Liturgy Lesson for the First Sunday after Christmas: Gestures of Reverence
December 30, 2007
In worship, you may note those in our congregation make “gestures of reverence”–signing themselves with the cross, bowing, genuflecting, or knocking on the breastbone in repentance at various times in the service. Since the 1549 Prayer Book (the first in English instead of Latin, produced during the Reformation) all gestures of reverence–except kneeling or standing when the rubrics of the Prayer Book require them–are a personal devotion. When worshipping, they are a matter of our hearts before our gracious God—strictly between the individual and Him, as led by God the Holy Ghost and reflect the courtesy and protocol of service in the court of our Sovereign—the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, whom we serve in worship. Many new to our corner of Christianity ask me what they should properly do. My answer is always the same—make this a matter of prayer, asking God the Holy Ghost to show us what pleases our Heavenly Father most in our personal devotions. Whatever we do, our devotions should rightly reflect how we submit our bodies, souls and spirits to the Holy Ghost’s leadership—and make our “gestures of reverence” to serve God with all that we are—with an attitude of submission that pleases Him and edifies ourselves and those around us. May we, then, worship God, as we pray, in the beauty of holiness—being set completely aside for His service, in Spirit and truth!
Liturgy Lesson for Christmas: The Mass of Christ’s Day
December 25, 2007
Over the centuries, the liturgy of the church has developed a spirituality particularly for Christians during Advent. Both the Sunday liturgies and the daily Scripture readings have been designed to direct our journey into the Advent experience of the mystery of Christ. Our fathers in the faith have chosen Scriptures that accent three Advents: the Advent of Christ coming into our own lives, the Advent of Christ’s physical birth in Bethlehem, and the Advent of his second coming at the end of history. While the liturgies and daily readings of Advent begin with the second coming and move as in a funnel toward the first coming, we are called to a vital personal encounter with Christ through the readings and devotions of the season, leading us to Christmas.
Christmas, the Mass of Christ’s Day, is incomplete without the Holy Eucharist. We’ve prepared for Christ’s Coming and Return in Advent and embrace His birthing in our hearts. The faithful traditionally gather in the parish passing the hours in song and prayer, listening to homilies and waiting for the Great Day. Christmas is a feast of light. We’ve also brought flowers and the Gloria in Excelsis back to worship, celebrating Jesus’ arrival in our lives, bringing us light and life—and when we sing this ancient praise, we join the angels in proclaiming His Kingdom.
Liturgy Lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Christ’s Birthing in Our Hearts
December 23, 2007
In Advent spirituality, we meditate—focusing our thoughts, with the Spirit’s help–on Christ’s birthing in our hearts. We look at our conversion—the turning away from our old life, lived under the power of evil—to a new life born and lived in the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus calls us to be converted to Him, making Him our lives’ pattern—and that means living and dying in Him. This is accomplished only by completely submitting to Him with the constant reminder of His paschal mystery—that death passes us over by His sacrifice– and by following His example in sacrificing our own will to His. In Advent we review, then, how we authentically live out our Faith—or not. “Trust in Jesus” is not just a onetime act, but a continuous choice, a moment-by-moment existence in Him. It’s a constant, determined turning from a life lived for self to one lived in step with the Spirit, who continually molds us, like the Potter in Jeremiah, if we will allow Him to do so, to be like Jesus. This is how we know—Christ is truly born in us, growing to be, as St. John Baptist said, increasing, as we decrease.
The Third Sunday in Advent: the Power of the Holy Ghost
December 16, 2007
Because Advent is a time of longing for redemption, we should use the season to help us find places in our lives that need to be redeemed—identifying whatever seems to be holding us in its power: In our devotions, invite the Holy Ghost to come, then, make a list entitled, “Powers that hold me in their grip.” Then, jot down everything from which you’d like to be set free: bad habits, ungodly relationships, a repressive job environment, anger, jealousy, envy, or dishonesty—any blockage to living in the Fruits of the Spirit. Commit whatever is on the list to prayer, asking our Lord—who sets prisoners free—to come into your life to take this problem up into Himself. Purpose this earnestly in your heart—and pray it in the power of the Holy Ghost, then watch how God changes your life in this season!
Liturgy Lesson for the Second Sunday in Advent: The Three Advents
December 9, 2007
Over the centuries, the liturgy of the Church has developed spirituality particularly for Christians during Advent. Both the Sunday liturgies and the daily Scripture readings direct our journey into the Advent experience of the mystery of Christ. Our parents in the faith have chosen Scriptures to accent three Advents: the Advent of Christ coming into our lives, the Advent of Christ’s physical birth, and the Advent of his second coming at the history’s end. In all these Advent devotions, we’re called to a vital, personal encounter with Christ through the Holy Ghost—not just “filling our squares” for God. To achieve this, we should, then, call on the Holy Ghost to empower our growth in the same manner…moving past just the bare essentials of simply accepting Christ as Savior, to being actually reborn in victorious lives, as the new creatures He was born to make us, and finally, growing in the Spirit and making His Kingdom purpose first in our lives, so, at the Day of His Second Coming, we may be found to be faithful servants about our Master’s business. That is real Adventus—the coming of our new lives, past the first works of repentance, to lives changed by, then dedicated to His Kingdom. If we really seek lives changed and lived this way, we need not fear what our Lord will tell us on the Great Day of Judgment—He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Liturgy Lesson for the First Sunday in Advent: Maranatha
December 2, 2007
Advent! The name conjures ancient and traditional images of candles…wreaths…and anticipation…of the coming Nativity…but, more importantly, of Christ’s Second Coming. Over the centuries, the Church has developed a specially-focused spirituality for Christians during Advent, to help them examine themselves in light of St. Matthew 24:43-45, which speaks about being ready for the Lord’s return. To this end, our seasonal Sunday liturgies and daily Scripture devotions have been designed to guide our Advent journey into a deeper experience of the mystery of Christ, with special appreciation for how He came to us—and for what purpose. Not surprisingly, then, our Fathers in the Faith have chosen Scriptures accenting three Advents: the Advent of Christ’s physical birth in Bethlehem, the Advent of Christ coming into our own lives, and the Advent of his Second Coming at the history’s end. This discipline of liturgy, daily reading and contemplative, Spirit-led prayer in this season of anticipation calls us to a personal encounter with the living person of Jesus and His purpose for our lives, as we invoke the help and presence of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, when the Spirit edifies us through these added devotions, it will be helpful for us to think about how we should journey and grow through the season—and to ask ourselves—if the Lord were to come today, would he find us ready to meet Him? Maranatha—come quickly, Lord!
Finding the Finish
December 1, 2007
Bible Reading: 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “ Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” ~Hebrews 3:14-15 (NKJV)
Bonus Reading: Joshua 14:6-12
In the 1972 Munich Olympics, runner Dave Wottle, wearing his trademark baseball cap, was dead last in the 800-meter race throughout much of the race. As the final lap around the track began, Wottle seemingly charged through the pack. “Watch out for Dave Wottle’s kick!” the TV announcer screamed. Wottle overtook the leaders in the last 20 meters to win the Gold by three-tenths of a second!
Many think, “That’s how I want to run. It doesn’t matter if I fall behind; I’ll make it back with a big kick as everyone cheers me on.” But in remarks at a prep-school chapel service in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Wottle set the record straight. “The other runners went out so fast at the beginning that they slowed down at the end; I was able to maintain the same pace that I started with. … Even though I looked like I was kicking on them, they were coming back to me.” Wottle, one track expert explained, was “just maintaining in a dying field.”
Endurance is maintaining our walk with Jesus even when no one else is. In a society of flash-in-the-pan celebrities and trendy spirituality, endurance is putting our faith to work by showing up for Christ every day, in every circumstance until the race of life is done.
~adapted from Tod Bolsinger in Show Time
What a lesson for our Christian life—are we running well from the beginning to the end—or counting on a strong finish to carry us? Doesn’t that imply we KNOW when we will finish? After all, who among us can tell when we will face our finish line—the end of our life here on Earth? Isn’t it rebellion not to run our best pace from the beginning?
Contemplative Prayer: “Holy Spirit, please show me Your adjustments to help me maintain even pacing in a field dying about me!”
Think about it: To become a champion, fight one more round. ~JAMES CORBETT (world champion boxer)
All love in the Beloved,
Chip+
