Anglican Orthodox Church sm
Worldwide Communion
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
October 26, 2025 - Sunday Report
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Propers:
The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.
The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.
The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saint’s instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent. The Propers for today are found on page 215-217.
The Collect for Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Epistle for Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. Ephesians iv. 17.
THIS I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
The Gospel for Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity. St. Matthew ix. 1.
JESUS entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 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. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 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. 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.
On Point
Someone asked, where do the quotes
come from? The answer is from the
people who uttered them. But, how did
you find them? Oh, that. Some from Bishop Jerry, others from Rev.
Geordie and many from Rev Bryan Dabney
and a
few from other places.
Rev. Geordie Menzies-Grierson – England (above)
Points to Ponder:
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall
continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1
If though hast done foolishly by
lifting up thyself, or if thou hast though evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth..
Proverbs 30:32
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant
of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried
from the womb: 4And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar
hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and
will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:3-4
When a worker jealously guards his secret life with
God the public life will take care of itself.
Ostwalt
Chambers: Disciples Indeed.
Many remain in the dark for years because they have no
power, as they say, to do that which is the giving up of all power and reposing
in the power of another, even the Lord. Jesus. Indeed, it is a very curious
thing, this whole matter of believing; for people do not get much help by
trying to believe. Believing does not come by trying. If a person were to make
a statement of something that happened this day, I should not tell him that I
would try to believe him. If I believed in the truthfulness of the man who told
the incident to me and said that he saw it, I should accept the statement at
once. If I did not think him a true man, I should, of course, disbelieve him;
but there would be no trying in the matter. Now, when God declares that there
is salvation in Christ Jesus, I must either believe him at once, or make Him a
liar. Surely you will not hesitate as to which is the right path in this case.
The witness of God must be true, and we are bound at once to believe in Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon – (All of Grace, p. 49).
The true God will never fail His worshippers. You have
been born by Me from the belly, and carried from the womb. Our Spiritual life
is sustained by His grace as necessarily and constantly as our natural life by
His providence. Commentary of Isaiah 46:3-4
The Rev. Matthew Henry
Man is a land-borne creature. His mind is weak and his
resolutions are never sure. He cannot see with his physical eyes the glorious
prospects of Heaven. His imagination of the Divine is clouded with the mundane
desires and offerings of a physical Universe. But Christ came to offer sight to
the blind and light to those who have sat in darkness so that their spiritual eyes
can grasp a glimpse of that beauty and magnificent grandeur that lies just beyond
the frontiers of man’s imagination. “The people that walked in darkness have
see a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon
them hath the light shines.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Bishop Jerry Ogles,
The Five
Solas: Solus Christus (Part One) p. 33-34
Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop – Metropolitan AOC Worldwide
We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the Collect and sermon notes.
Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:
Bishop Ogles
Blog:
https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com
Bishop Ogles
You Tube Channel
that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg
Wednesday Daily Meditations
AOC Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/10/jewels-of-lord.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMjIWuyDCI0
AOC Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/10/gods-word.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGq3v5tejHU
Saturday Meditation
AOC Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/10/eternal-day.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkHNdEMVBts
Sunday Meditation
Bishop’s blog link: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/10/rich-young-ruler.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlnFVRoscDI
Sermon Notes for 19th Sunday after Trinity,
26 October 2025, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
The Collect.
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.
If our hearts are the domain of the Holy spirit, our works will be guided by His Mind and Will so that all good works belong to His credit and none to our own.
Our epistle points out that ignorance, or lack of the Gospel Light, darkens the hearts of all unbelievers. They are truly blind to the great truths of the Gospel; however, that blindness is a willing ignorance among those who refuse to seek the Mind of Christ through the study of His Holy Word. They do not consider it worth their while to learn of the most critical matter of their own souls.
We also learn that there is also a kind of complacency that affects even those who have a knowledge of Christ, but ignore the benefits and magnanimity of grace accomplished for us in His redemption on the cross. Such careless hearers often fall back to the conceits and deceits of their own mind of the old man before Christ. The new man, created in Christ, is holy and righteous by means of that imputed to him in Christ.
Like Lot’s wife, many who are called forth from their depravity of sin take lingering and yearning looks back at that which damned them ere the grace of God was spread abroad in their hearts. Looking back will always lead to error. The plowman, looking back, can never plow a straight line. When we consider the enormity of sins that the Lord has forgiven us, and His suffering therefor, how can we not forgive those little indiscretions of our friends and neighbors?
THE GOSPEL TEXT
Matthew 9:1-8
JESUS entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2And, 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. 3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6But 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. 7And he arose, and departed to his house. 8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
The mark of a good writer is the ability to say the most in the fewest words - and that principle typifies every versed of God’s Holy Word. Let us take, for example, today’s Gospel text from Matthew 9:
Every account of Christ always finds Him traveling or, else, working in the fields of the needy sinner.
IN the text, we find Jesus again returning from across the sea of Tiberius after casting out devils into the swine of the Gergasenes. During that passage over the sea, He was awakened from His needful sleep in order to calm the stormy blasts of the sea. No sooner had His foot touched shore than men came bearing a man with palsy lying on a bed (stretcher). The men bearing the man on the stretcher came with one view in mind - to heal the man and restore him to physical health; but that is not the first thought that comes to mind to our Lord when a sinner confronts Him. Jesus practices a medical procedure called triage - that is, treat the most serious injury first. Instead of healing the man’s physical incapacity, the Lord pronounces an absolution of his sins.
The Bible does not tell us that the man had faith to be healed, but it was the faith of those who brought him that moved Christ to forgive Him of his most serious affliction - SIN! “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” To the manner of thought of men, it would be easy to make such a pronouncement even if assuming a divine soul. The scribes viewed the declaration of Christ as the most serious of sins - blasphemy!
It must be observed that this was already understood to be their response by our Lord. He made the first in order to seal His next profound utterance. …4Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? He is preparing to seal His first act of forgiveness of sins with His second act of complete healing. He had already anticipated the response of the scribes, and He vanquishes all doubt of His power to forgive sins with His second miracle of healing.
“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 scribes could offer not a single word of objection to either of these acts. They saw the plain proof of His Sonship with God, but could never bring themselves to accept it. The multitudes, however, whose hearts were moved with a greater degree of innocence of hope, saw, believed and proclaimed the wonder of His healing the man with the palsy. Still, however, the world is always amazed with signs and wonders than with the simple truth of the Gospel of Christ to save souls.
The multitudes glorified God, but not fully for the whole series of events - only the healing. They credited to the glory of God whom they considered had given such power to men - but it was not a manly power that healed the man with leprosy, nor forgave His sins, it was the power of God in the Person of Jesus Christ as the only Begotten Son of God.
In the Name of the Father, and The Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
† Jerry Ogles
Bishop of Alabama
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
We are always happy to get the instruction and devotions that Bp Morley is giving to us. We hope you enjoy the following:
A Summary of Remarks delivered at the General Convention
of the Anglican orthodox Church, October 2025
Our Glorious Treasure
The well known author, pundit, and politico William F. Buckley, a devout Catholic, once commented about the Prayer Book of the Protestant Episcopal Church, that along with the King James Bible and the plays of Shakespeare, it was "one of the most glorious works in the English language" So it has been, for its more than four hundred fifty year existence, having served the spiritual guide of the doctrine, discipline, and worship of English-speaking people throughout the world. It is not simply a worship manual or service book - it is a guide for the spiritual life of an entire Communion of Protestant Christians from cradle to grave - and beyond.
When adopted by the American Church in 1789, it was intended to be a universal guide for ALL American Protestants as its language was comprehensive, not sectarian, while clearly maintaining the Faith of the "mother Church" unaltered "firm and unshaken" as the Preface to the 1928 American Book attests. Every sect or denomination has a form of worship but the Common Prayer was never meant to be sectarian in use. It provided for multiple forms of worship but kept the same catholicity of the Faith, whether in use in the cathedrals of big cities or the chapels of the countryside. One common language united believers regardless of the formality of the setting, station in life, or geographic location. Morning Prayer would be the same service whether in New York or New Mexico, as well as in Hong Kong or Sydney for that matter.
Episcopalians or Anglicans as we are now known, are creatures of habit. We cherish our traditions and savor our language, and we enjoy the familiarity of that which is meaningful as well as beautiful. But in the course of time, something happened to the identity of the Church and there arose those in authority who sought to change the identity of the American Church radically - and chose to do so by changing her most familiar identifying marker - the Book of Common Prayer. These radicals knew they could not be obvious or brash in putting forward blatant changes in the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the historic Church. Change would have to be pointed but subtle so as not to alarm the clergy or laity. Nevertheless, these radicals would insist on changing the language of the BCP and threatened to remove the historic Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion from the "new" revision.
However, in 1927, when it was suggested that the Articles be removed, twenty-five bishops of the Church threatened to leave the denomination unless they were retained. The Anglo-Catholic party which had urged the removal of the Articles had grown in power in recent years, despite being considered only a fringe digression from Protestant Anglicanism. Once regarded as renegades of the English Oxford Movement, this Romanizing party gained support in the seminaries and the episcopate and eventually power in the Prayer Book Revision Committee of 1927.
A compromise was struck to enable the orthodox within the PECUSA to retain the Articles in the "new" Prayer Book. Four changes would be made to the new PB to please the catholic wing that would forever alter the language of any future revisions.
First was the introduction of the word "Eucharist" which had never before appeared in any edition of the PB. It was borrowed from Roman theology and usage, with the accompanying sacramental theology of Rome. Nevertheless, it was not to be uttered aloud and only appeared in a newly minted service unique to the American BCP, in a rubric at the end of the Office of Institution. Also added in that same service was the phrase "Ministers of Apostolic Succession" - apostolic succession being dear to the Romanists, many of whom dreamed of the re-union of Anglicanism with Rome, barred by claims of Rome that Anglicanism lacked apostolic succession as understood by Catholic tradition with regard to an "unbroken line of bishops going back to St. Peter, the first pope and bishop of Rome. While Anglicans cherish the doctrine of the historic episcopate, an apostolic pedigree of bishops is foreign to Church teaching but the apostolic heritage of ALL ministers was preserved by the Protestant bishops in the language of the new Book.
The Anglo-Catholics realized that, in order to promote the Romish belief in seven sacraments, they would have to introduce something that resembled "Last Rites" or the seventh sacrament, to prove the "Catholicity" of the Prayer Book. The service of The Visitation of the Sick was altered to include an optional "anointing with oil" to resemble the Romish custom. It was made optional because many clergy refused to perform the rite, as it so closely resembled the Roman ritual. Laying on of hands on the sick was biblical - attributing healing powers to oils blessed only by a bishop was NOT!
Probably the most significant compromise was the introduction of the word "altar" - purposely removed by Archbishop Cranmer at the inception of the historic Prayer Book - as it conveyed the popish concept of the Lord's Supper as a re-enacted sacrifice of Calvary, a doctrine which Cranmer himself died a martyr's death opposing. Finally, the Romanizers had their "seven sacraments" and accompanying doctrinal possibilities, enabled by the new language heard by Protestant Episcopalians for the first time.
If you change the language of any community, you can change their identity as well as their thinking, as well as their future. So, it was with Prayer Book revision in 1927, proven to be very successful in the passage of years. Gone is the thoroughgoing Protestant identity of the Episcopal Church, who incidentally dropped the adjective "Protestant" in 1978. Little wonder that innovations such as calling a priest "Father" or Holy Communion "the Mass,” saying the Rosary or Stations of the Cross, wearing Mass vestments or abandoning Morning Prayer, are now the rule and not the exception held by a tiny minority.
Not all the radical change in American churchmanship can be attributed to these Prayer Book alterations. Mass immigration from Europe and the rise of the Ecumenical Movement also greatly changed the identity of the American Church. The liberalization of American seminaries under the influence of Higher Criticism also weakened the Protestant identity of the Church. Worst, however, was the abandonment of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion as a requirement for ordination, enabling the Anglo-Catholic party to be free from ecclesiastic authority to conform to the historic teachings of Anglicanism. Individual bishops became authorities unto themselves and the national identity of the Church splintered according to the churchmanship of their dioceses.
What of our future and that of the 1928 Prayer Book? The 1928 Prayer Book may be all that we have but it is all we need to remain faithful to Biblical Christianity, the Religion of our Reformation Fathers. They gave their lives for Christ's Religion: surely, we can do no less. May God give us grace to continue to use it to His Glory, unto the salvation of souls, and the edification of His Holy Church.
CEM
Roy
Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor|
Saint Paul's Anglican
Church - Diocese of the Midwest Anglican
Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Sermon - MP
Psalm 72; First Lesson: Job 24:1-17; Second Lesson: Titus 2
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
God is Sovereign
Hymns: # 321, 568, 569
There is a rather stark contrast to our Old Testament and New Testament lessons. In the book of Job, there is a listing of what appears to be a wanton abuse of good people by evil people.
1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? They seem to be getting away with all of this abuse. 2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
Job points out that they do all this under the supposed protection of darkness. All of this activity is done in what appears to be secret.
14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
And yet as Job points out, God does see them, He is aware of their activity, their proclivity to evil, the damage they do with animal like abandon, ‘...5behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey:...’
All seems to be happening without any intervention by God. The warning against this behavior is found several times in this passage, starting with verse one: ‘why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?’ And again the several references to doing evil in the dark or at twilight, all in an attempt to avoid the Almighty. And yet we read that even though the evil operate in the dark, they fear the light as if it was death. Interesting idea:
13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof….17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
The light of day becomes a terror to those who commit evil against the innocent. This concept is continued in the idea that Christ Jesus is the Light of the world. We are to be the salt and the light in this world. We should reflect the Gospel, being a reflection of the Truth that Christ brought into this world during his earthly ministry.
We know that God does not sleep or slumber, so the implication is He sees all. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4) So no matter what the wicked do to try and avoid God’s eyes, they are not able to do so, He sees all.
When we compare and contrast the Old Testament lesson with the New Testament lesson we can see several valuable points to aid us in our daily walk with God.
In the second chapter of Titus, Paul is writing to new and ‘seasoned’ Christians at the same time. He expresses the need to eat, sleep, read, and profess sound doctrine. It is of the utmost importance to do these things. As Paul had written to Timothy and to the church at Corinth, he again emphasizes the need to be true to the Gospel message. All of the characteristics that he writes about are an important aspect of behavior, a behavior that the world is watching at all times.
The idea, of course, is to see if Christians mess up in their daily lives. We can and we do mess up, we are not perfect, we are forgiven. That is an interesting point that can be made to nonbelievers. We as Christians are not perfect, but we are forgiven our sins when we ask forgiveness of the same.
We are to be sound in faith, in charity, in patience, be teachers of good things, teach younger ones these truths and also showing a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing incorruptness.
As we study this chapter pay attention to verses 9-11. Many false teachers try to use this and other similar passages to say the Bible promotes slavery. Balderdash. Define servant.
In a very real way, anyone who works for someone else is their servant. I know in our democratic ways we like to think of ourselves as independent beings, but in reality we have a boss or three when we work for others. In theory, even if you have your own business, you still have bosses...they are your customers. But now back to the point. As a servant/employee we are not to talk back, follow the orders of the boss (as long as it is legal), don’t steal, this includes playing on the internet, taking long coffee breaks, being idle. Be faithful, be a good worker/servant: why? Because the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
Make sure you show that grace of God in all you do as a person, a worker, a boss, a neighbor, a friend to both believers and non-believers.
9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
In conclusion, if we know that God sees all, that He is Sovereign and has control of all then it is our duty to God and His Kingdom to live and serve Him all our days. As we reread the last five verses of Titus chapter 2 let us reflect on what St. Paul is expressing as the right way to face the day-to-day grind we all find ourselves in; we are to look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Know that we cannot do this ourselves, we must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world. We need to speak, exhort and rebuke with all authority, because it is the right thing to do as we serve the Kingdom.
As we seek to do God’s will in this fallen world, let us ever seek hope in His sacrifice, 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Because, 11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, who hast bidden us seek that we may find, and who pourest out on all who desire it, the spirit of grace and of supplication; Deliver us, when we draw nigh to Thee, from coldness of heart and wandering of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst say unto Thy Disciples, Come ye apart into a desert place and rest a while; Grant we beseech Thee to Thy servants now gathered together, so to seek Thee whom our souls desire to love, that we may both find Thee and be found of Thee. Grant such love and such wisdom to accompany the words which shall be spoken in Thy name, that they may not fall to the ground, but may be helpful in leading us onward through the toils of our pilgrimage to that rest which remaineth, where, nevertheless, they rest not day nor night from Thy perfect service; who livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings, with Thy most gracious favor, and further us with Thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify Thy holy Name, and finally, By Thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.O Almighty God, who hast built Thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the head cornerstone; Grant, us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace, now and for evermore. Amen.
Beloved, go in peace, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen
+Roy Morales-Kuhn
The Rev. Don Fultz
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office
We are grateful to have this sermon of today, from the Rev. Don Fultz of St. Peter's AOC, Statesville, NC.
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
Forgiveness and Healing
Matthew 9:1-8
In today’s Gospel reading we have further evidence of the Divine authority and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this passage, He forgives sin, and then miraculously heals a man with palsy. Of all the healing miracles recorded in Matthew’s gospel, this is the only one which Jesus first forgives a person’s sins and then heals him of his infirmities. This story is also recorded in Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26, but in more detail.
We are told in Matthew 9:1: “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. Jesus considered Capernaum as his “own city” where he had established his residence (Matt.4:13) and a home base for his ministry. So the first account upon Jesus return to Capernaum as recorded in this 9th chapter of St. Matthew is the spiritual and physical healing of the man with palsy.
Jesus’s teachings and ministry was now drawing larger crowds. This included many of the Pharisees, Scribes, and legal scholars. Here we have Jesus ministering and teaching inside a house, most likely the home of Simon Peter. Most of these homes had a covered court yard area, and this is the likely gathering of those listening to Jesus.
If we look at the account by St. Mark and St. Luke, the first thing we see is the strong effort of the men who brought the palsy man to Jesus to be healed.
The man was so stricken with paralysis that he had to be carried on a bed by four men. They couldn’t get the man through the front entrance to see Jesus due to the crowd. Therefore, they carried him up the outside stairs and loosed some of the roof tiling. Then they proceeded to lower the palsy man on his bed with ropes through the roof down in the center of the floor where Jesus was teaching. They went through a lot of diligence, labor and pain to get their friend to Jesus to be healed.
St. Matthew tells us in verse 2b that “Jesus saw their faith” not only in the paralytic man himself, but also in the friends that brought him to Jesus. And it was a strong faith. They believed that Jesus both could and would heal him. Otherwise, they would not have brought the sick man to Him so publicly and through so much difficulty.
Next, we see the kindness and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ. When He saw the man lying on the bed before Him, He took compassion and pity on him. He wanted to make the man at ease so He first gave him a cordial greeting “Son, be of good cheer” and then He said to the man “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” (9:2c)
The scribes and Pharisees, were not happy with this pronouncement by Jesus, but they did not speak up in objection. Rather, they said to themselves in verse three “This man blasphemeth”
The reason they would arrive at this conclusion was that He was blaspheming was that He was taking upon Himself a role that was only God’s prerogative. Luke’s account makes this clear, “The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?’” (Luke 5:21).
The reason that they were correct in stating “who can forgive sins, but God alone” was because it is ultimately God that people sin against. That is why King David when he confessed his Adultery with Bathsheba said the following to God in Psalm 51:4: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Think about it. David had sinned against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. And yet ultimately he had sinned against God by breaking his commandments and he needed God’s forgiveness. For all sin is directed against God. That’s why God says in Isaiah 43:25: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, And will not remember thy sins.”
There is no doubt regarding how the scribes understood the statement “your sins are forgiven.” They clearly saw that Jesus was ascribing a divine characteristic to Himself, thus making Himself out to be God. Those who view that Christ is not God fail to see what even the evil scribes could see. Just as there is great significance in their understanding, there is even more significance in that Christ does not correct their reasoning.
The reason He was willing to allow them to draw this conclusion is because the conclusion was accurate. It is ironic that the scribes would think that “this man blasphemes” when they themselves were guilty of blasphemy by failing to ascribe honor to Jesus.
Then, we are told in verse 6-7: Jesus tells the paralytic to “…Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house. 7And he arose, and departed to his house. “First He assures him that his soul is healed. Then He tells him his physical body is healed, and sends him away rejoicing. This shows the character of Christ’s loving kindness which never changes and never fails.
This passage connects the problem of paralysis with the problem of sin. All physical maladies derive ultimately from man’s fallen state. While Jesus taught that there is no direct necessary relationship between physical defect and the practice of sin (cf. John 9:2-3), there are the lasting effects of the fall upon our physical bodies.
The paralytic not only had a physical problem, he also had a spiritual problem. He was in need of forgiveness. In pronouncing forgiveness, Jesus prioritized the man’s greater need over his lesser need. While paralysis greatly hindered his life, being able to walk does not prevent other physical issues, nor does it delay his death. Truly, forgiveness of sins was the far greater blessing, stretching to eternity.
Jesus’ rhetorical question in Matthew 9:5: “For whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee ; or to say, Arise, and walk?” is left unanswered but the intent is clear. The actual answer to this question depends upon one’s perspective.
From a man’s earthly perspective, it is much easier to say “your sins are forgiven” because there is no objective evidence that validates whether such a statement is true or not. Anyone can say such a thing because it is unverifiable. In contrast, to say “Arise and walk” brings the necessary expectation of healing to the paralytic. In this sense, it is much more difficult to say for there is an ability to verify whether such a statement is valid or not. Conversely, it is truly much more difficult to say “your sins are forgiven,” since only God is able to truly make this statement. No mere human can possibly forgive sin since all sin is against God Himself.
From the actual, heavenly perspective of God, it is much easier to say “Arise and walk” for this is a mere temporal improvement compared to the eternal value of forgiveness of sins. Those who are healed physically will one day face their physical demise.
The evidence of Jesus’ ability to forgive sins is directly related to His ability to heal. This act of healing proved His authority to forgive sins. In verse 6(a), Jesus stated His purpose for this healing when He said, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” The healing work of Jesus was for the specific purpose of revelation and instruction.
This authority existed in Christ even while He was “on earth.” This included the revelation of who He was. He was the “Son of Man,” the Messiah of Israel. As Messiah, He had authority on earth to forgive sin. This had been evident back in Matthew 1:21 where the angel of the Lord said to Joseph: “She shall bring forth a Son, and Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” This authority was given to Him by God, the Father as being the Son of God. (Matthew 28:18)
We can lose perspective on the reason for miracles by focusing on only the earthly blessing. This is at the core of the problem with the popularity of healing miracles. People flock to those who offer some hope of physical healing without understanding the necessary connection between miracles and the revelation of God. Jesus performed more miracles and did more preaching in Capernaum than any other city. Yet, there were very few people converted. This drew from our Lord, the heaviest condemnation that He ever pronounced against any place, except Jerusalem. Here is what He said in Matthew 11: 23-24: “23Thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day. 24But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement, than for thee.”
When the Lord brings revelation to mankind, He validates His word with undeniable miraculous evidence. Just as anyone can utter the words, “your sins are forgiven,” anyone can utter the words “thus says the Lord.” To prove that God has truly spoken, He provides evidence. When people put forth dubious claims of healing, they undermine the very purpose of God’s miraculous work.
In verse 6 (b), Jesus heals the paralytic with the words “Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house.” The emphasis was on the completeness of the healing. He was now able to arise as a dramatic evidence of his healing and the miraculous power of Jesus. He was also able to carry the bed he had been lying on. This testified to the fullness of the healing. The Paralytic man responded to Jesus’ words by getting up and departing. Luke adds that his response was immediate, in front of everyone including the scribes, and that he left giving glory to God. (Mark 2:12; Luke 5:25)
In verse eight, St. Matthew tells us when the multitudes saw the miracle, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power into men. This informs us of how the crowds understood Jesus. They saw Jesus as a man who was able to heal the paralytic, and by inference, was also able to forgive his sins. They acknowledged that God had given Jesus this authority but they did not view that authority was specific to Jesus, but that it was given to men. Therefore, they failed to see this evidence of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel, uniquely different from all other men.
Jesus captures this opportunity of the bringing of the paralytic to Him for healing to forgive sins. This forgiveness was based upon strong faith in Jesus and demonstrated His authority to forgive sins on earth. While this was not the reason why the paralytic was brought to Jesus, certainly it was a far greater blessing than being physically healed. This brings attention to the relationship between spiritual sickness (sin) and physical sickness (paralysis).
The reason physical infirmities exist is because of the fall of man (Genesis 3). Sin produced many results, but ultimately it brought spiritual and physical death.
Although all physical difficulties are essentially sourced in the sin of Adam, this does not mean that all physical sickness or disabilities are necessarily the direct result of a person’s sin. John 9:1-3 makes this clear, “And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be manifest in him.”
In Closing, Matthew’s focus was not on the reason for the paralysis but on the authority of Jesus to forgive sins. Our forgiveness will culminate in our final deliverance from sin’s presence, including its effect on our bodies. One day our present perishable body will be replaced by an imperishable body (1 Corinthians 15:35-57). Death will be conquered through our Lord Jesus Christ and all physical defects will be eradicated.
This is one reason that the forgiveness of sins is by far the greatest need of man. While physical healing brings a temporary blessing on earth, forgiveness brings eternal blessing in heaven. This eternal blessing is not only everlasting but will also include a remedy for all the effects of sin, including physical pain. Just as Revelation 21:3-4 tells Us: “3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men ,and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
16th Sunday after Trinity
How to avoid anxiety
Matthew 6
Usually I detest how to talks. Today I am doing that because if we have severe or periodic troubling anxiety in our lives we will live less years and have less influence on those around us for good. Anxiety is much of the subject of the latter part of Matthew 6. In vs.25 we read, "…Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink..."
Bible hub below word usage of the word anxiety or as
translated above is take no thought:
merimnáō (from /mérimna, "a part, as opposed to the whole") –
properly, drawn in opposite directions; "divided into parts" (A. T.
Robertson); (figuratively) "to go to pieces" because pulled apart (in
different directions), like the force exerted by sinful anxiety (worry).
Positively (merimnáō) is used of effectively distributing concern, in proper
relation to the whole picture (cf. 1 Cor 12:25; Phil 2:20).
(merimnaō ) is "an old verb for worry and anxiety – literally, to be divided, distracted." It is more commonly used in this negative sense in the NT. ( also used about Martha in Luke 10:41 ..."Martha, Martha , thou art careful ( anxious) and troubled about many things."
So the above is some of the derivation of the word "take no thought" in the KJV. Do we worry ? Let's look at why we should not worry in a spiritual sense and reason. Then we will look at some how to things practically.
1. We should not worry or be anxious for "your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things." (Matt 6:32)
" this spiritual treasure Jesus now asserts, though invisible and intangible, is far more real and lasting than the material good which men and women in their undue anxiety about the future are at so much pains to amass....To set one's heart, therefore, upon them is to live in perpetual, even if unrecognized, insecurity; it is also to deprive oneself of heavenly treasure..." Matthew , R.V. G. Tasker
The first part of this chapter six of Matthew talks about prayer and "…thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly..." (Matthew 6:4)
If we are anxious we are betraying our faith as we are doubting that God can do what He says He will do. I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Either we believe this or we do not that He will take care of us despite our waywardness and inattention to His will and desires for us. We try. Even our mistakes work together for good as we learn in Romans 8:28.
2. We cannot serve two masters. This started off our Gospel reading for today. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other…." (Matthew 6:24)
This makes sense. Road kill is usually in the middle of the road. We should figure out where we are headed and go there. Proverbs 3:5-6 is helpful here. "5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
3. " The life (here the word is soul in the Greek) is more than meat...and the body than raiment."
We look at the evidence of nature and know that God does care for His creation. I saw a fall leaf already and it had deep green and red and orange. We know there is a Creator because nothing this beautiful can happen by chance.
Lastly, how do we do it? How do we get rid of the anxiety, the anxious thoughts that keep us up thinking about whatever or whoever?
Practically there are some ways that "Overcoming Anxiety" by Charles Elliott suggests:
"Talking with a friend; Exercising; Challenging your anxious thinking; listening to music; getting support; revisiting what worked before; doing something different;...."
What would you put in that list?
Taking time for meditation on God's Word thru prayers and doing things that will help you to find peace in the moment?
Conclusion:
Today we have thought it through. We know our Lord says we should not be anxious, but we are. In God's time, He will make all things right and we will look back and say, "God knew what He what was doing even if we do not." That is our faith that despite all the details of this life they will all add up to a complete picture of His plan. That jig saw puzzle of our lives will eventually make total sense. To Him be the glory!
AOC Worldwide Prayer List –
I have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with remove in the subject line.
Prayer Needed:
Linda – Recovery from car accident that totaled her car – not her fault
Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain
Effie – recent discharge from hospital following pneumonia and possible CHF
Kamil – pray for successful – Chemotherapy
Donna – Brain Cancer that returned – receiving radiation that is horribly affecting her speech
Paul Meier – throat cancer- radiation treatment successful
Richard Bailey – Brain Cancer
Pastor Glen Shoals – Skin Cancer
Heather
– Please welcome Beatrix
Meriwether was born Monday, 10:59 AM at 7 lb 10 oz, 18.5 in.
Marilee – Mastectomy Update – pray for successful – chemotherapy- difficulty had to stop – keep praying
Roy – Bulging disc – upcoming surgery
Jim - scheduling surgery for a heart ablation
Turpal, Bishop Mera – Congratulations recently baptized: New Name - Michael
Extended Issues need continued prayer;
Laurie with long Covid Symptoms - Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing depression to settle in.
Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment
Betsey – Lane – Betsy onset of Dementia- Marianne her daughter
South Korea – pray to defeat the communists trying to take over; protection for the South Korean people.
Church of the Redeemer – changes in leadership, mourning loss of a wonderful Minister and Friend
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, AOC USA, AOC Missions,
Harper-IBS , Jim Sevier- God’s
Peace, Linda –
multiple myeloma, Marianne, Betsey - Dementia, Donna-chemotherapy, Alicia-caregiver, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall –
cancer,
Toni – cancer, Donna - cancer, Malou –
cancer, Archie, Eloise, Janice, Dakota, Katie
Finley, Mike & Gayle
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