The Middle Way

  Psalm 93, 132 Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 John 18:33-37 Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all  things in thy well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of  lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided  and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together  under his most gracious rule; who liveth and reigneth with  thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  The results are in and without a better way to phrase it the people have spoken.  While campaigning is over the dust is not settled and won't be till Christ returns. Wherever we are in the world we are given with what we're dealt and for us who believe in the Lord Christ, St. Paul exhorts us to "live as we are called," and that for us in the United States of America, as the situation stands post-election results, means that if the candidate you voted for won do not gloat with arrogance or pride; and if the candidate you voted for lost do not let despair and

Psalm 146 Deuteronomy 10:12-21 Matthew 5:43-48  Jesus gives what would be to the Jewish people of his time a scandalous teaching to love your enemies, and it still is in our era. We like to talk and preach about how important love is and how love always wins, but when we actually put it to real-world practical use it is a shock to most people and chalked up as eccentricity. Love is easy when it is toward our own  as we perceive, and treat others as outsiders and lepers, even those within the Church. The times of our day are polarizing more so than any point in history and it grievously divides us. We praise those who think the same way we do and belittle and shun the ones who don't toe-the-line of our standards, creating out of them tribes, cliques, and factions to the hurt and anguish of our brothers and sisters in the Lord, further marring the witness of the Church of God.  The passage from St. Matthew's Gospel occurs during the famous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches in hi

  Psalms 111, 112 2 Esdras 2:42-47 Hebrews 11:32-12:2  The passage from Hebrews would probably seem less than encouraging to begin with, especially for us living in the comforts of the "developed world." We see throughout scripture most notably in the New Testament, and all through history of those who laid down their lives for their faith in Christ. We see this continuing even today im our own time of our brothers and sisters mostly in the Middle East, Central and Eastern Asia, China, North Korea, and even in parts of South America being killed. In France just this week (as I deliver this reflection) in Nice and Lyon Christians were martyred in their parishes. Sadly too many of us cower from the mildest forms. We may be ridiculed to the point of keeping our faith merely a private devotion or even walk away altogether for what ever the reason may be.  We get attached to the tings of this world; things immediate to us and things for which  we aspire. Love and excitement for th

Psalm 51 Lamentations 1:1-2, 6-12 Mark 11: 12-25  In the Lamentations passage begins the Babylonian Exile of Israel. Jerusalem is a city sitting empty of its people, taken away to a far-off land. They disregarded God and his statutes and set themselves to their own pursuits, devoting themselves to idols, false gods. Israel ceased bearing fruit for God's kingdom and a curse was set on them to wither to the hand of Babylon for seventy years.  The lesson from Mark captures a similar image with the fig tree and the temple cleansing. The fig tree that Jesus curses is found withered away as the Israelites were in Jeremiah's time, same as the money-changers in the temple, exchanging Roman currency for Jewish currency; to me that is symbolic of exchanging God's provision for worldliness. Those who place personal ambition over before the will of the Lord will be driven away. That is not to say personal ambition is inherently a bad thing it is when personal ambition takes us aw

Matthew 18:21-35 All the hypocrisy I witness and the hurt I experience with and from members of the Church tempts my departure from my local parish and even the institution many, many times. More than I want to remember. What good does my departure do for my spiritual well-being and my witness? I miss the instruction of Scripture, receiving the sacraments, and probably even most important of all exemplifying on a human level the patience of Jesus Christ towards those he loves. It is not easy and more hurt recently has been added on top of one committed against me a few years ago by a meddling Church member, and others subsequent to that. I have to reflect and realize that I give God more than enough reason by my own virtue to cut me off, erase me from his will, never to come back. He would be right to do it, Holiness as God's very being, he cannot have sin in his presence; and a sinner I am of the worst. As I understand the great ancient parable, I am forgiven a great

This reflection is based on Psalm 88 Isaiah 61:1-9 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Mark 10:32-45 The theme of suffering is common all throughout Scripture and is emphasized in the epistle and gospel lessons. Jesus predicts His death and resurrection to the disciples, which we know was an excruciating suffering for Jesus; being mocked, beaten, and crucified. The disciples did not understand this message yet, having only the concept of a king that would overthrow the current powers of their time and establishing His kingdom on Earth. James and John make a request known to Jesus to be seated in positions of honor. Jesus responds to them saying that they must share in His sufferings, this being the only thing Jesus promises them and adding that the Father wills who will be seated at His right and left. In making this known to James, John, and the Ten, Jesus then says that the authority given them is to be used in service, neither to be served or to intimidate others. Paul in his second letter to T