Mathew 5:8
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
Prayer
Basking in the afterglow of the Ascension on June 2, this is the Sunday after the Ascension. How blessed we are to be able to give God our continuing thanks in the form of the United Thank Offering today, a reminder of God’s daily blessings to, for, and through us as believers.
The lessons today have a unifying theme of oneness to them, that in the hope of the Gospel, we may all labor as one, which happens to be the motto of the current Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Unity is a constant theme of Saint Paul’s writings and it is the bane of the devil who is the master of chaos, scattering, and conflict.
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This unity of purpose has been accentuated by Christ’s magnificent Ascension into heaven some 40 days after Easter. It bespeaks the next and last phase of his work here on earth, his coming again.
This unity of purpose has been accentuated by Christ’s magnificent Ascension into heaven some 40 days after Easter. It bespeaks the next and last phase of his work here on earth, his coming again. oChrist has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again-The only way the Church on earth can be, and remain, unified is through power. For example, it is the power of the strong nuclear binding forces that hold all matter together, otherwise everything would fly apart at the atomic level.
The only way the Church on earth can be, and remain, unified is through power. For example, it is the power of the strong nuclear binding forces that hold all matter together, otherwise everything would fly apart at the atomic level.-As humans, we are given power from on high through the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be witnesses to Christ’s continuing work here on earth until he comes again.
As humans, we are given power from on high through the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be witnesses to Christ’s continuing work here on earth until he comes again.oThus Jesus is still with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit and the on-going work of his disciples….you and me.
Thus Jesus is still with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit and the on-going work of his disciples….you and me.oFaith binds and bonds us together in mutual devotion to Christ that was evidenced in today’s first lesson from Acts. Following the angels charge to the Men of Galilee, they went back to the upper room where they devoted themselves to prayer, along with the women and the brothers. They were together, a communion.
Faith binds and bonds us together in mutual devotion to Christ that was evidenced in today’s first lesson from Acts. Following the angels charge to the Men of Galilee, they went back to the upper room where they devoted themselves to prayer, along with the women and the brothers. They were together, a communion. But make no mistake about it….there is still huge conflict in the world, both amongst humans and within nature itself….can I say Joplin, the Mississippi flooding, the Japanese earthquake, etc.
-In this world, we all willingly share in Christ’s sufferings so that someday we too will share in his glory
In this world, we all willingly share in Christ’s sufferings so that someday we too will share in his glory-The spirit of glory is none other than the spirit of truth which is the Holy Spirit
The spirit of glory is none other than the spirit of truth which is the Holy Spirit-Thus, we are humbled to be lifted up, in due time, and in the meantime, in this suffering, we are to cast all our cares on him because God cares for us in the midst of this suffering.
Thus, we are humbled to be lifted up, in due time, and in the meantime, in this suffering, we are to cast all our cares on him because God cares for us in the midst of this suffering.oPsalm 68, verse 19, says that the God of our salvation bears our burdens. Psalm 55:24 continues the theme: cast your burdens upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. And do we hear the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Even the prophet Jeremiah adds comforting words from the Lord: I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish.
Psalm 68, verse 19, says that the God of our salvation bears our burdens. Psalm 55:24 continues the theme: cast your burdens upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. And do we hear the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Even the prophet Jeremiah adds comforting words from the Lord: I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish.-These divine words give all of us hope, and sustain us in the ongoing fight for good over evil. But we can’t continue to be staring up towards the heavens, waiting for Jesus to return; rather, we need to arm ourselves with Christ’s intention, to suffer for righteousness sake, to keep the faith, to remain instruments of righteousness.
These divine words give all of us hope, and sustain us in the ongoing fight for good over evil. But we can’t continue to be staring up towards the heavens, waiting for Jesus to return; rather, we need to arm ourselves with Christ’s intention, to suffer for righteousness sake, to keep the faith, to remain instruments of righteousness.oI had to smile when I read the term, instruments. It reminded me of a conversion while driving along in upstate New York between a country doctor and his precocious son who carelessly used the term, thing, when describing something. The doctor shot back, “It’s an instrument Philip, not a thing.”
I had to smile when I read the term, instruments. It reminded me of a conversion while driving along in upstate New York between a country doctor and his precocious son who carelessly used the term, thing, when describing something. The doctor shot back, “It’s an instrument Philip, not a thing.”oAn instrument has a specific purpose, and we are to be that kind of specific work, powered by the Holy Spirit, to witness to Christ’s death and resurrection until he comes again. We are not aimless “things”; we have a God-given purpose.
An instrument has a specific purpose, and we are to be that kind of specific work, powered by the Holy Spirit, to witness to Christ’s death and resurrection until he comes again. We are not aimless “things”; we have a God-given purpose. -Christ’s presence here in the form of his work and spirit does indeed cause conflict. But we can choose to mitigate that conflict by consciously striving to work together, as brothers and sisters in Christ. Have any of you ever seen that instructive Quaker poster with the two mules, entitled: A Fable for the Nations: Cooperation is better than conflict?
Christ’s presence here in the form of his work and spirit does indeed cause conflict. But we can choose to mitigate that conflict by consciously striving to work together, as brothers and sisters in Christ. Have any of you ever seen that instructive Quaker poster with the two mules, entitled: A Fable for the Nations: Cooperation is better than conflict?oIt shows two mules tied together, each pulling in opposite directions for their own pile of hay. But the rope is too short to allow them to reach their respective piles as they pull opposite one another. Exhausted, they sit and ponder. Voila! Tied together, they both walk over to one pile and each from it; then they go to the other one and continue their meal.
It shows two mules tied together, each pulling in opposite directions for their own pile of hay. But the rope is too short to allow them to reach their respective piles as they pull opposite one another. Exhausted, they sit and ponder. Voila! Tied together, they both walk over to one pile and each from it; then they go to the other one and continue their meal. -Within the Anglican Communion, and in the Episcopal Church proper, there must be unity in diversity. There does not have to be conflict amongst honest disagreement. After all, who really knows the mind of God, all the details, and reason behind his gracious will? Knowledge is given to us to lead us to obedience, and through that process we become a willing extension of his glory here on earth. The suffering process bonds the Church universal to the aggressive mission of Jesus which is to bring all the world to Christ.
Within the Anglican Communion, and in the Episcopal Church proper, there must be unity in diversity. There does not have to be conflict amongst honest disagreement. After all, who really knows the mind of God, all the details, and reason behind his gracious will? Knowledge is given to us to lead us to obedience, and through that process we become a willing extension of his glory here on earth. The suffering process bonds the Church universal to the aggressive mission of Jesus which is to bring all the world to Christ. -The late Christian theologian Karl Barth reminds us that only Christ’s vantage point has changed, not his divinity nor humanity. He is now “up there, not down here physically.” And, according to Barth, his Ascension is the ultimate refutation of human dictatorships. After all, who is now above him, higher than him, who has more authority?
The late Christian theologian Karl Barth reminds us that only Christ’s vantage point has changed, not his divinity nor humanity. He is now “up there, not down here physically.” And, according to Barth, his Ascension is the ultimate refutation of human dictatorships. After all, who is now above him, higher than him, who has more authority?-The Sacramental presence of Jesus in our Holy Communion is a physical reminder each Sunday that he is alive and working the good work through his believers. God defined eternal life for us in today’s Gospel lesson from John:
The Sacramental presence of Jesus in our Holy Communion is a physical reminder each Sunday that he is alive and working the good work through his believers. God defined eternal life for us in today’s Gospel lesson from John:o“this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
“this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”-Let the grace of God, after you have suffered for a little while, restore, support, strengthen and establish you. May he exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before
Let the grace of God, after you have suffered for a little while, restore, support, strengthen and establish you. May he exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone beforeoThy Kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thy Kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven.AMEN
