Sermon Notes for 19^th Sunday after Trinity 6 October 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

The Collect

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

O GOD, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. (Matt 9:1-8)

 

The Collect for the day suggests, we are not able to please God in the ways of righteousness, but we can be pleasing to God in the strength of our faith in the Righteous One – Jesus Christ.  Even the little acts of faith we exhibit are not ours, but come at the grant and mercy of the Holy Spirit.  If He rules our heart, our ways will be pleasing to God. There is no other way in which we can please Him.

            Jesus, in the previous chapter, has just cast demons, which He sent into a nearby herd of swine, from two young men. The two men were set free from these demons, but the swine, possessed of devils, rushed over a cliff into the waters below and perished. The herdsmen rushed into the city and told all. We are told the entire village turned out to meet Jesus – not to express gratitude for the goodness to those possessed of demons – but to prevail upon Christ to depart from their shores. They feared loss of revenue more than loss of their own souls. This is much like the modern church. So, Christ departs, since He is a gentleman and does not impose His company upon those who do not welcome Him, and proceeds across the Sea of Galilee to His own hometown. It is here that we pick up on today’s text.

 

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city

            It is likely that multitudes were anxiously following the movements of Christ by word of mouth. Every rumor of His coming was eagerly received. Were it the same today! 

 

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed

            Amazingly, there were men who had early heard of Christ’s crossing to them from the Gaderenes. They had already, by their strong faith, gone to the home of their cherished friend and prepared him on a stretcher to bring to Christ. We are not told of the faith of the man afflicted by palsy, but the faith of his friends would prove sufficient.  The man being brought to Christ had a serious illness. It was a CHRONIC illness much as sin is to every man born of woman. His illness had taken away his liberty to move, to associate, and to speak out on matters of faith and life. Doesn’t sin steal away our liberty in the same way?

            Now this man is being brought to Christ, on the strength of his friends’ faith, to make him whole. It is much like the woman taken in adultery being dragged before Christ – the only source of healing and forgiveness – by men who intended her no good at all. We have all needed a friend, or even a stranger, to bring us to Christ and introduce us to that great Personage and Lord. The man with the palsy was in a most miserable of human conditions. So were we before we were brought to Christ.

            There are two powers revealed here in the text – the power of sin to destroy and make miserable, and the power of Christ to make whole and impart joy and liberty. We see in this account that our own faith may be essential to bring another to the point of being made whole in Christ. We learn, too, that often the efforts of more than one is necessary to bring one to Christ, and these must work in unison (in carrying the bed level at all corners).

 

Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.           

            Jesus’ notice is fixed on the faith of the men who bring the victim sick of the palsy – not the victim. He sees THEIR faith and is moved to compassion and amazement. One point I will make at the onset of the account: the furthest thing from the mind of the man afflicted by this horrible ailment is most likely not forgiveness. He desires, above everything else, to be made free of the disease.  But he does not realize that faith precedes freedom and liberty. In first aid, we learn that the most important consideration in treating a victim of some violent crime or accident is to STOP THE BLEEDING, if there is any bleeding. This is the medical procedure of ‘triage’ which requires treatment of the most serious and life-threatening condition first. Our most serious affliction is not leprosy, or palsy, or physical blindness! It is SIN. Sin kills finally and forever! Jesus treats that affliction first! Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

            

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

That’s right! That same old gang of detractors and doubters that followed Christ everywhere. They still follow Him and doubt the miracles of life and love of which God is benefactor.  They saw Christ heal blind Bartemeus; they saw Him call Lazarus from the grave at Bethany; they saw the young daughter of Jairus restored to life – yet, they believed not. Why not, do you suppose? I believe it was because they did not WANT to believe! If we believe Christ, we must abandon self. Our free wills must be exchanged for that Will (Mind) which was in Christ! No longer would they be king of the mountain, but Christ would be – so they traded their birthrights in God for a bowl of Esau’s porridge. But never doubt – our thoughts are not kept from the notice of Christ. He knows our hearts better than we know them ourselves.

 

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Be not deceived, God is not mocked! Jesus knows all of our thoughts – past, present, and future! Perhaps these rascals were shocked that Jesus read their hearts without their speaking. Why do ANY of us think evil in our hearts? Because, until we have known Christ as Lord and Savior, we have all of the traits and characteristics of our father, the devil.

 

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Jesus Christ is God also. He has His seal of authority to prove all things. Any man could falsely proclaim, Thy sins be forgiven thee! But what would be the result? Our sin would remain just as excessively as before the words were spoken. But when the same words are spoken by Christ, they bear the seal of Divine Authority! In truth, they are not the same words when spoken by Christ. Our words are like gold-colored lead coins compared to His 24 karat solid gold words of the Realm of Heaven. He proves all things by the Power of His Word. It is easy for man to speak false forgiveness, but what of speaking true healing? Forgiveness is an inward and invisible work of Grace granted by God. Physical healing is an outward manifestation of miraculous proportion. The first is greater, but the second is more observable! The foolish high churchmen (Pharisee) have been asked a question they dare not answer. Nonetheless, the answer is immediately revealed to their doubting eyes!

 

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

            The Seal of Authority of Christ is a plain manifestation to those who doubt. The man, stricken with the palsy, has been healed of his most critical disease (Sin) and is now given liberty to move and to shout after being healed of his palsy. He not only arises from his bed, he obeys that voice of authority and picks up his bed, and carries his bed to his house. Liberty in Christ is a TOTAL liberty! We are no longer held down and bed-ridden, but have liberty not only to move, but to bear burdens and to go to our wonderful home that awaits all who belong to Christ. And he arose, and departed to his house.

 

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men

            It is paradoxical, indeed, that the multitudes of common folk recognized the miracle as coming only from God, but the Pharisees did not! Of course, even the multitudes did not recognize that it was God Himself that stood before them, in Christ, to perform this miracle. How many today see the miracles but not the hand of Christ behind them? How many walk the lonely road to Damascas, wanting to see Christ, when He walks right beside them?

Behold, I am with thee always, even unto the end of the world!

AMEN

 

 

O GOD OF EARTH AND ALTAR, a Hymn devotion for 1 October 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

²⁷ All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.²⁸ For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations. Psalm 22:27-28

 

            One interesting aspect of this great hymn is the life of its author as well as the occasion for which it was written. O GOD OF EARTH AND ALTAR was written by the great writer and religious commentator, G.K. Chesterton (1874-1935) who composed works such as Orthodoxy, and Heretics. The most common tune is LANCASHIR by H.T. Smart – a tune written to commemorate the three hundredth anniversary of the English Reformation in 1835. Other tunes by which the hymn is sung are LLANGLOFFAN, and KING’S LYNN. The hymn’s impact is not limited to the English Reformation commemoration, but also to every nation that places its hope in God.

O GOD OF EARTH AND ALTAR

 

1 O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.

 

2 From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!

 

3 Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.

 

            1 O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry, our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die; the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide, take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride. Almighty God is Sovereign over all the earth and Heavens. Anyone familiar with politics, especially our present quagmire in America, will not doubt the failure and perhaps debauchery of earthly rulers today. God has said that “My people perish for lack of knowledge,” and surely that truth is written in red above the fields of blood of both innocent civilians and armed soldiers. War is a failure of the political discourse and not “an extension of diplomacy by other means,” as Karl von Clausewitz wrote in his military manual, ON WAR! Our socio-political establishment is motivated more for gold than for the welfare of the people for whom they are bound in duty to serve. Julius Caesar was not the last to act on the principle of ‘divide and conquer.’ We are divided by every means available and laughed to scorn if we refuse to subscribe to a deluded social model. A people has never evidenced greater pride for far less reason than our leadership today in America and around the world. But we must never forget that great truth that over-shadows us: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

 

            2 From all that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen, from all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men, from sale and profanation of honour and the sword, from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord! This verse cannot fail to remind us of that great coronation hymn by Rudyard Kipling in RECESSIONAL:

“Far-called, our navies melt away;

On dune and headland sinks the fire:

Lo, all our pomp of yesterday

Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!

Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,

Lest we forget—lest we forget!

 

                Truly, our churches and people are asleep being improperly labeled as ‘woke!’ Honor lies victim in the streets of America as even our military academies delete that motto, Duty, Honor, Country, from much of their training materials.

            3 Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall, bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all; in ire and exultation aflame with faith, and free, lift up a living nation, a single sword to thee.” Camouflaged between the lines of this verse is the Scriptural warrant for us to be One with Christ as He is One with the Father – as well as we to be One with each other in Holy accord. Such union must include not only the body of nations, but their heads as well – the ultimate Head being Christ our Lord. It may seem contradictory to claim that our only salvation may be brought on us by being sorely smitten, but such a blow may be the only resort to awaken us from our drunken stagger as a nation. Our single Sword is the Word of God, and our armor supplied by same. I think it appropriate to here quote the last two verse of Kipling’s Recessional that echoes the inspiration of truth in our hymn today:

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose

Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,

Such boastings as the Gentiles use,

Or lesser breeds without the Law—

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget—lest we forget!

 

For heathen heart that puts her trust

In reeking tube and iron shard,

All valiant dust that builds on dust,

And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,

For frantic boast and foolish word—

Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!

 

AMEN!

 

 

 

 Sermon Notes for the 16th Sunday after Trinity,

15 September 2024, Anno Domini, 

The Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

 

O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. ¹²Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. ¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. ¹⁴And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. ¹⁵And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. ¹⁶And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. ¹⁷And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. ¹⁸And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. (Luke 7:11-17)

            How often have we been at the point of complete and total heartbreak when suddenly our prayers are answered in a far greater way than we could have thought to ask? Love being the one power that is stronger than death (for all love is of God), why are we surprised at the miracles of love that we observe in our own daily lives? Why will a mother sacrifice her last breath of her life for her child? Why do men go off to war against the enemies of their homeland without a sigh or a word of regret in risking their lives to defend it?

            Does God yet work such wonderful miracles as we have read about on that day He visited Nain? A young man is dead and within minutes of being buried. Is there hope for such a one? His mother has only this one son. She is a widow who has transferred all of her love and dependence from the deceased father upon this one special child for whom her very life is ransom. But he is now dead and she is left all alone! Though crowds gather about her, none have that familiar and loyal heart that beat in the breast of her deceased son, nor the dedicated love that heart devoted to his mother, for he is dead!

            I can only imagine the pain and anguish of that forlorn heart of the woman of Nain that day. She would perform her last duty to a son that she had held dear to her bosom from the day of his birth. As she walked along behind the bier, she was dazed with misery and blinded by hot tears of devastation and wonder." "Can it be that he is truly dead – that I shall no longer hear his voice responding to my calls to supper?" "Is it finally true that I am now left alone against the world since the darling of my heart has departed?" A million questions swirled through her troubled mind as she trudged along a path blurred by the tears of her misery.

            And what of the dead son? What are his thoughts? Well, he has no thoughts at all because the dead know nothing at all. ⁴For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. ⁵For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. ⁶Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. (Eccl 9:4-6)

            The world is populated by dead people who parade about as the living, and by the living who have been made alive from death.  Do we not remember that we were all dead in trespasses and sin before Christ called our name and made is alive in Him? (See Ephesians 2:1) We knew nothing. We had no power at all to save ourselves or to even think of our great need. We were, spiritually, just as the young man lying on a bier at Nain that day. Did that young man know of Christ? did he desire to have Christ come and make him alive? No, he did not think any of these thoughts. Remember, he was dead as dead can be, and so were we before Christ chose us as His own and made the life blood of His eternal love flow though our hearts. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you (John 15:16)

 

¹¹And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. ¹²Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

Now I pose the question that begs our deep thought: who are the dead? The dead: Those who reject Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who have no forgiveness for their sins…those for whom there has been no redemption for sins. That includes all the world which dwells in utter darkness.

The dead hear not. Who stopped their ears? Not God. Not even Satan. They themselves have chosen to be dumb to the reality of God. Their spirits lie in the same repose of that of Lazarus in the Tomb at Bethany before the penetrating voice of Christ called his name and commanded him to come forth.

This son of the widow is dead, but death cannot exist in the presence of the Fountain of Life. Jesus knows the importance of a son or daughter to a widow. The boy is all his mother has just as He, Himself, is the only Begotten of the Father.

As the procession proceeds from the gate of the city, there may have been little notice paid to the Master of Life who is approaching. ¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Strange that a Perfect Stranger (and Jesus was both perfect and a stranger to the procession at Nain), should come forward with such a comment – weep not! How could she help weeping over her great loss. Christ speaks today and few listen or know Him.

Jesus never desires our sorrow, but our joy in life.  He neither wants us to `fear' or to `weep'. Fear not, I am with thee always, even unto the end of the world. Or “Hagar, why weepest thou?” The desire of Christ is always for our extreme joy in Him. And Christ knows there is no real joy, or life, apart from that which He offers. He sends no one to Hell. The lost, due to their rejection of Him, send themselves to Hell.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. When God is at work, we had best stand still and see the marvelous works that His hands perform. Stillness is a vanishing quality in a world bent on technology and pragmatism.  As God said to Job in Job 37:14 “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God”  Or  Psalms 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

So those who bore the body remained motionless while God worked. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Though the ears of the Rabbi's maiden were closed in the lock of death, the young girl heard the voice of Christ. Though Lazarus lay long dead in a stone cold tomb, the voice of Christ, his Friend, penetrated the bars of death and were heard in newness of life. So, with this young man.

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. With Christ, death is always in the past tense! He was dead! No longer was he dead because he had heard and responded to the voice of Christ. He sat up and began to speak. Once you have heard the voice of Christ whisper in your ear a personal message, you cannot fail to speak out. You do not keep it a secret. When you are suddenly made alive in Christ, how is it possible to conceal one's joy?

It may be that you have yet to be made alive, unless you have heard that Voice. When were you dead, and have you been called to life? Have you listened? Did you respond by unashamedly speaking out? We were ALL dead prior to responding in faith to the grace of Christ. All lost. All dead.

Have you considered yourself righteous in your own right? ¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹²They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10-12) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God  ALL? (Romans 3:23) Does that include you and me? Yes, ALL

What is the condemnation to those who sin such as you and I have done? ²⁰For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. ²¹What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. ²²But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23)

What remedy is there for all of us who are born under the condemnation  of sin?  ⁸But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10: 8-11)

Christ is the great Creator and Giver of Life. Death will not exist in His presence. So we must insure our salvation that we may be present with him. But, how? Know that the wages of sin is death. Admit that we are dreadful sinners and cannot save ourselves through any good works. Repent of our sins and turn away from the desires of the flesh. Receive Christ as you Lord and Savior – not simply Savior, but Lord of your life as well.

How many of us present today have taken a `dry' shower, or a `dry' swim, or walked in a `dry' rain?

Is it possible to get into the water, or to come into contact with a fountain of water, and remain dry?

            There is a River of Life which makes all alive who bathe therein and drink from its fountain:

¹³Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: ¹⁴But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4: 13-14)

When we are IN Christ, all our sins are covered by His blood. When we are IN the River of Life, we are wet with that water of life all over. We are baptized in newness of life. Your eternal destiny depends upon which choice you make at the crossroads of life – will you be fearful and unbelieving? Or will you partake of the Tree of Life and Fountain of Living Waters?

⁵And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. ⁶And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. ⁷He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:5-7)

            Simple response –That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15)

Have you, too, believed unto salvation? (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)

It will not be tomorrow, or next week, month, or year. The time is NOW! How do you stand, Reader, in regard to your soul?

HOLY SPIRIT, TRUTH DIVINE (#377); a Hymn Devotion for 27 August 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide 

 “And we are His witnesses of these things; And so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32) 

 This hymn authored by a notable hymnist and minister, the Rev. Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892) – brother of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Samuel was dwarfed by his poet brother, but excelled him in spiritual dimensions of his hymns. This hymn was composed in 1864 – a time of great grief for the nation as the War Between the States raged on. There was, perhaps, a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit by the soldier in the field than those in the security of distance in Maine from the awful carnage. Hard times evoke a keener sense of the things spiritual. 

1 Holy Spirit, Truth divine, 

dawn upon this soul of mine. 

Voice of God, and inward Light, 

wake my spirit, clear my sight. 

 2 Holy Spirit, Love divine, 

glow within this heart of mine. 

Kindle ev’ry high desire, 

purify me with your fire.

3 Holy Spirit, Pow’r divine, 

fill and nerve this will of mine.

 Boldly may I always live,

 bravely serve and gladly give. 

 4 Holy Spirit, Law divine, 

reign within this soul of mine. 

Be my law and I shall be firmly bound, 

forever free. 

 5 Holy Spirit, Peace divine, 

still this restless heart of mine. 

Speak to calm this tossing sea, 

grant me your tranquility. 

 6 Holy Spirit, Joy divine, 

gladden now this heart of mine. 

In the desert ways I sing, spring, 

O living Water, spring! 

     1 Holy Spirit, Truth divine, dawn upon this soul of mine. Voice of God, and inward Light, wake my spirit, clear my sight. The lyrics of this hymn vary slightly from the original of those of its creator in the 1940 Hymnal, I will therefore choose the original. You will observe that each successive stanza illustrates a characteristic of the Holy Spirit. In this first stanza, the Divinity of the Holy Spirit in Trinity is revealed. The Holy Spirit does not starkly shout its soft and tender counsel of unassailable Truth, but comes as softly as the dew of the morning on the soul keen to hear that Voice. 

     2 Holy Spirit, Love divine, glow within this heart of mine. Kindle ev’ry high desire, purify me with your fire. Herein is revealed the Holy Spirit as a Divine Agent of God’s Love. Love warms the Heart and inspires to higher desires. It warms the heart as the warmth of a hearthside fire at eventide.

     3 Holy Spirit, Pow’r divine, fill and nerve this will of mine. Boldly may I always live, bravely serve and gladly give. The Holy Spirit embodies the Divine Power of God which He is. His abode in the heart of the believer endows with courage and zeal. Only by the indwelling Power of the Holy Spirit can the believer live a life of righteousness and compassion. 

     4 Holy Spirit, Law divine, reign within this soul of mine. Be my law and I shall be firmly bound, forever free. The Holy Spirit imbues with a burning love to obey the Law of God in Liberty of Faith. If the heart is His Temple, he will reign therein and expel every evil inclination. 

     5 Holy Spirit, Peace divine, still this restless heart of mine. Speak to calm this tossing sea, grant me your tranquility. The peace of an easy conscience is granted by the Holy Spirit; not the peace of the world, but a peace of God that surpasses all understanding. The storms of the restless heart is made calm as the Holy Spirit commands, “Peace, be Still!” Being guided by that loving Spirit, our souls are made secure in the peace of His Presence. 

     6 Holy Spirit, Joy divine, gladden now this heart of mine. In the desert ways I sing, spring, O living Water, spring! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Divine Joy! As wine to the body is the Joy of the Holy Spirit to the spirit of man. We are made glad under every deprivation of life. It streams from the imparted hope that the Holy spirit conveys – the awful day will pass and all will be well again! “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5

 

Sermon Notes for Thirteenth  Sunday after Trinity 

 

Luke 10:23-37 – Gospel Lesson for the 13^thSunday after Trinty

 

In order to fully understand the situation confronting Christ, we must observe that which the Lectionary failed to include – the preceding two verses that reveal the setting. “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. ²²All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no manknoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.” (Luke10:21-22) Those whose high-minded thoughts are infatuated with the Self of the Ivory Tower will not understand the Words given by Christ here. Those men are much too good to get a handle on such simplicity as the Gospel represents. They must add to it their own complicated and sophisticated interpretations andrender those in words which they can barely understand themselves and,certainly, not understood of those who are so simple as to know only Christ. “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ³and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4) I am not so proud of my title as to be very happy to become a simple, little child for Christ. All of the lawyers, Scribes, and Pharisees gathered about not only would not believe, but refused to believe, the simple Gospel that had beengiven to the simple disciples of Christ. Note the grace of God evidenced in the last verse of the quote: “…and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27) Has Jesus revealed His Father to you,Friend?

“²³And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: ²⁴For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” What standing and privilege we have to have come into the knowledge of the Gospel. We have been given greater privilege than many prophets and kings. Have we treasured the privilege above all others?  It is comforting to know that we are better than spiders, but even spiders also live the great royal palaces: “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.” (Proverb 30:28)

Jesus is speaking in a public place and gathered around were those who would have enjoyed presenting a question that would have undermined His wisdom and knowledge. I am amazed that they continued so to do for they were constantly made fools by the attempt. There is a “certain lawyer”present who felt able to place Christ on the spot with a question which it wasthe Lord’s very specialty to answer: “²⁵And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”Is this a very good question? No, it is not. The premise of the question is wrong for there is nothing that we can DO to inherit eternal life – it is a gift of God. The lawyer is thinking ‘like a lawyer.’ He believes only those in the proper bloodline can “inherit” eternal life. But eternal life is not inherited or earned. Jesus, being the most able of all teachers, gives the inquirer another question in response to fathom the depths of the inquirer’s knowledge as well as cause for deeper thought on the matter: “²⁶What is written in the law? How readest thou?” Should not all of us determine our answers to questions of eternity on God’s Law? Should we not all have read it and meditated thereon? How does the lawyer, very apt at deciphering law, read the question? This is an excellent technique to determine – not the depth of the lawyer’s knowledge, but the want of knowledge. 

The lawyer answered very ably for he knew the ‘words’ of the law, but perhaps not the spirit of it: “²⁷And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” The lawyer may recognize the technical qualities of a diamond, but he cannot know the source of its beauty.

Note how respectfully Christ treats the question and answer of the lawyer who seeks to ‘tempt’ him. “²⁸And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do and thou shalt live.” If credit is due, you may always expect it from Christ.

The lawyer realizes that he has failed to reveal any indiscretion in the answer of Christ and seeks to justify his inquiry and standing by pressing further. By asking this next question, he hopes to weaken the credibility of Christ in whatever He claims as a neighbor. “²⁹But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbour? We can clearly see by the motive and attitude that the lawyer is less in earnest to understand truth, than to place his witness off balance. His interest is not truth, but justification of himself which he is incapable of doing. 

These next beautiful lines of a Parable of Christ are among the most beloved and noteworthy of the Gospels and repeated almost daily in general conversation: “Come on, be a good Samaritan and loan me some money!” or “The life of a victim of an automobile accident this morning was saved by a good Samaritan who just happen on the scene of the accident shortly after it happened.” Do we not hear such accounts daily?

“³⁰And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³²And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. ³³But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, ³⁴and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. ³⁶Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?”

Here we see surpassing grace and a full figure of our Lord Himself described. In what way, you ask?  Because we were that man who went DOWN the road of life and were beaten by the devil and his friends. We were left to die until a good Samaritan (Christ) came along – going UP to the Holy City – and treated our hurts and sores with His own riches and Being. He did so after even those who were considered ‘holy’ passed us by. He cared for our wounds, and placed us on His own beast, and took us to a place of security, and continued to treat our hurts, and purchased our continued treatment and security until He returns for us. This is part of the spiritual meaning, but there is also a general application that presents in our own lives and those of other Christians. Note that the man was left “half dead.” What does “half-dead” mean to us? It means a lot in every way, for we all came into the world “half-dead” from the inherited blood of Adam. After birth, we need do nothing to deserve Hell for we are bound for Hell the day of our birth. Our only hope and salvation is faith in the grace of Christ. Without the mercy of God drawing us to Himself, we are bound for an eternity of darkness. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; ²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: ³Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3) You and I were the man beaten by Satan on the Road to Jericho. Jesus Christ is that foreigner to the world who came down to save us. 

This ‘certain man’ that went down (the wrong direction) the road from Jerusalem, the Holy City, to Jericho, a worldly city, was a Jew. He it was who, it was suspected, would have a bag of money hidden on his person for commerce. Being a Jew, he had every right to expect help from his religious leaders of the same race. He would have found the gentile Samaritans (half-blooded Jews) to have been unworthy of his friendship and beneath his class.  He would never have lifted a finger to help the ‘unclean’ Samaritans.

Alas, he falls among thieves who are waiting along the path in ambush. The devil sets many ambushes for us to destroy both our faith and our persons. The thieves took all that the man had, even including his raiment (clothes) and left him half-dead. Do you know that all who know not Christ have been left half-dead along life’s road? Satan would prefer to leave us half-dead than fully dead so that we may cause others to follow our folly. This is true of combat. The enemy would prefer to seriously wound our soldier than to kill him. Why? Because many support personnel are required to treat a wounded warrior, but far less to bury one such soldier.

Note that a priest and a Levite comes along, going DOWN (the wrong direction) as well, to Jericho. It may be presumed that they had just completed Temple duties and were cleansed. But these two had yet to learn the meaning of the Lord’s words: “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) Temple worship, or indeed any worship, will not suffice apart from a love of God and our fellow men. The priest clearly sees the man, we are told, but decides not to help the man or to touch blood which would have made him ‘unclean. ‘The Levite sees the man and, at least comes to where he is and looks on him. But then goes the way of the priest. Both are guilty of lack of mercy and compassion – ingredients of character that cannot coexist in evil hearts. 

Now comes a Samaritan UP the Road to Jerusalem. Unlike the priest, the Jew, and the Levite, this man is traveling in the RIGHT direction. (Psalms 1) Note the actions of the Good Samaritan: 

1) “came where he was” As Christians, we must GO to where the need is greatest, not relax in opulence in our parlors.

2) “he saw him” How many needs go unseen every day though our eyes cannot avoid the observance of that need?

3) “he had compassion on him” Just as our Savior, Christ, this Samaritan, though hated by this Jew, felt the man’s hurt so keenly that he took measures to help the man of his hurt (just as Christ has done for those of us who have come to Him).

4) “And went to him” His first coming to where the man was at the time was, to us, happenstance, but surely to God, our steps were ordered. After coming to a person in need we do not simply stand and watch. We GO to the victim so that we may render assistance.

5) “and bound up his wounds” Just as Jesus practice the triage of treating the most critical need first, so does this Samaritan by binding up the man’s wounds to stop the bleeding. Has Christ not found us with our own blood flowing from our souls and given us life? “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.’ (Ezek 16:6) When we see our neighbor strangers perishing for grave want, have we forgotten the great mercies granted to us?

6) “pouring in oil and wine.” The only resources the Samaritan had to treat the man was the expensive oil and wine which he not only ‘applied’ but ‘poured ‘into the man’s wounds. He spared no personal treasures in helping his charge. Do you not love this Good Samaritan?”

7) “set him on his own beast” The Samaritan would rather walk in order that the wounded man might ride. This is ‘mercy’ combined with ‘sacrifice’– the kind of combination that the Lord loves.

8) “and brought him to an inn” The Samaritan is not concerned about his tight schedule. He takes time to take the best care of the wounded man. This is an expense as well, but he does not even consider it an expense. It is an obligation before God.

9) “and took care of him” I wish I had many friends as kind as this Samaritan Stranger. Actually, I do have ONE, and perhaps others of my friends who love that ONE. He continued, even at the end, to take time and trouble to treat the man.

10) “And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him” Apparently being convinced that the man would be well after rest and gentle treatment, the Samaritan departs to care for his pressing business in Jerusalem. But he does not forget the responsibility he has shouldered for the Jew. He PAYs even the innkeeper to continue caring for the Jew. “He doeth all things well!”

11) “and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” Had you ever considered ALL that the Good Samaritan did for this wounded Jew, or for that wounded soul that resides in your own heart? “Even if it costs me more, I will pay. I will pay to the uttermost.” Says the Good Samaritan. 

            Jesus is the Good Samaritan. He came to us and: 

1) He dressed our wounds. 

2) He poured out His own blood and precious Spirit for us. 

3) He has given us transport by means of His own sacrifice. 

4) He has brought us into His fellowship and Church (Inn). 

5) He cares for us in the church. 

6) He has business to do with His Father in Heaven and must leave us for a spell. 

7) He leaves us in the care of His ministers and laypeople to continue to care for us. (the two pence). &, 

8) He is coming back to make all things right with us and receive us into His own. Is He not a marvelous Lord and Savior?

Jesus has told the story which will fully answer the question of the lawyer, but the lawyer remains stiff-necked in his pride. Jesus asks: “³⁶Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?” Three men were involved. Two were not only religious leaders from whom one might expect greater degrees of compassion, but also men of the same blood. They, of all people, should have considered a fellow Jew, a neighbor. They passed by without lifting a finger to help the poor wounded fellow. The third, a lowly Samaritan, spent his own wealth, took his own time, and delayed his own business to help a man whose race hated him. Which one of these three would any sane person believe was neighbor to the wounded man? You, or I, would answer the Samaritan; but the lawyer, being a Jew who loathed even the name of a Samaritan, answered only: “He that shewed mercy on him.” The lawyer would prefer a pronoun to a real name. Even so, he answered correctly even if in the wrong spirit. 

Jesus responded to the lawyer in the same way He responds to you and me: “³⁷Go, and do thou likewise.” The religion of the priest (reflected in the lives of many clergymen) was a wrong religion. It had no love or compassion. The religion of the Levite (laypersons) was a luke-warm religion. It lacked resolve and feeling.

“I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT,” Sermon for 10th Sunday after Trinity, 4 August 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. I Corinthians 12:1

 

And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. Luke 19:45-46

 

            We find in both the Gospel text and the Epistle a grave warning and a comforting counsel. Upon His last entry into Jerusalem, Jesus wept over the city. He knew full well what judgment was shortly to befall those who practiced false and unloving religion. Being made in the image of God, He saw, with deep sorrow, the depths of darkness into which those who had claimed an adherence to the Law of God without the essential ingredient of LOVE had sunk. Their hearts were turned to hate and envy. We see traces of the same in our modern churches of today. 

            In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus cleansing the Temple the second time. He cleansed the Temple once before as the His first act of ministry following the miracle at the marriage feast in John 2. And now, He once more cleanses the Temple – but for what purpose? I believe the first cleansing was to herald His coming as the true Temple of God and to demonstrate the nature thereof; but the second cleansing pointed to the rejection of the Jews to the new Light of truth that His ministry had made known. The first was done to reveal the sad state of their religion at the beginning; the second was perhaps to demonstrate the coming judgment of their rejection of the King of Love and Heaven. The Temple of the heart must not become cluttered with concerns of pelf and power, but of love and faith.

            How, indeed, has the modern church come to place so much emphasis on money, elaborate structures, and prideful disposition? Why all the car washes, yard sales, and cake-selling? Do these things glorify the God of Heaven? I think not. Great size of buildings and members is by no means evidence of the Christian faith; as a matter of fact, it often points to just the opposite.

            The love of Jesus for the Jewish people was painful to Him in at last finding them in rejection of the Law and Prophets who told of His coming. Instead, they violently opposed Him, and to what a terrible end! The believer is, indeed, the Temple of God only because it is the abode of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Great Temple and we are the lesser. His first cleansing was a revelation of Himself as the Temple of God: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” This first declaration to the Jewish rulers confused them for the hardness of their hearts. They could little comprehend that He was the real Temple of God made without hands. His words were prophetic of His resurrection in which, after three days, He would rise from the dead. From that moment on, they despised Him for speaking the truth. The world today still demonstrates an unreasonable hatred of the truth and Gospel of Christ. Even the mention of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in public is condemned by both government and society at large in our own nation.

            Many, perhaps most, of our churches today have become ”a den of theives.” They have rejected the truth of the Bible and resorted to crowd-pleasing schemes of money and mammon. We perhaps have made ourselves too fat and comfortable in living for self and rejecting the higher laws of God. You may find these words judgmental on my part, and surely they are; but they do not reflect my judgment, but the judgment of God revealed in His inerrant Word.

            In the Epistle, we learn that the Lord desires that we be knowledgeable of all things concerning Himself through the enlightening Word of God. Often, in our time, single verses are taken out of context to establish a completely new doctrine inconsistent with the clear biblical truth as a whole. God desires that we be knowledgeable, in not only handling the Word of God, but in living it out in our lives. He would not have us to be ignorant. Ignorance can result in lack of opportunity to hear the Word – a failing of others who believe; or, it may be a result of slothful disposition to seek and to find truth of the individual.

The cleansing of the Temple was directed at unbelievers and those who vehemently reject 

Christ; but in the Epistle, we find comforting counsel to the believer concerning the gifts and graces of God. 

Graces are given for the wholesome faith of the believer; however, gifts are given for the benefit 

and salvation of others in showing the love and power of God.

            The words of Paul in this Epistle are addressed as much to us of the modern day as to the Corinthians inasmuch as they were Gentiles who were invited to become members of the household o God and beneficiaries of the blessings of Israel – that is, becoming the true sons and daughters of Israel through the Spirit and not the flesh. “7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:7-10

            Paul admonishes the Corinthians of failure to adhere to their spiritual heritage in Christ. “Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols.” The key word here is the past tense verb – WERE! If the Jews had truly received Christ in their hearts after the first cleansing of the Temple, neither would the second cleansing have been necessary.  Once we have come to Christ by faith, we dare not turn back to the filth and horror of the wicked. As the Apostle Peter confirms, “ 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” Why would any man or woman, coming into the grace and light of Christ, ever desire to return to that unhappy and perishing state of the rebellious sinner?

            In today’s ancient Prayer of Collect, we find these words: “LET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The great freedom of the believers is his pleasure in owning the same will that is the Mind of Christ. The old sinful desires have been abandoned and the new hope in Christ rules in his heart. If we ask for those things that are the will and pleasure of god, why would God not grant us our petitions to that effect? We ask out of humility and not out of a sense of entitlement. The Lord is our Sovereign – not Mammon.

In Christ Alone during Season of TRINITY,

 † Jerry L. OGLES, D.D.

Presiding Bishop.