Bryan Sherwood

Saint Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor

Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Saint Leo, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Happy All Saints Day!

Tomorrow the church remembers the saints who have gone before us.  I particularly like this rendition of the Litany of the Saints sung by Brother Loarne and Ronan from the Pantasaph Friary in North Wales. 

The collect from The Book of Common Prayer for All Saints Day:

Almighty God, 
who hast knit together thine 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 thou hast prepared for those
who unfeignedly love thee;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Saint Mary Magdalene

Today is the Feast day of Mary Magdalene.  To be honest, I've not spent much time reflecting on Mary Magdalene's life and witness in years past.  Yet the church calls our attention to Mary today.  I would say we have much to learn from Mary and her life.

A sinner.  A witness.  A follower of Jesus.  Faithful.  All of those words describe Mary.  Those same words could describe me as well.  I only hope to be as faithful as Mary - she followed her Jesus to the Cross and even to his tomb.  Yes, I think there is much to learn from this saint.

Alan has posted a nice reflection on his blog; check it out.

Pax.

Saint Peter the Apostle

Almighty God, you who by your Son Jesus Christ gave to your Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts and commanded him earnestly to feed your flock:  Make, we humbly pray, all bishops and pastors diligently to preach your holy Word and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Feast Day of Saint Columba

Today the church remembers Saint Columba. I have a particular appreciation for this saint since he is the patron saint of our priory. He lived quite an interesting life.

Columba was an author of hymns, founder of churches and monasteries, and is said to have transcribed over 300 books. He seemed to be an energetic man with a passion for evangelism. He wasn’t without faults but I believe we can be encouraged by his life and be thankful for his ministry.

When I read and remember the saints of the church, I wonder what it is that we believers today can learn?  Certainly, we quickly are reminded that we are not alone.  We are connected to the saints of the past.  We're all part of the greater story of God's work on earth.  What other lessons can be learned?  Jump in and let me know what you think.

A few resources on Columba:

• Wikipedia Article
• Catholic Encyclopedia Article on Columba

Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (Acts 2:1-4, ESV)

Today is an important day in the church year - today Pentecost is remembered and celebrated.  Pentecost comes 50 days after Jesus' resurrection and is the final day of the Easter season.  Some people know this day as Whitsunday.  Today is about the Holy Spirit's outpouring on the Apostles and the beginning of the church.  After all, where would we be without the Church or the Spirit?

I leave you with these words from a sermon preached by Pope Leo the Great on Pentecost:

By these and other numberless proofs, dearly-beloved, with which the authority of the Divine utterances is ablaze, let us with one mind be incited to pay reverence to Whitsuntide, exulting in honour of the Holy Ghost, through Whom the whole catholic Church is sanctified, and every rational soul quickened; Who is the Inspirer of the Faith, the Teacher of Knowledge, the Fount of Love, the Seal of Chastity, and the Cause of all Power. Let the minds of the faithful rejoice, that throughout the world One God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is praised by the confession of all tongues, and that that sign of His Presence, which appeared in the likeness of fire, is still perpetuated in His work and gift. For the Spirit of Truth Himself makes the house of His glory shine with the brightness of His light, and will have nothing dark nor lukewarm in His temple. And it is through His aid and teaching also that the purification of fasts and alms has been established among us. For this venerable day is followed by a most wholesome practice, which all the saints have ever found most profitable to them, and to the diligent observance of which we exhort you with a shepherd's care, to the end that if any blemish has been contracted in the days just passed through heedless negligence, it may be atoned for by the discipline of fasting and corrected by pious devotion. On Wednesday and Friday, therefore, let us fast, and on Saturday for this very purpose keep vigil with accustomed devotion, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.  (Pope Leo the Great, Sermon LXXV)

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:6-11, ESV)

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord remembers Jesus’ ascension into heaven forty days after his resurrection. History tells us that this feast day has been celebrated since the earliest days of the Church, perhaps as early as the time of the apostles. Ascension Day falls on the Thursday in the 6th week of Easter and is celebrated this year on Thursday, May 21 (although some will celebrate this feast day on Sunday).

I like what the Catholic Catechism has to say about the Ascension.

Christ’s Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain, when he will come again (c.f. Acts 1:11); this humanity in the meantime hides him from the eyes of men (cf. Col 3:3).

Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father’s glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him for ever.

Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once for all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (665-667).

You may want to check out the following resources to read more about the Ascension.

ChurchYear.Net

New Advent.org

Collect for Fifth Sunday in Easter

From the BCP (1979)

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life:  Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

From An Anglican Prayer Book

Almighty God, you who alone can order the unruly wills and emotions of sinful people:  Grant unto your elect people, that they may love the thing which you command, and desire that which you promise; so that among the many and varied changes of the world, our hearts may firmly be established where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

When Eastertide Feels Like Lent

He is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Mark xvi. 6; Luke xxiv. 34.

It's Eastertide.  Lent is officially over (can I get an Amen?).  The liturgy calls us to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The tomb is empty.  And so will our graves too be empty one day.  That's the promise.  We read Scriptures like:

¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.  ²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  1 Cor. 15:19-20

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.  Rev. 1:17-18

⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  1 Cor. 15:52

I find a lot of hope in these passages of Scripture.  Eastertide runs over with hope and good news.   Yet, ironically, much of life still seems dark and the news doesn't seem so good.  I have friends losing their jobs.  I have brothers and sisters in Christ fighting illness.  I work in a place where people are downtrodden.  It's as though darkness, hardship, disappointment and brokeness are all around.

So, in some says, Eastertide can seem puzzling.  It feels as though there is a disconnect between what we know to be true and what life throws at us.  For instance, I know I see through a glass darkly.  I know that I too will be bodily resurrected.  I know that the Lord is faithful.  However, sometimes the present circumstances of life distract me to a point that I forget.

Perhaps these fifty days of Eastertide can serve as a wonderful reminder of the sheer love of God for us?  I need to be reminded.  The liturgy calls us back to what is true.  Day by day, hour by hour, the liturgy calls us back to God's reality.

The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom

At our Easter Vigil this year, Fr. Peter shared a famous sermon.  It's called The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom.  What a wonderful, encouraging sermon!  Read it and rejoice in our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!