Saint John the Divine

Today is the feast day of Saint John the Apostle of Jesus Christ, often referred to as "Saint John the Divine." An Episcopal cathedral in New York bears this name. It's big. It's really big -- and vibrant. I can almost smell the incense just thinking about it.

It is fitting that today is John the Apostle's feast day, because tomorrow's gospel is John 1:1-18, the beautiful prologue to the Gospel that bears his name. John is also credited with three short letters that appear near the end of the New Testament. The central message in John's letters is, "Little children, love one another."

His Book of Revelation gets a lot of notoriety for its images of the end-time. The end is always near to someone.

John's Gospel, the last Gospel to be written, has a dreamy quality. In it John offers reflections about Jesus Christ that come from years of distilling Jesus' message. John was probably a teenager when he began to follow Jesus. He lived a long life and was the only Apostle who died a natural death. John is the writer who gave us this verse:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
artwork: http://puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/images/t_john.jpg

Facing our secret fears

As Christmas 2008 fades into memory and the New Year fast approaches, what is your secret fear?

Every year at Christmas we revisit the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. We hear scriptures such as:

"The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.'" (Luke 2:30) and "In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see - I a bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:8-11)

Later on Jesus would say to his disciples: "Fear not, it is I."

Whatever our fears may be, God is with us in the midst of our fears. Often we find our secret fears turned into opportunities for a deeper knowledge of God.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: Sophia the cat faces down a bunny.
The bunny is probably thankful for
plate glass. 12 23 08

Merry Christmas from Holy Cross Church Episcopal

Sweet Baby Jesus

The annual celebration of Christmas is good for us. It is an opportunity to revisit the miracle of birth. It gives us an opportunity to revisit the miracle of Jesus’ birth.

On this holy evening, Christmas Eve 2008, we turn our thoughts once more to Bethlehem. There is born to us Jesus Christ the Lord, who is the savior of the whole world. Sweet Baby Jesus has finally arrived on the scene. What’s not to love about Sweet Baby Jesus?

This evening, the words of the Gospel according to St. Luke (2:1-20) will echo around the world. For our part of that echo, I want us to focus on the birth of Jesus – the incarnation of Jesus. The Word made flesh who comes to dwell among us. It’s the number one biggest event in human history. In fact, Jesus’ birth split history into two sections – “Before Christ” and “Anno Domini” (in the year of our Lord). Even if we refer to the division of time as “Before the Common Era” and “Common Era”, no one else but Jesus has made such an impact on the world. No one. And he continues to do so.

The Christian doctrine of the incarnation of Jesus Christ stands in a unique place. It makes a unique claim. It claims that Jesus is at once fully human and fully divine. The claim is so unique that it is called in theological circles “the scandal of particularity.” Christianity makes the very particular claim that God became flesh and dwelt among us. It claims that God entered the human race at a particular time and place – that he was born of a particular human mother – born into a country that was ruled by a certain emperor and a certain king. We can verify this time and place and these rulers in secular history.

As a priest of the Church I unabashedly make the claim that the eternal Son of God – the second person of the Holy and undivided Trinity – took flesh in the womb of his human mother, Mary the Virgin. Can I wrap my mind around that and understand it? No. I neither quite understand how it happened nor why it happened, but I believe that it happened. Faith does not require proof. That’s what faith is.

The Christian doctrine of the Incarnation of Jesus claims that the historical Jesus Christ was and is all at one time fully God and fully human. I have not figured that out, either. The Angels haven’t figured it out. Our salvation gives us privileges with God into which the angels long to look. (I Peter 1:12, NRSV) The Early Church argued over this doctrine for a few hundred years, and finally hammered it out in A.D. 451 at the Council of Chalcedon. It was there that Mary the Virgin formally received the title “God-bearer” or “Theotokos.” It was there that the limits of orthodox Christianity were defined – that is, that Jesus Christ is at once fully human and fully divine. This council declared further that humans are still humans and that God is still God. It’s just that Jesus Christ is both.

Here in the twenty-first century, we are still wondering how that Jesus could have taken our humanity up into his divinity, and brought his divinity down to our humanity. This is the great mystery. He shares his divinity with us in the mystery of the holy sacraments, the greatest of which are Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. I remind us of the Catechism’s definition of sacraments: “The sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.” (BCP 857) Thank God that Jesus left us the sacraments to be the means by which we partake of Jesus’ divinity. This gives us something we can touch and feel and see.

Jesus’ coming to earth turned this world upside down. The Roman Emperor Augustus thought that he was ruler of the world as he knew it. Note that our Gospel reading says that the Emperor sent out a decree that “all the world should be registered.” This was a census for tax purposes. How arrogant was he to think that he could tax the whole world?

Little did Augustus know that God was about to cast down the mighty from their thrones and lift up the lowly. Over in Bethlehem, a town whose name means “House of Bread,” the Bread of Life – the Savior of the world -- was being born. Angels were singing to frightened shepherds while trying to tell them to calm down. Jesus was being wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a manger – a feeding trough for the animals. Jesus would later say of bread, “this is my body.” As often as you eat this bread, eat it in remembrance of me. As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show forth the Lord’s death until he comes. Jesus is present to us in the Holy Eucharist by which he communicates with us and heals us. It’s a great mystery.

Jesus could not help but come to earth and be born into the human family. That’s because God loved the world so much that God could not hold back his love any longer. His love for us burst forth into time and space in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ coming to earth also stirred up the heavenly beings – the angels. They burst forth into the night singing “Glory to God in the highest heaven” because they could not help themselves.

Yes, Sweet Baby Jesus has finally arrived on the scene. I hope that, at least in our hearts, we will burst forth into this night singing “Glory to God in the highest heaven” because we will not be able to help ourselves. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/

Photo: Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus
hand-carved by Trappist monks at
Mepkin Abbey, Monck's Corner, S.C.
January 2008

In the bleak midwinter

In the bleak midwinter,
frosty wind made made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone;
snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter,
long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign;
in the bleak midwinter
a stable-place sufficed
the Lord God incarnate,
Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels
may have gathered there;
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air;
but his mother only,
in her maden bliss,
worshipped the beloved
with a kiss.

What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
yet what I can
I give him -
give my heart.

text by Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) The Hymnal 1982, No. 112.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
406-208-7314
photo: bunny outside my door 12/23/08

How to enjoy a holiday party

You can count on me to pass along helpful hints for happy living. Here are some tongue-in-cheek tips from a friend of mine, and believe it or not she is still alive this Christmas. Before reading, please remember that our bodies are the "temple of the Holy Spirit" and that we should not turn them into temples of doom:

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet
table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see
carrots, leave immediately.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't
find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it
has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn
into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one
for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of
your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat step
#3.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports
car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control
your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat
other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the
buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of
eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if
you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have
three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have
some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread
tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

Sermon for December 21, 2008

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Canticle 15
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38


Mary on the move

This morning instead of a Psalm we read together The Song of Mary, found in Luke’s Gospel chapter 1, verses 46-55. Mary’s joy spilled out into a song that has been repeated for almost two thousand years. Almost every major composer has set it to music. Our Gospel reading tells us what Mary’s excitement was all about.

If we go by the Church calendar, it was late March or early April, approximately 4 B.C., when the Angel Gabriel visited Mary of Nazareth. After the angel departed from her, she hastily traveled at least four days to get to a town in the hill country west of Jerusalem. If Mary traveled alone, she took a big chance. It was scandalous for a woman to travel alone. But then, it was also scandalous for Mary to be pregnant out of wedlock.

Mary and Elizabeth were both going through enormous changes in their lives, and this time of bonding was surely a great comfort to them. Elizabeth was a much older woman, married to a priest, whose standing in her community had been diminished because she had no children. Mary was a teenage girl with a lot of spunk and the good wisdom to say yes to God. Mary must have had a lot of questions to ask Elizabeth, such as: “What do the neighbors think?”

What the neighbors would think would weigh heavily on Mary and on Elizabeth. For Elizabeth, the birth of her son, later known as John the Baptizer, would remove the social stigma that had been hanging over her head for years. It would give her status in her husband’s family and in her community. For Mary, being in this delicate condition would be cause for execution.

We can’t help but wonder: when Mary said yes to all this, did she think it through in that split second before responding? Theologians have speculated that between the Angel’s announcement and Mary’s response, the universe held its collective breath. God held God’s breath.

Mary was a human being with a God-given free will. Mary could have said no to God. We wonder how many virgin girls said no to God before Mary said yes. But Mary’s heart was at home in God. She said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord.” Saying yes to God is always huge and always has consequences of cosmic proportions. Mary had cause to be afraid, but she did not let it get the best of her. Once she said yes she could not contain her joy.

Mary stands in the tradition of Abraham, who gets honorable mention in Mary’s song. That’s because Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, believed God. His belief and faith were accounted to him as righteousness.

For Mary, who was a young teenage girl, this pregnancy signaled the end of her childhood. By saying yes to God, Mary took on full responsibility, not only for her own life, but also for the life of this Precious Baby she would carry. The possibilities were mind-boggling.

Elizabeth, older and wiser, grasped the idea that through Mary’s holy child, God would give the gift of salvation to the entire world. When Mary went to see her, Elizabeth expressed herself as a prophet in the classic sense. That is, she “was filled with the Holy Spirit” and spoke for God. Elizabeth recognized Mary as the mother of her Lord. No wonder Elizabeth’s son John the Baptizer was a prophet. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree.

Mary wisely sought out this kinswoman – this wife of Zechariah the priest. Mary needed a place to hide away. She needed a spiritual director. But Mary also had her own set of strengths. Mary recognized herself for who she was, and recognized God for who God is and what God can do. I like to call this worship. When the going gets tough, the tough go to worship.

Mary’s situation might not have looked so good to her society at large, but she believed that God would lift her up and bring her to honor. That took an amazing amount of trust. It took a lot of faith. For Mary and Elizabeth, it was their faith, steadfast and strong, that grounded them in God and propelled them into the future with excitement and joy. Mary and Elizabeth’s reactions to these changes in their own lives have affected the Church for almost two thousand years. In any time of transition and change, it is good for us to look at this Gospel reading and remember that “nothing will be impossible with God.” And that “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

As a church, and as individuals, we can no longer live in our own communities without realizing that our decisions and actions affect the world at large. Ever since the late 1960’s when NASA was able to get a picture of the earth from outer space, we have had a growing awareness of our responsibility to our global community.

The good news is that, like Mary and Elizabeth, we are not on our own. God is with us, guiding us and loving us. God is always bringing new life in the most unexpected places and in some surprising ways. The miracle is that the Church is still functioning as the Body of Christ despite all the upheavals throughout the ages.

Mary the mother of Christ is accorded first place among the Saints because she was literally the first Christian. As Mary and Elizabeth both were going through an astonishing transition in each of their lives, their first thoughts were of God. When we are going through transitions in our own lives, I hope that our first thoughts are of God. I hope that we find solace in the Word and Sacraments.

Our scripture readings every Sunday are as ancient as the church. Our celebration of Holy Eucharist goes back to Jesus Christ who instituted it on the night before he was handed over to suffering and death. If our heart is at home in God, changes can swirl around us and never shake our faith. We can say with Mary, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord.” Amen.

In peace,

Linda+

The Rev. Linda McCloud

Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal

Billings, Montana

406-208-7314

www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

When God held God's breath

In our Gospel reading for tomorrow (Luke 1:26-38), the Last Sunday of Advent, we hear that the angel Gabriel was "sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary."

Gabriel told Mary that God had favored her and chosen her to give birth to a savior, the Messiah, the Son of God. After some argument from Mary and explanation from Gabriel, there was one brief moment when the universe held its collective breath. God held God's breath. Mary could have refused. Long ago God gave us humans free will. We can cooperate with God and worship God, or we can refuse.

But Mary said yes. "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

Thanks be to God.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
http://holycrossbillings.blogspot.com
artwork: http://www.orthodoxonline.com/images/annunciation.jpg

Writing letters to Jesus

The greatest prayers are not always written down, but recently a friend called this one to my attention:

Nativity Prayer-Hymn of St. Ephraim the Syrian

The feast day of your birth resembles You, Lord,
because it brings joy to all humanity.

Old people and infants alike enjoy your day.
Your day is celebrated
from generation to generation.

Kings and emperors may pass away,
and the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse.
But your festival will be remembered
until the end of time.

Your day is a means and a pledge of peace.
At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled,
since you came from heaven to earth on that day.
You forgave our sins and wiped away our guilt.

You gave us so many gifts on the day of your birth:
A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick;
Spiritual light for the blind;
The cup of salvation for the thirsty;
The bread of life for the hungry.

In the winter when trees are bare,
You give us the most succulent spiritual fruit.
In the frost when the earth is barren,
You bring new hope to our souls.

In December when seeds are hidden in the soil,
The staff of life springs forth from the virgin womb.

St. Ephraim the Syrian (AD 306-373)

In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
404-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
artwork: http://www29.homepage.villanova.edu/christopher.haas/ephraim%20-%20icon.jpg

Three more days until winter

In three more days winter officially arrives. It's one week until Christmas. It's two weeks until New Years.

Do we find ourselves counting the days until the next event in our lives, or the lives of those we love? Little children are probably counting the days until Christmas, maybe asking, "how much longer is it?", echoing that traveling question, "how much farther is it?", or "how old will I be when we get there?"

It's easy to get bogged down in wondering (or worrying) about the future, even the near future, but obsessing about it to the point of anxiety is not recommended. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus calls this "borrowing into the tomorrow." (Matthew 6:34) When we do that, we steal from ourselves the joy that might be ours right now, as we live in thankfulness. Today is what we have, and living life to the fullest includes being aware of God's love and provision for today - now - trusting that God, who is eternal - will also be there for all our tomorrows.

So for today, I recommend that we think about this verse of scripture from the Sermon on the Mount:

[Jesus said] "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:34, NRSV)


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
406-208-7314
photo by Rebecca McCloud Chavez

That wonderful and sacred mystery

Note to all seminarians: Today is an Ember Day, a day on which you must write to your Bishop and give an account of your life. How are you doing spiritually? Physically? Financially? Your Bishop already knows about your grades. He/She has a copy of your grades. If you can't think what to say today, you have another Ember Day coming up on Saturday.

On Ember Days, we pray among other things that God will raise up priests to serve at the altar. So, seminarians, write to your Bishop, in further preparation to hear this prayer at your ordination:

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[The Book of Common Prayer, 528]



In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photos: graduation at Sewanee
The University of the South
School of Theology
May 13, 2005

Traveling for the holidays?

If you are traveling during this holiday season, here are some prayers to take along with you [from The Book of Common Prayer] and they won't take up much room in your luggage:

For Travelers (this is especially good to pray for all around you on the road)
O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel [in particular ________]; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Good Use of Leisure
O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And finally, if everyone cannot make it to the gathering:

For the Absent
O God, whose fatherly care reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth: We humbly beseech you graciously to behold and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to you, may be bound together by your love in the communion of your Holy Spirit, and in the fellowship of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photos: Montana in early Spring 2008

Writing hit songs

What makes a hit song - a "standard" song - that is sung for years? Do you know a hit when you hear it? I think hit songs have at least this quality in common: the lyrics are not contrived. They are straight out of the heart of the writer. They express some yearning of every human heart.

Did you know that Mary of Nazareth, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, was a hit songwriter? She wrote a song that has been sung for almost two thousand years. Granted, she borrowed a little from Hannah, the mother of Samuel the Prophet (1 Samuel 2:1-10). But these are Mary's own words, out of Mary's own heart. Next Sunday, on The Fourth Sunday of Advent, we will use this text at Holy Cross:

Canticle 15
The Song of Mary
Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.



In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photos:
top: Madonna and Child at
Monastery of the Holy Spirit
Conyers, Georgia - March 2008
lower right:
Statue of Mary near the church
at Mepkin Abbey
Monck's Corner, South Carolina
January 2008

Does God Dream?

Sermon for December 14, 2008
Holy Cross Church Episcopal

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Does God Dream?

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream. (Psalm 126:1)

Bing Crosby dreamed of a white Christmas, and we still hear all about it in shopping malls. We dare to dream. And our dreams often have to do with opportunities to better our situations. At this time of year, little children are dreaming of all the goodies that Santa will bring them. Or not. Many parents are trying to dream of how they can provide Santa gifts for their children. Or food. Or clothing. Or a college education. Laid off workers are dreaming of finding the right job. All around us, changes are taking place so fast that nothing will ever be the same. Just when we think the news can’t shock us, it shocks us, and most of our attention is turned to the negative. How can that be reversed? Maybe by dreaming. Dreaming keeps hope alive.

Does God dream? If God dreams, what does God dream about? If God knows everything past, present and future, why would God bother to dream? I believe that God does dream, and that God, who never slumbers nor sleeps, dreams good things for all of us. According to our lesson from Isaiah, there would come a time when God would restore all things to their former glory. It’s called the Day of the Lord and if you went to the Messiah Sing last Sunday afternoon, you got a good dose of this prophetic dream.

The definition of a prophet is “One who speaks for God” and this passage from Isaiah sounds very hopeful. It has an almost dream-like quality, especially if you look at the Middle East today. We as Christians believe that in heaven with God we will have perfection. There will be no more sin, sorrow, or sighing, but how many of us expect that to happen here on earth? How many attempts at utopia have crashed and burned?

We might wonder: If God is all powerful and all knowing, why doesn’t God just snap his fingers and make all this dreaming come true? It’s because once upon a time, long, long ago, God gave us a powerful gift. It’s called Free Will. Yes, we can choose to cooperate with God in God’s dream. This is the biggest gift we can give to God. If God coerced us into worshipping him, our worship would be worthless. We are not puppets on a string. We have a choice.

We can also choose not to cooperate with God. This is the root cause of separation from God, which is called in theological terms “sin.” Hell, by the way, is eternal separation from God, which we bring on ourselves through the exercise of our free will. Repentance is changing the direction in which we look for happiness. It’s looking around to see what God is doing and getting involved, remembering that God does not compromise on certain issues such as righteousness, justice, and mercy. God clearly loves justice, and hates robbery and wrongdoing. Lately, God has probably been weeping more than ever.

But God dreams of reconciling us to himself. St. Paul gives us advice on how to get in sync with God and to get in on God’s dream: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. . . . 1 Thessalonians 5:16. Rejoice always – for me, joy comes from cultivating a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Joy comes from knowing in the bedrock of my own heart that no matter what happens to me in this life or in the next, I am in the loving hands of God. God is all around. God meets us here in the Word and Sacraments. That gives me great joy.

Did I say I was happy all the time? No. I did not say that. There is a lot in this world about which I am very unhappy. Unhappiness is my reaction to hunger, oppression, poverty, domestic violence . . . I could go on and on. Sorrow over these things is what prods us to do all we can to eliminate such conditions from God’s good earth. But we can have joy in the midst of sorrow. Such joy is based on our trust of God and our hope in God. If we are willing to rejoice and give thanks to God for all of God’s blessings, we can have God’s joy in the here and now.

God’s big dream of reconciling us to himself came true, of course, in the person of Jesus Christ. If you read this passage from Isaiah and then turn to the Gospel of Luke Chapter 4, you will hear Jesus saying these very words: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor . . . Read a little further and you will find out that Jesus’ audience almost killed him on the spot. Maybe they were not ready for such good news.

The Old Testament prophets died without ever having received the promised Messiah of God. Even John the Baptizer, who is back in our Gospel reading again today, did not live to see Jesus complete his work. But his dream came true. John had gotten involved in what God was doing and with his last breath he helped bring about the promised Kingdom of God. John goes off the stage of history with his heart full. His joy has been fulfilled. He has done what he came here to do, and he gracefully steps aside to let Jesus step into the spotlight.

This is the time of year when a lot of people go into a type of hibernation, drawing back from the world and entering a sort of dream state. This is a good time for reflection and for looking over our gains and losses of the past year. We can come to grips with the fact that we have gotten another year older and maybe some of the dreams we had when we were younger are no longer possible. I know now that I will never be a ballet dancer. As we look forward to the New Year we realize that we might need to come up with some new dreams.

If we have joy we can plan for the future. Looking back over this past year, and especially these last few months, we can see that we have claimed a spot on which to plant a church. I cannot say enough how much I appreciate all of you, and especially your faithfulness to our Lord and your efforts to bring more people into this church. It will take all of us working together to accomplish the dream of building this church into a fellowship of faith.

We need for God to stir us up to dream the right dreams. I hope that our collective dream for this church is to be here and to grow, week in and week out, providing comfort to fellow pilgrims who are seeking a way out of their wilderness. We offer Holy Communion, a great source of joy to us who receive it and to God who offers it. I cannot help but believe our dreams are within our reach. I believe that we have looked around to see what God is doing and that we have gotten involved in it. Welcome to the dream. Amen.

In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
406-208-7314
Photo: Snow in Montana
and looking for more

Baptized in water

In tomorrow's Gospel (John 1:6-8, 19-28) we again meet John the Baptizer. This time he is being investigated by the religious authorities from Jerusalem, who have come out to the wilderness. They don't come to get baptized, although some of them might have done so eventually.

Instead, they come to interrogate John. He is causing a stir. "Who are you?" "What do you say for yourself?" and the big question: "Are you the Messiah?" You're not the Messiah? So why are you baptizing?

John answered: "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." The next day Jesus came to John for his own baptism, and after some argument and discussion, John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Why would Jesus do that? was it to identify with the corporate sins of humanity? Was it to set an example for us to follow and be baptized?

Whatever the answer and the reason, we still baptize with water, and God still approves.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
406-208-7314
artwork: http://www.historycomesalive.ca/biblical/images/baptist3.jpg

Those pesky street beggars

They're everywhere this time of year, aren't they? Why do they have to stand at the doorway of every store and ring those bells beside the kettles? Are they trying to make us feel guilty that we have so much and the poor have so little? Why can't they just let us enjoy our Christmas time in peace?

Maybe we won't enoy our Christmas time in peace until we contribute to the needs of the poor. And when we go into those stores, maybe we will find something we can buy to put in the Toys for Tots bin, or nonperishable foods to contribute to the Food Bank. Those pesky street beggars are always poking and prodding our conscience. They are reminding us that it is a privilege to be allowed to give to the needs of those less fortunate, and that this year, the gap between the haves and the have nots has become a chasm.

Here's a word about that from John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, who died in 407:

When we despise the poor, we despise Christ; thus our blame is very great. Paul himself persecuted Christ in persecuting those who are his; that is why Christ is heard to say: "Why do you persecute me?" Hence, whenever we give, let us have the same dispositions as if we were giving to Christ, for his words are more sure than our vision. Therefore, when you see a poor person, remember these words in which Christ reveals to you that it is he himself whom you can nourish. For even if that which appears be not Christ, yet in this person's form it is Christ himself who receives and begs.

But if you do not believe now that in passing one who is poor you are really passing by Christ, you will believe it when he will bring you into the midst of his followers and says: "As often as you neglected to do it to one of these least ones, you neglected to do it to me."

Oh, I get it.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

Roses in December

You have no doubt heard that "God gives us memories so we can have roses in December." I think this is also why God gives us Advent. Advent gives us time to slow down and smell the roses.

At this time of year, many people rush around so much they hardly remember what they did from day to day, and then they need January to recover. Maybe if we rush around we won't have time to stop and think about all that has happened to us in the last year. If we don't take time to take it all in, we will miss not only the painful times but also the joyful times. Remember most roses have thorns.

Advent is a time to be mindful of the needs of others who might have empty stockings at Christmas, but it is also a time of spiritual renewal as we await the birth of the Christ Child. Here is a prayer we will be praying next Sunday:

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. [The Book of Common Prayer, 212]


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
Photos: Confederate Roses on fence;
my sister's perfect pink rose
Marysville, WA 2008

International Human Rights Day

I keep several calendars around the house. They seem to come in the mail at this time of year. Those who send them would like a contribution to their cause, please . . . the animal rights activists, the nature conservationists, etc.

One of my calendars says that today is "International Human Rights Day." I don't know who proclaimed it as such but I think it's a great idea. In fact, every day should be human rights day.

In the Episcopal Church, we take vows when we are baptized. One of those vows is: "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?" to which we reply, "I will, with God's help."

Here are some prayers from The Book of Common Prayer (pages 823-826) to aid in our thinking about justice, peace, and human rights. Sincere praying of these prayers might require some action on our part:

For Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Unemployed
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Poor and the Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Oppressed
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land [and in every land] who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

They don't call it The Book of Common Prayer for nothing.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org

How not to get twisted up with stress

One of the things I get to do during the week is read and meditate on the scriptures for next Sunday and write a sermon appropriate to the day. Ordinarily I preach about two things: I preach about the Gospel reading of the day; and I preach about ten minutes. That means I have to omit some very good preaching material from the sermon.

The good news about this omission is that many of our passages of scripture are so strong and concise that they are a sermon unto themselves. In light of all the stress that many are experiencing because of the economy, wars, accidents and other events of our times, I offer our Epistle for next Sunday. It's more than good words of advice from the Apostle Paul: meditating on this scripture and abiding by it might keep us from getting all twisted up with stress. I think it's called "resting in God."

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. [1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, NRSV]


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photo: ancient tree at Mepkin Abbey
Monck's Corner, South Carolina
January 2008

A different twist on Advent

We have been saying that Advent is a period of waiting for the Christ Child, while also waiting for his triumphant return to earth. So, what do we do while we wait? Here's a thought from Bernard of Clairvaux [died 1153], a reviver of Benedictine monasticism in the Cistercian Order:

We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among the people; he himself testified that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming "all flesh will see the salvation of our God," and "they will look on him whom they have pierced."

The intermediate coming is a hidden one. In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming he comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming he will be seen in glory and majesty.

Because this coming lies between the other two, it is like a road on which we travel from the first coming to the last. In the first, Christ was our redemption; in the last, he will appear as our life; in this middle coming, he is our rest and consolation.

In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself says: "If anyone loves me, they will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them." There is another passage of Scripture which reads: "Those who fear God will do good," but something further has been said about those who love, that is, that they will keep God's word. Where is God's word to be kept? Obviously in the heart, a the prophet says: "I have hidden your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you."

Keep God's word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.

If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you. The Son with the Father will come to you. The great Prophet who will build the new Jerusalem will come, the one who makes all things new. This coming will fulfill what is written: "As we have borne the likeness of the earthly, we shall also bear the likeness of the heavenly." (Sermon 5 for Advent 1-3, published in Readings for the Daily Office from the Early Church, J. Robert Wright, 10-11)

Bernard was a pretty good preacher.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: window at noon in a Cistercian Church
Monastery of the Holy Spirit
Conyers, GA, January 2007

The beginning of the good news

Today's Gospel lesson is the first eight verses of The Gospel According to Mark. Mark wrote to a Roman audience that was accustomed to reading about the lives of action heroes. Mark wanted everyone to know that Jesus is the hero of this story. Jesus will have a life like no other life. He will die a brutal Roman death because of Who He is, but will rise victoriously from the grave. And yes, we should all line up to follow Jesus, even though he is going to the cross.

Mark begins without a birth narrative and tells us about he main characters in Jesus' adult life. Today we hear about John the Baptizer, who looks like Elijah the Old Testament prophet. As a prophet, John stands as a bridge between the Old Testament and the New.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,'"

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worth to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." [Mark 1:1-8, NRSV]

Welcome to the Second Sunday of Advent.


Here is the sermon I preached at Holy Cross this morning:

As we read our Gospel for today, we might think that John the Baptizer’s mother dresses him funny. He was not a slave to fashion. When the scripture says that John the Baptizer was clothed in camel’s hair, it does not mean a camel-hair blazer with which he could wear a preppy button-down shirt. His leather belt probably did not have a fancy brass buckle. No natty dresser, this one. We picture John as a cave-man type, born long after his time. He was easily identifiable. Where have we seen this guy before? Doesn’t he look a little like Elijah the Prophet?

As you know, John the Baptizer was a relative of Jesus of Nazareth, on his Mother’s side. His parents were Elizabeth and Zechariah, an older couple who had long since given up hopes of having any children. Speculation has it that John the Baptizer was orphaned at a young age, and that he was brought up in the community of the Essenes. We have no proof, but some of his behavior might indicate this as a possibility.

The Essenes were a branch of Judaism that sought righteousness and perfection. They took frequent ritual baths. Cleanliness was next to godliness for them. They were also apocalyptic. They were convinced that they were living in the “last days” and interpreted scripture accordingly. They would have preached with the Scriptures in one hand and a newspaper in the other. Most of what we know about the Essenes comes from the Dead Sea Scrolls that were discovered in a cave at Qumran, Israel in the late 1940’s. I have visited Qumran and the site of the Essene Community and I can tell you that it is definitely in the desert.

John appeared in the desert preaching righteousness. He was trying to restore religious order in a world of chaos. Righteousness includes a cruciform lifestyle –living in communion with God and extending the love and kindness God has shown to us -- out to our fellow human beings. I don’t think John would have made a very good spiritual director, at least not nowadays. He probably would not have said, “How did you feel about that?” He would probably have just said, “Stop doing what you know is wrong and start doing what you know is right.”

John was a man on a mission. He was obviously in a hurry to give his warnings. He might have known that his time would be short once he delivered his message. As you know from reading about him in the other three Gospels, John spoke the truth to power and got thrown into the dungeon. His execution by Herod the Tetrarch is well-documented in scripture. It is also documented outside of Scripture by the first century historian Josephus. [Ant. XVIII, V, 2.]

John’s hope in preaching righteousness was that we would all be restored to the sinless perfection that humans had before the fall of Adam and Eve. Human beings were at first created sinless, but that didn’t last very long. This One who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit was baptized by John in the River Jordan and “fulfilled all righteousness” according to Matthew’s Gospel. This is why in our Baptismal Covenant we renounce Satan, evil, and all sinful desires that draw us from the love of God. We put our whole trust in the grace and love of Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness. His example of life is the source from which we derive our ethical treatment of self and of others. John the Baptizer recognized this about Jesus. We as Christians do the same.

John was willing to preach repentance from sin not only to the people who came out in the desert to hear him, but also to Herod the King. He solemnly warned Herod that it was not lawful for him to have his brother Philip’s wife. For that John was put into prison. Josephus tells us that John was executed at the castle at Macherus. He also says that Herod feared John’s influence with the masses. Apparently Herod was afraid that John might spark a rebellion because so many people were gathering to hear him. John was the last person Herod wanted to see, and yet he was fascinated with John and seemed genuinely sorrowful for John’s final fate.

John the Baptizer seems like an archaic figure, but he is really contemporary to every age. He is an icon of sorts, or a window through which we see courageous righteous behavior regardless of the consequences. There is always someone who is willing to sound the warning, like whistle-blowers in the world of industry. They often lose their jobs and/or their lives.

If we were to sound warnings that no one wanted to hear, we might say we were a voice crying out in the wilderness. Have you ever been the voice of one crying out in the wilderness? Have you ever been the person in your group or community who stood on principle when no one else would? Have you ever stood up for what is right when the stakes were high? Or have you gone along to get along? Have you gone along with the crowd because “everybody is doing it?”

When we read about John the Baptizer, it seems that he is angry, or that God is angry and that John is expressing anger in God’s behalf. In the other Gospels, we hear John calling the Scribes and Pharisees a “brood of vipers.” Did he really enjoy saying that? The prophets show us that side of God that is justice, but they also show us that side of God who can be appeased by our repentance. God can change God’s mind. Abraham Heschel, in his wonderful book The Prophets, says that God doesn’t get angry just to get angry. On the contrary, he says that God’s anger is “a free and deliberate reaction of God’s justice to what is wrong and evil.” Jeremiah the Prophet says that if we repent of evil, God will repent of God’s intentions to punish that evil.

The Prophets could also wax poetic. Amos says that the Lord is the one who “creates the wind” and also “reveals his thoughts to mortals.” “Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the Prophets” according to Amos. (Amos 3:7) The Prophets in turn revealed God’s thoughts to us. The Great Prophet is Jesus, who is Prophet and Priest and King. The major job of the Prophets was always to point to the Redeemer, the Messiah, the Savior, who is Jesus, the Son of God and son of Mary.

We can think of Biblical Prophecy in terms of an hourglass. In an hourglass, all the sand is focused to flowing through a narrow point. It then comes back out into a wider place. Think of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the focal point of the prophetic hourglass. The Prophecies are the sand.

After the Prophets, we listened to the Apostles – those sent by Christ himself. The Apostles were given authority to ordain people who ordained people to preach the Gospel. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the message of God’s preachers was focused on preaching that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is God. That is the message of the Messianic age. The age of the Kingdom of God. John the Baptizer was the first to recognize Jesus and publicly proclaim the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.

John the Baptizer is the last in a long line of Biblical Prophets. His voice is the prophetic bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament. He looks like Elijah, dresses like Elijah, thunders like Elijah, but he points to and is related by blood to Jesus the Messiah. The kingdom of God has come on earth, and the Prophets turn in their badges. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/

Saint Nicholas of Myra

Who is the best-known saint in the Christian Church? Is is Saint Peter? Saint Paul? Saint Mary Magdalene? Although my vote goes to Mary of Nazareth, the mother of our Lord Jesus, many would nominate Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who died in approximately 342 A.D. There are people in Santa Claus, Indiana who dress up like Nicholas even in July.

Here is a brief biographical sketch of Nicholas from Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2003, a publication of the Episcopal Church USA:

Very little is known about the life of Nicholas, except that he suffered torture and imprisonment during the persecution under the Emperor Diocletian [which lasted from 303 A.D. to about 312 A.D.]. It is possible that he was one of the bishops attending the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325.

Nicholas was honored as a saint in Constantinople in the sixth century by the Emperor Justinian. His veneration became immensely popular in the West after the supposed removal of his body to Bari, Italy, in the late eleventh century. In England almost 400 churches were dedicated to him.

Nicholas is famed as the traditional patron of seafarers and sailors, and, more especially, of children. As a bearer of gifts to children, his name was brought to America by the Dutch colonists in New York, from whom he is popularly known as Santa Claus.

Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the pooor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
art: French Postcard

More old hymns

This entire week has been a week of feast days, and tomorrow we get Nicholas of Myra, a/k/a St. Nicholas, as in "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way."

Today is the feast day of Clement of Alexandria. Born about the middle of the second century and died about 210 A.D., Clement's contribution to Christianity is balance. He was a Greek philosopher in Alexandria, Egypt, a city so Greek it was founded by Alexander the Great. Somewhere along the way of his seeking for truth, Clement met Pantheons, the founder of the Christian Catechetical School in Alexandria. Clement's Greek background and newfound Christian faith allowed him to be a bridge. As a Christian priest Clement could preach to the Greeks and to the Christians. He became the head of that school in 190 A.D.

In a time when Christians were fleeing to the deserts of Egypt to purify their souls, Clement gave a balanced view of the right use of wealth in everyday life.

Clement left us some hymns, one of which we recently sang at Holy Cross Church:

Jesus, our mighty Lord, our strength in sadness,
the Father's conquering Word, true source of gladness;
your Name we glorify, O Jesus, throned on high;
you gave yourself to die for our salvation.

Good shepherd of your sheep, your own defending,
in love your children keep to life unending.
You are yourself the Way; lead us then day by day
in your own steps, we pray, O Lord most holy.

Glorious their life who sing, with glad thanksgiving,
true hymns to Christ the King in all their living;
all who confess his Name, come then with hearts aflame;
the God of peace acclaim as Lord and Savior.

O God of unsearchable wisdom, you gave your servant Clement grace to understand and teach the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, the source of all truth: Grant to your Church the same grace to discern your Word wherever truth is found; through Jesus Christ our unfailing light, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 95)


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/

Singing old hymns

A parishioner once asked me, "Haven't any hymns been written since 1200 A.D.?" In other words, why do we sing those old unfamiliar hymns?

There are many reasons, one of which is that I like them. Also, as a teaching elder in the Episcopal Church, I am charged with handing on the faith of the church. Christianity was not discovered yesterday, and we have a rich history. One of the ways that we keep that history alive is to sing "hymns ancient and modern."

Another way we keep our Christian history alive is to remember those who passed it on to us. Today is the feast day of John of Damascus, priest, who died around 760. John's primary contribution to Christianity is that he condemned heresies. Heresies are sneaky. They are cloaked in Christianity but are wolves in sheep's clothing. Heresies deny basic Christian dogma, such as the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Heresies usually present one issue for debate to stir up controversy, but they have an ulterior motive that is much darker. One of the controversies in John's day was whether Christians should have icons - those paintings on wood that provide a window into meditating on the life of Christ. There was an uproar that said you could not have an icon representing Christ because Christ is God and you can't have an image of God. John maintained that this cloaked a heresy that denied the humanity of Jesus Christ.

In our Hymnal 1982, John of Damascus has three hymns. We sing these at Easter because they are about the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, and primarily about his resurrection. Here's a verse from one of those hymns. If you are familiar with any contemporary Christian music, you might recognize a line from John's hymn (written in the 8th Century A.D.) that has been transferred over into a very popular contemporary song. It just proves that the truth never gets old.

The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad,
the Passover of gladness,
the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over
with hymns of victory.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
photo: Icon of the Archangel Gabriel
Greek Orthodox Church in Nazareth
Israel, August 2004

The bond and covenant of marriage

I am thinking about the ties that bind because seventy years ago today my parents got married. They were blessed with almost sixty years of marriage before my dad died in 1998.

There are Biblical standards for Christian marriage that are based on common sense notions such as love and respect. Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church it is required that one, at least, of the parties must be a baptized Christian; that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and the canons of this Church. [The Book of Common Prayer, 422]

I acknowledge that a lot of marriages dissolve, and some for good reason, but this is far from ideal. When I counsel a couple before providing a marriage ceremony for them, I give them to understand that this is serious business. Marriage is a lifetime commitment which requires a lot of mindful, daily effort from both parties.

These words might sound familiar to you:

Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people.

The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God. [The Book of Common Prayer, 423]


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
406-208-7314
Photos: family album

When the Dow tanks: pray, pray, pray

The Stock Market has been in bear territory lately, so I offer this prayer which is sometimes attributed to George Washington. It did not get published in The Book of Common Prayer until 1928, but I think it is timely today:

Almighty God, who hast given us
this good land for our heritage:
We humbly beseech thee
that we may always prove ourselves
a people mindful of thy favor
and glad to do thy will.

Bless our land with honorable industry,
sound learning,
and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion,
from pride and arrogance,
and from every evil way.

Defend our liberties,
and fashion into one united people
the multitudes brought hither
out of many kindreds and tongues.

Endue with the spirit of wisdom
those to whom in thy Name
we entrust the authority of government,
that there may be justice and peace at home,
and that, through obedience to thy law,
we may show forth thy praise
among the nations of the earth.

In the time of prosperity,
fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble,
suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
Photo: Grizzly Bear in Yellowstone Park
Memorial Day, 2008
He walked right by the car and off
into the woods. Scary!

How people meet Jesus

"Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." -- Jesus of Nazareth: Matthew 4:19

Today is the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle, one of the earliest followers of Jesus Christ. Actually the feast day was yesterday, November 30, but since it fell on a Sunday it got moved to Monday. Every Sunday is a feast of Jesus, and nothing trumps a feast of Jesus.

Andrew does not get a whole lot of press in the Scriptures, but when he does, it is always for something very significant: He is bringing someone to Jesus. Andrew was at first a disciple of John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew followed Jesus instead. He put that on hold momentarily to go and find his brother Simon, whom Jesus named Peter.

He brought Simon to Jesus,
who looked at him and said,
"You are Simon son of John.
You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
-- John 1:42

The next time we see Andrew, he is bringing a lad to Jesus because the lad has five loaves and two fishes which Jesus blesses and feeds to five thousand men, plus women and children.

So Andrew the Fisherman brought his brother Peter to Jesus. And lo and behold, their fishing partners James and John also became followers of Jesus. Relational evangelism works. We invite someone who invites someone, and on it goes . . . Who could you invite to attend church with you next Sunday?

Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. [from The Book of Common Prayer]


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
Photo: boat on the Sea of Galilee
August 2004