The Holy Innocents

The Collect
We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
124

The Readings

Jeremiah 31:15-17     +     Revelation 21:1-7     +     Matthew 2:13-18

When the wise men had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.

~Matthew 2:13-15a

Thus says the Lord:
A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,

because they are no more. 

~Jeremiah 31:15

Even in the midst of Christmastide, the church will not allow us to descend into a fantasy of sentimentalism. In contrast to many more recent depictions of "the manger scene" on Christmas cards and even in many hymns and carols, in traditional iconography Jesus' swaddling clothes clearly resemble a winding sheet, a shroud, and the darkness of the cave stable a tomb. This is why he came among us. And on the fourth day of Christmas, just when I am ready to slip blissfully into a sugar-induced coma, along comes Holy Innocents' Day--a stark reminder of the world of terror, violence, and injustice into which our Lord was born; the world in which he is still being born among us today.

Over at the Grow Christians blog, Ryan Kuratko reflects on our need for Holy Innocents:

To be clear, the Jesus birth took place in a world that we would recognize, not a fantasy. It is a world with empire, an unwed pregnant mother and cuckolded man, poverty, and now, on Holy Innocents, murder . . .Holy Innocents arrives every Christmas to remind us to step outside of our fantasies. Real innocents die, and we owe them more than to create a fictional, self-soothing pacifier-Jesus. Our imagination is for better things than this . . . We need to imagine, envision, empathize, and dream all of the implications of Jesus’s presence among us—what it says about our compassion, our justice, our joy, our sorrow, our society, our planet, our money. Holy Innocents reminds us of all the people our fantasies would prefer to leave out.

Read the rest here.

Closing Prayer

For the sake of the Holy Innocents, slain by cruel Herod, may we never turn a blind eye to injustice, and never forget the sacred humanity of the vulnerable and the sorrows of those under tyranny and oppression. Amen. 

Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

The Collect
Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light, that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
92

The Readings
Exodus 33:18-23     +     I John 1:1-9     +     John 21:19b-24

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us . . .
~I John 1:1-2

John's Gospel is the last of the four canonical gospels, both in its place of order in the Bible and in its date of composition. The Gospel is symbolized by an eagle, reflecting the traditional view that the Fourth Gospel is the most mystical, peering into heaven, as it were. The opening verses of the Gospel, "the Prologue," contain lofty language about the eternal and divine nature of the Word (logos in Greek) of God, which "was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Its language is echoed in the first epistle of John, as well as in the hymn, Of the Father's love begotten. Written in Latin in the fourth century by the poet Aurelius Prudentius, the following translation can be found in our hymnal (Hymn 82), and speaks of the revealing of the face of the God who in former times none could see and live (Exodus 33:20).

Closing Prayer

May God who by John has revealed the mystery of the Word made flesh, open our minds to understand and our hearts to believe the Gospel of Christ. Amen.

~from Saint Augustine's Prayer Book

At Holy Apostles, we will soon again be taking part in the Good Book Club. On January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, we will begin reading John's Gospel. Our discussion group will meet Sundays between services. Subscribe for email updates, and get the daily reading schedule and other resources now at goodbookclub.org.

Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

The Collect
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Psalm
31

The Readings
Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15     +     Acts 6:8-7:2, 51-60     +     Matthew 23:34-39

Jesus said, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"
~Matthew 23:37

While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
~Acts 7:59-60

Yesterday our king put on the robe of flesh, and coming out of the court of the Virgin's womb, deigned to visit the earth. Today a soldier leaves the earthly tabernacle of his body, and goes up in triumph to heaven . . . The love that brought down Christ from heaven to earth, lifted Stephen from earth to heaven . . . Love, therefore, is the origin and source of all good things; it is a most excellent defence, the road that leads to heaven. Whoever walks in love can neither stray nor be afraid. Love guides, love protects, love leads to the end.
~from a sermon by St. Fulgentius of Ruspe (5th-6th century bishop in North Africa)

Closing Prayer  
God, make us abound evermore in the faith that Saint Stephen professed and the love that held fast in him as he prayed for those who killed him. Amen.

Saint Thomas the Apostle

The Collect
Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with firm and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Psalm
126

The Readings
Habakkuk 2:1-4     +     Hebrews 10:35-11:1     +     John 20:24-29

I will stand at my watchpost,
     and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,
     and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write the vision;
     make it plain on tablets,
     so that a runner may read it.
For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
     it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
     it will surely come, it will not delay.
~Habakkuk 2:1-3

On St. Thomas Day, as we near the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord, we continue to keep watch, to pray, to look for the rising of the Daystar in our hearts and for the world. The world is dark, and we have our honest complaints. But there is still a vision of the Lord for the appointed time. May our faith in our Lord's resurrection be as firm and certain as our trust that our eyes will again see the sun rise.

This night, the church prays the fifth 'O Antiphon': O Oriens. 

Closing Prayer

O Oriens,

splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:

veni, et illumine sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Dayspring,

splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Amen.

All Saints' Day

The Collect

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Psalm

149

The Readings

Daniel 7:1-3,15-18     +     Ephesians 1:11-23     +     Luke 6:20-31

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
~Ephesians 1:15-19

The Episcopal Church celebrates November 1st as All Saints’ Day (thus marking Oct. 31st as All Hallows’ Eve). It is one of the seven Principal Feasts of the church, and the only one that the Prayer Book allows to be also observed on the Sunday following the day—presumably as a practical measure to provide ample opportunity for all to keep the feast!

A saint is, literally, one who has been “sanctified”—set apart, made holy in Jesus. In the New Testament, St. Paul uses the term for all the baptized—all who are “in Christ,” whether living or dead. But the church has also long recognized certain saints as providing models of faithful discipleship; in their lives we see Christ’s life reflected. All Saints’ Day has traditionally been regarded as a celebration of these famous holy men and women. Thus, an additional observance developed on November 2nd—All Souls’ Day is an opportunity to remember before God one’s own family and friends departed, perhaps with more tenderness than celebration. (The Commemoration of All Faithful Departed on Nov. 2nd is a day of optional observance in the Episcopal Church calendar.) Of course, it is appropriate to celebrate and remember truly all saints on November 1st—it is All Saints’ Day, after all! Yet there are distinctions in how we have known these saints of God—some personally, others by reputation, but most we do not know by name.

And communion—on-going relationship—is at the heart of this feast. It is good that we remember the saints and look to many of them as exemplars, but there is more—this is not simply the church version of Memorial Day, when we publicly honor and thankfully remember the lives of those who have gone before. On All Saints’ Day, as we remember before God in prayer all those loved ones whose names and lives are beautifully memorialized at our flower-bedecked altar, we are also reminded that God has brought us all into “one communion and fellowship in the mystical body” of Christ. As the Risen Christ transcends place and time, so the mystical communion of those who abide in Christ transcends place and time. And abiding in the One who overcame death, death itself is no final obstacle to this communion. For, as the Burial Rite reminds us, to God’s faithful people “life is changed, not ended.”

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

~ hymn no. 287 (“For All the Saints”)

Closing Prayer

O God, the King of Saints, we praise and glorify your holy Name for all your servants who have finished their course in your faith and fear: for the blessed Virgin Mary; for the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs; for all your other righteous servants, known to us and unknown; and we pray that, encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, and strengthened by their fellowship, we also may be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~The Book of Common Prayer, p. 504

Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles

The Collect of the Day
O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
119:89-96

The Readings
Deuteronomy 32:1-4     +     Ephesians 2:13-22     +     John 15:17-27

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 
~John 15:24

Over at the Grow Christians blog, Melody Wilson Shobe writes:

The Zealot Saint Simon is partnered with Saint Jude, the patron saint of lost causes. The two of them were disciples, zealous for Jesus, willing to follow that particular lost cause to the cross and beyond. And their witness, when married together, has something to teach us about our experience of the faith, and the faith that we hope for our children. What if we, ourselves, were as zealous for Jesus as we are for our favorite brand of shoes or our newest binge-watch? And what if we formed our children to be zealots for lost causes instead of current trends?

Every once in a while I see this. I meet a kid who is so zealous in supporting animals that they ask for donations to the local shelter in lieu of birthday gifts. I hear from a young person who talks about serving at a homeless shelter with the same fervor that others reserve for going to a big sporting event. I hear one of my kids tell me what story they heard in Godly Play with the same excitement they relate the chapter of Harry Potter she just re-read for the 10th time.

I wonder, how can you, this week, help form the kids in your life as zealots for lost causes, as zealots for Jesus?

How can you direct their zealous energy in pursuit of the things that matter most?

Read the rest here.

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the example of your faithful servants Simon and Jude. Give us grace, that like them we may be zealous in spreading the message of your love, come what may. Amen.

Saint James of Jerusalem, Brother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Martyr

The Collect of the Day
Grant, O God, that, following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm
1

The Readings
Acts 15:12-22a     +     I Corinthians 15:1-11     +     Matthew 13:54-58

All the apostles and elders kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, "My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets . . . Therefore, I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God . . ." 
Acts 15:12-15, 19

James, called by Paul "the Lord's brother," seems not to have become a disciple until after Jesus' resurrection. But he went on to be a leader in the early church, traditionally the first bishop of Jersalem. He presided over the so-called Council of Jerusalem recorded in Acts, which wrestled with the pressing question of how to incorporate Gentiles into the church--it was a thorny problem that occupied much of Paul's letters, also. 

In his wisdom, James determined that the church should not place any obstacles in the way of Gentile inclusion. Listen to the testimony of lives changed, listen anew to the word of God spoken in the prophets, and let God call whom God will. Whatever misgivings some may have had about Gentiles as 'the other', the outsiders whose way of life was suspect or even offensive to God, James took his stand to trust that God is drawing the circle wider still. For, as Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, it is finally only upon God's grace in Christ that any of us stand at all. It is a core message we cannot afford to ignore today. However helpful or laudable our practices of piety (and we are learning about their benefit as we follow the Way of Love), however much we may be rightly thankful for our own heritage in the church, still it is not these that save us--it is God's scandalous grace, for you and me and everyone, including those 'outside' who don't know anything about 'the rules,' and who may even disrupt the way we've always done things.

It was a momentous decision. The church would not be a Jewish faction, but truly catholic in scope: a universal body united in Christ and reconciled to the God who made all. And yet reconciliation is a difficult thing; easy to talk about, messy and often painful to accomplish, no matter how sincere our efforts. Ultimately, it cost James his life. But it is this work of reconciliation to which we are called: "The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." (The Catechism, BCP p. 855). There is no shortage of need for such a mission in our divided and angry world. It is a mission that we can only hope to accomplish by giving ourselves continually to prayer, and by daily surrender to the gospel grace in which we stand. 

Closing Prayer

Lord God, thank you for you grace toward even me. May I never hinder anyone from coming to you, whose love is more vast than we can imagine; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Council of Jerusalem. 

James, vested as a bishop, is flanked by Paul and Peter (Simon).

Saint Luke the Evangelist

The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Psalm
147:1-7

The Readings
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 38:1-4, 6-10, 12-14     +     II Timothy 4:5-13     +     Luke 4:14-21

He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
     because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
     and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
~Luke 4:17-21

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist (i.e. Gospel writer). According to tradition, he was the author of the third Gospel, “the beloved physician,” a Gentile friend and companion to St. Paul. Luke is a great story-teller, and several of the best known and most loved stories about Jesus come from this Gospel: the details of “the Christmas story,” the parables of “the prodigal son” and “the good Samaritan,” and “the good thief” on the cross.

We've started reading through Luke's Gospel with the youth on Wednesday nights. And as we as a parish focus on "learning" this month along the Way of Love, perhaps the brief advice I've provided the youth may be helpful to a broader audience.

First, a few tips for any Bible reading:

· Begin with a prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

· Try to find a quiet place where you can read undisturbed.

· Don’t rush; take some time to listen and enter into the story

· Find a translation that you like; some Bibles also have notes and study helps.


Then, some things to look for in Luke’s Gospel:

· What does Luke say about who Jesus is?

· Story-telling: how does Luke draw the reader in with details? What do you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel as you read this Gospel?

· Luke’s story has been called ‘The Universal Gospel’: what are ways in which Jesus shows that he has come for everyone, even (and maybe even especially) the poor and outcast?

That last point may be another reason why Luke's Gospel has had such lasting appeal to so many. As Eugene Peterson puts it: 

"Most of us, most of the time, feel left out—misfits. We don’t belong. Others seem to be so confident, so sure of themselves, “insiders” who know the ropes, old hands in a club from which we are excluded. . . . As Luke tells the story of Jesus, all of us who have found ourselves on the outside looking in on life with no hope of gaining entrance (and who of us hasn’t felt it?) now find the doors wide open, found and welcomed by God in Jesus." 

Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank you for the gift of Holy Scripture, and especially on this day for the Gospel of your Son according to St. Luke. Send your Holy Spirit to inspire, guide, and teach us, that we may always be growing in our knowledge and love of him who is the Physician of our souls, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Michael and All Angels

(transferred from September 29)

The Collect
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 Sprit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
103

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

Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” 

~John 1:50-51

A Litany of the Holy Angels*
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us

God the Father, have mercy upon us.
God the Son, have mercy upon us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy upon us.

To thee, all angels cry aloud and all the powers of heaven sing,
     glory be to thee.
Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the morning stars rejoiced,
     glory be to thee.
Before thee, seraphim continually do sing, holy, holy, holy,
     glory be to thee.
And with the whole company of heaven, we join our voices,
     glory be to thee.

O all ye angels of God, standing before the eternal light, pray for us.
Michael, who overthrew the devil, the deceiver and accuser, pray for us.
Michael, who restored peace to heaven and defends God's people on earth, pray for us.
Gabriel, sent to announce the birth of John the Baptist, pray for us.
Gabriel, greeting the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.
O Angel of the Lord, directing Joseph to protect the Christ child, pray for us.
Angels of God, announcing the birth to shepherds, pray for us.
Angels of God, ministering to Jesus in his fast in the wilderness, pray for us.
Angels of God, strengthening Jesus in his prayer in the garden, pray for us.
Angels of God, waiting at the tomb to greet the women with good news, pray for us.
Angels of God, comforting the disciples at the Ascension, pray for us.
Angels of God, who rejoice over the sinner who repents, pray for us.
Angels of God, joining our praises with your perfect worship, pray for us.
Angels of God, leading home the child of God, pray for us.

Send thine angels to guide and protect us, and be our hope against all dangers in this life and the next,
     Good Lord, deliver us.

Hear our prayer, O Lord, and grant to all peoples peace and prosperity,
     Hear our prayer O Lord.
That in this good and bountiful creation, none may suffer want or hunger,
     Hear our prayer O Lord.
That in thy mercy, all may know thee as their loving creator,
     Hear our prayer O Lord.
Guide thy Holy Church into unity, inspire its witness, and enliven its service,
     Hear our prayer O Lord.
Bless those whom we love and remember before thee,
     Hear our prayer O Lord.
Give to the departed eternal rest,
     Hear our prayer O Lord.

Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths;
     and dwellest between the Cherubim.
Blessed art thou, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
     praised and exalted above all forever.

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.

* This is a slightly abbreviated form of a litany found in Saint Augustine's Prayer Book, a supplemental book of prayers and devotions that has long been a source of spiritual nourishment for Anglicans and Episcopalians. A recently revised edition is available from Forward Movement.

Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

The Collect
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.

The Psalm
119:33-40

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

As for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 
~II Timothy 3:14-15

Of the four canonical Gospels, Matthew's is in many ways "the most Jewish." More than the others, his Gospel continually quotes the Old Testament scriptures to "prove" that they are fulfilled in Jesus, who is the long-awaited Messiah. And in structure, Matthew's Gospel presents Jesus as a new Moses, which may itself be seen as fulfillment of the prophecy that the LORD would raise up a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15).

This devotion to the Law and the Prophets, to "the sacred writings," is reflected in the readings appointed for this feast of St. Matthew. And yet, somewhat ironically, the traditional author of this Gospel was hardly a pious scholar (at least not initially). As one of the twelve disciples, Matthew (or Levi) was called to leave a profession as tax-gatherer to follow Jesus. As Lesser Feasts and Fasts puts it:

"Tax collectors were viewed as collaborators with the Roman State, extortioners who took money from their own people to further the cause of Rome and to line their own pockets. They were spurned as traitors and outcasts. The Jews so abhorred them that pious Pharisees refused to marry into a family that had a publican as a member. Clearly, Matthew was hardly they type of man that a devout Jew would have had among his closest associates."

And yet this was the man chosen by the devout Jew Jesus to be a member of his inner circle. This was the man whose name is connected with the Gospel that seeks to plumb the depths of the scriptures, and finds in them a witness to the life and work of Jesus Christ.

Consider your own life in comparison to Matthew's. Where do you see yourself in relation to "the religious institution"? Are you, or have you ever been, "an outcast"? What bearing, if any, does that have on your relationship to Jesus? How does your past and present familiarity with scripture, or lack thereof, impact the way you hear and understand the story of Jesus? What is the call of Jesus to you today?

Closing Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
~an Ember Day collect, 'For all Christians in their vocation' (BCP, p. 256)  

   

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     +     Philippians 2:5-11     +     John 12:31-36a

Sing to the Lord a new song, *
     for he has done marvelous things.
With his right hand and his holy arm *

      has he won for himself the victory.

~ Psalm 98:1-2

This is a feast with a fascinating and in some ways confusing history. (See the book, Holy Cross, Life-Giving Tree by Episcopal priest Donnel O'Flynn for more on that.) Suffice it to say that it is similar in its themes to Good Friday, but is explicitly a celebratory feast--The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him (antiphon at Morning Prayer on Holy Cross Day, BCP p. 81).

The universality of God's victory over death is reflected in the day's readings and in the traditional customs and hymnody of the feast, which assert that the wood of this shameful instrument of death has become for all the world the place of life, a tree bearing fruit to eternity. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:32). We are reminded that the cross is not merely a symbol, not merely a spur to reflection, or an unlikely example of hope. The cross is the very place of God’s love revealed for us. And the glory and victory of God is in that love revealed. At the very place where we least expect it, the evil and brokenness of the world is judged and driven out by the victory of God.

"The New Creation, Opened by the Cross" by Aidan O'Flynn and Jana Laxa; 

inspired by Paul Gauckler's "Sketch of the Floor Mosaic of the Byzantine-Era Baptistery at Oued Ramel, Tunisia"

Hymn no. 162 in our hymnal is a sixth-century text composed for this day on which we exalt the cross as God's means for our salvation. (See the video below for the music, with the latin text.)

The royal banners forward go,
the cross shines forth in mystic glow
where he through whom our flesh was made,
in that same flesh our ransom paid.

Fulfilled is all that David told
in true prophetic song of old;
how God the nation's King should be,
for God is reigning from the tree.

O tree of beauty, tree most fair,
ordained those holy limbs to bear
gone is thy shame, each crimson bough
proclaims the King of glory now.

Blest tree, whose chosen branches bore
the wealth that did the world restore,
the price which none but he could pay
to spoil the spoiler of his prey.

O cross, our one reliance, hail!
Still may thy power with us avail
to save us sinners from our sin,
God's righteousness for all to win.

To thee, eternal Three in One,
let homage meet by all be done;
as by the cross thou dost restore
so rule and guide us evermore.
Amen.  

Saint Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Collect
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
~BCP pg. 243

The Psalm
34:1-9

The Readings

Isaiah 61:10-11     +     Galatians 4:4-7     +     Luke 1:46-55

I will bless the Lord at all times; *
   his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
I will glory in the Lord; *
   let the humble hear and rejoice.
Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
   let us exalt his Name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
   and delivered me out of all my terror.
Look upon him and be radiant, *

   and let not your faces be ashamed.

~Psalm 34:1-5

Today's feast is also known as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or her Dormition (i.e. "falling asleep"). This describes the Roman Catholic dogma, similar to Orthodox tradition, that Mary was taken fully to glory, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. Our Prayer Book collect artfully leaves open belief in this tradition without actually declaring on it. It may seem to some a bizarre tradition, and yet it can also be seen as a foretaste of the redemption and holy wholeness that is the resurrection hope of all who trust in Jesus.

In his book, Ponder These Things: Praying with Icons of the Virgin, Rowan Williams reflects on how Mary presents us with an image and example of this "borderland," this place where we see the wonder of the meeting of death by life, and its transfiguration; the taking up of humanity into glory; the place where we also hope to be, by the love and power of the Savior she bore.  

“What we call holy in the world – a person, a place, a set of words or pictures – is so because it is a transitional place, a borderland, where the completely foreign is brought together with the familiar. Here is somewhere that looks as if it belongs within the world we are at home in, but in fact it leads directly into strangeness … most importantly, there is the person who stands on the frontier between promise and fulfillment, between earth and heaven, between the two Testaments: Mary. That she can be represented in so many ways, thought about and imagined in so many forms, is an indication of how deeply she speaks to us about the hope for the world’s transfiguration through Jesus; how she stands for the making strange of what is familiar and the homeliness of what is strange. After all, it is she who literally makes a home for the Creator of all things, the strangest reality we can conceive, in her own body and in her own house, she whom we meet again and again in the Gospels struggling with the strangeness of her son, from the finding in the Temple to the station at the cross.” 

Closing Prayer
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

(This traditional prayer, associated most often with Catholicism, may be embraced by all Christians. The first two lines are drawn directly from Scripture--Gabriel's greeting to Mary at the Annunciation, and Elizabeth's greeting to her at her Visitation. The final line is grounded in our Christian belief in the communion of saints--that both those alive now on this earth and those alive in the nearer glory of God continue to be bound through the Spirit in prayer.)

The Transfiguration

The Collect
O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
99

The Readings
Exodus 34:29-35     +     II Peter 1:13-21     +     Luke 9:28-36

 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 
~Luke 9:28-30

Reflecting on this feast and how it intersects with her life as a parent, Kit Lonergan at Grow Christians writes:

The three disciples are overwhelmed. In the midst of this deep clarity of Jesus’ nature, they ask if they can make three dwellings, so that this image, this proof, this evidence of the divinity of Jesus can stay among and with them. The transfiguration comes to an end when the prophets disappear, Jesus is as he was, and the disciples are left with the powerful memory and experience of a deep moment of transformation.

There are the moments as a parent, when I wish the experience would last forever. The warm, content child in your arms. The flicker of a milestone achieved. The first smile, first laugh. When you see or hear of them trying really hard at something, regardless of how it all ends up. When they are kind to another person. When they ask a question, and you had no idea that that cognition or wonder was there already.

Harnessing those memories comes in different ways. But each way I think more and more, is destined to fail or disappoint if I imagine that they will bring me back to that same place . . .

I love the disciples in this story. PLEASE, Jesus, we need this moment. We want this to stay, to define us, to prove that we were right, they say.

Jesus responds to ALL of his disciples, reminding us that some moments can’t be harnessed, that we can’t all live in the beautiful profound places all the time. But these moments can change the way we live, and love, and hallow our memories. They are meant to transform us, not to transport us. To make the now better, rather than to provide an escape.

Read the rest here.

Closing Prayer

Help us, Lord Jesus, in the midst of the turmoil and disquietude, to see you, and to walk confidently in the light of that vision. Amen.

Saint Mary Magdalene

The Collect
Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm
42:1-7

The Readings
Judith 9:1,11-14     +     II Corinthians 5:14-18     +     John 20:11-18

At the very time when the evening incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said, “Your strength does not depend on numbers, nor your might on the powerful. But you are the God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forsaken, savior of those without hope."
~Judith 9:1,11

Judith reminds us of what cannot be stressed too often. Indeed, the scriptures emphasize it over and over again. Our God is the God of the lowly, the oppressed, the weak, the forsaken, the hopeless. Read those traits again. These are not "winners." These are not "successful" people. These are not traits we desire. And yet these are the ones for whom God has special concern. From the calling into covenant a small, insignificant nation, through the prophets' continual call to care for the widow and orphan, the poor and the foreigner, to Jesus' being born into a poor family in an oppressed country--"God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong" (I Cor. 1:27).

Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most faithful and loving disciples. She was probably also someone who had suffered severely from mental illness. Luke's Gospel tells us that Jesus had healed her from "seven demons"--it is generally believed that mental disorders in the ancient world were often attributed to demons. It's an understandable attribution. Even today, with all our knowledge, mental illness is frightening. Both as individuals and as a society, we often don't know what to do with such people. And so they get left behind, forgotten. Whatever the source of her demons, Mary's life before her healing was undoubtedly one that many of us would find uncomfortable, unseemly, even shameful. Not so to Jesus. Not so to his Father. Our God is the "savior of those without hope."

Take a moment to consider what it means for you to worship a God like this. Where would you place yourself on a spectrum of powerful to lowly? Are you the among those who cry out to God with heaviness and distress in your soul? Are you among those who hear such cries and recognize the beloved of God?

Closing Prayer
God of the hopeless, may we never forget the great love you have for all who cry out to you in confusion, in fear, in distress. Help us to hear their voice, to reach out in compassion like Jesus, and with them to put our trust in him, who is our hope. Amen.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles

The Collect

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm

87

The Readings

Ezekiel 34:11-16     +     II Timothy 4:1-8     +     John 21:15-19

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

~Ezekiel 34:15-16

Today, when I hear the prophet Ezekiel conveying this word of the Lord, I see the lost, the injured, and the weak in the faces of the desperate souls seeking refuge in this and other countries from the violence and instability of their homelands. It is a word of hope and comfort in this tempest-tossed time--around the world there are now more refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced persons than at any time in history. It is also a word of judgment--"the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them with justice."  

While I expect most everyone would express a longing for the hope and comfort, I admit a sense of longing also for the judgment. Longing for God's judgment is, I think, not misplaced--We believe that you will come and be our judge; come then, Lord, and help your people (from the Te Deum, BCP 95-96). But there is also in that longing a sense of satisfaction, of "righteous indignation" that gives me pause--do I expect that I will be found guiltless in that judgment? In what ways am I even now complicit, actively or passively, in this and so many other injustices?

The word of the Lord to Ezekiel proclaims that it is God who will do the leading, the healing, the strengthening--"I myself will be the shepherd"--as well as the judging. It is a critical reminder, especially if we begin to slip into a sense of purity at the rightness of our cause--we are not the Savior, we are not the Judge. As Christians, the one firm foundation we know is Jesus Christ our Lord. His salvation, not ours; his perfect judgment, not ours. But we are called, like Peter and Paul and all the followers of Jesus, to the work of the gospel and the proclamation of the kingdom of God. That is the work for which Paul was willing to be poured out as a libation, and to which he commanded Timothy: be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully (II Tim. 4:5).

May we be found engaged in that work and ministry, feeding the lambs and tending the sheep in imitation of the one Good Shepherd. May we not grow weary, even as we long for his appearing. 

Closing Prayer

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this and every land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing justice for all. And grant that we all may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~adapted from a prayer For the Oppressed, BCP, 826

June 20th was the eighteenth annual World Refugee Day. To learn more about the plight of refugees today, and how you can help, visit the following:

Episcopal Migration Ministries

World Relief Memphis

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist

The Collect

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
85

The Readings
Isaiah 40:1-11     +     Acts 13:14b-26     +     Luke 1:57-80

... and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.
~ Luke 1:59-64

Saints are typically celebrated on the day of their death (their "heavenly birthdays"). There are only a few exceptions where births are commemorated on the church calendar. Of course, we celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ every December 25, and many will commemorate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. In addition to these we have this day's feast, closely linked with both Jesus and Mary--the birth of John the Baptist.

From a sermon for this feast, by St. Augustine:

"John marks the frontier between the Old and the New Testaments. The Lord speaks of him as a boundary line: 'The law and the prophets are valid until John the Baptist.' He represents the Old Testament and at the same time introduces the New. His parents were old, in keeping with his first role: while yet in his mother's womb he was saluted as a prophet, in recognition of his second. Although he was not yet born at the time of Mary's visitation, he leaped in his mother's womb. His mission was made clear, even before he was born. He was revealed as Christ's precursor, before he so much as saw him. These divine mysteries transcend man's feeble understanding. When at last he was born and received his name, his father's tongue was loosened . . . Zachary's tongue was loosened, because a voice was born."

Birth of John the Baptist, by Jacopo Pontormo

(the still mute Zechariah is seen in the corner, confirming in writing Elizabeth's instruction for his name) 

Closing Prayer
Lord God of the prophets, we praise you for sending John as the Forerunner of your promised Christ. Help us to heed his voice, and the voice of everyone who cries out to point us back to you; help us to be open to your Spirit, that our voices also may proclaim the coming of the One who is our hope, even Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Saint Barnabas the Apostle

The Collect
Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
112

The Readings

Isaiah 42:5-12     +     Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3     +     Matthew 10:7-16

The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.

~ Acts 11:21-24

Although he was not one of the Twelve, we know more about the apostle Barnabas than we do about many of them. We hear of his ministry throughout the book of Acts and in Paul's letters. He is first introduced at the end of Acts chapter 4, where we learn that Barnabas means "son of encouragement," a name given to him by the apostles.

Most of us today probably don't think much about the meaning of a name. But as we see throughout the Bible, names are important (and this remains true in many cultures today). Names communicate identity, not only by family connection, but through, for example, relating circumstances surrounding a birth, or a sense of belonging, or of loss, or a perceived calling. Particularly noteworthy are biblical instances in which a "a new name" is given, often by God; e.g. Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter. These name changes reflect critical junctures in the lives of those receiving the name, a new understanding of who they are and where they fit in God's story. 

"Son of Encouragement" is quite a name. And from what we see of Barnabas in Acts, it seems the apostles named him well. It makes me wish I had known him personally. It also has me wondering by what name the apostles would call me. 

Take a moment and consider: if you received a new name from God, or from someone close to God, what might that name be? What would it communicate about who you are, and your place in God's story? If, perhaps, you fear or simply don't know what that name would be, ask God to place within you a vision of the man or woman whose name you would be proud to bear. And pray for grace to step into that identity.   

Closing Prayer

O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ BCP, p. 125

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Collect
Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Psalm
113

The Readings
I Samuel 2:1-10     +     Romans 12:9-16b     +     Luke 1:39-57

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb.

~Luke 1:39-41

Great the women who bore
The tidings in the hill country.
The highly favored one,
Her greeting at the door
Spurs the Forerunner to leap, he
Acknowledging the Son
Enthroned in princely state,
Beauteous in the womb of the morn.
The prophetess bows down,
Inspired, to relate
The revelation to be born,
And confirm her renown.
She cries, 'The mother of my Lord,'

And she, 'Magnificat,' outpoured.

Closing Prayer

Cleanse our consciences, we beseech thee, O God, by thy visitation, that thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, when he cometh, may find in us a dwelling place made ready for himself; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Ascension Day

The Collect
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.                          

The Psalm
47

The Readings
Acts 1:1-11     +     Ephesians 1:15-23     +     Luke 24:44-53


And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. ~Ephesians 1:22-23


Near the end of the Easter season comes Ascension Day. It is a major feast that really gets short shrift. In part, it’s because it always falls on a Thursday (May 30^th this year), since it is observed forty days after Easter Day (Acts 1:3 doesn’t make for great liturgical planning). But probably it’s also because of the nature of this feast—what are we to make of the Ascension? We confess “he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father”—but really, what do we do with that? It is a mystery not even our Prayer Book tries to pin down—we are given the choice of two collects for the day, with different themes emphasized. But acknowledging a mystery does not mean we are discouraged from seeking understanding. And I think one thing that we see in the Ascension is that Christ is “no longer bound to distant years in Palestine, (but) comes to claim the here and now and conquer every place and time” (Hymn no. 182). Jesus is not simply an historical figure, or even primarily the object of Christian worship—Christ does not belong to us, and we cannot hold him in our grasp. Rather, we belong to Christ. And we are together the body of Christ in the world, a tangible, embodied presence of the cosmic Christ, the one “who fills all in all.” Alleluia!

Closing Prayer
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
~The Book of Common Prayer, p. 226

Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles

The Collect
Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Psalm
119:33-40

The Readings
Isaiah 30:18-21     +     II Corinthians 4:1-6     +     John 14:6-14

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves, for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let the light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
~II Cor. 4:5-6

In today's Gospel, during the last supper, Philip says, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." To which Jesus answers, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you do not know me?" John's Gospel asserts that no one has ever seen God (John 1:18)--and yet it also asserts that to see Jesus is to see God. Even the twelve who lived and worked with him, his closest companions and friends, were slow to understand it. But when that truth had fully shone on them in the resurrection, they gave their lives, even to death, to spreading the good news.

For all who have followed after them, we whose faith is based on the testimony handed down, we have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29). We who have not actually seen the face of Jesus--do we also see God? Jesus says, "If you know me, you will know my Father also; from now on you do know him and have seen him" (John 14:7). We come to know Jesus as we meet him in the loving relationship of those who today are his closest companions and friends; we meet him when we come in faith to read and hear the holy scriptures, and hear a word behind us say, This is the way--walk in it (Isaiah 30:21); we meet him through the gracious and grace-giving Spirit of God, who shines into our inmost being to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:6).

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, give us a heart to know and love you, eyes to see you and ears to hear you, and a will to share your light with all people. Amen.