Anglican Catholicism and the Reformation

Why the Reformation is not something that Anglican Catholics celebrate.

Present Tense Saints

Sermon for the Sunday in the Octave of All Saints

Our Lord sits

on the mountain 

to teach.

His disciples 

are those who

have climbed after Him

scaling the rocky crags

against gravity,

against comfort,

against the better judgment 

of others

to hear this Man teach.

Already,

they show themselves 

to be blessed

for "blessed are those

who hunger and thirst

for righteousness' sake

for theirs is

the Kingdom of Heaven."

And how the disciples

demonstrate that!

In clambering uphill

they have demonstrated 

their hunger and thirst

for the teaching of Christ 

because they know 

that what He teaches 

is not just righteous 

but Righteousness

itself.

Last week,

we recognise 

Jesus as our King

and this week 

we follow Him

and set ourselves apart for Him

from the World.

And if we set ourselves 

apart from the world

for Righteousness' sake

God sets us apart for Him.

We become holy.

We become saints.

[PAUSE]

We are only as holy

as far as we are apart from 

Sin, the World and the Devil.

Our salvation is 

precisely the end of 

our separation from God,

our return to the full health

that God has wanted for us 

from Eternity.

Our Lord promises those 

who hunger and thirst

for righteousness' sake

a place in His Kingdom 

which St Peter describes as an

eternal Kingdom,

something that even

the prophet Daniel knows to be true.

Something is Eternal

if it is connected 

with God's age.

Just as we have 

the Stone Age,

the Iron Age,

the Bronze Age,

whatever is Eternal

is of the God Age.

Think about that,

because,

for God,

Time is not a limitation.

He is as present now

as He was a million years ago

and a million years to come.

All Time is present to God

at once.

And this is the Eternal life

that He offers in His Kingdom.

He offers His saints

to be of His Age,

Eternal, 

not simply everlasting 

but unbound to Time.

St John tells us

that we cannot understand 

what we will be like

when we are in His Kingdom 

but we will be like Him

because we will see Him as He is.

When Jesus says

that God is not the God of the dead 

but of the living

He shows us that

Abraham,

Isaac,

Jacob,

Moses,

Elijah

and all the saints are still alive

and that Death 

for the saints

is an event,

not a state of being.

The saints are not dead.

[PAUSE]

And, we know that St Peter says

the ears of the Lord

are open to

the prayers of the righteous,

and their prayers ascend 

before God like incense.

St Jerome says,

"If the Apostles and Martyrs, 

while still in the body, 

can pray for others, 

at a time when 

they must still be anxious for themselves, how much more 

after their crowns, 

victories, and triumphs are won!"

We also no that 

nothing in Heaven and Earth

or under the Earth,

not even life and death

can separate us 

from the love of Christ.

And the saints are righteous 

because they show 

the love of Christ to us

even as Christ in Heaven 

shows His love for us on earth.

[PAUSE]

So,

the saints are alive,

but are no longer

bound by Time and Space.

The saints still love us

because they are perfected

in the love of God,

and Love is something 

that requires action.

The saints have passed 

through death 

but are neither 

separated from God

nor from us

because nothing separates us

from the love of God.

The saints pray

just as they have 

throughout their lives

hungering and thirsting

for Righteousness' sake.

Prayer is more than just words.

It is a communication 

at a deeper level between 

us and God

and 

us and those who love God.

Likewise,

we pray for our departed loved ones

for their happiness in God.

This prayer is an expression

of our continued love 

for those who have died.

The saints prayer for us

is an expression of

their continued love

for us who are yet to 

undergo death.

This is true communion

for these prayers

bring us closer to God 

because God is love.

This is precisely 

the communion of the saints

a communion expressed 

through mutual prayer

and, at its summit, 

Christ Himself 

in the Blessed Sacrament

of the altar.

[PAUSE]

We should rejoice

that we have such

a cloud of witnesses

cheering us on

bringing their concerns for us

to God,

and that our prayers

do the same

for those in need

whether living 

or departed.

There will be those

who try to show us

that we are wrong,

who say the saints are dead

who say the dead heart nothing

who say that praying for the dead

does nothing.

But these are they

who do not understand prayer

who do not understand death

and who do not understand 

that Love and Power are the same in God

and grow in the hearts 

of those who hunger and thirst 

for Righteousness' sake.

May Holy Mary,

Mother of God

and all the Holy Angels and Saints 

pray for us

and may the souls 

of the faithful departed 

through the love of God 

rest in peace.

Amen.

St Simon and St Jude: piercing zeal

 

Where Christians should direct their enthusiasm in evangelisation.

Just answer the question!

Sermon for the feast of Christ the King

Oh He's infuriating!

Why doesn't He answer

the question.

Yes or no.

"Art Thou a king, then?"

But you know why 

Jesus is going around the houses

in answer to the question.

It's not about being truthful

it's about being truthful 

under the circumstances.

Is Jesus a king?

[PAUSE]

Of course He is.

The apostles say, "Jesus is Lord"

and the psalms say

"The Lord is king 

and hath put on glorious apparel."

It's a no brainer.

But it's how you tell the truth

that matters.

Preconceived ideas

make things difficult.

If you are a military person 

and someone calls herself

a captain.

You're going to think:

Army - an important commissioned officer

in charge of a platoon

or 

Navy - an even more important officer

in  full charge of a vessel.

But what if she means

she is

the captain of the rugby team?

The confusion 

could be amusing,

irritating,

or even dangerous.

The same is true

with the title, "doctor".

A doctor of philosophy 

is dangerously useless

when a doctor of medicine 

is needed urgently.

[PAUSE]

It's clear

that Jesus wants 

to refrain from using the title

because it could

be very dangerous.

The people 

have all tried

to proclaim him king

but Jesus 

slips away from them.

A king 

could cause 

a misunderstanding 

that could result 

in many deaths.

The people want

a triumphant military Messiah

to cast out the hated Romans

and restore their land.

That's not the salvation 

that Jesus is thinking.

To call Himself king

would give Pilate

a grave cause for concern 

that the people

are about to rise up.

It is a question of kingdoms.

[PAUSE]

Of course,

Our Lord is King of the Jews,

but He is King of the Jews

because He is

the King of Kings.

His Kingdom is more

than Judaea.

It's more than Rome.

It's more than 

all the kingdoms 

of this little planet.

His Kingdom is not of this world.

It cannot be explained 

in earthly terms 

of treaty, jurisdiction 

contract, and alliance.

If a King

favours one part 

of His Kingdom

over another,

it splits the kingdom.

To fight the Romans 

for the Jews

might liberate the Jews

for a time

but it would not 

liberate the Romans,

and Jesus is King of the Romans.

To have that view of Kingship

defeats the purpose 

of the Incarnation,

defeats the purpose 

of the Cross.

[PAUSE]

The Kingdom of God

is established in us

by one covenant alone

and that is the covenant 

of the Blood of Christ.

In drinking that cup,

we accept Christ our King,

and in accepting Christ our King

we accept a King 

Who fights for us

and with us

against the darkness

that seems to enslave us

by separating us from our King

and His Kingdom.

And, because He is our King,

He issues His Royal command to us

to fight under His banner

against sin, the world and the Devil

to play our part

in our salvation 

and the salvation of others 

by co-operating with His grace.

Our salvation comes 

by faith and trusting in our King

and by works of love

that proceed from faith

through our willing acceptance 

of His Kingdom.

[PAUSE]

Jesus always uses His titles

carefully, judiciously and in perfect truth

so as not to confuse

or scandalise.

Likewise,

our proclamation 

of His Kingdom 

must be done

carefully, judiciously and in perfect truth

which can only come by love.

Love is the Royal Command 

for us to obey.

My Community

Dom Bruce de Walt (left) died on 20th September, peacefully and having been assiduously and lovingly looked after by Prior Simon and Dom Francis as well as the staff of his nursing home.

With the passing of Dom Kenneth (pictured beneath the holy crucifix) there are now just two monks remaining from the Pershore-Nashdom-Elmore-Salisbury community. Indeed, Dom Francis joined the order in Nashdom.

Dom Bruce was not what you would call orthodox either in belief, nor in manner, but he was a Godsend. He reminded me, an earnest doctrine-scrutinising Anglican Papalist, that life has to be lived and lived with some joy. His passions were always on display: I have heard him snap and complain and grumble; I heard his laughter, his naughty joke and mischievous expressions of his thoughts. Although, the Rule rather prohibits all of these, Dom Bruce reminded me that St Benedict wanted moderation. 

St Benedict knew of the frailties of human beings. The laughter he witnessed was cruel and at the malicious expense of others: Dom Bruce was often cheeky but he didn't rejoice in the misfortunes of others. St Benedict hated murmuring, having in mind the Israelites complaining against God and Moses in the desert; Dom Bruce complained often but he was always loyal to his community and valued its integrity - something which murmuratio does not allow.

Dom Bruce remained a full part of the CofE, unapologetically accepting the decisions which caused me to question my membership before I had to leave. That didn't bother me: I am most content with being an Anglican Catholic, having withdrawn from full Anglican Papalism, when I joined the ACC, but this departure from the CofE didn't split my sense of community with the monks even if I am not in communion with them. I am still proud (if that is the right word) to retain my oblation with Salisbury Priory and I pray for them daily, though now I pray for Dom Bruce along with Dom Kenneth and Abbot Basil in a different section of my intercessions from those who still have an earthly conversation.

Dom Bruce reminds me that Christians who disagree should not do hatred. I have heard several Christians declare others as "satanic" or "non-Christian" for not being Calvinist. I certainly would not think of anyone in that way for not being an Anglican Catholic, even if I firmly believe that it is the truest expression within the Catholic Church. My love for Dom Bruce has not diminished, nor for Prior Simon or Dom Francis - they are my community even if we are separated.

God bless them and keep them safe, for they are precious to His Church.

And may the Angels bear Dom Bruce to His eternal rest in the arms of Our Saviour.

Anglican Catholicism and Merit

 

Why there are things we can earn with God.

Not seeing is believing?

Sermon for the twenty-first Sunday after Trinity 

Do you believe 

in ghosts?

What about

the Loch Ness Monster?

The Yeti?

Fairies, pixies and little folk?

What would it take

for you to believe?

Photographic evidence?

A YouTube video?

Or would it have to be

something you see

with your own eyes?

[PAUSE]

A nobleman rushes to Jesus

and asks Him

to heal his dying son.

And Jesus tells him

"Except ye see signs

and wonders,

ye will not believe."

It's a strange thing

to say, 

isn't it?

After all,

this nobleman 

has only heard 

of Jesus' fame

and clearly believes 

that He can heal his son.

He's clearly 

not after signs and wonders

but the healing of his son.

He's not after proof 

to believe 

but already believes.

So why does the Lord 

tell Him,

"Except ye see signs

and wonders,

ye will not believe."

[PAUSE]

There is a great beauty

in using the language

of Cranmer, Coverdale 

and King James 

in our worship.

But often it reveals 

something

that modern English 

does not.

In particular,

Old English

can tell the difference 

between 

you singular 

and

you plural.

We say "thou, thee and thine'

when we are speaking

to one person.

We say "you, ye and, your"

when we are talking

to more than

one person.

And Jesus is saying "ye".

"Except ye see signs

and wonders,

ye will not believe."

He is talking 

to a group of people,

the man among the bystanders.

You see that

we know that the man

already believes 

and so 

Our Lord 

is about to use 

the faith of this man

as an example 

to all those 

who will not believe 

unless they see signs

and wonders.

And what happens?

[PAUSE]

There is no flash or bang.

There is no waving of hands

or making clay

or anything obvious at all.

The man takes Jesus 

at His word

and starts the journey home.

And we know that 

this journey

took more than a day!

What faith 

this man has!

And his household greets him

with the great news:

the son lives.

And St John

doesn't even bring us

to see the boy, 

either.

We are just told

that the son lives

and that is that.

We leave the situation 

with the father 

going back to his house

rejoicing.

The miracle 

isn't for us to see.

It is a miracle 

for us to believe 

because we trust 

in Our Lord.

It is a miracle 

that brings us

face to face with

the joy that we can't see,

the peace which passes 

all understanding,

the love we see through 

the glass darkly.

We don't need to see Christ 

to believe Him 

but when we do see Him

we shall be like Him

for we shall see Him as He is.