5MY3hbJdagSWdQklmxVSwv0wQvTrVdoKp4jFsifm-s-2QaQa_l8KDI3cetSZmcSIhmXsmswUoTULYRFjmhkV_ifZ1YBvjbKvoUPsWNliMUxjqiyg" width="180" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Red Rock Park is about half a mile from my house and I enjoy walking there along our seaside promenade. The seasons, the sea and sky, the gulls and seabirds provide a never ending source of spiritual satisfaction to my soul and I find myself rejoicing with the imagination of our Triune God who is constantly painting a canvas of Glory right before our eyes.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">During the more temperate seasons, folks like to gather at the park with their fishing gear and there they sit day after day, night after night, hour after hour, visiting with each other, telling stories, catching up on the news of the day. Once and only once have I seen someone catch a fish. But what a fish it was! When the creature caught onto the line excitement immediately electrified all who were gathered there. The fisherman in question struggled against the power of the fish. The rod he held in his hand bent to such a degree that it looked like it would snap in two. He was unable to haul the catch to shore by himself so several other stout fellows were dispatched below to lend a hand and haul the fish ashore. Finally, after a long and heroic battle between man and beast the fish was subdued and they brought the creature to shore. Proudly the fisherman held the fish by his gills for all to see. That fish measured from his foot to well above his waste. </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At which point he announced; “Everybody’s coming to my house to eat tonight!” </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Can you imagine the celebration! What fun!</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Can you imagine the joy in heaven when just one of us catches God and is caught by God. The scripture says; “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. <i>~Hebrews 10:31.</i> And when I say “fear” I mean it in the biblical sense of awe and wonder. </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In today’s Gospel there’s not just one but a whole netful of fish; so many that when hauled aboard ship the vessel began to sink. In such a dramatic scene it’s all hands on deck. The excitement, the danger and the reward are all palpable. It was an amazing haul and one that was unforgettable to the disciples, so much so that they told the story again and again until it was written down for us in today’s Gospel. </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The story speaks to us today. Here we are on a cold February day in Haverhill several thousands of years later, thousands of miles away, reflecting on how we are caught up into God’s net. Nothing is ever the same again once we are gathered together closely into a relationship with the Triune God and to one another. </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Life itself takes on a new way of being. We relate to one another differently when we are woven together in God’s net. Because Christ forgives us we forgive one another. Because of his compassion our cup overflows toward one another with an abundant measure of generosity. And since we are reconciled to God in Jesus we are also reconciled to one another. This is the Dream of God; to live as one as if we are now the Body of Christ.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is our life’e end; to live in the fear of the Lord by being toward each other the way God’s being is toward us. Thus we are filled with the kind of joy that redeems all our days and wipes all the tears from our faces and all our sins from our souls. All our hopes, all our fears, all our guilt are caught up into God’s net and hauled into God’s nearer presence from birth to death and well beyond. “All is well with us now and all manner of thing shall be well with us”. <i>~para Dame Julian of Norwich.</i></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">At a time of national crisis when King Uzziah died, Isaiah dreamed another dream of God and he “saw the Lord sitting on a throne. Seraphs were in attendance above him and one called to another and said: <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You may see now what I mean when I say that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The prophet is dumbstruck by the experience and says the only thing he can say;</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Here am I; send me!”</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The prophet regained his composure; “Here I am send me.”</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is Good News. The coal has been taken from the altar of God. Your guilt has been taken away. God sends you! </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Paul sums up the Good News even more succinctly. His words have the sound of a Creed to them;</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day, that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And whatever else you and I have done with our lives good and bad alike, each of us can say “I am what I am”. You are the one who Jesus loves enough to stretch out his net and to haul you into God’s kingdom.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When we fall into the hands of the living God we cannot restrain ourselves. Our spirits rejoice like the Psalmist. </p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *<br />
before the gods I will sing your praise.<br />
I will bow down toward your holy temple<br />
and praise your Name, *<br />
because of your love and faithfulness;<br />
When I called, you answered me; *<br />
you increased my strength within me.<br />
Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *<br />
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *<br />
The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *<br />
O Lord, your love endures for ever;<br />
</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Imagine the feasting in Heaven because of you! Thanks be to God. Amen.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the readings appointed for this Sunday with highlights that speak to my soul.</i></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect</b>:</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Isaiah 6:1-8</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fff045;">In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple.</span> Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: <span style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span style="background-color: #fff045;">Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”</span> The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And I said:<span style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> “</span><span style="background-color: #fff045;">Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” </span>Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Now that this has touched your lips, <span style="background-color: #fff045;">your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” </span>Then <span style="background-color: #fff045;">I heard the voice of the Lord saying, </span><span style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span style="background-color: #fff045;">Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, </span><span style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span style="background-color: #fff045;">Here am I; send me!”</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 138</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 <span style="background-color: #fff045;">I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart</span>; *<br />
before the gods I will sing your praise.<br />
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple<br />
and praise your Name, *<br />
because of your love and faithfulness;<br />
3 For you have glorified your Name *<br />
and your word above all things.<br />
4 <span style="background-color: #fff045;">When I called, you answered me; *<br />
you increased my strength within me.<br />
</span>5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *<br />
when they have heard the words of your mouth.<br />
6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *<br />
that great is the glory of the Lord.<br />
7 <span style="background-color: #fff045;">Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *<br />
</span> he perceives the haughty from afar.<br />
8 <span style="background-color: #fff045;">Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe</span>; *<br />
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;<br />
your right hand shall save me.<br />
9 <span style="background-color: #fff045;">The Lord will make good his purpose for me;</span> *<br />
O Lord, your love endures for ever;<br />
do not abandon the works of your hands.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. For I<span style="background-color: #fff045;"> handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am</span>, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 5:1-11</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, <span style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span style="background-color: #fff045;">Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”</span> Simon answered, <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, <span style="background-color: #fff045;">they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink</span>. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">’ </span>knees, saying, <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span>Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, <span style="background-color: #fff045; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">“</span><span style="background-color: #fff045;">Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”</span> When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.</p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-45417835990246547842022-01-22T15:43:00.000-05:002022-01-22T15:43:13.711-05:00On Eagles' Wings <p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">On Eagle’s Wings</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgubUMZe4CYasVkZYmLdGCPeXiJ228ZxTKGwUsZoEjJ-zYX3ir5IqB6idvvJUsbNMz9PVLJPo2GHnHUkQ0AjfWE_hEZ4I8qDQ_INFoCMyZW6W8mDqtDQpT3xNFIvulhye3PmTdH4V8ajdITFp2usYVh_vFzsrj9QnPtCRshOJTCC0PwEv5V-w=s1920" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1920" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgubUMZe4CYasVkZYmLdGCPeXiJ228ZxTKGwUsZoEjJ-zYX3ir5IqB6idvvJUsbNMz9PVLJPo2GHnHUkQ0AjfWE_hEZ4I8qDQ_INFoCMyZW6W8mDqtDQpT3xNFIvulhye3PmTdH4V8ajdITFp2usYVh_vFzsrj9QnPtCRshOJTCC0PwEv5V-w=w202-h144" width="202" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Above; Stellar Sea Eagle</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">According to Mass Wildlife a Stellar sea eagle paid a recent visit to the Taunton River in Dighton, MA. Never before has such a raptor been sighted in these whereabouts. The bird must have thought he could do better than that so he winged his way to Bar Harbor, ME. That certainly is a cut above Dighton. Birders from near and far have flocked to see this amazing creature that is so far from its native home in Asia and yet has somehow arrived to visit us. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Watching an eagle in flight is a magnificent experience especially this particular species which dwarfs the American Bald Eagle. Biologists tell us that every feather has a purpose for the flight of such an avian. Its eyesight is able to focus in on prey ten or twenty time the distance we can see. Its talons can lift a victim 4 or 5 times its weight while in flight!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Imagine what we could do as a nation if we were truly to act as one people. This is the essential message of Paul today in his letter to the Christian folk in Corinth. Not unlike many churches down through the ages, factions had developed. Some folks said that they liked Paul, others liked Apollos and so on. All this bickering drove Paul to distraction, and so in today’s epistle, the Apostle reminds his friends that we are all one body in Christ. Christ cannot be divided. Can you imagine if an eagle’s right wing, said to its left, I’ve decided I don’t need you. Or if its eagle eyes said to its talons, I don’t need you either. Duh! How well do you think that would work out for an eagle?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Can you imagine how we would soar if we could be but one?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In some ways we have forgotten what that might mean for us. Take the nation of Israel for instance. They had forgotten the Torah, the Law of God. So long had they been in exile in Babylon that they had no time to practice their faith. Faith itself was discouraged and they took up with foreign gods.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But then the day came when Ezra the priest gathered the people by the Water Gate and read to them from the Law of God. He explained it to them, and gave its sense so that they could understand it. So moved were they that they broke down in tears; tears of sorrow that they had forgotten how much they loved God and how dear they were to each other as a nation and as a people.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But Ezra the priest said to them; “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Then the people, remembering who they were and whose they were, soared like an Eagle. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God restored them and their spirits rose to the heavens as the Psalmist says; </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“The heavens declare the glory of God, *<br />
and the firmament shows his handiwork.<br />
One day tells its tale to another, *<br />
and one night imparts knowledge to another.<br />
Although they have no words or language, *<br />
and their voices are not heard,<br />
Their sound has gone out into all lands, *<br />
and their message to the ends of the world.<br />
The law of the Lord is perfect<br />
and revives the soul; *</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Is there a lesson in there somewhere for us as a people and for us as a nation?</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Which brings us at last to the Gospel for the day. After his wilderness experience and temptation in the desert Jesus returned to Galilee filled with the Holy Spirit. His ministry was in its very beginnings and quite naturally he went to his home town and his own synagogue and there he read from Isaiah a passage he loved; </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus played to mixed reviews in his home town as we all know, yet still his spirit soared. There were so many things in store for him as he set his sites on the work ahead. He focus was on us, the poor, the sick, the outcast. His mission was to offer his life for our sake. His joy was in pouring his life out for the people he met along the way. And thus he began his journey.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">His voice calls out to you by name and I know you hear it. You cannot help yourself. Day in and day out you reach out to those you love. That’s the call of Jesus. Family, friend and stranger alike; you let your light so shine before others that they may see the good you do and glorify God in heaven.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The collect puts it so succinctly; “Give us grace to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation”.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Back in seminary days we spoke often of our “call” to one another. Some of us had a clearer sense than others of what that meant. I knew early on that I wanted to be a priest, but I’ve told you that story many times before. Others were not so sure. My friend Gary once confessed to a bunch of us that he had no sense of whether God was calling him. He’d never “heard any voice speak to him”. We tried to explain to Gary that’s not how God works. Rather, we urged him to listen to the Silence in your heart of hearts. Gary was not satisfied. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Being the kind of person I am I twinkled my eyes at another friend and he picked up immediately what I was up to. We went to another corner of the room and together we cupped our hands and whispered the name; “GARY”. I wheeled around, looked at Gary and said; “Oh my God, did you hear that!”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It didn’t really help much other than to give us all a good chuckle but Gary did go on to be ordained and he served a mission school in Puerto Rico for many years and was dearly loved and admired by his students. God does have a wonderful way with us when we answer readily his call to serve.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God has called us to this wonderful and sacred ministry. We are Baptized to it. We are nourished to continue it in the Eucharist. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So may our spirits soar and exult with the Psalmist; </p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“He will raise you up on eagles' wings</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bear you on the breath of dawn</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Make you to shine like the sun</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And hold you in the palm of His hand”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the Name of God the Most Holy Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are the lections assigned to be read this Sunday with highlights of words, sentences and thought that resonate in my heart.</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Third Sunday after the Epiphany</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">January 23, 2022</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect</b>:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Give us grace, O Lord, to <span style="background-color: #fff046;">answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation</span>, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fff046;">All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate</span>. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest <span style="background-color: #fff046;">Ezra brought the law before the assembly</span>, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month.<span style="background-color: #fff046;">He read from it facing the square</span> before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. <span style="background-color: #fff046;">Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,”</span> lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. <span style="background-color: #fff046;">So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, <span style="background-color: #fff046;">“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law</span>. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and <span style="background-color: #fff046;">do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm 19</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fff046;">The heavens declare the glory of God, *<br />
and the firmament shows his handiwork.<br />
One day tells its tale to another, *<br />
and one night imparts knowledge to another.<br />
Although they have no words or language, *<br />
and their voices are not heard,<br />
Their sound has gone out into all lands, *<br />
and their message to the ends of the world</span>.<br />
In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *<br />
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;<br />
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.<br />
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens<br />
and runs about to the end of it again; *<br />
nothing is hidden from its burning heat.<br />
<span style="background-color: #fff046;">The law of the Lord is perfect<br />
and revives the soul; *<br />
the testimony of the Lord is sure<br />
and gives wisdom to the innocent.<br />
The statutes of the Lord are just<br />
and rejoice the heart; *<br />
the commandment of the Lord is clear<br />
and gives light to the eyes.<br />
</span>The fear of the Lord is clean<br />
and endures for ever; *<br />
the judgments of the Lord are true<br />
and righteous altogether.<br />
More to be desired are they than gold,<br />
more than much fine gold, *<br />
sweeter far than honey,<br />
than honey in the comb.<br />
By them also is your servant enlightened, *<br />
and in keeping them there is great reward.<br />
Who can tell how often he offends? *<br />
cleanse me from my secret faults.<br />
<span style="background-color: #fff046;">Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins</span>;<br />
let them not get dominion over me; *<br />
then shall I be whole and sound,<br />
and innocent of a great offense.<br />
<span style="background-color: #fff046;">Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my<br />
heart be acceptable in your sight, *<br />
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fff046;">For just as the body is one and has many members,</span> and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, <span style="background-color: #fff046;">so it is with Christ</span>. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. <span style="background-color: #fff046;">The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,”</span> nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: Luke 4:14-21</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543613.post-79281204363582932472022-01-15T10:37:00.001-05:002022-01-17T09:48:38.863-05:00Falling in Love with God<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Second Sunday after the Epiphany</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Of Weddings and Marriages</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="Art &amp; Religion - WORLD RELIGIONS RESOURCES &amp; LESSONS" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://worldreligionlessons.weebly.com/uploads/4/3/2/3/43237055/published/he-qi.jpg?1502455793" style="-webkit-user-select: text; height: 385px; margin: 0px; text-align: start; width: 385px;" /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Above, Wedding in Cana by Hi Qi, 2013</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A wedding is for a day; a marriage for a lifetime. A decision to follow Jesus takes a moment, becoming his disciple is forever thereafter.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In Christian Marriage we stand before God and among our family and friends, we declare our love for each other and then we exchange our vows. A snapshot of that day is forever etched in my heart. Not only did we become one with each other but so did our families, sort of, and our friends, kinda. That wedding day was an unforgettable celebration. All our days hence have been interesting. We haven’t had a dull day yet!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">So it is with Jesus. In our Baptism we make a decision to follow him. Then comes the rest of our lives. In our prayer and service to him we become disciples. Week by week we are nourished by the Eucharist. There comes a time when the word disciple changes for many of us. We become his apostles. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">A disciple follows. An apostle is sent.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">How do I know if I am one of his?</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Look at the collect of the day. We pray that if Jesus is the light of the world, then may we be illumined by his Word and Sacraments and thus let our light shine. Notice that all Jesus asks of you is to let your light shine!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Look at the Lesson from Isaiah if you wonder where you stand with God. The prophet says; “I will not keep silent, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.” Again the theme of God’s radiant light emerges. It is no wonder that Christians and many other people of faith orient our gathering places toward the rising sun. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Then toward that radiance we lift our spirits with the Psalmist; “God’s love, reaches to the heavens, How priceless is your love, O God!”</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">A mark of our discipleship is the presence of the Spirit. Paul reminds us that “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” Like the folks in that factious church in Corinth you and I may look different, act different and think different but it is the same spirit that unites us as one. This is the most challenging of all the mysteries of weddings, marriages and human relationships. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Not all marriages make it. I can remember one couple that didn’t make it two weeks. When I saw the bride, she told me; “He changed!” I thought to myself, “How much can one person change in two weeks?” I have found myself in the middle of some dicey situations as a parish priest. Especially when confronting physical abuse. I have been a party to finding safe housing for battered women and their families. In one especially memorable situation a woman came to my office in tears because her husband was engaged in an extra marital relationship. He was a postal employee, and disregarding the potential dangers, I confronted him and warned him that if he did not cease and desist from his behavior, I would advertise him as a sinner and deny him communion until he repented and returned to his wife. You can imagine how he felt about me after that. But, to my amazement, he did return to his wife and they are still married to this day! </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">As Meryl Streep says of the whole business of love; “Its complicated!”</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Some marriages end in divorce. My mom tried three times that we know of until she finally got it right.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">As for us, we have fallen in love with God. We decided to follow Jesus. Then Jesus sent us out to do the work to the Holy Spirit. There is much to be forgiven, much to be reconciled, so very much to be loved. We are wed to the Risen Christ. Now the rest of life is a marriage of service to the Living God!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Forge on then as Martin Luther King might urge us on. Janet King and I decided that we few could not do justice to what many call the Negro National Anthem. But when I think of our Marriage to God, I think of our struggles to make God’s will known. Let me read the lyrics of this stirring hymn;</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Lift every voice and sing</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Till earth and heaven ring</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Ring with the harmonies of Liberty</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Let our rejoicing rise</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">High as the listening skies</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Let it resound loud as the rolling sea</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Facing the rising sun of our new day begun</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Let us march on till victory is won</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Stony the road we trod</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Bitter the chastening rod</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Felt in the days when hope unborn had died</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Yet with a steady beat</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Have not our weary feet</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">We have come over a way that with tears has been watered</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Out from the gloomy past</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Till now we stand at last</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">God of our weary years</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">God of our silent tears</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Thou who has brought us thus far on the way</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Keep us forever in the path, we pray</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Shadowed beneath Thy hand</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">May we forever stand</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">True to our God</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">True to our native land</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Our native land.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">May we so live our lives that our Love of God shines in every dark and discouraging moment. May our love for one another lift our spirits that life itself becomes a torch of freedom. Moses freed us from slavery. Jesus freed us from the power of sin and death. Now be radiant in God’s Word and Sacrament! Amen.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided, and Everlasting Trinity. Amen.</span></p><div><br /></div>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Fr Paul</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Below are today’s assigned readings with words, phrases and thoughts highlighted that resonated within my heart.</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Collect</b>:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Almighty God, whose Son our Savior <span style="background-color: #fff046;">Jesus Christ is the light of the world</span>: Grant that your people, <span style="background-color: #fff046;">illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory</span>, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First Lesson: Isaiah 62:1-5</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For Zion’s sake <span style="background-color: #fff046;">I will not keep silent</span>, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, <span style="background-color: #fff046;">until her vindication shines out like the dawn</span>, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed <span style="background-color: #fff046;">Forsaken,</span> and your land shall no more be termed <span style="background-color: #fff046;">Desolate</span>; but you shall be called <span style="background-color: #fff046;">My Delight Is in Her</span>, and your land <span style="background-color: #fff046;">Married</span>; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. <span style="background-color: #fff046;">For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Psalm: Psalm 36:5–10</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fff046;">Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,</span> *<br />
and your faithfulness to the clouds.<br />
Your righteousness is like the strong mountains,<br />
your justice like the great deep; *<br />
you save both man and beast, O Lord.<br />
<span style="background-color: #fff046;">How priceless is your love, O God!</span> *<br />
your people take refuge under the<br />
shadow of your wings.<br />
They feast upon the abundance of your house; *<br />
you give them drink from the river of your delights.<br />
<span style="background-color: #fff046;">For with you is the well of life, *<br />
and in your light we see light</span>.<br />
Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, *<br />
and your favor to those who are true of heart.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:1–11</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now concerning <span style="background-color: #fff046;">spiritual gifts</span>, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Now <span style="background-color: #fff046;">there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit</span>; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.<span style="background-color: #fff046;"> To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good</span>. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. <span style="background-color: #fff046;">All these are activated by one and the same Spirit</span>, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Gospel: John 2:1–11</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fff046;">On the third day</span> there was <span style="background-color: #fff046;">a wedding in Cana of Galilee, </span>and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” <span style="background-color: #fff046;">Jesus did this, the first of his signs</span>, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.</p>"Fr. Paul" Bresnahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672884565443833633noreply@blogger.com0