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The center of the Traditional Anglican Communion; adhering to the Holy Bible (KJV) in all matters of Faith and Doctrine, a strict reliance on the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, The two Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, the Two Creeds, and the Homilies and formularies of the Reformation Church of England.

Verse of the Day

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Hymns of the Church – The Eternity of God – 30 January 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)


 

B

EOFRE the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.       (Psalm 90:2)

 

T

HOU, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. 20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? 21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.     (Lamentations 5:19-21)

 

            This thoroughly reverent and biblical hymn is the work of the great hymn writer of England, Isaac Watts. It was published in William Gadsby’s hymnal of 1814. Hymn tune is DUNDEE. The title seems over-simplified as the very concept of God dictates an Eternal Existence, but we may at times forget the infinite measure of God’s Being. He has neither mother nor father despite the heretical ruling of the Council of Ephesus. Mary, revered mother of Jesus, was just as human as you and me, and did not exist in eternity past to lay claim to ‘Mother of God.’ This hymn, as do most of the old hymns of the Church, reinforces our biblical view and doctrine of God.

 

The Eternity of God

 

Lord, raise my soul above the ground,

And draw my thoughts to thee;

Teach me, with sweet and solemn sound,

To praise the eternal Three.

 

Long ere the lofty skies were spread,

Jehovah filled his throne;

Or Adam formed, or angels made,

The Maker lived alone.

 

His boundless years can ne’er decrease,

But still maintain their prime;

Eternity’s his dwelling-place,

And ever is his time.

 

While like a tide our minutes flow,

The present and the past,

He fills his own immortal NOW,

And sees our ages waste.

 

The sea and sky must perish too,

And vast destruction come!

The creatures! look how old they grow,

And wait their fiery doom.

 

Well; let the sea shrink all away,

And flame melt down the skies,

My God shall live an endless day

When the old creation dies.

 

1 Lord, raise my soul above the ground, And draw my thoughts to thee; Teach me, with sweet and solemn sound,  To praise the eternal Three. We are made of dust, and these bodies return to dust – but the soul of man lives on after the bodies have returned to the simplest elements of the soil – either to the Paradise of God, or the barred gates of Hell. Our souls are lifted above the mundane material world when our hearts are fixed on God. This hymn reminds us that God is Triune in nature – that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost have existed from Eternity Past to Eternity Future with no lapses in between.

 

2 Long ere the lofty skies were spread, Jehovah filled his throne; Or Adam formed, or angels made, The Maker lived alone. It is impossible for our finite minds to comprehend a time when there was no time, space or matter. All of our sensible awareness is based on these three dimensions, but these were created at the early dawn of Creation by our Triune God who exists outside these confines of His Creation. But before the existence of time, decisions were made in the council of Heaven to create all that we know, and to prepare for the salvation of fallen man by sending His only Begotten son to redeem those whom He would elect. “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (Eph 1:3-5) The mystery of an Eternity Past will remain so until we see our Lord face-to-face.

 

            3  His boundless years can ne’er decrease, But still maintain their prime; Eternity’s his dwelling-place, And ever is his time. If eternity could conform to the measurement of days, we could say that today is the first day of a new eternity, but with God, His abiding presence is not measured in days for His the ‘Great I AM’ – the eternal Present. He has never been ‘I WAS’ or I WILL BE’, but exists in the forever Present tense.

 

            4  While like a tide our minutes flow, The present and the past, He fills his own immortal NOW, And sees our ages waste. God owns, not only our present in the scale of time, but our past and future. All submit to His Sovereign Will. In a sense, there is some validity to the theory proffered by quantum physics, that really all things are presently happening across the scale of time in the universe, or parallel episodes of events past and future. But the prerogatives of the Great ‘I AM’ are not confined by scientific theories. He is the Maker and Master of the Laws of nature as well as of true science.

 

            5 The sea and sky must perish too, And vast destruction come! The creatures! look how old they grow, And wait their fiery doom. At the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ there will be no doubting Thomases nor bearded pseudo-scientist asserting there is no God. “10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  (2 Peter 3:10)

 

            6 Well; let the sea shrink all away, And flame melt down the skies, My God shall live an endless day When the old creation dies. That old creation - the worldly prison of pain, suffering, and death – will be vaporized and the gathering mist will lift to reveal a new creation and a Paradise. Not only will these mortal bodies be made new and not subject to pain or death, but all else will be made new in the perfection of God’s divine omnipotence. “5 And 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. 6 And 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. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But 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. (Rev 21:5-8)

Sunday, January 28, 2024

AOC Sunday Report - Septuagesima

 

Happy Septuagesima Sunday!  Wonder what that means?  Check out the end of the AOC Sunday Report and find out.  Speaking of the AOC Sunday Report, it can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Jack and Dennis, as well as a lovely sermon from Rev Bryan. Each one of them is very good and quite different. I am confident that you will enjoy them.  Bishop Jack brings the propers together.  His sermon can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/Xp5_NrDuJ5s.  Bishop Jack’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share the common message of action as we celebrate the revealing of our Lord to the world. In the Collect, we ask God who knows we should be “…justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour …”  To get into heaven we need to be accounted as perfect.  The answer is in the sermon.  What Paul speaks of in his Epistle is the great reward we receive for holding steady to that course which God has set for us.  The Gospel for today, the very important parable of the vineyard, also gives us very good advice on the conduct of our daily lives and contains a crucial key to happiness.  Tbere is also a lesson for interacting with others as the join the Army of God.  Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.

There are always a lot of people who need your prayer, today is no exception. Please start with Alan Ridenour's father, Tom's family, Johnie's family, Shamu, Tricia and Laurie, work out from there.

There's a really amazing week ahead, I doubt you'll find it without help from that Third God Guy the Holy Ghost. If nothing else, this Friday is Groundhog Day. There's more to that day than you might expect. More on that next week.

Have an epic week,

Godspeed,

Hap Arnold
Bishop Coadjutor
Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

Septuagesima - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video


Bishop Jack brings the propers together.  His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/Xp5_NrDuJ5s

 

Bishop Jack’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share the common message of action as we celebrate the revealing of our Lord to the world. In the Collect, we ask God who knows we should be “…justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour …”  To get into heaven we need to be accounted as perfect.  The answer is in the sermon.  What Paul speaks of in his Epistle is the great reward we receive for holding steady to that course which God has set for us.  The Gospel for today, the very important parable of the vineyard, also gives us very good advice on the conduct of our daily lives and contains a crucial key to happiness.  Tbere is also a lesson for interacting with others as the join the Army of God.  Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.


The Propers for today are found on Page 118-120, with the Collect first:

 

The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the

third Sunday before Lent.

 

The Collect.

 

O

 LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 

The Epistle for today came from the Ninth Chapter of the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians beginning at the Twenty-Fourth Verse.  Paul tells us that we must strive for mastery over ourselves so that we can gain the crown of eternal life offered us at great cost by our Lord Jesus Christ.  We must each do our own personal best to control our own actions and behavior so we can follow God’s Plan for each of us.  We must be bold and certain in our actions.

 

K

NOW ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

The Holy Gospel for today came from the Twentieth Chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew beginning at the First Verse.  Often quoted, this is the very important parable of the vineyard.  While it appears to be principally directed towards Christians wanting to be “first” in importance and the like, it has a more direct meaning.  It is a fine lesson in “buyer’s remorse” or coveting of jobs or similar concepts.  If you got a good deal, it does not change because someone else got a “better” deal.  Take what you got, go forth and be happy.  Other meanings abound.  For a very direct application, what this means is “cradle” Christians are no more likely to go to heaven than this morning’s convert.  They just get to enjoy the Christian experience longer.  One note, if you wait until the last minute to join the gang, your time here might end before you get around to it. 

 

Sometimes people act like being a Christian is an unpleasant experience that they will do when they get a round tuit.  It is not.  Christians aren’t perfect, they just have more fun being imperfect and imperfectly trying to improve!  Anyway, here is the Gospel according to Saint Matthew:

 

T

HE kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. 


Sermon - Bishop Jack Arnold

Anglican Orthodox Church of the United States

Training and Education Department

Diocese of the West

Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California

Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday.   Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video HERE ->https://youtu.be/Xp5_NrDuJ5s


 

Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share the common message of action as we celebrate the revealing of our Lord to the world.  Let us start by reading today’s Collect:

 

The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the

third Sunday before Lent.

 

The Collect.

 

O

 LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 

Think about these words:

 

… we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness …

 

In the Collect, we ask God who knows we should be “…justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour …”  To get into heaven we need to be accounted as perfect.  Yet, we cannot be “cured” of sin nor “improved” to perfection. So how do we solve this irregularity? We know we ourselves cannot solve our dilemma.  Who can?  There is a solution for us!  Consider the words of John Newton[1] near the end of his life, “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior!” The answer lies in the latter part of Newton’s quote. Jesus is the answer to this great dilemma. Our sins would be justly punished by eternal damnation, yet there is hope in our Lord. He brought us this hope by His Death upon the Cross and delivered it in the Resurrection. Without His Sacrifice one time for all mankind, there would be no hope for our eternal future. But Jesus is our hope for that eternal future.  It was this goodness that the collect talks about, His Sacrifice that has delivered us from our just punishment of eternal death. Now that we have been delivered, we just have to do our best to follow His commandments and to stay the course He has set for our lives.

 

What Paul speaks of in his Epistle is the great reward we receive for holding steady to that course which God has set for us. For eternal salvation is the delivery promised to each of us by Jesus. God does not promise us an easy life here on Earth, there will be many trials and tribulations set before us. These obstacles are all part of the race that we have to run. But while running the race, we have to remember the reward for holding steady to that course will make undergoing all the trials and tribulations worth it. We will undergo many triumphs and tribulations, we will make mistakes (some bigger than others, hopefully non life altering) and learn from them, our life will ebb and flow like the waves but as long as we stay the course, then all will be well. 

 

Make no mistake, like a marathon, this run requires frequent training in the Scriptures and acting upon the concepts in Scriptures. And like marathon runners, we receive a wonderful prize.  Unlike marathon runners in which only the top few get the prize, it is available to us that run and successfully complete the race (by holding true to the concepts in scripture) However, it is a prize that has value beyond anything on Earth. The prize is for the promise of an eternal, unending life, to be spent with our Lord and Savior Jesus. It is for the promise of a world unaffected by the tarnish of sin, unblackened by the sinful deeds of imperfect beings. It is an unshadowed world.  It shall be true happiness at last, to meet with our beloved family, our Christian heavenly family, friends and beloved pets. 

 

Eternal salvation is a far more priceless treasure than anything we could acquire on Earth, truly priceless except for the death of our Saviour and resurrection. That is the only price involved with our eternal freedom.  As the saying goes, there is no free lunch. Eternal life does not come to us without cost. The cost was Jesus’ one time sacrifice for all time for all mankind. Keep the eyes on the prize, as it were!  And realize that prize does not come free. We have to run the race set before us and follow Jesus in order to receive our prize of eternal life. We have to be constantly focusing on this fact. 

 

When times get really hard, and it is tempting to give up sometimes; that is when we must redouble our efforts and focus our end goal, remaining on the path towards Heaven. There will be times when we get very discouraged but we must not give up!  We must remember the reward we will receive in the end and keep our eyes focused on our goal of finishing the race that is set before us.

 

Our eyes should be focused on the finish line, not our “competition.”  We have a tendency to compare ourselves to the competition but in this case it is not helpful.  Comparing ourselves to others gains us nothing. What we really need to do instead is to focus on how we are doing and compare it to the guidebook of Holy Scriptures and evaluate our performance. The Holy Scriptures are a much better comparison point and will paint us a more accurate picture of our performance and compliance or non compliance with Scripture. If we are lacking, we just make the needed adjustments until we are in compliance with scriptures.

 

So how do we run the race?  

 

With our eyes focused tightly on the finish line, not on those around us, wondering are they doing ‘better’ than we are?  That is not a useful question.  Christianity is not about competition, about bbetingeing other people to the finish line. In fact, it is about helping others around us to the finish line to the best of our abilities, if they are willing to let us help them.  

 

The useful question is, “Am I doing the best I can?”  We have to answer that question; if we are not doing our best, then we need to change it.  Think of how we can do our best and then set our course to do that. And, we must remember this is a Team Effort. We have to want to win, and in order to win the race set before us; we have to perform actions. Action must first start with our neighbors and work our way outward. We cannot affect the whole world, but if we each work together on our part of the world and work for their, we can change the world. However, it must be a team effort, we cannot all do it alone.  We need each and every person in our Team to put aside any potential grudges and work together for Him so that we can advance His Cause here on Earth.

 

How do we ensure we are in compliance with Scriptures after we read them? Action of course! Acting is the best visible proof to others that we do indeed have faith. Faith without any sort of actions is a false faith. But if we have faith with action backing it up then we have the true faith. It is not good enough to just read the Word, we need to read what the Word says and then put it into action in our own lives.

 

 

The Gospel for today, the very important parable of the vineyard, also gives us very good advice on the conduct of our daily lives and contains a crucial key to happiness.  There is the lesson that the deathbed conversion gains the same prize of eternal life as the lifelong follower, but there is a lot more in it for everyday life.  A person who comes to Christ late in life receives the same eternal benefits as a person who followed Christ from the age of reason. And that there is no need for any jealousy between a lifelong Christian and one who comes to Christ late in life. They both will receive the same reward for following Christ if they stay the course, so there should be no reason for the life long Christian to lord how long he has been a Christian over the other person.

 

It is a fine lesson in “buyer’s remorse” or coveting of jobs or similar concepts.  If you got a good deal, it does not change because someone else got a “better” deal.  Take what you got, go forth and be happy.  Don’t complain because somebody else got the same deal as you did sooner. One meaning of this parable is that “cradle” Christians are no more likely to go to heaven than this morning’s convert.  They just get to enjoy the Christian experience longer. However, you should not wait until the last minute to join the gang, your time here might end before you get around to it.   So, don’t wait until tomorrow to act, do it today while you still have time!

 

Sometimes people act like being a Christian is an unpleasant experience that they will do when they get a round TUIT.  It is not.  Christians aren’t perfect, they just have more fun being imperfect and imperfectly trying to improve!

 

Christ gave us eternal life.  But, we have to accept it.  Once you accept it, start living as if you will live forever.  You will; and you will have to live with your actions forever!  So, Act early and Act often! 

 

There is but one way to heaven.

 

That easy to find, easy to follow, easy to hike downhill path does not lead to the summit where eternal life in the real world awaits.  Open your heart to the Holy Ghost, use His Power to follow our Lord to God who awaits in heaven.

 

Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail.  The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.

 

The time is now, not tomorrow.  The time has come, indeed.  How will you ACT?

 

It is by our actions we are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God



[1] John Newton; 4 August 1725 – 21 December 1807) was an English Anglican cleric, a captain of slave ships who later became an abolitionist, and an investor of trade. He served as a sailor in the Royal Navy for a period after forced recruitment.

 

Newton went to sea at a young age and worked on slave ships in the slave trade for several years. In 1745, he himself became a slave of Princess Peye, a woman of the Sherbro people. He was rescued, returned to sea and the trade, becoming Captain of several slave ships. After retiring from active sea-faring, he continued to invest in the slave trade. Some years after experiencing a conversion to Christianity, Newton later renounced his trade and became a prominent supporter of abolitionism. Now an evangelical, he was ordained as a Church of England cleric and served as parish priest at Olney, Buckinghamshire, for two decades. He also wrote hymns, the most well known beng "Amazing Grace"



Sermon Notes - Septuagesima - First or Last – Just don’t miss the boat - 28 January 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord) - Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide


The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the

third Sunday before Lent.

 

The Collect.

 

O

 LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 

T

HE kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen(Matthew 20:1-16)

 

The Sermon

Christ, being both the beginning and the end, has sole right to decide the reward of those who follow Him. The early workers came under the terms of a contractual agreement – those that followed came based on the fairness of the vineyard owner.

 


            This parable has direct relevance to the preceding event in Matthew 19 - 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

 

            The Apostles did not understand this treatment of the rich young man. Jesus carefully explained that they would inherit eternal life, but He also closed the previous chapter with the words: 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

 

            There are a number of parallels to be drawn from other contextual references of the Bible to this principle of first/last, last/first.

 

Luke 15 – Parable of the prodigal son. 

 

A

ND he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them hisliving

 

The younger son (representing the gentiles)took his belongings and left the father and older brother and went into a far country where, after a time of carousing and living in finery, he lost all and was feeding the pigs.  After a time, he came to his senses and resolved to return to his father as a hired servant, but the father only lavished the boy with gifts and love and called him his son.

 

 The older (representing the Jews) was of a sad and fallen countenance. 

 

N

OW his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

 

These, and many others we will not relate at this moment, serve to remind us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not organized along the lines of labor unions, or Coroprate Human Relations policies.

 

            It tells us, first of all, that the gift of eternal life is not dependent on years of service or some principle of seniority.

 

            Once accepted by Christ, we are accepted wholly and in full.

 

            My wife used to remind me some churches and Christians are like the chickens in the chicken coop – the moment a baby chicken finds an insect and tries to eat it, one of the older chickens rushes over and pecks the young chicken on the head so that he is unable to eat.

 

Some one new comes into the church with some excellent talent the Lord has given them, and oftentimes, the older members do all in their power to prevent that new person from sharing that talent the Lord has given.

 

That is a part of the meaning of the parable we study today of the Husbandman and the laborers.

 

            The Husbandman is Christ – the laborers are those called to follow Christ.

 

            Consider the explanation given by Bishop RC Trench, in his Notes on the Parables and Dean of Westminster Cathedral:

 

            But for all this the question, "What shall we have?" was not a right one; it put their relation to their Lord on a wrong footing. There was a tendency in it to bring their obedience to a calculation of—so much work, so much reward. There lurked, too, a certain self-complacency in it. In this parable the Apostles are taught that, however long-continued their work, abundant their labours, yet without charity to their brethren, and humility before God, they are nothing; that pride and a self-complacent estimate of their work, like the fly in the precious ointment, would spoil the work, however great it might be, since that work stands only in humility, and from first they would fall to last. The lesson taught to Peter, and through him to us all, is that the first may be altogether last; that those who stand foremost as chief in labour, yet if they forget that the reward is of grace and not of works, and begin to boast and exalt themselves above their fellow-labourers, may altogether lose the things which they have wrought; while those who seem last may yet, by keeping their humility, be acknowledged first and foremost in the day of God.

 

Another point of this parable is related to the first we have made above.  

 

            The Hebrew people of Israel had been blessed with the favor of God in being an example and forerunner of the people of God.  They had come to believe that God dealt only with them in goodness and blessing and no one else. 

 

            They considered that, if God were to welcome the gentiles into His plan of Salvation, that they must be less blessed than the Jews. 

 

 1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

 

Therefore, the Jews are represented by the workers who were hired at the early hour of the morning.

 

            The husbandman had offered them one penny (or denarius) a day for their labor. This was the customary daily wage for a laborer at the time of Christ.

 

            Other laborers were hired at the noon day hour, and finally others during the last hour of the harvest.

 

A

ND he went out about the third hour (9:00 AM), and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth (12 noon) and ninth hour (3:00 PM), and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour (5 PM) he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

 

The Jews believed they should receive preference above others who were called latter into the Kingdom, but that is not the way the Lord Jesus works.

 

            When He healed the diseased, restored sight to the blind, healed leprosy, restored life to the dead …..He always healed COMPLETELY. Those who were healed were healed completely! He also treated the most serious disease first – SIN!

 

Example: Matthew 9: 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.

 

            Christ is generous to the gentile and Jew alike. No one can claim preference in the eyes of God due to the time of their salvation.

 

            Our reward shall be the Words uttered on that day when we come face-to-face with Christ our Lord: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world(Matt 25:34)

 

AMEN

Collect for Septuagesima – 28 January 2024, Anno Domini


The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the

third Sunday before Lent.

 

The Collect.

 

O

 LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 

            We now enter upon a transition period of Pre-Lent separating the joyous season of Christmas/Epiphany and the penitential fast associated with the Lenten Season.  Septuagesima is exactly sixty-three days before Easter. Sexagesima is fifty-six prior, and Quinquagesima forty-nine. We owe the designation of the three primary Sundays before Lent to Saint Gregory the Great, and to his rendering the first lectionary readings for the church calendar. Though he was called Pope, he was rather the Bishop of Rome who was a devout minister and a leader of his people. He opposed the Lombard invasion and successfully concluded a treaty with them. He saw Italy through great famine and epidemics of plague and other diseases. He compiled the Gregorian Sacramentary out of which many of our Collects are taken. The two (designated) great Bishops of Rome were Leo and Gregory. Both faced great dangers from both within and without Rom; therefore, I believe such persecution and danger engendered a greater faithfulness to the religion of Christ!

 

            This COLLECT does not disdain punishment that we so rightly deserve, but to the pardon, redemption, and mercy made available in Christ our Lord.  The ONLY thing that we truly DESERVE is justice! And if we receive the justice we deserve, we shall spend our eternities in Hell. “…we, who are justly punished for our offences.” In praying this Collect, we readily admit that we deserve punishment for our manifold sins. Though we have no water of our own, we may beg for it in a desert place. If given, it would be given out of mercy and not deserved in any sense. Mercy, not justice, is the thing we most need and desire. Justice becomes fulfilled in the blood of Christ once we have made appeal, through Him, for Mercy! The whole of man can be remedied by the simple mercy of God. Remember when Christ was passing along the road out of Jericho, two blind beggars hailed Him: And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. (Matt 20:29-31) They sought only mercy first, and then received their sight.

 

            To the devout Christian, divine punishment is justly deserved by all; but it is the grace of God whereby we are reconciled to God, forgiven, restored, and redeemed of our death sentence. We need never ask of God what we deserve for, without His grace, we all would receive the just deserts for our sin and transgressions. But it is His great mercy, a corollary of grace that restores us to a position of favor with God. If we may only receive God’s mercy, what more shall we need? He is All-Merciful and All-Forgiving. If we stand in His favor, even in the violent storms of life, need we fear any force of evil? 

 

            The Collect for Septuagesima Sunday is one of the few that concludes with a most glorious ending – “….through Jesus Christ our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end.” Of course, it is a forceful reminder of the Trinity of the Godhead. If we discount either Person of the Godhead, we have no Godhead upon which to call – as the three dimensions of height, depth, and width describe dimensions of a material object (and without one of which there would exist no mass) – so the Three Persons of the godhead comprise the full defining character of God.

 

            Do we realize how perfectly GOOD is the Lord Jesus Christ? In fact, the word ‘good’ derives from the Middle English word for God, for God is truly GOOD. For example, ‘Good Bye’ derives from the Middle English term of the 1500’s of godbwye – or God be with you! Amazing that the atheists use this term every day without knowing, isn’t it? Or that they, all around the world, acknowledge Christ’s birth in their calendar year of 2024 years from his birth. The new politically correct dating system – BCE – CE – Before Common Era – Common Era is a word game.  The only thing common to both is Christ.  They date from the birth of our Lord and Savior, whether they admit it or not.  

 

            Standing, as we do, in the period between His Glorious Coming (Christmas), and His great going through His death on the Cross (Calvary), we may be best disposed to simply seek that mercy for which He came to redeem us. We are thankful for His Coming, and thankful to the promise of Redemption at the end of Lent. It is summarized in this great Collect.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Hidden Testimony of Hymns – 24 January 2024, Anno Domini

 

A

ND be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Ephesians 5:18-19)

 

Many are missing a great blessing for not having the beauty of songs in their hearts. God gives a song in the darkest night as well as in the bright sun of day as a means of comfort and restored joy. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (Psalm 77:5-6)

 

The great classical hymns serve to reinforce our understanding of biblical doctrine. But it is important also to know the men and women behind the composition of those hymns for we often find great beauty, sometimes tragedy and greater truth revealed therein.

 

There are probably very few, if any, of our readers who have not often joined in singing,

 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to Sing Thy grace;

Streams Of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

 

Yet - who wrote it? It was written by a certain Robert Robinson, of Cambridge, England. He was born in the year 1735, and was converted under the preaching of Whitefield. He is said to have been a man of unusual mental endowment, and shortly after his conversion he became a preacher. Unfortunately, he was also a man of a restless disposition, unstable in his thinking, always going from one thing to another, and eventually became an infidel. It would seem, from a careful perusal of this hymn, that when he wrote it in the first enthusiasm of his conversion, he was sensible of the unsettled character of  his own mind and heart; for you will notice how, in the last verse, he pleads piteously for the grace of constancy –

 

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter,

Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee !

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here’s my heart—Oh take and seal it,

Seal it from Thy courts above!

 

In connection with the history of this hymn, it is related its author was one day traveling by coach and had for his fellow passenger a lady, an entire stranger to him. She had lately seen this hymn, and admired it so much that in the course of conversation she asked him whether he had ever seen it, and whether he could tell her who was the author of it? At first, he avoided her questions, for he was at that very moment an avowed infidel. 

 

But as she pressed him for an answer and began to tell him what a blessing and comfort that one hymn had been to her soul, he at length burst into a passionate flood of tears, exclaiming, Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who composed that hymn many years ago; and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had now, to enjoy the feeling I then had! 

 

The poor man died hopeless. Alas, that one should preach the Gospel and himself be cast away!