All Saints Day
The Collect
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ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit
together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of
thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all
virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which
thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Twenty-First
Sunday after Trinity
The
Collect.
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RANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful 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.
5.And from Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his
own blood (Rev 1:5)
14 “………
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of
the creation of God;” (Rev 3:14)
A witness, to be believed, must have credibility. A profligate liar and
gossiper will not be accepted as a credible witness in a court of law. From
whence cometh this credibility that makes our words believable? 1) It springs
from an unblemished reputation of dealing fairly and speaking the truth over
one’s complete lifetime. 2) It derives from an acquired character and change of
heart that has resulted from some significant event in one’s life that is, in
its fundamental definition, life-changing. An example of the first instance
would be the example of Job – an upright man who remained so even under the
most trying of circumstances. The second example would be the Samaritan Woman
who came to Jesus as an adulteress, and without credibility, seeking plain
water and left as credible witness possessing, and professing, the Water of
Life! Under most normal circumstances, present day politics excluded, the
higher the position of responsibility, the greater the credibility. But there
is an ACQUIRED credibility made available in Christ – the
ultimate Possessor of Truth and True Witness.
Paul was a faithful witness through his newfound, and acquired, faith in
Christ. He had been a fervent persecutor of the Church until struck by the
Light of Christ on the Road to Damascus. From that time forward, he was a
valiant witness for Christ even unto martyrdom; in fact, the Greek word for ‘witness’
is the same as that for ‘martyr.’ There can be no greater seal for truth than
one’s own blood. In this respect, Christ is the greatest Witness of Truth for
He shed His last drop of blood to seal that truth of Salvation in Himself. Behold,
I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the
people. (Isaiah 55:4)
Another characteristic that suggests credibility for a witness is his knowledge
and understanding of the thing to which he is attesting. If a witness was not
present to observe the scene of a crime, he cannot be a witness to its
commission. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of Witnesses. (Rev 1:8) He is the
complete word starting with the first letter of the Greek alphabet all the way
through to the last. He is the same in the English alphabet. (Luke 11:50, 51)
He is the COMPLETE WORD and the COMPLETE TRUTH. In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God……
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth. (John 1:1, 14) You can see that Christ was a Witness FULL of
grace and TRUTH. When a vessel is full, it can hold nothing else.
Christ held nothing else but Truth!
We are not called to be witnesses except in circumstances in which there is a
need. We know many things that we have seen and heard that do not require our
witness, or testimony, to the events. But important issue may require our
witness, and certainly the faith we have in Christ requires our witness. But,
Friends, there was never a greater need or cause for the Witness of Christ. The
world was steeped in darkness, error, and sin. It was deemed by God to be
essential that One should come knowing all truth of the Father to bear witness –
that Witness was Christ! Had we not had this all-necessary Witness, we would
yet be dead in trespasses and sins. He came to tell us all that we needed to
hear of the Father’s love, His plan and purpose, that we might be redeemed
through that same Witness – the only Begotten Son, Jesus.
A witness does not offer ‘opinion’ – only known facts that he has observed. I
am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness
of me. (John 8:18) A witness does not leave out any detail of his knowledge.
Neither did Christ fail to make a complete revelation of His Father and
Himself. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things
soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19)
A witness in this life has but a short duty, and is then forgotten. That
Witness which is Christ has a witness and testimony of eternal import and
duration. Christ is a Witness whose testimony is not once, or a thousand times,
but ongoing in the lives of those who love and follow Him.
Christ, as the Great Witness of Truth, calls upon each of us who are privileged
to that Truth to share liberally with all who will listen. Soon the Trial will
end, and the witnesses will either have spoken, or held their piece. Of what
heavenly good is a witness who will not testify? Have you testified today of
Christ and His Mercy, Reader?
