What is Love?

In communicating our faith, many people use love as a way of describing God. So in our most recent class we explored the concept of love and how it has changed over the years. For instance, the writers of the New Testament used at least four Greek words for love.

ἀγάπη (agápe): meaning the love between God and humans, charity, or brotherly love.
ἔρως (érōs): meaning passionate love
φιλία (philia): meaning affectionate friendship
στοργή (storgē): meaning affection as the love between parents and children

By the middle ages this concept had changed once again. In this time period we get words like:

Caritas: meaning the love which people use when they put others before themselves.
Charity. Amor: meaning the love of material things such as money, power, possessions, etc.
Courtly Love: an expression of knightly worship embodied in another person.

Today, in our modern world, we use love to mean all sorts of things. Often times we describe our expression of love to make it more accurate. We say things like, “I love you like a friend” or “I love you like a sister” and so on. Perhaps our language has developed this way because love, like God, is beyond our complete understanding.

So as we continue to reflect on what love means for us, we need to consider what we mean when we describe God as love. What is this perfect source of all love that Christians feel from time to time? What happens if we don’t feel that love?

Whatever the case, it is important for all of us to remember that the love each of us shares with God will likely mature in us as we grow in our faith. There will be times when we feel close to God and times when we feel He is distant from us. In our journey there will be times when all we have is the discipline of our spiritual practice to carry us forward. It is this maturing in our faith, however, that reflects the spiritual journey we are all on. Like the Israelites, it would be easy for us to stay in Egypt where we have access to food and shelter. However, none of us can become who God is calling us to be unless we venture out into the desert. This means leaving the joy of our conversion and proceeding down the road of discernment, calling, and action where we explore new ways of knowing God and living our faith. This isn’t always an easy process, but ultimate reward is beyond all measure.

Alleluia Christ is Risen! 

In the life of the church we are now well into the season of Easter. Eastertide is the time between the resurrection of Christ we celebrate at the Easter Vigil, and the moment where the Holy Spirit comes among the followers of Jesus on the day of Pentecost. During this season we are called upon to reflect on the many mysteries of the resurrection. Some of the things you might choose to consider are:

 • What the resurrection says about the character of Jesus Christ as the Righteous One of God (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:25-28).
• You might ponder the fact that death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-56).
• You could reflect upon the fact that the very power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you today (Ephesians 1:15-23).
• You might think of how the resurrection of Jesus is a precursor to your own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).
• You could consider how the resurrection gives us “new birth into a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3).

Eastertide allows us to think deeply and to pray broadly about what the resurrection of Jesus means, both to us and to our world.

Finally, as we consider the power the resurrection holds in our lives, we should also go about the business of considering how to live out that reality in our world. How might the reality of the resurrection impact our prayer life, our commitment to the faith, our calling to support the church, our desire to help the poor and suffering? Just as the resurrection of our lord changed the reality of the world, we must also allow the resurrection to change the reality of our lives and help us to grow closer to what God is calling us to become. May His blessing and the power of His resurrection be with you all this Easter season.

LENT

As we enter the Season of Lent, I thought I would offer a reflection on the season. Below is a portion of a sermon from Bishop Thomas Ken. In the early history of the Anglican Church he was one of the more prominent bishops. He is most known for his hymns and poems which no doubt flowed from his great love for God and the church.

For what is Lent, in its original institution, but a spiritual conflict, to subdue the flesh to the spirit, to beat down our bodies, and to bring them into subjection? What is it, but a penitential martyrdom for so many weeks together, which we suffer for our own and others' sins? A devout soul, that is able duly to observe it, fastens himself to the cross on Ash Wednesday, and hangs crucified by contrition all the Lent long; that having felt in his closet the burthen and the anguish, the nails and the thorns, and tasted the gall of his own sins, he may by his own crucifixion be better disposed to be crucified with Christ on Good Friday, and most tenderly sympathize with all the dolors, and pressures, and anguish, and torments, and desertion, infinite, unknown, and unspeakable, which God incarnate endured, when He bled upon the cross for the sins of the world; that being purified by repentance, and made conformable to Christ crucified, he may offer up a pure oblation at Easter, and feel the power and the joys and the triumph of his Saviour's resurrection. And to encourage you to such a devotion, thus enforced with fasting, and mourning, and alms, as was this of Daniel, reflect on the wonderful success he found; for when he began his supplications, the angel Gabriel was sent to him by God, and arrived before he had ended them; and by that heavenly messenger, God then honoured him with that glorious prophecy of the seventy weeks.- And the prophet Ezekiel joins Daniel with Noah and Job, as the three greatest instances of prevalence with God that ever prayed.

From a portion of a sermon preached by Thomas Ken in the King’s Chapel at Whitehall in the Year 1685.

Preparing for the Christ Child

As you sit down to read this newsletter we will all be in the middle of Advent and heading quickly into our Christmas celebrations. During this time of year people often ask me what spiritual practices might be helpful for us as we prepare to celebrate the gift of the Christ child. As I reflected on that question a few suggestions came to mind.

This first suggestion I have is for us to count our blessings. It is a wonderful gift for us to think back on the many ways God has answered our prayers. Doing so helps us to see the ways God has been active in our life and gives us courage as we face the future knowing that God will continue to be with us no matter how challenging things may become.

Second, take some time this Advent to remember that you have a purpose. God has given everyone’s life deep meaning and placed a calling in everyone’s heart. Spend time reflecting on what God may be calling you to do in the life of His kingdom.

Third, take time for prayer, reading, and quiet. While this may seem rather simple or obvious, it is easy to forget to do during the busy time of Christmas preparation. There are many resources available for connecting to God. Many people pray the Daily Office which involves praying Morning and Evening Prayer. These services are found in the Book of Common Prayer. Morning prayer begins on page 75 and Evening Prayer begins on page 115. The lectionary begins on page 936 and we are now in Year One. Alternatively, one quick way to keep the Daily Office is to go to www.missionstclare.com and the services with the readings are formatted for you.

Finally, remember to re-connect with family, friends, and our faith community. Each of us can be a wonderful gift to one another in helping each other grow closer to God. I pray that this gift of love and community will be felt in a special way during our Christmas services this season. I also pray that as we prepare for those services, each of us will find in our preparation a glimpse into the powerful way in which God loves us. May we all come to see God’s love in the Christ child given to us that we might all find our way home to that great community of the faithful in the life beyond this one.

Dealing with Conflict

Last week I was in a conversation with some of my fellow clergymen about how to properly deal with disagreements and arguments in the life of the church. As I listened to that conversation I was reminded of one of my greatest heroes in the church, the great Anglican theologian, Richard Hooker. Here is a man who was born into a meager family and used what connections he could to become a priest in the church. Eventually he became a great teacher and theologian, which is what we know him for today. He is most famously credited for the three legged stool of Anglicanism as a model for how to make decisions in the Church. In this model, he tells us to first consider Scripture, then the traditions of the Church, and finally our own reason when working out how to find a solution for an issue. However, what he is less known for is the great controversy that surrounded his tenure as the rector of the famous Temple Church in London. During his first few years in his position, Richard Hooker, was constantly badgered, questioned, belittled, humiliated, bullied, and harassed by his subordinate, Walter Travers. The controversies surrounded Churchmanship, God’s will toward sin, and many other issues of critical importance to the identity of the young Anglican Church. You can read a more detailed account of the controversy by CLICKING HERE and I would strongly encourage everyone to do so. However, what is remarkable is not necessarily the contraversy itself, but that Richard Hooker, even though he could have simply fired, Walter Travers, never did. Mr. Travers was eventually removed from his post by the vestry of the church who simply got sick of his inappropriate behavior. In fact, Richard Hooker, felt that the constant attacks by Mr. Travers tended to only sharpen his intellect and helped him to think very carefully about his own position and theology. What is perhaps most interesting, is that these bouts motivated Richard Hooker to write his great series of books Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, which are one of the greatest theological writings in Christianity and certainly in Anglicanism.

What I think we can take away from this is to remember Richard Hooker’s model of humility and grace when dealing with disagreements. Perhaps we need to all look harder for God among the arguments themselves, keep an open mind about our opponent’s view, and use our disagreements to test our own understanding of what God’s will is for us and His church. However, as we do those things, I believe we must always remember to show the courtesy and brotherly love that Richard Hooker showed to Walter Travers. We must remember to give others the room to disagree and to never take action against or alienate someone because we hold a different opinion. That gentle self-effacement is a halmark of a Godly person.  Therefore, when we disagree, remember that genuine love and unity among the family of God are perhaps the most important elements for a healthy church. As St. Paul tells us, we should, “Love one another with brotherly affection and outdo one another in showing honor.”(Romans 12:10) As we seek those things, I think we would do well to look to that great founding theologian of Anglicanism, Richard Hooker, to model that life for us.

Christian Mysticism

"I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows--was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat." 2 Cor. 12:2-4

These words from St. Paul are often a mystery to many. They show us that Paul was a person who was truly connected to God in a deep and mystical way and often had experiences that transcend the norms of our reality. However, St. Paul is not the only Christian to have these type of deep and moving encounters with God. Throughout history many people have reported such experiences with the divine. Encounters that take place in dreams, visions, strong inclinations, physical manifestations, and other such forms. However, with every encounter, the person coming into God's presence, often reports feeling changed, as though they have been given a deeper insight into the very nature of the divine.

While there are many examples I could point to in history the one I have been thinking about lately happened to Thomas Merton, that famous Catholic monastic who died in 1968. He is reported to have  been walking along a busy street in the city of Louisville, KY when we was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that he loved all the people he saw walking around. Then he began to see them shining like the sun and looked directly into their hearts to see them as God sees them. He loved them for a moment like God loved them.

What’s amazing about these types of experiences, are that they happen all the time. And not just to great saints but to regular folks like us. However, they aren't often talked about. These mystical experiences are usually kept in the private places of one’s heart where our true encounters with God take place. Moments such as these are truly gifts from God. The effect they seem to have is to enable us to know God in a deeper way. They can also be an incredible source of strength and encouragement for us when live becomes strenuous.

Thank you O Lord for blessings such as these!!!

Being Transformed

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

One doesn’t have to look far to realize that many aspects of the Christian faith are in conflict with, and sometimes even persecuted by, the world we live in. Paul mentions this theme in his twelfth chapter of his letter to the Romans which our Adult form will be considering this week. He begins with the verses above and then reminds us that Christians will bless those who persecute them, associate with the lowly, not seek revenge, give to their enemies, and so on. In other places he tells us to strive for the virtues of humility, service to others, and forgiveness.

These values, however, often stand in stark contrast to what our culture often places in high regard. In the United States we are often taught to value success, wealth, and fame.  Indeed, some of our greatest honors are given to people who are rich and famous despite their moral or ethical behavior.

Perhaps this is true because a life of simplicity, chastity, and prayer does not offer as much economic potential as one of gross consumerism, debauchery, and entertainment. However, for the Christian, we must work to live a life of piety and carefully study our faith so that by the “renewal of our minds” we can resist the ever present pull we all feel to abandon ourselves to the excesses our communities offer us.

Now, I have often heard people react to such sentiments with skepticism and suggest that there is nothing wrong with a little indulgence into some of the temptations our culture offers. And perhaps they are right to seek all things in moderation. However, as I have been recently reminded, our justification (to use another Pauline term) is not simply our first act of faith or an obligatory confession of belief coerced by our parents when we are in our teens. Rather, we are justified by God’s grace and our continual reciprocation of God’s ever present love which requires an ongoing and growing faith; a faith with produces acts of charity and grace to those in need and a desire to live in the covenantal community of Christ’s church.

I believe, when we are truly able to walk in our American culture, but live the life of Christian faith, we will know what is to both live in our world and walk apart from it. In that life, we will value those spiritual qualities which are unseen and not easily quantified. In that life, we will find true fulfillment and satisfaction.