December 31st | The feast of St. Sylvester

 

Today is Decemebr 31st. New year’s Eve. the beginning of a new year, and a chance to celebrate for many. Around the world, to many who acknowledge various liturgical calendars, today is the feast day of someone a little less popular than Father Time..

Sylvester was ordained bishop over the church in Rome in the year 314.  This Christian brother served the church at a time when the Arian heresy and the Donatist schism had provoked great discord. After the peace of Constantine, he contributed greatly to the expansion of the faith throughout the Roman world.. Below is a reading I borrowed from a Catholic Missal:

Collect:
Lord,
help and sustain Your people
as in the days of Bishop Sylvester.
Guide us always in this present life
and bring us to the joy that never ends.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I Myself will search for My sheep, and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out My sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the fountains, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and upon the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on fat pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I Myself will be the shepherd of My sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-19
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

December 18th | Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

Below, I’ve pasted a selection from the Catholic Mass reading from the USCCB website (United States Conference Of Catholic Bishops)..It is such a good devotional read…Check it out Pilgrim as we approach the time we’ve set aside to celebrate Christ’s first coming!

December 18, 2010
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Reading 1

Jer 23:5-8

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
“The LORD our justice.”

Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,
when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives,
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”;
but rather, “As the LORD lives,
who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north”–
and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land.

Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19

Responsorial Psalm

RR. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Mt 1:18-25Gospel

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

Happy John The Baptist Day!

Hey Pilgrims!

Here is a quick devotional I found. It makes for a great little read on John The Baptist Day. Enjoy.

Daily Reading & Meditation

Thursday (June 24): “For the hand of the Lord was with him”

Scripture: Luke 1:57-66,80  (alternate reading: Matthew 7:21-29)

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari’ah after his father, 60 but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Meditation: Birthdays are a special time to remember and give thanks for the blessings that have come our way. Are you grateful for the ways that God has worked in your life, even from your birth? In many churches of the East and West the birth of John the Baptist is remembered on this day. The friends of Zechariah and Elizabeth marveled at the wonderful way in which God blessed them with a child. This child was destined by God for an important mission. The last verses in the last book of the Old Testament, taken from the prophet Malachi, speak of the Lord’s messenger, the prophet Elijah who will return to “turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6). We see the beginning of the fulfillment of this word when the Angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah the marvelous birth and mission of John the Baptist (Luke 1:17). When this newly born child was about to be named, as customary on the eighth day, his relatives quibbled over what name to give him. (Don’t relatives today often do the same when the time comes for naming a newborn?) This child, however has been named from above! And Elizabeth is firm in her faith and determined to see that God be glorified through this child. The name John means “the Lord is gracious”. In the birth of John and in the birth of Jesus the Messiah we see the grace of God breaking forth into a world broken by sin and without hope. John’s miraculous birth shows the mercy and favor of God in preparing his people for the coming of its Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist’s life was fueled by one burning passion – to point others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of God’s kingdom. Scripture tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15, 41) by Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, John lept in the womb of Elizabeth as they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41). The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah. John was led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry where he was tested and grew in the word of God. John’s clothing was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (see Kings 1:8). John broke the prophetic silence of the previous centuries when he began to speak the word of God to the people of Israel. His message was similar to the message of the Old Testament prophets who chided the people of God for their unfaithfulness and who tried to awaken true repentance in them. Among a people unconcerned with the things of God, it was his work to awaken their interest, unsettle them from their complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to recognize and receive Christ when he came.

What is the significance of John the Baptist and his message for our lives? When God acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes our faith come “alive” to his promises. Each and every day the Lord is ready to renew us in faith, hope, and love. Like John the Baptist, the Lord invites each of us to make our life a free-will offering to God. God wants to fill us with his glory all the days of our lives, from birth through death. Renew the offering of your life to God and give him thanks for his mercy and favor towards you.

“Lord Jesus, you bring hope and salvation to a world lost in sin, despair, and suffering. Let your grace refresh and restore your people today in the hope and joy of your great victory over sin and death.”

Psalm 139:1-3,13-15

1 O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me!
2 Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar.
3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
13 For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works!  Thou knowest me right well;
15 my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.

---

Go to | Daily Reading & Meditation Index |
 (c) 2010 Don Schwager

Words from Irenaeus

Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyons in the ancient Roman province of Gaul, is one of the early church fathers from the second century who’s writings still survive and hold relevance..

Here are some of his thoughts on “a life well spent”:

 ”The God, therefore, who does benevolently cause His sun to rise upon all, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust, shall judge those who, enjoying his equally distributed kindness, have led lives not corresponding to the dignity of His bounty, but who have spent their days in wantonness and luxury.”

Tithing vs. Giving

Recently I was asked if I could write a controversial post on tithing. Realizing that this is something that could get me in trouble, I’ve decided to take up the challenge.

There are many different perspectives on the Christian responsibility of tithing. Some say it is indeed a New Testament discipline and a command to all believers.  Others affirm that it is strictly an Old Testament ordinance, but must be observed as an essential principle for new covenant believers.  Some Christians  teach, that tithing is strictly an Old testament law and there is NO obligation to observe it in light of the new covenant, and that tithing is actually a form of religious bondage.

Before we look at this matter, let’s get a working definition. What is tithing? Simply, a tithe means: a tenth . A 10% portion of an income, possessions or lands.  Tithing is certainly not only a Judean-Christian practice. The Babylonians, Islamic, as well as Sikhs have tithed since ancient times.

Biblically, the first mention of the concept of tithing is found in Genesis 14:18-19.  Here Abraham meets the mysterious figure: Melchezedek, who is a king of Salem, and a priest of the Most High God. He is also described as having no natural birth. Some scholars propose that this was an angel of God, some say it was Noah’s son Shem. I suspect that it was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Nonetheless. We see Abram offering this priest, a tenth of all of his spoils.

There are also several places in the Pentateuch where tithing is mentioned.

Deuteronomy 14;22-27, Deuteronomy  26:12-14, Numbers 18:13-14

In the context of the Mosaic Law, tithes and offerings were a combination of ceremonial offerings, but a specific percentage essentially served as a type of tax. This tax served two chief purposes. To finance and support the temple and Priesthood, and to provide for the poor among the people.

Later, the early Catholic writer Francis Plowden wrote about tithing as “A divine ordinance and an obligation of conscience.”

Although most modern Biblical scholars agree that tithing IS NOT a direct command given in the New Testament many Catholics church leaders have cited Matthew 23:23, arguing that Jesus in fact instructed that tithing was essential.

Lastly, the common scripture used to define the act of tithing in most protestant churches today comes from Malachi 3:8-10.

This scripture eloquently describes the heart and principle of giving to God. It portrays that the failure of the Jewish people to observe it in the past was a clear sign of their lack of faith, and would now incur a curse upon them. It also showed that those who are faithful in giving to God in tithes and offerings, would be rewarded with divine provision and blessing. This scripture in Malachi is often referred to as command. Although the passage does show a great truth, it is erroneously taught as an Old Testament  command that must be observed. This proposes a doctrinal problem. Why should a New Testament believer, who is supposedly not under the “old law’, observe an obscure principle mentioned in the Prophets, but, be shunned and labeled as a Judaizer or Legalist if they decide to observe the Feasts or Festivals of Yawheh, or observe the levitical dietary laws, let alone the entire Mosaic law. In short, my tough question is: Why do we insist that our congregations obey this single Old Testament law, but encourage them that they are free from all of the other 313 laws? I think we all know the answer to that. Because the church’s need money.

Do I think it is wrong to tithe? Absolutely not! I encourage it, and practice it myself. Do I think it is a direct command that all Christians have to give ten percent of their income to the local church? No. Hermeneutically, that would be a convenient assumption. I will share my favorite verse that I use to teach my children about Christian giving and provision:

2 Corinthians 9:7 “So let each one give as they purpose in their heart to give. Not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Notice God didn’t say He loves a religious giver, or a punctual giver, or a consistent giver. He said He loves a cheerful giver.

 

Here are my conclusions on tithing, they may sound controversial, and even a little contradictive, but, here they are:

• Why tithe when you can give? When you give 8%, you may feel guilty…. when you give 10%, you may feel satisfied…….. when you give 12%,  You feel “spiritual”.    This is not a good perspective on charity. The law was designed to show sin and act as yoke,(obligation)  leading us to Christ (joy).
• Tithing is good. It is never a sin.
• Give money, give lots, give regularly
• Give to the local Church and give to pastors who bless you
• Finances can be given to increase our faith. Every financial offering is a seed sown.
• If money, and fear of lack has a grip on you, the best way to break that spirit, is to give hilariously.
• Give because you want to
• Give because God has blessed you
• Give because you trust God
• Don’t limit yourself to ten percent. Give in proportion to your faith, and joy.
• Generosity releases revival

I hope you all enjoyed this post. Please let me know if you have any questions..

 

Shalom

Pastor Darrell

The Ascension

I was looking at my calendar this morning and realized that today is the feast of Ascension, as observed by the Roman Catholic Church. The Ascension is one of the great feasts in the Christian liturgical calendar and commemorates the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day from Easter day. However, some Roman Catholic provinces have moved the observance to the following Sunday. The feast is one of the ecumenical feasts (i.e., universally celebrated), ranking with the feasts of the Passion, of Easter and Pentecost.

I made use of the day by reading and thinking on the passages of scripture containing the account of Jesus ascension into heaven. They can be found in Luke 24, Mark 16, and in Acts 1. I invite you to read this passage and drink in the words. What must it have been like to witness such a miracle? What had the disciples thought about Jesus final commission? What did this all mean to His followers?

Acts 2:4-12

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the father, ‘which’, He said, ‘you have heard from Me: ‘for john baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And he said to them “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.” 

One of the things that really stuck out to me was the fact that the disciples “were watching” as Jesus ascended. And we know that when Christ returns, there will also be eye witnesses:

Revelation 1:7 “Behold He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

When Jesus is scrutinized before the Sanhedrin, He alluded to this inevitable event, by paraphrasing Daniel 7:13-14:

“I am. And you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

I guess the point I’m trying to make, is that the ascension happened in the same way that the second coming will happen. I don’t have time, or urge to write in detail my eschatological opinion of the sequence of events around the second coming, but I want to emphasize that the Bible mentions it over and over. It is not a symbolic event, or a parabilic vision. It is a literal, event that will happen in human history. Basically, this is real folks!

May you be blessed on this Ascension Thursday! May you enjoy the friendship of the Holy Spirit today, and may you take comfort in the hope of Christ’s return.

shalom | pastor darrell

Theodore the Sykeote | a piece of church history

 

I should like to write a book one day about the Body Of Christ. I should like to call it “Crown Of Jewels”, and use it to explore all of the beauty found in the mosaic of the denominations and diverse sub cultures within the church. There has certainly been plenty of constructive, and destructive criticism to the Bride Of Christ (of which I am guilty of both). But I should like to take an attempt to reveal the things that are right and good within each member. My research has begun, and I plan on even using this blog to organize and channel my learnings from Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholic doctrines and traditions.One of my learning strategies is to study the various Liturgical Calendars of the church. This include feasts, fasts, observances, and assigned days for specific saints and martyrs. I have copied the different calendars into my own, and I plan on doing much of the scripture readings, and keeping some of the observances in my own way to, in essence, experience what many of these church fathers seek to experience.  Some of you may think I’m going  a little wacky, but, that’s up to you!    

Anyway, I learned that today, for the Eastern Orthodox Church, is a day that they observe a specific Saint called Theodore. (note:  I want to stress one thing about the rigorous observing of the liturgical calendar. Even though it may seem cold, traditional, and may even be misunderstood as Saint worship, I need to credit it for the fact that it brings its followers through an intentional cycle of church history, doctrine, and deep meditations on scripture passages and bible stories)  

April 22 | St.Theodore the Sykeote    

 Saint Theodore was born out of wedlock in Sykeon, a village of Galatia in Asia Minor. From his childhood, he was under the protection and guidance of the holy Great Martyr George, who often appeared to him, and was as it were his trainer in the hard ascetical discipline which he took upon himself all his life. After a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he became a monk in his native Galatia. About 584 he was ordained Bishop of Anastasiopolis in Galatia, where he shepherded his flock for ten years. After this, he asked to be allowed to be relieved of the duties of governing the diocese. His request was granted but he was commanded to retain his rank as bishop. Saint Theodore was a great worker of miracles, and also received from God the power to cast out even the most obstinate demons, who called him “Iron-eater” because of his stern way of life. Having passed throughout many regions, worked numerous miracles, and strengthened the faithful in piety, he departed this life in 613.

The Great Tradition

What do I think the church is doing right in 2010?

 

This is a question that a WordPress pal of mine asked at the end of one of his posts: http://www.seansabourin.com/?p=871   This is a good question indeed, especially since most take a critical aim at the ‘blushing bride’ of Christ more often than commend it for anything!

At great risk of appearing controversal, I submit that ‘one’ of the good things happening within the Body of Christ is running in the same vein as what has come to be called the: ‘Ecumenical Movement’. This movement brings mixed reviews. Some hailing it as a great pilgrimage of repentance, and others (mostly fundamentalists) accusing it of being a sort of ‘unitarian apostacy’. In terms of the official movement itself, I subscribe to neither review whole heartedly, but i want to highlight some of the characteristics therein that i feel are of great benefit to the Church.

Latley we are seeing a return to liturgy. Christians everywhere are showing signs of a yearning that the post-modern church, or emerging church, can’t quite seem to satisfy. We are seeing a growing interest in The Great Tradition. I see it in the new books being written. I see it in the blogosphere. I hear it in the music and liturgy Sunday mornings…What is this Great tradition of which i speak? Lets back up a bit…

The church that was birthed in the New Testament account of Pentecost enjoyed a relatively schizm-free existence from its inception. this continued right through the Roman persecution (and after the Roman legalization in 313 AD under Constantine),  right up till about 1054 AD. Besides the outbreak of two or three notable splinterings (Nestorians, Mar Tomas) the church remained in relative unity. After nearly half a century, three major fragmentations began to happen. The three major branches are: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Reformed Protestantism.

Western Protestantism (Lutheran, Baptist, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Reformed, etc, etc) is what dominates the religious population in North America today. There are well over two thousand denominations within Protestantism alone. And these denominations include sub groups such as fundamentalism, liberalism, post-modernism, liturgical, etc, bla bla bla.

One can look at all of these fragments of the Body of Christ with scrutiny, and rightfully so. I have taught on the subject of denominationalism and I have expanded on its cons, and it’s pros, but, I have a hard time picturing Jesus being thrilled about division that happens every day. don’t get me wrong, i am not being a pluralist in saying that all “religions” should be unified. Not only would that be un-biblical, but a great philosophical impossibility. What i am trying to say can be best elaborated on by a quote from Walter R. Martin, author of the classic Kingdom Of The Cults. On matters of doctrine and practices withing the Church, he said:

“In the essentials; there ought to be unity.

In the non-essentials; liberty.

In all things; love.”

I believe it is time for the church to get back to its roots. There are so many gems found in studying the Great Tradition. But if we are careless, we may miss them. History holds a tutorship quality that will help us prepare for our future. In essence, we can learn about our future by looking to our past. Studying the great traditions of the early church, the lives of the martyrs, and the growth of the church has been a great source of interest to me ltely, as well as a well spring of wisdom. My admonition to the Church is to look to the past as well as the future. What were the early Christians like? what did they value? What did they believe and why? What action did their beliefs influence them to take? How did they live? What did “church’ look like to them?

Food for thought//pastor Darrell

The Holy Give and Take (part 1)

I’ve listened to Matt Redman’s song: “Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord” I love the line: “You give and take away..my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your Name!”

I think the notion that God sometimes “takes away” is less than celebrated in church on Sunday morning.  I think we have lost some of our doctrinal bearings when we neglect this fact. No doubt, we have drifted, over years of church history, into subscribing to the erroneous idea, that when good (pleasant) things happen it is God’s doing, and when bad things happen (un-pleasant),  it is satan’s doing. Don’t get me wrong, it is imperative to hold to the fact that God is all together good, and wise and holy, and satan is of course, contrarily evil, and completely and fatally corrupt.

I’ve been slowly digesting some great 17th century writings of some of the early church fathers’ perspective on this very subject. When the church was reborn at pentecost, many new converts to Christianity were faced with harsh persecution, and in some cases death. AIn those times, martyrdom was looked upon as the most highest form of spiritual achievement. Martyrdom, although tragic, was celebrated as being the apogee of religious zeal. In those days, to sat “that guy is really on fire for Christ, would often mean “that guy is ‘really’ on fire for Christ.

After Christianity became legal under Constantine, martyrdom  was no longer a major issue in the Church. Naturally, other forms of devotion began to replace martyrdom. Many of them were extra-biblical, and overly religious such as monasticism, celibacy, vows of silence, passivity, poverty, even self-mutilation.

On the other hand, there were some very practical, and precious spiritual practices and disciplines that were practiced by our early church fathers that would serve us well to re-learn and observe again. For instance. Some early christians believed that piety could be achieved by practicing and mastering the art of forgiveness. Could you imagine, if we took the bible at face value, and went on to try with all our might to get really, really good at forgiving people? Another practice that was popular in earlier church history was to adopt an attitude of “complete submission to God’s providence” 

I see that this post is getting long..I want to continue this thought tommorrow…….In the meantime, in an attitude of complete submission to His providence (sovereign will) can you really join your heart with the song and pray: “you give and take away, my heart will choose to-day, Lord blessed be Your Name!”