Happy Palm Sunday!
The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE.
There is Bishop Jerry’s write up on the Madrid trip.
We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Yves and Jack, as well as Rev Bryan. Jack’s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA
Bishop Jack’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week by a cheering crowd, many of whom would condemn Him on Good Friday. In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior. Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection. The Epistle calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience. Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago. Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out. Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.
As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who has been released to him after two months on a ventilator in ICU with Covid then work your way through Candy, Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.
On this Palm Sunday, think about this: many of those in the crowd who welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday were the same people who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday. In many respects, we are that crowd.
As we welcome the Lord into Jerusalem amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.
May you see the epic and Holy Week ahead.
Godspeed,
Hap Arnold
Bishop Coadjutor
Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
