Third Sunday of Easter

The disciples were having dinner together when they saw a phenomenon that was hard for them to comprehend. Jesus appeared and they were frightened. Jesus calmly said, “Peace be with you.” The disciples surely wondered if they had some sort of hallucination as they knew Jesus had been resurrected. Jesus knew they had doubts and he said, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?"  “Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.”


Jesus then showed them his hands and feet. The Gospel last week shows us that Jesus had appeared before and it is amazing that in such a short period of time the disciples would loose sight that Jesus had truly resurrected. It is often said that seeing is believing but imagine when the seeing frightens you. Jesus didn’t scorn the disciples for not believing he simply wanted to make sure they weren’t frightened.
Jesus went on to say,


“Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” After Jesus had calmed them down he showed them his hands and feet. The disciples were joyful as they loved Jesus, not only as Lord and Savior, but also as friend (part of their family). Jesus knew that people would think ghosts couldn’t eat so he said, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it in their presence.
The risen Lord said to them,


“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you -- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” He opened their minds to understand the scripture. He then said, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”


Is it only when we come to church that we remember that Jesus is alive and well? Do we act like the risen Lord can still perform miracles, or be everything we need? As Episcopalians we hold central the belief that when we partake in the Eucharistic feast every Sunday that Jesus is truly present. We know this to be a Holy Mystery. It is a deep mystery to consider we deserve something such as grace which is freely granted to us. Whether that grace is given when we need a helping hand, or when we, or a loved one is ill. Or, whether we obtain the same grace we receive at our Baptism that starts our spiritual walk with God in obtaining salvation through the Sacraments, it will remain a deep mystery. May we live for God and show his love one for another. Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Amen.

 

Collect:

O GOD, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of the bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

Pray especially for:

John Cunningham, Betty Stenger, Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber, Pete Walburg, Ella Lane, Sara Pace, Bill Gardner, Katie Armstrong, the Heaton family, Lisa McNelly, Jimmy Milas, Tom Fagiana, and Pete Stanish.

 

Announcements & Reminders:

***The Adult Forum class will begin at 9:30AM on Sunday Morning at 9:30AM.

***Invite any kids you know on Sunday morning as we want to begin a youth ministry at St. Paul.

***Next Sunday after Mass there will be a brief meeting for the PR/Publicity Committee and all are invited to attend.

 

(1st Reading Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 2nd Reading I John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48)

Second Sunday after Easter (April 15, 2012)

Deacon Steve gives us a glimpse in his homily into the Holy Land.  Yes, the Holy Land all the way over in the western part of the state called Memphis.  Memphis is well known for barbecue and Elvis Presley.  During the tour of Graceland Estate I asked how long Elvis had lived here and I instantly got a sigh from the tour guide.  ''We don’t refer to this as the place Elvis lived, but as the place he lives,'' she said.  I thought it has been over 30 years since Elvis died and these people really act as if he is still alive.  People have seen Elvis in various places and in various objects.  It is amazing how fanatical these fans are in regards to the King of rock-n-roll.

Here in the southern United States we adhere to a belief that we refer to as the southern trinity: barbecue, the Bible, and football.  It is difficult to believe that people can actually think of someone that was pronounced dead in our modern society as being larger than death.  Elvis fans even go as far as dressing up as Elvis and singing his songs and dancing the night away swaying their hips as he did as a way to remember him.  There are even fans that believe there was a conspiracy and his death was a hoax and that he never died to begin with.  No matter what you believe about Elvis it is apparent he still has a very loyal following so many years after his death.

So, let’s consider what Elvis has to do with today’s Gospel.  The disciples were gathered with the doors locked for fear of intruders when Jesus stood among them.  Jesus had already been crucified and the disciples knew he had died on the cross and been put in a tomb.  Jesus tells the disciples ‘’Peace be with you.”  He showed them his hands and his side that had been pierced.  He breathed on them and said, ‘’Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”  Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus had appeared.  So, when Thomas arrived the other disciples told Thomas what had happened.

Thomas doubted what the others told him.  Thomas said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”  A week went by and the disciples again were gathered and this time, Thomas was present.  Although the doors were shut and locked Jesus again appeared and said, ‘’Peace be with you.”  Jesus told Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe.”  Thomas then expressed belief because he had seen Jesus with his own eyes.  The risen Lord says, ‘’Blessed are those who believe and yet still have come to believe.”

Sit back and relax.  Really think about whether, or not you believe Jesus lives, or if he was resurrected.  It is easy to say you believe this, but do you really?  If you consider what it means to believe that Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried it makes you realize that you have to live differently.  You have to acknowledge that even with your shortcomings you serve a risen Lord.  Are you aware of the joy you should be spreading?  Are you aware of the love and concern you should be providing?  A living and loving God requires that we live our lives in a way that would set the world ablaze.  We have to wake up and start living out our duty as followers of Jesus in a way that would inspire others to want to follow.


We can learn a thing or two about being Christian from Elvis fans.  We should be able to see Jesus alive and well in various objects, places, and people.  We truly serve a King that has royal blood and that is the only begotten Son of God.  When people act as if Jesus is dead we should be astounded and let them know Jesus is alive and well. We are required to seek to serve Christ in others.  May we all be more loyal to Jesus than Elvis fans are to the king of rock-n-roll.  And, thank you Jesus for good barbecue, the Holy Bible, and good football. Amen.

Easter Sunday (April 8, 2012)

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF FATHER SWANN'S HOMILY FOR EASTER:

Starting on that first Easter Day a series of “strange things” began to happen. “God has raised Him to life again,” the disciples declared, as they interpreted those happenings.... It is as if Jesus’ life of caring and his fundamental message that God is love were written on a document. Then by raising Jesus from the dead, God has, as it were, stamped the document with His great seal. He ‘ratified it’ and declared...This is utterly TRUE!” Let’s look at this a little more carefully.

From Scripture we read: “On the first day of the week, at early dawn the WOMEN took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb-- BUT-- when they went in they did not find the body.” These same women-- Luke identifies them as Mary Magdelene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others-- are the ones who “trembled” before the ‘incandescent holy beings’- without running away, and were the first to witness the empty tomb of Jesus.

By the way- these were the same brave souls that watched Jesus die his agonizing death, and who followed his lifeless corpse to mark the place where it was entombed by Joseph of Arimethea.
We might ask a “legitimate” question- where were the men? Where were Jesus’ disciples-- his closest disciples--- Peter, James and John-- the “pillars” of the community?? Where were Thomas, and Matthew, Andrew and Philip? Had all of them “scattered” like frightened sheep after Gethsemane and Golgotha? Had they left Jesus when he needed them most?

They all knew that if a criminal was executed-- so should be his accomplices. So the disciples fled the scene, seeking no more than to ‘save their own skins. Obviously, the Apostles were not anticipating Jesus’ resurrection. He was dead and entombed. They, like the other Jews-- looked for a distant “corporate resurrection” at the end of time. Obviously- something “very dramatic”- something very “new order” has occurred.

Reginald Fuller, a New Testament scholar has said that even the most “skeptical” of persons- must admit that something mysterious - an “X” factor- must have occurred to get the Christian movement going. Think about it, How did any kind of “beginning” flow out of such a disastrous end--- let alone a “beginning” that would change the face of the world. How did this Jesus-- executed as a heretic-- come to be known as “Lord?” How could a condemned criminal and a disavowed prophet- end up being proclaimed as “Savior?” How could he be called “the Son of God.?” Lastly-- how could this group of “boneheads” -the Apostles- this frightened hiding bunch-- emerge from this event-- proclaiming not only the Gospel of Jesus-- BUT- Jesus himself as the Gospel?”

The “X FACTOR”-that changed history-- is of course- the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus was “really” dead-- and the Father “really” restored him to life. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus’ body in his post resurrection appearance-- was not merely “resuscitated”- after all--- it was three days later and a body would seriously deteriorate, but was in some way “transformed.” That is the reason that Christ was not always ‘recognized’ at first sight, and could appear and disappear in surprising ways.

Paul, after spending three years in Arabia to “sort out” his Damascus Road experience- returned to Jerusalem to spend 15 days with Cephas and James. It was from them and from his “Damascus Road experience”- that Paul received the “Christian Formula” on the resurrection. Paul could proclaim that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and after the resurrection he appeared to Cephas and the twelve. And then appeared to more than five hundred at one time.

Paul could further proclaim: “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If Easter is merely a “wonderful event” that happened a long time ago- the way God worked once – but not since—then the resurrection has little relevance to our lives today. But Easter means more: It is a ONCE-AND- FOR-ALL-TIME TRTH.

In the Easter event, the “Resurrection Principle” is disclosed. IN CHRIST ALL IS MADE ALIVE. Whatever “tomb” that you might be in. Wherever you expect “deadliness” and have given up “hope,” Christ can ‘raise you up – for the “power” that took Jesus through death and beyond gives us the capacity to triumph over all the forces of creation. AS we live by this assurance of “Christpower,” we come alive in hope. That is what Easter Life and Easter Love are all about.

If you leave this Easter celebration and think that Jesus was simply “a great teacher,” then you will have “missed the point” of this great feast day of the Church. For on this day we gather NOT to remember something Jesus taught. WE are gathered today to remember that God raised Jesus from the dead as the first fruits of a new creation.For all that, THANKS BE TO GOD- ALLELUIA CHRIST IS RISEN. Amen.

Holy Saturday (April 7 - Baptism of Vivien and Lisette Webb)



Baptizing babies seems to be quite a controversial practice these days andoften the baptizers are accused off louting biblical principles for the sake of unbiblical tradition. Fundamentalist Christians argue that we should only be baptizing believing adults because they are the only explicit biblical examples of believers’ baptism in the New Testament and because baptism is reserved only for those that have expressed faith in Jesus.

The Episcopal Church is certainly not opposed to baptizing believers, and regards that practice as biblical and indeed mandatory.

Baptism is a sign of the faith we profess and a mark that differentiates Christian persons from those who are unbaptized; and it is also a sign of regeneration or new birth by which, as by an instrument, those who receive baptism rightly are grafted into the Church, the promises of forgiveness of sin and of our adoption to be the sons of God are visibly signified and sealed, and faith is confirmed and grace increased by virtue of prayer to God. The baptism of young children is under all circumstances to be retained in the Church as a practice fully agreeable with the institution of Christ.

Four fifths of the above article refers to the baptism of believers, but as the article confirms, we also hold that it is biblical for (believing) parents to baptize their small children as a sign and seal of the new covenant, in continuation of the sign and seal of circumcision under the old covenant.

The question we must ask then is what was circumcision all about?

In Genesis God made a covenant with Abraham to bless families from the entire world. The covenant sign would be the circumcision of all the males in Abraham’s household, including the butler, the domestic help and the children (Genesis 17:9-14). Abraham’s descendants were to keep the sign by circumcising all male babies.

Circumcision was then applied to those who had not yet expressed their faith in God. This may seem to be at odds with our natural evangelical inclination to see faith as a prerequisite to almost everything, but Paul explains the reasoning in Romans 4:11 when he refers to circumcision as a “sign” and a “seal”. As a sign circumcision marked out the covenant people and illustrated that salvation involves the shedding of blood. As a seal circumcision was a visible pledge from God to honor his covenant for those who expressed faith in him. The seal is simply a visible pledge from God that when the conditions of the covenant are met, the blessings he promised would apply.

Under the new covenant this principle remains true, as Peter implied when he told the Jewish crowd that the gospel promise was for them and their children (Acts 2:39). The covenant sign is no longer circumcision as the shedding of blood has already taken place, but the sign is now baptism which pictures the washing away of sin (cf. Colossians 2:11-22). So baptism continues to function as a sign and a seal of a family’s faith in God and thus in the New Testament we have examples of whole families being baptized when a parent becomes a Christian (cf. Acts 16:30-31, 33). When men and women in the New Testament turned to Jesus they were baptized (believer’s baptism) and children present were also baptized as a visible pledge from God that he would fulfill his covenant promises when the child in the future fulfilled the covenant conditions or obligations.

Both believers’ and infant baptism must therefore be understood as visible pledges or observable reminders from God to us (like the Lord’s Supper), not pledges from us to God, of the gospel promise that all who trust is Jesus will be accounted righteous.

John Calvin wrote, “Since God imparted circumcision, the sign of repentance and faith, to infants, it should not seem absurd that they are now made partakers of baptisms unless men choose to act against an institution of God…For it is most evident that the covenant, which the Lord once made with Abraham, is not less applicable to Christians now than it was anciently to the Jewish people, and, therefore, that word has no less reference to Christians than to Jews.

Why then do we baptize believers’ babies? Because God’s covenant, the framework within which he operates, has not changed. Since Baptism is an outward sign of inward grace babies are entitled to just as much love and care by God as everyone else. Thank you God for the gift of Holy Baptism. This is not all of the information related to infant/toddler baptism but it is a nice summary of why we will continue performing this Holy Sacrament on all age groups.

Maundy Thursday (April 5, 2012)

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF FATHER SWANN'S HOMILY:

In main stream Christian Churches all around the world tonight- the faithful gather to celebrate the establishment of the great sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Our Liturgy tonight has some changes-- The important thing is what we all do. Remember that "liturgy" means -"work of the people.” We have some “work to do” tonight. This is a “special” night also- for the MANDATUM- the night we remember that Jesus gave us a “new commandment” (maundate). The new commandment was “to love one another.” We get “Maundy Thursday” from our ancient relatives in the English Church—who re-labeled Holy Thursday into the more common Maundy Thursday.

In May 1373 Julian of Norwich, an English mystic, lay on what she thought was her death bed. There she received a remarkable series of “visions”, many of which graphically dealt with our Lord’s suffering and death. Some 20 years later, she wrote in the “Revelation of Divine Love” that she had prayed for years after her recovery to understand the meaning of these visions. She finally received this understanding—“Wouldst thou know thy Lord’s meaning in this thing? BE WELL AWARE: Love was his meaning. Who showed it thee? LOVE. What showed He thee? LOVE. Why did he show it thee? FOR LOVE. The Gospel’s appointed for tonight (in this year’s cycle of readings) comes from John--- who does not “explicitly” recall the “details” of the establishment of the Holy Eucharist (The Mass). Jesus ‘astonishing act’ at the Last Supper, according to John’s account” was Jesus demonstrating the humility of serving-- as he took the towel and washed feet, demonstrating that serving is more humble than receiving.

The other remarkable thing about tonight—detailed in all Gospel accounts except John’s--is the establishment of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist, The Mass , the Lord’s Supper—call it what you will.

The Holy Eucharist may seem the same as every Sunday, but tonight you can remember in a slightly different way "the night in which he was betrayed." Listen to it as if you were hearing it for the first time.

In retrospect, for disciples, the night would have been different anyway-- because it would be their last time together--but also—the things Jesus would say and do—foot-washing, and a very different way of blessing and sharing bread and wine. Jesus “enacted” a profound truth by symbolic action, just as he had done in riding into Jerusalem, and cleansing the Temple--and the like. His action-- that night long ago--would be an “action” forming the basis of worship for literally billions of people ever since.

In the earliest written account of the Last Supper, Paul, (who was, of course, not present), says that Jesus, as the ‘president’ of the meal took real bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and then identified it with his body. In the same manner, Jesus took the cup of real wine and identified it with his shed blood of the New Covenant. In these remarkably simple gestures, Jesus commanded his disciples to, “do this in remembrance of me,” reliving his sacrifice until he comes again. Thank God that Jesus instructed them to “take and eat” and did not command “take and understand”. We know that sacramental theology for the last 2 thousand years has tried, without complete success, to “explain” literally what happens.

Happily- we Anglicans (Episcopalians), in our branch of the catholic church, have always held as central-- the notion of “The Real Presence” of Christ in the elements of bread & wine in the Holy Eucharist--without-- any attempt to unravel that profound mystery. I have used this famous line from Queen Elizabeth the First- more than once- BUT IT IS STILL VERY GOOD. She said, in the face of the great arguments between the Catholic minded folks in her realm of England and the Puritan (protestant minded) regarding the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist : "His was the word that spake it, He took the bread and brake it, And what His word doth make it, That I believe and take it."

Our Epistle reading tonight-- gives us some very familiar words-- we hear the "words of institution" used at each celebration of the Holy Eucharist. That meal that started that night--as a common well-loved meal, a good time together--ended up-- AS SOMETHING NEW. It became a "channel"-- a "means of grace"--by which we are sustained in our life.

In the Holy Sacrament- we are ‘closer to Christ’ than any other way in this world. In the sacrament He comes to “strengthen, refresh, empower and enable” us to serve Him in the spread of His Kingdom on earth. God has a problem in "reaching " us. He is infinite, we are finite. He is "spirit"-- we are "flesh." He is limited by nothing except his love-- or His own chosen "self limits" --while we are "bound to earth," surrounded by matter, engulfed in the hard necessity of making material things serve our needs. If God is to reach us at all-- he must, among other ways, DO SO THROUGH OUR SENSES-- AND THEREFORE MUST USE MATERIAL THINGS.

Since our life consists of, touching , hearing, seeing , tasting and smelling our material environment -- in which we live-- IT IS BY THESE AVENUES THAT THE CREATOR MUST COME TO US. In the Sacrament of the Altar our Lord took the “Passover meal” of the Jews, transformed it, and gave it a NEW significance. He himself becomes the "outward and visible" sign in terms of our humanity-- of God's love and grace. In this meal we are joined to God and joined to one-another. WE are joined to the “great communion of saints”- past and present. WE are surrounded by that “great cloud of witnesses” of which St. Paul speaks. We are in the company of “Angels and Archangels”—and the unnamed “whole company of heaven.” AS we continue our ‘journey’ in this life—on our way to that “larger life” – where we will all join around that “great banquet table”----- let us be strengthened day by day, week after week – with this “foretaste” of that great banquet as we receive His most blessed Body and Blood.

In these last days of Holy Week we are invited to enter deeper into the “great Mystery”—the mystery of God’s love for us. WE participate in the glorious mystery of Christ’s perfect gift- the revelation of Divine Love in all its fullness—as Christ hands over to us, through his suffering and death and resurrection,—the gift of eternal life. Brothers and sisters—love. Love one another—and all people—as Christ has loved us. That we may be—truly—the Body of Christ for each other, and for the life of the world. For the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar--let us continually give thanks. AMEN

Easter Sunday 2012

The Chancel Choir and Clergy of St. Paul Episcopal Church, Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012.

Palm Sunday

Picture it, Jesus comes riding on a donkey into Jerusalem.  This wasn't Jesus' donkey.  Jesus had told two of his disciples to "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.  If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?'  just say this, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately."  So, the two disciples did as they were instructed to do and the bystanders allowed them to take the donkey.  In honor of Christ there was a crowd that was throwing cloaks on the path as well as leafy (palm) branches.  The crowd shouted, "Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"  After Jesus visited the temple he went out to Bethany with his twelve disciples. Christ (though he was in the form of God) did not use his status to exploit others, instead he humbled himself and was a slave for the sake of the world.  He was obedient even to the point of death on the cross.  When morning broke the elders and chief scribes (religious folks) led tied Jesus up and led him away to Pilate.  The Chief Priests accused him of many things.  Pilate was amazed Jesus did not reply when questioned.  There was a longstanding tradition of releasing a prisoner during the festival and the crowd would get to choose to have someone freed.  Pilate inquired, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"  The chief priests stirred the people up and had them ask for Barabbbas (a convicted murderer who caused destruction with his gang of outlaws).  Pilate knew Jesus had done nothing.  Pilate even asked them, "What evil has he done?"  The soldiers led him to the courtyard and mocked him and spat upon him.  They placed a purple cloak (the color of royalty) on him along with a crown of thorns.  This story seems to be so well known but what does it tell us about human nature?  The chief priests might as well have been you and I.  Although we were not present Jesus had the entire world on His mind when he decided to take on the request of God to live, be crucified, die, be put in a tomb, and be resurrected for our sakes.  We are just as jealous of one another at times as the chief priests were of Jesus.  A blameless man who was God in the flesh full of compassion was put to death.  Perhaps we should remember this when we think we are too tired to go and do as we feel led to help someone else.  Maybe next time we have worked overtime at work we will decide to relax on Sunday afternoon instead of sleeping in on Sunday morning.  There are a lot of people that believe you can do as you wish and you can 'worship' God anywhere.  I agree, but without support and guidance you will not continue.  Life gets in the way and you need other warriors (a.k.a. fellow Christians) to be in the race with you.  Would it take a miracle for you to really trust God?  Jesus could have very well stopped suffering at any moment.  He could have not suffered at all and instead came and lived among the people to see what it is like to be human and then could have went back into heaven.  Jesus could have came and forced the whole world to live by what he taught and give no choice to do anything differently.  However, part of the beauty of the life of Christ is that he did not flaunt his divinity.  Jesus instead chose to come into the world to a mother, our Blessed Virgin Mary, in a barn.  He could have came and lived in a palace.  He could have came and ruled a kingdom on earth.  Imagine Mary at the foot of the cross with tears in her eyes.  Can you imagine seeing your child tortured and literally hung to die?  These images are heard to imagine.  We don't want to think about them, but they are necescsary for us to understand our salvation and the love God has for us.  Ita is also necessary so we can take the Holy Eucharist every week with the knowledge Jesus is truly present and is feeding us in the elements his body and blood, soul and divinity.  No matter who you are, or who the world thinks you are, how bad you've been, how many wrongs you have committed, or how many times others tell you God hates you don't believe it.  God loves you.  He really does love you.  Saint Paul gave us one great description of how God's love works.  "I am convinced that neither life, nor death, principalities, things present, or future, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus."  For that give thanks.  Claim the love God has for you and share it with others.  After all God calls the broken.  Jesus said, "I come not for the righteous, but for the sinner."  Thank you God for loving sinners like us.  For that, Thanks be to God.  Amen. 

Collect:

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Announcements:
**Holy Baptism of the Webb twins Saturday April 6, 2012 at 4PM
**Easter Sunday -- Holy Mass at 10:30AM with an Easter egg hunt to follow for the children. Everyone is welcome.