Mid Lent
Have you ever been on a trip and stopped for some stretch the legs? Of coure we all have , and we wonder why we did not stop earlier, and take a break. For some of us we are definitely our own worst enemies . The journey must go on , but the breaks need to be there . If we could only figure out a way to take the breaks while we are on the journey, then we would be more rested and defintely more ready for what comes our way . This is mid Lent, or Laetare Sunday ( latin for rejoice): " On this Sunday , which marks the middle of Lent, a measure of consoling relaxtion is provided so that the faithful may not break down under the strain of Lenten fast but may continue to bear the restrictions with a refreshed and easier heart." Pope Innocent III in 1216
As I mentioned in the little Rector's corner, the Gospel and its living is medicine for our bodies and our souls. The needle does hurt, but without the needle we do not get the pure milk of the Word , I Peter 2:2. God our Father is the Heavenly Physician who knows us better than we know ourselves, and we thank Him for all things for we know Romans 8:28 by heart I am sure.
" Rejoice" we hear in our epistle which is one of the main themes of this Rose Sunday. Galatians 4:27 which is a quote from the prophet Isaiah 54:1, and is talking about a barren woman rejoicing because God is her Father and she will have more "children" than the married woman. Here he is talking about spiritual children obviously, and our true freedom which is found in Christ, and not in our works or seeking to be justified by keeping the commandments. This is impossible. No one can keep the commandments perfectly, and that is the point . Christ does this for us. We are made new and whole in Him , and why would we seek to be justfied by our good deeds then? Good deeds are the fruit of faith, not the basis of it.
Somehow we do not rejoice. Instead we are more wallowers , that is to say, we wallow in our inability to rejoice. But that is the point. If we are still trying to find happiness and rejoicing in the world and its accompaniments, then that will be more like the child of the bondwoman, that is Hagar, and not the child of the promise, Isaac, and her mother Sarah. So we bind ourselves to our passions, our lusts, and our flesh. Prayer is empty if done at all. The only prayer we say is , " Oh God" instead of " help , me, O God".
Luther says it this way, " Although the Law has many children, they are not free. They are slaves. As servants they cannot have a share in the inheritance, but are driven from the house as Ishmael was cast out of the house of Abraham. In fact the servants of the Law are even now barred from the kingdom of light and liberty, for "he that believeth not, is condemned already." (John 3:18.) As the servants of the Law they remain under the curse of the Law, under sin and death, under the power of the devil, and under the wrath and judgment of God."
But then the light comes ( Praise God!), Luther again, "Not as if the conscience is now insensitive to the terrors of the Law, but the Law cannot drive the conscience to despair. "There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1.) "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36.)
You will complain: "But I am not doing anything." That is right. You cannot do a thing to be delivered from the tyranny of the Law. But listen to the glad tidings which the Holy Ghost brings to you in the words of the prophet: "Rejoice, thou barren." As Christ is greater than the Law, so much more excellent is the righteousness of Christ than the righteousness of the Law."
Our problem is that we are bound. We are bound by others and their criticisms, their lack of empathy and love ( and we are again our own worst critic) Today I want to stretch my legs, arch my back , and look up to the sky and feel again the beautiful message of " Rejoice". I am not rejoicing in myself or my imperfections. I am rejoicing in the power of Christ to change, to renew and to save . The Galatians were being told to get circumcised and then they would have done what God required. 5:1 the Apostle Paul says no to that! " Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hast made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
What about life is drawing you into its web of bondage to the world? We are so unable to save ourselves. That is the point . In John 6, the disciples were trying to do what Jesus was asking. " Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" Philip asked him. We are unable to find enough money to feed this great crowd. " There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" Jesus knew what he would do. 6:6
The bread needs only leaven to rise. " A little leaven leavens the whole lumpl" I Corinthians 5:6 The bread of heaven is Jesus Christ. " I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35
On this Rose Sunday, we find our true joy in Christ , not in the works of the law or the flesh. Trust Him. He will not lead you and I to a desolate place.
The Church has a tradition of blessing a Rose on this Sunday. Eventually a golden rose was blessed. The Rose symbolizes Christ in the shining splendor of His majesty, the flower sprung from the root of Jesse. In Germany it came to be called Rosensonntag, Sunday of the Rose. ( Christian Feasts and Customs, Weiser) May He be your Rose always and forever in the pains, trials and joys of this life and in the life to come.
Have you ever been on a trip and stopped for some stretch the legs? Of coure we all have , and we wonder why we did not stop earlier, and take a break. For some of us we are definitely our own worst enemies . The journey must go on , but the breaks need to be there . If we could only figure out a way to take the breaks while we are on the journey, then we would be more rested and defintely more ready for what comes our way . This is mid Lent, or Laetare Sunday ( latin for rejoice): " On this Sunday , which marks the middle of Lent, a measure of consoling relaxtion is provided so that the faithful may not break down under the strain of Lenten fast but may continue to bear the restrictions with a refreshed and easier heart." Pope Innocent III in 1216
As I mentioned in the little Rector's corner, the Gospel and its living is medicine for our bodies and our souls. The needle does hurt, but without the needle we do not get the pure milk of the Word , I Peter 2:2. God our Father is the Heavenly Physician who knows us better than we know ourselves, and we thank Him for all things for we know Romans 8:28 by heart I am sure.
" Rejoice" we hear in our epistle which is one of the main themes of this Rose Sunday. Galatians 4:27 which is a quote from the prophet Isaiah 54:1, and is talking about a barren woman rejoicing because God is her Father and she will have more "children" than the married woman. Here he is talking about spiritual children obviously, and our true freedom which is found in Christ, and not in our works or seeking to be justified by keeping the commandments. This is impossible. No one can keep the commandments perfectly, and that is the point . Christ does this for us. We are made new and whole in Him , and why would we seek to be justfied by our good deeds then? Good deeds are the fruit of faith, not the basis of it.
Somehow we do not rejoice. Instead we are more wallowers , that is to say, we wallow in our inability to rejoice. But that is the point. If we are still trying to find happiness and rejoicing in the world and its accompaniments, then that will be more like the child of the bondwoman, that is Hagar, and not the child of the promise, Isaac, and her mother Sarah. So we bind ourselves to our passions, our lusts, and our flesh. Prayer is empty if done at all. The only prayer we say is , " Oh God" instead of " help , me, O God".
Luther says it this way, " Although the Law has many children, they are not free. They are slaves. As servants they cannot have a share in the inheritance, but are driven from the house as Ishmael was cast out of the house of Abraham. In fact the servants of the Law are even now barred from the kingdom of light and liberty, for "he that believeth not, is condemned already." (John 3:18.) As the servants of the Law they remain under the curse of the Law, under sin and death, under the power of the devil, and under the wrath and judgment of God."
But then the light comes ( Praise God!), Luther again, "Not as if the conscience is now insensitive to the terrors of the Law, but the Law cannot drive the conscience to despair. "There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1.) "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36.)
You will complain: "But I am not doing anything." That is right. You cannot do a thing to be delivered from the tyranny of the Law. But listen to the glad tidings which the Holy Ghost brings to you in the words of the prophet: "Rejoice, thou barren." As Christ is greater than the Law, so much more excellent is the righteousness of Christ than the righteousness of the Law."
Our problem is that we are bound. We are bound by others and their criticisms, their lack of empathy and love ( and we are again our own worst critic) Today I want to stretch my legs, arch my back , and look up to the sky and feel again the beautiful message of " Rejoice". I am not rejoicing in myself or my imperfections. I am rejoicing in the power of Christ to change, to renew and to save . The Galatians were being told to get circumcised and then they would have done what God required. 5:1 the Apostle Paul says no to that! " Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hast made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
What about life is drawing you into its web of bondage to the world? We are so unable to save ourselves. That is the point . In John 6, the disciples were trying to do what Jesus was asking. " Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" Philip asked him. We are unable to find enough money to feed this great crowd. " There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" Jesus knew what he would do. 6:6
The bread needs only leaven to rise. " A little leaven leavens the whole lumpl" I Corinthians 5:6 The bread of heaven is Jesus Christ. " I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35
On this Rose Sunday, we find our true joy in Christ , not in the works of the law or the flesh. Trust Him. He will not lead you and I to a desolate place.
The Church has a tradition of blessing a Rose on this Sunday. Eventually a golden rose was blessed. The Rose symbolizes Christ in the shining splendor of His majesty, the flower sprung from the root of Jesse. In Germany it came to be called Rosensonntag, Sunday of the Rose. ( Christian Feasts and Customs, Weiser) May He be your Rose always and forever in the pains, trials and joys of this life and in the life to come.
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