Don't Fall for It
Our gospel today unfolds in front of the Temple at Jerusalem, just before Jesus will be arrested and crucified. Let’s quickly review that the first Temple was built at God’s instruction to Solomon to be his house among humanity. It wasn’t actually any bigger than this building, a bit taller, but it was extremely ornate, the interior was covered in gold, but was destroyed by the Babylonians around 586 BC.
The second Temple was built 70 years later in 516 on the same spot and to the same specifications, except it was much more modest. Israel was a vassal state of Persia at the time and didn’t have the resources to cover everything in gold.
Read More
Keep Me In Eternal Life
To begin this sermon, I would like to call your attention to a short phrase that we hear every Sunday. Most of you have probably heard it so often that it just washes over you, without you thinking about it. Please find a Prayer Book in your pew and turn to page 360. After the “Confession” you see what is called the “Absolution.” The priest says, “Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, keep you in eternal life. Amen.” The part I want you to notice is the very last part, the little phrase where the priest prays that you will be “kept in eternal life.” The point here is that eternal life comes to us in the present moment. You are in eternal life right now!
Read More
Prayer and Position
This morning’s gospel raises the issue of how we pray.
When I served at St. Mary’s in Belleview, by God’s grace he led us to build a new sanctuary. There was a section for the organ and choir off to the left, facing the nave at about a 45-degree angle. However, the pews were too close together for kneelers. There, as here, the congregation knelt for the Prayers of the People, Confession, and part of the Eucharist. So, I suggested they lean forward, sitting toward the front edge of their seats. It would look like they were kneeling and also reverential.
They agreed. Well, almost all of them agreed. One woman said, “No.” She explained that she felt very strongly that she should stand to pray. This woman was very active in ministry, a true parish leader, and she was very serious. She was the only one of about twenty who felt that way, not even her husband.
Read More
