I Pentecost (First Sunday after Pentecost)

I Pentecost

(1st Sunday after Pentecost!)

                                      

 Greetings in Christ Jesus,

This day is also one of two All Saints Days’ in the year.

Epistle: Galatians 6: 8-14 (“For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap.” Sow in the Spirit: glory in the Cross of Christ, not the circumcision of the flesh.)

Gospel: Matthew 16: 24-27 “Then Jesus said to His disciples: if any man shall come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me…for the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels: and then will He render to every man according to his works.” Faith, sin of individuals and nations.

Psalm: 147/148 “praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise your God, O Sion. Because He has strengthened the bolts of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. Who has placed peace in your borders: and fills you with the fat of corn. Who sends forth His speech to the earth: His word runs swiftly…” (Altus Prosator may be done for All Saints, or the hymn of the apostles. Also may be Psalm 138/139 O Lord, you test me and know me: You know my sitting down and my rising up:  see All Saints Nov. 1st.)

Friends,

We reap what we sow! If we sow to the flesh we will also reap to the flesh. Therefore we have made no heavenly or spiritual gain. If we want heavenly or spiritual gain we must not sow to the flesh, we must become followers of Jesus; deny ourselves and take up our cross.

If we sow to the flesh in order to gain the whole world and in this we lose our own life, how have we made profit? We must lose our life in the flesh in order to gain our life in the heavenly realm. This is the basic teaching of today’s readings.

Praise the Lord; in all things give glory to God through our Lord and savior Jesus the Christ. All of creation praises the Lord. Man who has a mind and free will has chosen to not praise the Lord but to seek power and glory for himself and to lord himself over all that he is able to lord himself over.

These are the ones who are sowing to the flesh. They seek riches at the expense of others. They care nothing for the struggles of anyone else. Some even say; I can do good all by myself I do not need a god to tell me to help others. Look and see how much I give to the many foundations. I am a good person, I need no one to tell me and I answer to no one.

We must be different than this, love God first with all of your heart, with all of your mind, with all of your soul, with all of your strength. Then love your neighbor as yourself. Then we will be sowing to the spiritual things. Do this in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus. Give up yourself when needed to help someone in need. Do what you are able to do, we all do not have money but we may have bread, we may have a bed, sometimes we may only be able to just simply be there for someone who is in pain whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.

If you are married then give up yourself to care for your family, this means also to instruct them in the ways of the Lord and not to neglect their proper upbringing. Work to support them, love them. If you are single then you must be celibate, you will then have even more time to help others who are not within your family.

Pray always, do not chase after entertainment at the expense of time with the Lord. We will become what we begin and strive for here. If we choose to neglect God then we have taken ourselves away from Him today and in the new world we will be separated from Him because we have separated ourselves from Him here today.

Strive for the true prize that awaits us with patience, faith, perseverance, and diligence. Do not neglect the time here today, it will determine the time tomorrow.

God can do all things; there is no situation that we get ourselves into that God cannot help us out of. Don’t think though that if there is some earthly penalty that we must pay that we will escape this because we suddenly come to God for help. We simply must have the faith and believe. Keep in mind however; God's plan is far above ours. We suffer and we have plenty coming based on what God Himself has in store for us whether it is for purging, for testing, or for reward or necessity for our life. God is in control.

We do not know when this will end and the new beginning will be, in spite of the many modern prophets who make a living selling Jesus and the destruction of the world; we have no clue when it will be. In the meantime, it rains on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. The sun shines on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. We remain together in this world until that day. So take a lesson from the readings. Continue to praise and worship Jesus the Christ and the Father through Him. Never cease to pray and live according to the gospel. Allow the Holy Ghost to guide you. Love God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength; love your neighbor as yourself. You never know whose life you will change because of this love of God in you.

The light has entered the world and the times; they are a-changing. 

If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.

Little children, love one another; because this is our Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply need to see them within us and follow.

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

  

May the peace of our Lord Jesus the Christ be with you throughout this day and the rest of your life. May the Holy Spirit fill us all to overflowing so that everyone in whose path we cross may receive a blessing from our Lord Jesus the Christ.

Blessings

In Christ.

 

Member of the Autocephalous Orthodox Catholic Church of theAmericas

St, Michael's Monastery/New Warrior Ministries Video Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8XyPtkmtu6a1vVg6MEiNg

Many Blessings!

+William

Who is Jesus the Christ 4

Vigil of Pentecost!

 Vigil of Pentecost

                                      

Greetings in Christ Jesus

Sunday May 20, 2018

Old Testament Joel 2:21-3:2 (The land, the beasts, and the people are told not to fear,           because the Lord has done great things, and the people will know that “I am the Lord your God, and there is none besides: and my people will not be confounded for ever.” And after this, the Lord will pour out His Spirit on al flesh, and in the last days, everyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.)

Epistle: Acts 2: 1-21 (At Pentecost [which was the day of the giving of the Law of Moses] a mighty rushing wind comes upon the Apostles and they are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they go out and speak in all foreign languages to all people in Jerusalem.)

Gospel: John 14: 15-29 Jesus tells the Apostles that He will ask the Father, and the Father will send the Holy Spirit that He may live with them forever.

Psalms 149 and 150 “Sing you to the Lord a new canticle: let His praise be in the church of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king…” “Praise you the Lord in His holy places: praise you Him in the firmament of His power. Praise you Him for His mighty acts: praise you Him according to the multitude of his greatness…”

My Friends,

We are in worship today on a Sunday at the time of Pentecost, so why is today’s worship called the Vigil of Pentecost? Well, tomorrow Monday, May 21 is actually the day of Pentecost; 50 days after the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ according to the Western Rite. So that makes today the Vigil of Pentecost. Let us begin.

In our Old Testament reading we have a prophecy that has been partially fulfilled. We see in our epistle reading today that on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and they spoke to the people in all languages, Peter stood and stated that the prophecy of Joel; speaking about the spirit being poured out on all flesh was now fulfilled. We all receive the Holy Spirit in our Baptism and Chrismation. Being poured out on all flesh does not mean that all who are born are given the Holy Spirit. All who are born are given the light of life, a spark of Christ at birth; That was the true Light, that lights every man that comes into the world. (Gospel of John). But not everyone recognizes this light, many refuse to see and are called blind and they fight against this light that is in them, this light guides one’s conscience. Once one sears their conscience it is rare for that one to come back bit in God it is not impossible because all things are possible with God.

When we recognize this light and begin searching for truth there will be many false teachings that will be shoved into our life, these false teachings, coming from false prophets and false preachers of the Gospel come in swiftly and appear to be truth. This is why we must never cease to seek the truth and not simply settle for the charm and smile of a nice church that makes us feel good when we are there. Remember that the devil was the supreme angel, he appears as light. Satan is the shining one spoken of in Isaiah; he was the most beautiful and powerful of the angels. He still appears as light and he is the great imitator of the true Light which is Jesus the Christ. We must seek diligently the true light through much prayer and worship, never being complacent when we are seeking.

The rest of the prophecy in Joel is only partially realized, the earth and all that is in it should be rejoicing in the knowledge that Jesus has come and is now seated on the right hand of God serving as our Great High Priest and Mediator and that He will come again and then the rest of this prophecy will be fulfilled.

In our gospel we see Jesus promising the gift of the Holy Spirit who will remind the apostles of all that Jesus had taught and to further relate to them things that they could not possibly bare now until the Holy Spirit was in them fully. The same is true for us today, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we cannot possibly understand all that we could understand. Do not fooled, as I spoke earlier, beware of the wolves. Many false prophets and false teachers and preachers of the gospel misuse the words of our Lord and claim new revelations and new doctrines claiming the continuing revelation from the Holy Spirit. These wolves love to speak about the things that we cannot know until the proper time, although this may be true, the things that we learn do not change the true Gospel which has already been preached.

We are not to know the time of the coming of our Lord, period. Discern all you want, the teaching is plain and clear, it is not for us to know the day and time. Jesus states in today’s Gospel that He is leaving and also that He is the times coming back. Discern the times but never will we know the day and time. Do not waste time looking, preach the true Gospel and warn as many as will listen, plant as many seeds as possible. Do not attempt to second guess our Lord and determine the day and time that only the Father knows.

Let us along with the Psalmist; praise God in all things and at all times. Rejoice in His name and the glory that is His alone and that He is coming for those who live a life confessing and repenting and living the life that Jesus commands. Love God first; with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength. Then love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  

God can do all things; there is no situation that we get ourselves into that God cannot help us out of. Don’t think though that if there is some earthly penalty that we must pay that we will escape this because we suddenly come to God for help. We simply must have the faith and believe. Keep in mind however; God's plan is far above ours. We suffer and we have plenty coming based on what God Himself has in store for us whether it is for purging, for testing, or for reward or necessity for our life. God is in control.

            We do not know when this will end and the new beginning will be, in spite of the many modern prophets who make a living selling Jesus and the destruction of the world; we have no clue when it will be. In the meantime, it rains on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. The sun shines on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. We remain together in this world until that day. So take a lesson from the readings. Continue to praise and worship Jesus the Christ and the Father through Him. Never cease to pray and live according to the gospel. Allow the Holy Ghost to guide you. Love God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength; love your neighbor as yourself. You never know whose life you will change because of this love of God in you.

The light has entered the world and the times; they are a-changing. 

If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.

Little children, love one another; because this is our Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply need to see them within us and follow.

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

  

May the peace of our Lord Jesus the Christ be with you throughout this day and the rest of your life. May the Holy Spirit fill us all to overflowing so that everyone in whose path we cross may receive a blessing from our Lord Jesus the Christ.

Blessings

In Christ.

Member of the Autocephalous Orthodox Catholic Church of the Americas

Bishop William’s videos; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8XyPtkmtu6a1vVg6MEiNg

Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Many Blessings!

+William

Sunday after the Ascension!

Sunday after the Ascension

                                       

Greetings in Christ Jesus,

Sunday May 13, 2018

Epistle: Acts 18: 22- 19:12 A better Baptism, of Christ

Gospel: John 17: 1-26 The Prayer of our Lord for those who come to believe in Him

Psalm 72/73 How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!

My Friends,

We begin today by reading about a man, a Jew called Apollos. This man was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures but he knew only the baptism of John which means that he knew the Lord through the teaching of John the Baptist and through his sound knowledge of Scripture which would be the Jewish Law and the Prophets, Apollos went down to Ephesus and began preaching the things of the Lord. Even though he knew only the baptism of John he was fervent in spirit in his preaching of the Lord Jesus. God can use a fervent spirit who is somewhat less informed much better than He can use one who may be fully educated but lazy or not so fervent in preaching the Gospel.

Apollos was also bold enough to go into the synagogue and preach the Gospel to those Jews in Ephesus. He was well learned in the Law and the Prophets and understood John the Baptist when he spoke of Jesus as the Christ and so Apollos being bold and fervent began teaching the Lord. This is two characteristics that one who is to preach needs to have. Understand that we need true knowledge though, it cannot be some untrue understanding, it cannot be a false understanding, it has to be true, it may not be the complete truth but what is spoken is truth. So many people today go off half cocked with a false understanding and not only is the truth not told but in their pride of their knowledge they will attack others for what they see as the other’s lack of understanding and truth. This is not Christian. This leads us to our next point.

Two Jews who learned from St. Paul, Aquila and his wife Priscilla heard Apollos preaching and realized that while he preached truth, he was lacking in some areas, so they took him aside privately and taught him in the ways that he was still lacking. We have more points here to learn from, Aquila and Priscilla showed love for Apollos and for the preaching of the Gospel. They took Apollos aside without making a big show of themselves in their pride of their knowledge. They were not puffed up in their taking Apollos aside; they were in fact humble and loving. Apollos also show another good Christian trait in that he was also humble and allowed two tent makers; one of them a woman, to take him aside and teach or further explain the ways of the Lord where Apollos was lacking.

How much can we learn from the reading of Holy Scripture if we ask first, pray, and then actually pay attention to what we read? We are all guilty of this and many other infractions as well. Pride is incredibly subtle and often times we believe we are doing some good when actually in our pride we are doing much harm. Pray on this.

Today’s Gospel is a marvel in itself. Our Lord is praying for everyone throughout time who will come to believe in Him. Here are some highlights; 1 These things Jesus spoke, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said: Father, the hour is come, glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. 2 As you have given him power over all flesh, that he may give eternal life to all whom You have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: That they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth; I have finished the work which You gave me to do. 5 And now glorify You me, O Father, with Yourself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with You.

How much can we learn from these verses? Jesus, as man, prays to the Father. The hour is come; Jesus is in complete control. He controls the time and events. He wants all to have eternal life that come to Him. This is eternal life; to know the father, the only true God, and Jesus the Christ whom the Father sent. Jesus is to return to the glory with the Father that He had before the world was created. Jesus has always been with God, there has never been a time when Jesus did not exist.

11 And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name whom You have given me; that they may be one, as we also are. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world; as I also am not of the world. 15 I pray not that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from evil. 16 They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. 22 And the glory which You have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, as we also are one: 23 I in them, and you in me; that they may be made perfect in one: and the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them, as You have also loved me. 24 Father, I will that where I am, they also whom you have given me may be with me; that they may see my glory which You have given me, because You have loved me before the creation of the world.  

Oh all that call themselves Christian take a lesson. The Father will keep those who love our Lord. But what does this mean? Will we become financially rich and successful in all that we do because we say the name Jesus in public? No, as Jesus has stated, the world will hate us as it hated Him. Some will become successful and are required to assist those who are not because there will be those who are poor, sick, frail, born with afflictions. Jesus prayed that we are not removed from the world but that we would be kept from the evil, that we would not succumb to temptation to commit sin, it does not mean that we will not be tempted or tested or pushed to our limits. But that the Father would give us the strength to endure and persevere. Another lesson; that they may be one.

This is such a difficult thing to do isn’t it? So much hate, prejudice, discrimination, and violence both physical and in word that is done from one group to another. Are there complete fakers? You had better believe it. Are there many false prophets? We know that there are. Do we see pride in someone’s preaching while they attempt to disguise it by speaking about it and calling it a gift from God because they are just so good at being Christian? Of course we do. Are we told by many that we all deserve the good things in life and we can get them if we apply ourselves and tithe to them, whoever the speaker of the moment is? Of course we do.

What are we to do? Do not support them. Pray for them. Give to the poor and the widow and the orphan. Someone who preaches and asks for money for his own personal use so that he/she can afford some luxury? Do not support them. Pray that their heart will be changed.

Pray today with the Psalmist who says that God is good to the upright in heart. His feet had almost slipped because he was jealous of the lawless sinner who was at peace with himself and did not look up to God. This jealousy, this envy of the lawless and the false prophet is a downfall and leads to perdition. Do not be trapped by the desire of luxury and fine food, or big houses so that we give up our soul to the evil one. Pray that this does not come upon anyone.

God can do all things; there is no situation that we get ourselves into that God cannot help us out of. We simply must have the faith and believe. Keep in mind however; God's plan is far above ours. We suffer and we have plenty coming based on what God Himself has in store for us whether it is for purging, for testing, or for reward or necessity for our life. God is in control.

We do not know when this will end and the new beginning will be, in spite of the many modern prophets who make a living selling Jesus and the destruction of the world; we have no clue when it will be. In the meantime, it rains on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. The sun shines on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. We remain together in this world until that day. So take a lesson from the readings. Continue to praise and worship Jesus the Christ and the Father through Him. Never cease to pray and live according to the gospel. Allow the Holy Ghost to guide you. Love God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength; love your neighbor as yourself. You never know whose life you will change because of this love of God in you.

The light has entered the world and the times; they are a-changing. 

If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.

Little children, love one another; because this is our Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply need to see them within us and follow.

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

  

May the peace of our Lord Jesus the Christ be with you throughout this day and the rest of your life. May the Holy Spirit fill us all to overflowing so that everyone in whose path we cross may receive a blessing from our Lord Jesus the Christ.

Blessings

In Christ.

   

Member of the Autocephalous Orthodox Catholic Church of the Americas

Bishop William’s videos; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8XyPtkmtu6a1vVg6MEiNg

Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Many Blessings!

+William

Who is Jesus the Christ 3

VI Resurrection. 5th Sunday after Resurrection Day. Western Calendar.

VI Resurrection

 5th Sunday after Resurrection  Day

Beginning of Rogations

                                   

    

Greetings in Christ Jesus,

Sunday May 6, 2018

Epistle: Acts 16: 19-36

Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37

Psalm 70/71 “In thee, O’ Lord, I have hoped

My Friends,

It is now time to introduce the Days or Rogation, this is a Western Christian celebration that has actually been removed from the church calendar and is rarely celebrated in the United States. So what are the Rogation Days? Rogation is simply an English form of the Latin rogatio, which comes from the verb rogare, which means "to ask." The primary purpose of the Rogation Days is to ask God to bless the fields and the church geographic area that they fall in.

Starting at the church, (whether inside or outside, either one), the congregation would begin the Litany of the Saints and proceed to walk the grounds, not just the building itself but the whole of the property. This would be repeated as necessary depending on the size of the property and the length of time that it took to walk it. Or rather than repeating the Litany they would supplement it with some of the penitential or gradual Psalms. Thus, the entire church and property would be blessed, and the boundaries of the church would be marked.

After this a worship service would be held in which all were expected to attend. Rogation Days are tied to the spring planting. The Rogation days end on ascension day which is May 10, 2018. The Rogation Days are days of prayer, and formerly also of fasting, instituted by the Church to ask protection in calamities, and to obtain a good and bountiful harvest.

In the readings today we see troubles, there are health issues; a man is brought to Jesus who is deaf and has a speech impediment, Jesus heals the man. This healing may also be symbolic of the healing of mankind through the acceptance of Jesus the Christ. We first must hear the word and understand it before we can go out and explain it. The fact that the man's friends came to Jesus bringing the man along and the fact that the man agreed and allowed Jesus to put His fingers into the ears of the deaf man and then also to touch the man's tongue shows a faith in Jesus, his friends had the faith to lead him to Jesus and then the man had the faith to believe and so he was healed. The same as we and all who come to Jesus and believe are healed of our sins.

Notice that Jesus groaned before He healed the man; we have read this before when Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead after four days in the tomb. We have read that Jesus wept. This in fact shows that Jesus was not only God was was man as well. A man with emotions, one that could feel pain and hurt, one that demonstrated love physically for all people. Jesus is the God/Man. 

We see the Apostles are imprisoned because St. Paul cast an unholy spirit from a girl who was being used for profit by her keepers because she could divine or tell the fortunes of those who she came into contact with. This young girl was annoying the Apostle by following them around and constantly announcing who they were and what they were dong.This of course made those who were her keepers much money. While the Apostles were in prison they began praising God, an earthquake came and shook the prison, the doors of the prison were opened and the bands fell off of all of the prisoners.

God can do all things, there is no situation that we get ourselves into that God cannot help us out of. We simply must have the faith and believe. Keep in mind however, God's plan is far above ours. we suffer and we have plenty based on what God Himself has in store for us whether it is for purging, for testing, or for reward or necessity for our life. God is in control.

Our Psalmist speaks of his troubles and of those who seek his life and cause him great grief. Yet in spite of these things, even though his life is in peril, he praises God. He glorifies Him as savior and protector, he believes the promise of God, and he has great faith. The Psalmist as well as the Apostles, who are imprisoned after being beaten, never stops praising God in spite of their life being in great jeopardy.  These are lessons for us today. Regardless of our life and its many difficulties, we are loved and helped. We cannot know how much more difficult it would be for us if our Lord Jesus did not love us. Jesus groans at the healing of those who ask, Jesus weeps at the grave of His friend. Jesus does indeed love us to the point of giving His life for us.

Notice however that all of these people faced great challenges in their life. They had no easy life because they praised and preached Jesus, no, their life was indeed difficult. The world does not want anyone to live in eternal glory because the world is ruled by Lucifer the devil. He was and is the first to defy Almighty God and he suffers greatly for it. So how can he rule the world that God created? Because man allowed him into the world and followed him, this is how. Man continues to allow Lucifer to control him and the world system. Because we have been given free will by the Father, this will continue. We need to struggle against the devil and live for Jesus on this earth. There will come a day when man no longer praises the Creator and when this day comes it will finally signal the end. Currently people are still being born who turn to the Savior Jesus the Christ. Enough so that Almighty God has not instituted the end of the world as we know it and a new earth begins.

We do not know when this end and the new beginning will be, in spite of the many modern prophets who make a living selling Jesus and the destruction of the world; we have no clue when it will be. In the meantime, it rains on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. The sun shines on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. We remain together in this world until that day. So take a lesson from the readings. Continue to praise and worship Jesus the Christ and the Father through Him. Never cease to pray and live according to the gospel. Allow the Holy Ghost to guide you. Love God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength; love your neighbor as yourself. You never know whose life you will change because of this love of God in you.

The light has entered the world and the times; they are a-changing. 

If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.

Little children, love one another; because this is our Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply need to see them within us and follow.

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

  

May the peace of our Lord Jesus the Christ be with you throughout this day and the rest of your life. May the Holy Spirit fill us all to overflowing so that everyone in whose path we cross may receive a blessing from our Lord Jesus the Christ.

Blessings

In Christ.

   

Member of the Autocephalous Orthodox Catholic Church of the Americas

Bishop William’s videos; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8XyPtkmtu6a1vVg6MEiNg

Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Many Blessings!

+William