Sunday March 5th 2017

Joel 2

12 Now therefore says the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. 13 And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. 14 Who knows but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God?

Friends,

Great Lent is being celebrated today by almost all who celebrate the season. This does not actually happen very often as the Eastern date varies according to the actual, astronomical full moon and the actual equinox as observed along the meridian of Jerusalem, site of the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

They also apply the formula so that Easter always falls after Passover, since the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ took place after he entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.

In the Western Church, Easter sometimes precedes Passover by weeks because the Western church does not use the actual, or astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date (March 21). Also when the western church speaks of the full moon it does not mean the astronomical full moon but the "ecclesiastical moon," which is based on tables created by the church. This allows the date of Easter to be calculated in advance rather than determined by actual astronomical observances.

There is another difference as well; today’s date is March 5th on the Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian New Calendar. However, this day on the Julian Old Calendar, although being the first Sunday of Great Lent, is February 20, 2017.

Do you think that this may cause confusion not only to Christians or those who call themselves the Body of Christ, but also to the world? The church is not only divided in theology and doctrine, its understanding and teaching of Jesus the Christ, but it cannot even agree on a date on a calendar. In the beginning this issue came up between East and West and they discussed it;

Irenaeus says that Polycarp visited Rome when Anicetus was its bishop (c. 68-153), they discussed this issue among others and agreed to disagree. It has since then become a major source of controversy. There have been other attempts to solve the problem but yet it continues to this day.

There is far too much pride, anger, frustration, hate, prejudice, hunger for power, and hunger for growth and monetary reward in much of the church today. It’s time to renew ourselves to Jesus the Christ. There are far too many people who call themselves Christian who will not make this attempt. Subtle pride blocks us from recognizing our own sin while pointing fingers and making accusations against others rather than looking in a mirror when we speak.

Remember the admonition; many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in Your name, and cast out devils in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

Now is the time to renew. In the Celtic tradition, according to the monastery of Bangor; (Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland) established by St. Comgall, the forty day fasts have always been called a Moses Fast because Moses spent forty days in Mt Sinai receiving the Law as well as forty years in the desert. This is a time for correct spiritual renewal. It is not for the giving up of some tasty treat or habit that we have.

Let’s read the scripture again that is posted at the top of this article; Joel 2: 12; now therefore says the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. 13 And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. 14 Who knows but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God?

From the Psalms we read; Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol Your justice. O Lord, You will open my lips: and my mouth shall declare your praise. For if You had desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings you will not be delighted. A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, You will not despise.

From the prophets we read; for I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than holocausts.

From the New Testament we read; for by one oblation he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. And the Holy Ghost also does testify this to us. For after that he said: And this is the testament which I will make unto them after those days, says the Lord. I will give my laws in their hearts, and on their minds will I write them: And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. Now where there is a remission of these, there is no more an oblation for sin.

From the Old Testament; He that seeks to revenge himself shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance. Forgive your neighbour if he has hurt you: and then shall your sins be forgiven to you when you pray.

From the New Testament; And when you shall stand to pray, forgive, if you have aught against any man; that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your sins. But if you will not forgive, neither will your Father that is in heaven, forgive you your sins.

Old Testament; hear, I beseech you, my words, and repent.

New Testament; no, I say to you, unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.

Understand, we are to repent, confess, come clean with the Lord, examine ourselves, make a deep examination of our heart. Pride and prejudice and arrogance have no place in our heart. Lying and deceitfulness have no place in our heart. Coveting and lust for worldly material things have no place in our heart.

Remember; if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.