Sunday after Ascension-day.

The Collect.

O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle: 1 St. Peter4:7-11

The Gospel: St. John 15:26-16:4a

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you." (ESV)

The inimitable G.K. Chesterton, one of the most quotable Christians of modern times, wrote: "Jesus promised his disciples three things -- that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble."  In today's Gospel lesson, Our Lord testifies that trouble will indeed come, persecution will be present, and indeed that some (many) of the people to whom He was speaking would die martyr's deaths.  They would have the Holy Spirit to strengthen them in the face of persecution, for that is the Helper to whom Christ refers.

Most of those reading this, located in the United States in 2008, will never have to face death for the cause of Christ.  We may, however, face persecution and it is certain that we will face trials and tribulations.  Thanks be to God that the same Spirit empowers and sustains us at those times!

Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, whom truly to know is ever-lasting life; Grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life; that, following the steps of thy holy Apostles, Saint Philip and Saint James, we may stedfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: St. James 1:1-12

The Gospel: St. John 14:1-14

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." (ESV)

The Gospel for today is frequently read at funerals (with the increasingly common and quite disturbing omission of vs. 6b, where our Lord says: "No one comes to the Father except through me" -- not PC enough!).  Christ tells His disciples to avoid troubled hearts by resting in Him in the sure and certain confidence that He goes to prepare a place in His Father's abode for them.  As He says to Philip -- one of the two saints commemorated today -- while gently reproving him (thereby showing that the saints of God truly are, as the hymn says, just like you and me!) we can be certain of His promises because Christ and His Father are one, two persons of the same Godhead.

Christ promises His Apostolic followers that they will do great works -- indeed they did.  They did so to show forth God's glory.  That is the confidence that we can have as we boldly approach the throne of grace in Christ.  May God's glory be shown forth in us as well.

The Ascension Day

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

For the Epistle: Acts 1:1-11

The Gospel: St. Luke 24:49-53

The Rogation Days

Being the Three Days before Ascension Day.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, Lord of heaven and earth; We beseech thee to pour forth thy blessing upon this land, and to give us a fruitful season; that we, constantly receiving thy bounty, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle: Ezekiel 34:25-31

“I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.” (ESV)

The Gospel: St. Luke 11:5-13

The Rogation Days -- the three days before Ascension Day, are days of preparation.  After our Lord had arisen from the dead, thereby defeating sin, Satan, and death, He was with His disciples for forty days and then ascended into Heaven, being seated at the right hand of the Father, where He reigns to this day.

The protoepistle lesson for these days, taken from the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, tells of a new covenant to be made between God and His people that will be marked by abundant blessings and peace.  The new covenant is glorious and being continually established as we live the Christian Life.  As we prepare to celebrate Christ's Ascension into Heaven this Thursday, may the reality of the position in which we now stand be renewed in us and as God's Kingdom is advanced may we rejoice in being used to that end.

The Fifth Sunday after Easter, commonly called Rogation Sunday

The Collect.

O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Epistle: St. James 1:22-27

Saint Mark's Day.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; Give us grace that. being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Ephesians 4:7-16

The Gospel: St. John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (ESV)

The Gospel lesson for today could be listed under the category of "hard sayings of Jesus" that go against touchy-feely spirit of the age.  Our Lord instructs us to follow in His teaching, commandments, and love -- to abide in Him.  He also -- and here's the hard part -- warns that those who do not abide in Him will be thrown into the fire and burned.

How can we avoid this?  Only by God's grace, only by the power of the Holy Spirit as we are sanctified and die more and more unto sin and are conformed more and more to the image of Christ.  That's why the Collect for the day seeks God's grace to establish us in Christ.  In these days, when heresy is readily available, we need that grace more than ever.

A Saint’s Day. [George]

The Collect

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and hast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses; Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant George, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we, with them, attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Hebrews 12:1,2

The Gospel: St. Matthew 25:31-40

http://www.niranamchurch.com/StGeorge.asp

St. George

St. George was born in Cappadocia, in a noble Christian family. It is believed that when his father died, he moved to Palestine, his mother's country of origin. He held an important post in the Roman army - the rank of tribune, or perhaps colonel in modern terms - during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (AD 245-313). Dioclesian was a great persecutor of Christians (from about 302 AD) and when the persecutions began George put aside his office and complained personally to the Emperor about the harshness of his decrees and the cruelties against Christians. He was thrown into prison and tortured. But he declined to recant his faith and the following day he was dragged through the streets and beheaded. He was martyred at Lydda in Palestine (AD 304). The Emperor's wife, Alexandria was so impressed at the Saint's courage that she became a Christian. So she too was put to death. One of the greatest legends about Saint George is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Many people and even armies had gone up against this fierce creature, but failed. Villagers used to pacify the monster by giving sheep to it. When mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Saint George reached this village on a day, when a princess was to be eaten. He rode on his horse to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow of his lance. St. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the locals. He was given a large reward by the king, but he distributed it to the poor and rode away. Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil, dependence on faith and might of arms, largesse to the poor), his intercession is sought against demons, evils and enemies.

A Saint’s Day. [Anselm]

The Collect

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and hast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses; Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant Anselm, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we, with them, attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Hebrews 12:1,2

The Gospel: St. Matthew 25:31-40

For more information about Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury and theologian (too lengthy to post here), see: http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Anselm_(Archbishop)

The Fourth Sunday after Easter

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. St. James 1:17-21

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (ESV)

The Gospel. St. John 16:5-15

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (ESV)

The phrase “self made man,” while commonly used, is a misnomer – no one is “made” or progresses in a vacuum. On an even more basic level, anyone who accomplishes any good does so by the grace of God – therefore he's not “self made.” That's especially true of Christians – there are certainly no “self made” Christians! From our being forgiven and declared righteous in God's sight (justification) to our being conformed to Christ's nature while dying unto self (sanctification), both are done by the Holy Spirit's work.

Due to our unruly wills and affections, we will not seek righteousness on our own. We simply can't. Prior to His ascension, Christ told His disciples that He would send a Helper – the Holy Spirit – so that they could be guided into the truth and so that the world could be convicted of it's sin. We need to be daily reliant upon the Holy Spirit as we seek to live the Christian life, grow in grace, and glorify God. As that happens, our actions and desires will increasingly reflect that which God requires and desires.

Thanks be to God for the ministry of the Holy Spirit!

A Saint’s Day. [Alphege]

The Collect

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and hast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses; Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant Alphege, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we, with them, attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Hebrews 12:1,2

The Gospel: St. Matthew 25:31-40

From the 11th Edition (1911) of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

ALPHEGE [2ELFHEA11], Saint (954-1023), archbishop of Canterbury, came of a noble family, but in early life gave up everything for religion. Having assumed the monastic habit in the monastery of Deerhurst, he pased thence to Bath, where he became an anchorite and ultimately abbot, distinguishing himself by his piety and the austerity of his life. In 984 he was appointed through Dunstan's influence to the bishopric of Winchester, and in 1006 he succeeded Elfric as archbishop of Canterbury. At the sack of Canterbury by the Danes in 1011 Elfheah was captured and kept in prison for seven months. Refusing to pay a ransom he was barbarously murdered at Greenwich on the 19th of April 1012. He was buried in St Paul's, whence his body was removed by Canute to Canterbury with all the ceremony of a great act of state in 1023.

Lives of St. Alphege in prose (which survives) and in verse were written by command of Lanfranc by the Canterbury monk Osbern (d. c. 1090), who says that his account of the solemn translation to Canterbury in 1023 was received from the dean, Godric, one of Alphege's own scholars.