Presiding Bishop
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
The Second Sunday in Lent.
The Collect.
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LMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
One great acknowledgment that stands out in today’s Collect for the Second Sunday in Lent is this: Since our father Adam partook of the ill-natured tree in the midst of the Garden, Man must still find himself constantly relying upon that OTHER Tree in the midst of the Garden at Eden which he rejected – the Tree of Life. Because of that rejection, we are full of sin and incapable of helping ourselves. We even return to, stop and listen to, and partake of the ill-fated fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It is only the Mercy and Grace offered by the Tree of Life that keeps us from constantly appealing to the serpent of the other tree. This Collect originates in the Gregorian Sacramentary. For a fuller study and brief meditation on the Collects, I recommend The Collects of Thomas Cranmer, by C. Frederick Barbee and Paul F.M. Zahl. (Erdmans, 1999)
Sir Francis Bacon has said: “A man’s nature runs either to herbs or weeds. Therefore, let him seasonably water the one and destroy the other.”
Second Lesson
Evening Prayer
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ND he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-8)
This parable clearly points to the importance of faith exercised through prayer. We have in the Parable, a contrast:
…There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
1. A politically powerful judge and no doubt wealthy by the standards of the day, who does not fear God or man , and 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
2. A poor widow with no political or social standing who had been oppressed, but who feared God and believed in the power of righteousness and persistent prayer. She was incessant in her pleas for justice. She NEVER gave up on seeking justice, and believed , though she was powerless, that justice would be gained through her persistence in bringing her case. Before Christ, women were property and not entitled to rights or privileges.
The unrighteous have momentary advantage over the righteous because they are not bound by just restraint. They make their own rules, but the righteous must abide by justice. But the wicked also like to be left alone to their wicked devices. They do not wish to be constantly reminded that they are wicked. They do not want others to notice, therefore,
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Persistence in prayer, as in Olympic sports, bears its own reward, however, prayer without faith will is simply amount to useless babbling. Why would you plead endlessly to your parents for some desired gift if there were no hope in gaining the thing begged for? Or why study without measure when your final grade will have no possibility of being improved thereby? Or why save your money and invest in gold or silver if there were no prospect of getting a handsome return?
Let us refer to the Book of James Chapter 2, beginning at the 14th Verse:
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HAT doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
How did the unjust judge respond to the lady’s petition?
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
The wicked lack the promise the righteous own in knowing all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
So the woman has, at least, the satisfaction of knowing that justice will certainly come, either now, or later.
Jesus counsels us to take a lesson from this appeal of the poor widow and the results accomplished through persistent petition.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Christ is telling us the same principle applies in prayer.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
We know from the record of history despots and evil-doers all have eventually met their doom. The Caesars of history are remembered with revulsion…..the Hitlers, Mussolini’s, Stalins, Pol Pots, Maos, etc have fallen before the creeping advance of time and wield no power or respect of generations today at all. The same is true of Kim Il Sung who is a rotting corpse in a grave in North Korea.
But the righteous, as Moses, Elijah, and Enoch, are in the presence of heavenly bliss and are fondly remembered by the righteous.
How will God hear the prayers of His elect?
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
God will always act at the proper hour. He does not rush to judgment as do men. He considers a thing, and then does it. Moreover, He knows, better than we, the proper answer to our prayers. When we grow strong in knowing the Mind of God, our prayers will more often reflect the will of God in all that we pray for.
The Lord’s prayer – …thy Will be done!
…..O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matt 26:42)
….O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matt 26:39)
The last sentence of this parable should be troubling to us:
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
This last question is a rhetorical one, and designed to give us pause to think on its significance. What does the Bible say about these last days before the return of Christ?
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HIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.……10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3)
You can see this being fulfilled around you this very day. Not only do the wicked deceive, but they are also being deceived because they are evil, and the company they keep is evil.
What is the Christian response to this growing wickedness?
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Do not respond as the men before the Great Flood while Noah was building the Ark. Their hearts were darkened and they took up vile affections…..what were these affections? The same as those for which God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
What are some of the signs? Friday an earthquake shook the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Saturday, one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded devasted Conception, Chile and surrounding areas. In January, what happened in Haiti?
What about wars that are proliferating around the globe? There is war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, Africa, and now Yemen. Does God know of these events?
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ND Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these arethe beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matt 24:4-13)
These very events are being fulfilled as we speak.
What should the Christian do in these days?
Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)
and
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OR yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (1 Thess 5:2)
Pray with a fullness of faith that righteousness will come to those who seek it. Justice always follows in the righteous steps of God’s people.
Even in our infirmity, God will sustain us always.
