Saint Michael and All Angels

The Collect of the Day
Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
103

The Readings

Genesis 28:10-17     +     Revelation 12:7-12     +     John 1:47-51

War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.

~ Revelation 12:7

Angels, at least sentimentally, are not generally very controversial. The idea of guardian angels holds a place in popular imagination, even among many who would not describe themselves as religious, and probably including some whose idea of God is much more agnostic. Statues of angels beautify gardens and cemeteries, and their protecting images hang over children's beds. But for all that, I often find it easier to believe in the demonic than the angelic (though biblically they are two sides of the same coin--demons are fallen angels as recounted in our passage from Revelation). So much of the world we inhabit seems, and has always seemed, to be at the mercy of dark forces, an unending litany of suffering and horror. That is not to deny human agency and complicity in sin, individually, societally, generationally. Clearly, we cannot simply pass off responsibility for the evil we see and experience and take part in  ('the devil made me do it!'). And yet even our best efforts can end in disasters, and our well-intentioned plans sometimes turn a bad situation worse. To see the problems we continue to struggle against as individuals and as societies (violence, sexism, racism, greed, indifference, and on and on), after all this time, can be immensely disheartening. And, for me, it underscores the need for those renunciations that are part of our baptismal rite--renouncing "the spiritual forces of wickedness … the evil powers of this world . . . (and) the sinful desires" that would destroy us (BCP p. 302). And that all too present reality of the darkness of this world also makes me grateful for the reminder today that the dragon and his angels are not the only army on the field; to be reminded "Are not the angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14); to be reminded that, as the comforting angels ministered to Jesus in his trials (Mark 1:13), so they minister to us; to be reminded, finally, that though the battle rages, still "the LORD has set his throne in heaven, and his kingship has dominion over all" (Psalm 103:19).

Closing Prayer
Give ear to our prayers, O Lord, and while our path lies through the changes and chances of this mortal life, grant us the fellowship of thy saints, the protection of thy holy angels, and the hope that our journey leads to thine eternal and blessed kingdom. Amen.
~from Saint Augustine's Prayer Book, p. 415

Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

The Collect of the Day
We thank you, heavenly Father, for the witness of your apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of your Son our Savior; and we pray that, after his example, we may with ready wills and hearts obey the calling of our Lord to follow him; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
~BCP pg. 244

The Psalm

119:33-40

The Readings
Proverbs 3:1-6     +     II Timothy 3:14-17     +     Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
~Matthew 9:9

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby reflects on the calling of St. Matthew, as depicted in Caravaggio's painting:

There is a barrier of darkness between the five men and Jesus. All the light has come in with Jesus – the figure on the far right of the picture. Jesus is the source of light; it doesn’t come from the window, in which we see the cross.

Evangelism is the good news of the coming of Jesus Christ into this dark world. Without this light, we are in the dark. The light comes to us unwarranted, unsought, without our initiation. This is the free work of God to bring light into the darkness. It’s not technique, manipulation, organisation or systems. It is God.

The men in the picture were not looking for Jesus; he came to them and transformed their world. In fact, he caused great disruption. Apart from him there is only darkness. Jesus is the light of every person; he comes to all and for all. He comes not just to those who might seek him.

Caravaggio brings drama into this painting through the outstretched hand of Jesus. His hand singles Matthew out. It’s a definite choosing – a particular invitation. In the same way, Jesus comes and reaches out to each of us.

Matthew clearly can’t quite believe that this invitation and command are addressed to him. Surely there has been some mistake?

You can see him thinking, ‘Me? What, me? You’re kidding. Wrong guy. There’s another Matthew down the road.’ What could he have done to have warranted this action of God?

Does that ring bells with you? That beautiful, wonderful moment when you realise that Jesus looks on you, and doesn’t hate, doesn’t despise, is not indifferent, but utterly compelled and compelling in love. He says, ‘Follow me.’

As a Christian, it is my deepest conviction that in Jesus Christ, God comes to call every one he has made. Everyone has been summoned in Jesus Christ. For in Jesus Christ, God has poured out his love and his grace, his forgiveness and his mercy, his faithfulness. God would not be doing this without you or me.

Evangelism is, then, a joyful proclamation of what has happened. It’s the news of Jesus Christ. His life as the light breaking into this dark world for us. His death as the fount of our redemption. His resurrection as the hope of all. This news must be told, or how will people know?

The full address may be read here.

What has been your experience of Jesus calling in your own life?
What are some ways in which you have sought to share the light of Jesus with others?
What are some new ways in which Jesus may be calling you to share the good news today?

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for reaching out to us in love; help us to accept that love you offer, and to rise to the challenge of your call. Give us opportunities to extend to others, boldly and gracefully, the invitation you have extended to us. Amen.

Holy Cross Day

The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Psalm
98

The Readings
Isaiah 45:21-25     +     Galatians 6:14-18     +     John 12:31-36a

. . . I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
~Galatians 6:17

"You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own forever." (BCP p. 308) These words are spoken following the baptism in water, as the bishop or priest marks the newborn Christian, tracing the sign of the cross in oil of Chrism on the forehead. The cross is the sign of God's victory, and of our salvation.

Holy Cross Day is a festival day--in a way, it is a complementary day, half a year on, to the appropriate solemnity of Good Friday. On this day, we are not enjoined to look upon the cross and sorrow at the suffering of Jesus, but to give full and joyful praise to the victory, to "glory in the mystery of our redemption," and to embrace the great paradox to which the church, following the Gospel of John, attests: that "the cross is the glory and the exaltation of Christ."*

Such a celebratory day may seem tempered by the day's collect, in which we pray for "grace to take up our cross and follow him." And certainly, that is a central act of discipleship for which we do need grace. It is also a charge that is frequently abused--"my cross to bear" is often a phrase trotted out when we feel like giving some glory to ourselves, or wallowing in self-pity, or casting ourselves as just really so much more selfless, so much better, than all those others. In other words, a phrase we can use to justify having the opposite attitude to which the charge calls us.

So, although we do each have unique lives in which we "take up our cross," today reminds us also that it is the cross of Christ, not our own, with which we have been marked. Our own "cross" is found in the grateful and grace-enabled living out of a life that has found salvation in the cross of Jesus. Like Paul, may we never boast in anything else.  

Closing Prayer
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 your Son our Lord. Amen.
~A Collect for Fridays, BCP p. 99

The San Damiano Cross in Assisi, Italy

* From a homily by St. Andrew of Crete, for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross