Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles. [October
28.]
The Collect.
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O
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ALMIGHTY God, who
hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the head corner-stone; Grant us so to be joined together
in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple
acceptable unto thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Twenty-First
Sunday after Trinity
The
Collect.
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G
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RANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faith- ful people pardon
and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a
quiet
mind; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
17 These things I command you, that
ye love one another. 18 If the
world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his
own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember
the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If
they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my
saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But
all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know
not him that sent me. 22 If I had not
come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for
their sin. 24 If I had not done among
them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have
they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be
fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you
from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he
shall testify of me: 27 And ye also
shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
(John 15:16-27)
The world, if you listen to its claims, is
full of love. Men love sensual beauty, comfort, food, drink, a good time,
money, etc, but is this real love? What happens to the love professed for money
when there is no more time, or money? Even the love a wicked man has for his
child perishes with the fires of Hell. So what is the essence of real love?
Real love is directed outward, not inward. It
does not base itself on lust, on pride, or upon the temporary values. Real
love, as defined in Holy Writ, is eternal. Real love is bounteous for, the more
given, the greater the reservoir thereof. So Christ gives us a direct order, or
commandment - These things I command you,
that ye love one another. LOVE
ONE ANOTHER, as I have loved you, Jesus commands in another place. That
is more love than we are capable of either giving or comprehending, so how can
the Christian obey this Commandment? He obeys by, first loving God with all his
heart, with all his mind, and with all his strength. If he does so, the second
part will be easy. He will love his neighbor, as does Christ, as himself. The
love of God among Christian people should be very much like a bicycle wheel.
The Church is the outer rim. The spokes are the love we profess, and the center
(or axle) is Christ who is the center of all of our Love. Those spokes, too,
draw ever nearer to one another as they draw nearer to Christ.
An
example of Christian love is given by Dr. J. Hamilton: When a rose
bud is formed, if the soil is soft, and the sky is genial, it is not long
before it bursts; for the life within is so abundant, that it can no longer
contain it all, but in blossomed brightness and swimming fragrance it must
needs let forth its joy, and gladden all the air. And if, when thus ripe, it
refused to expand, it would quickly rot at heart, and die. And Christian love
is just piety with its petals fully spread, developing itself, and making it a
happier world. The religion which fancies that it loves God, when it never
evinces love to its brother, is not piety, but a poor mildewed theology, a dogma
with a worm in the heart.
18.If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it
hated you. 19 If ye were of the world,
the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Can
the whole world hate you? Believe it or not, the world can, and does, hate you.
It hates you because you are not one of its own. Christians, remember, are not
of this world. It is the same thing as hating all of the people of China simply
because their government is Communist except, in our case, we are hated because
our Sovereign is righteous. The world does not like to surrender its elusive
and doubtful treasures; but neither does it wish to come into a kingdom whose
judiciary is based on love. The world prefers to keep its power to crush the
weak, and elevate the wicked.
20.Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is
not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also If
our King is viewed as the greatest enemy of the world, why would the world love
His subjects. In the ancient annals of wars and government, when the King's
Palace was taken by the enemy, all who occupied the Palace were alike tormented
and slain. The vulgar and reprobate of the world literally hate righteousness
and justice. Because you belong to the Righteous Christ, they hate you and seek
your annihilation.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's
sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had
not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. Had these
of the world known God, they would have at least feared to do such evil; but
they do not know God, nor do they desire to know Him. Had God's Word not
clearly been proclaimed to the world through the Gospel of Christ, these wicked
ones would have at least the excuse of ignorance. But they are now devoid of
any covering for their sins since they have rejected the Redeemer and Savior.
The Prodigal's Robe have they not taken to cover their filthy sins.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
Remember that historic feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. The father of
both clans was hated by the other, they therefore sought to kill his children.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other
man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me
and my Father. Had Christ not proven with many wonderful words
and works His Person, the world would yet have excuse for their lack of faith.
But He did come and healed the lame and diseased. Restore sight to the blind.
Raised the dead again.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be
fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
This is the most hurtful realization of all concerning the world's hate. It is
groundless and without a cause. Christ came onlyu to comfort, save, enlighten…yet,
they hated Him for it. And they will hate you and me as well.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you
from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he
shall testify of me: The Comforter does not come toi turn the
world's hate for us into Love, but to give us comfort in spite of the world's
hate. He encourages, fortifies, inspires, and helps us to carry on despite the
many obstacles and pitfalls along the way. You will recall that the Angels
comforted Christ in the Garden before His Passion, yet, His great mission
remained as a Sacrifice, written in Red, upon the portals of Heaven itself.
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have
been with me from the beginning. From the beginning at which we
came to know Christ, we shall bear witness of Him – not out of compulsion, but
out of Love and Duty.
Today we honor and remember St Stephen, the first martyr, and St Simon. St
Stephen died proclaiming the Gospel of His Lord. At the moment of his death, he
asked forgiveness upon those ignorant men – one being Saul (later Saint Paul) –
who were stoning his life from him. Can you sacrifice only your pride and
self-dignity today for Christ? You are not asked, today, to submit to stoning,
but you can at least stand together with the people of God and boldly proclaim
righteousness to the four quarters of the world. They may not heed you, but at
least they will have no excuse in ignorance of the Truth.
