Saint Peter & 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

Of Zion it shall be said, "Everyone was born in her,
     and the Most High himself shall sustain her."
The LORD will record as he enrolls the peoples,
     "These also were born there."
The singers and the dancers will say,
     "All my fresh springs are in you."

~Psalm 87:4-6

The collect, psalm, and readings for this day emphasize both the universality of the gospel--the gathering in of God's people from all nations--and the cost of that proclamation for these two great apostles, who gave their lives in martyrdom for the sake of the gospel.

In several places in the New Testament, we see Paul and Peter in disagreement. Sometimes it's explicit and sometimes only hinted at. Mostly, it has to do with that very question of the universality of the gospel, and how the Gentiles, "the nations," are to be incorporated into the People of God. The apostles and the communities they led had to grapple with the practical implications of proclaiming Jesus as both the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews and the Lord of lords and King of kings, who is to judge the living and the dead. The culturally diverse world of the first-century Roman Empire meant that such a confession led to all sorts of questions about the Jewish law and morality, the old religions and their cultural expectations, the relation of Christians to the power of the state, and the identity and life of the People of God. We see these discussion played out especially in Paul's letters. But for all the debates and disagreements, some of which are still with us today, the place where both Paul and Peter were one was in their love for Jesus. For love of Jesus, Paul was willing to be poured out as a libation. For love of Jesus, Peter willingly followed him, knowing that it would lead to being stretched out in the agony of a death like his Lord's.

Today, we too face many disagreements, questions with which to grapple, often without easy solutions, that may call into question many of our long-standing assumptions--all of which takes place here in the household of faith. That is part of what it means to take seriously our call as disciples. In these important conversations and even debates about how best and most faithfully to carry out the work of the gospel, may we look to Peter and Paul as examples. For to do so will mean that above all else we look in love and longing to Jesus. Come what may, he is the one foundation, upon which we may ever stand firm.

Closing Prayer

Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

~A prayer For the Mission of the Church, BCP p. 816

St. Peter & St. Paul (Byzantine Icon, Mt. Athos)

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

A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
     make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
     and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
     and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
     and all people shall see it together,

     for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

~ Isaiah 40:3-5

The fortieth chapter of Isaiah contains some of the most familiar prophetic words in scripture (thanks in part to Handel's Messiah and the season of Advent). It's a mixture of both comfort and strong medicine, tenderness and hard words--which is  pretty true of most prophets' messages. Even verses 3-5 above, which we probably associate fondly with Christmas (and indeed they are good news), literally describe massive displacement and upheaval.

John the Baptist, in my mind, is something like the quintessential prophet--the last of the great biblical prophets, directly preceding the long-promised Messiah, wild in appearance, bold in word, meeting a bloody end like so many before him. Of his nativity, St. Augustine sermonizes: "Zechariah's tongue was loosened because a voice was born. John was a 'voice', but in the beginning the Lord was the Word. John was a voice for a time: but Christ, who in the beginning was the Word, is the Word in eternity."

A voice says, “Cry out!”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
    their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
    when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
    surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
    but the word of our God will stand for ever.

It is sometimes trendy, both within and without the church, to identify 'prophetic voices.' Certainly, there are such voices among us, and the Lord is never without messengers. But it is likely that such voices, when they cry out, will not entirely please us; will not fit easily into our narratives, but will explode our Procrustean beds; will not leave us unscathed--but also will not leave us hopeless.

See, the Lord GOD comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead the mother sheep. 

Re-read Isaiah 40:1-11. Think and pray; how does this word of the Lord speak to you today? 

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.

Icon of St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner

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

Thus says God, the LORD,
     who created the heavens and stretched them out,

     who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
     and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,
     I have taken you by the hand and kept you ...

~Isaiah 42:5-6a

These verses form part of one of the "servant songs" in the book of Isaiah--songs about a suffering, righteous servant appointed by God. Christians have understood these songs to point to Jesus, the Messiah, and in several places the gospels draw on the words and images of these songs to show Jesus as the fulfilment of the prophet's words. But as we read in today's Gospel, when Jesus sends out the Twelve, he instructs them: "Proclaim the good news . . . cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons" (Matt. 10:7-8). Those called and sent by Jesus are to do the very things that Jesus does; our ministry is his ministry, in which we participate. 

So, today receive these words as spoken to you: the God who creates all that is, who stretched out the heavens and the earth and gives life to all who move upon it--this God has called you, will hold you, and will keep you.  

Closing Prayer
Thank you, God, for calling us and empowering us for the ministry of your gospel. Help us, like your servant Barnabas, to be good, joyful, and faithful. And may we remember that you hold us always; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.