A Moment Aside ---- 30 April 2020

Psalm 23 is a favourite of many people. Here is a version of it that I happen to enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSJXi_wXLi4

Like a Shepherd. 

Text: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Matthew; Bob Dufford, SJ. 

Tune: Bob Dufford, SJ; 

(c) 1976, Robert J. Dufford, SJ, and OCP.

REFRAIN: Like a shepherd He feeds his flock
and gathers the lambs in His arms,
holding them carefully close to His heart,
leading them home.

Say to the cities of Judah:
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Go to the mountaintop, lift your voice;
Jerusalem, here is your God.

I Myself will shepherd them,
for others have led them astray.
The lost I will rescue and heal their wounds
and pasture them, giving them rest.

Come unto Me
if you are heavily burdened,
And take My yoke up on your shoulders,
I will give you rest.

Once again, I'll be leading a Service of Word and Prayer on Sunday, May 3 at 11:00am on the Church's YouTube channel. You can find that here:

The Fourth Sunday of Easter -- St. John's, Aylmer

God be with you all and we'll see each other again soon.

A Moment Aside --- 28 April 2020

This coming Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, is known as "Good Shepherd Sunday" because the readings, the Gospel in particular, point to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It's a comforting image, but one that remains familiar while being rarely encountered in our own day. I know a man who raises sheep and goats, but I don't think he sees himself as a "shepherd." The image of God as shepherd is woven throughout the Hebrew Scriptures and the image of Jesus as shepherd is found in a number of places in the Christian Scriptures. Psalm 80 says this:

Psalm 80  (RSV translation)

Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock;
     sine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin,and Manasseh,
     stir up your strength and come to help us.
Restore us, O God of hosts;
     show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

     God is called upon and praised using the image of a shepherd. Some people object to being characterized as 'sheep', assuming that it means mindless following of a leader. This, however, is an incomplete image, for the shepherd/sheep image is a two-way one. The sheep follow the shepherd and know him because he has cared for them since they were young lambs. That is what attracts them to him. They know his voice or his whistle or whatever he uses to call them and they follow him. In a certain way, the sheep depend on the shepherd while the shepherd had dedicated his life to the flock.
     In our present circumstances, we might pray this psalm (and all the psalms are meant to be prayed) asking our Good Shepherd to "stir up your strength and come to help us." Our need is great every day, and even more so now.

Remember, God gave us 'common sense' as well as grace.

My father always told me that the Church was a hospital for sinners,
not a museum for saints.

We need only practice the presence of God.

Jesus our healer, have mercy on us!
O Divine Physician, come to our aid!

The Third Sunday of Easter ---- 26 April 2020

Luke 24:13-35

13 Now on that same day two [disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" ¹⁹ He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." ²⁵ Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. ²⁸ As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" ³³ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴ They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

·         I’ve always enjoyed this passage and I have an unusual understanding of it. Just before my family and I moved to Ontario, we lived in… Emmaus, a town in Pennsylvania maybe twice the size of Aylmer. It was founded in the 1750’s by Christians of the Moravian Church. Anyway “the Road to Emmaus” is now full of car dealerships. There had been a great little place called Barney’s Diner, but it’s a used car lot now.

·         A number of theologians feel that this passage mirrors the early church’s worship service; Christians gather, hear the Word, break bread (which means Holy Communion), and go out to share Christ with other disciples and with the world. That does sound like the basics of a service of the Lord’s Supper to me.

·         Luke’s Gospel has Jesus doing two things an awful lot. One is traveling; even in today’s reading the disciples meet Jesus as they travel to Emmaus. The other is eating – whether that is part of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, of eating with “sinners and tax collectors” (which upset the righteous people a lot, who also called him a glutton and a drunkard) and then the Last Supper. Jesus even eats a piece of cooked fish when he meets his disciples after the Resurrection, to prove he’s not a ghost. The fellowship of table and food is important to Luke’s telling of the Good News.

·         The encounter on the road to Emmaus is a particular one. Jesus is unrecognized until we reach a certain point in the story. He explains the Scripture to the two disciples in the face of their amazement. When they gather at the table, it is Jesus who takes over the role of host as he takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to the two disciples. As one commentator put it, “But when Jesus does the most Jesus thing of all, everything changes.” When the Gospels say “break bread”, it’s more than just any old meal; it’s the meal we as Christians were told to do “in memory of me.” It’s only then that the disciples recognize him since he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. Then he is gone, although their hearts burned within them.

·         With this reading, today would be the perfect time to celebrate the Lord’s Supper… and we can’t; at least not as we’d like to. So what’s next?

·         Where do we encounter Jesus when we can barely encounter anyone?

·         Let’s start where Luke starts: with the gathering of the community “on the road to Emmaus.” I don’t know who’s out there today, watching and praying with me, so this is as much gathering as we can do today. It will serve. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Mt. 18:20)

·         Well, we can’t break bread either. However, we will… we will.

·         Luke has Cleopas and his companion listen to Jesus open the scripture to them to interpret the recent events. THAT we can do! Maybe our hearts will burn within us as we hear the Word.

·         Luke also tells us of the hospitality and openness of the disciples to the one they thought was a stranger. For good reason (probably safety), they invited him to stay and to eat with them. We may not be able to share a meal right now, but we can hope to and be ready to when we can.

·         It could be that the lesson we learn during this stressful time is to realize how hungry we are for the presence of our sisters and brothers in Christ. It might be the biggest revelation of all to find Jesus in the people around us.

·         The message today is that Jesus is present to us in whatever situation we find ourselves in. In hearing the Word, eating and drinking the Lord’s Supper and in our time of fellowship, we can find Jesus. In fact, he guarantees it. He will even surprise us as to where and when we’ll know his presence. In fact, I hope he does.

·         In feeding his disciples with the community, the Word, and the Bread, Jesus open their eyes to see that he’s been with them – and us – all along.

Tuesday Thoughts ----- 21 April 2020

Jesus our Savior, have mercy on us!
Heal us, O Divine Physician!

These word are not mine but I pass them on so we can all think about what's going on.

WORLD QUARANTINE

The Latin root of the word "quarantine" is "forty".

So what does the Bible say about 40?
The flood lasted 40 days.
40 years Moses fled Egypt.
40 days Moses stayed on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments.
Exodus lasted 40 years.
Jesus fasted for 40 days.
Lent is 40 days.
40 days for a woman to rest after giving birth.

A group of theologians thinks the number 40 represents "change”. It is the time of preparing a person, or people, to make a fundamental change.

Something will happen after these 40 days. Just believe and pray. Remember, whenever the number 40 appears in the Bible, there is a "change".

Please know that during this "quarantine" rivers are cleaning up, vegetation is growing, the air is becoming cleaner because of less pollution, there is less theft and murder, healing is happening, and most importantly, people are turning to Christ. The Earth is at rest for the first time in many years and hearts are truly transforming.

So, during this time, enjoy it with your loved ones...  Family prayer is a great blessing. Through prayer you will see the changes God can work in you and in your home. Christ promises us that everything works together for the good for those who love God! (Romans 8:28)

Remember we are in the year 2020, and 20 + 20 = 40.

Also, 2020 is the year of the United States Census. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, was born during a census.

Lastly, 2020 is perfect vision. May our sight focus on the Lord and living according to His perfect vision for us knowing He holds us in the palm of His hand.

May these days of "quarantine" bring spiritual liberation to our souls, our nation, and our world.

The best is yet to come.

Trust in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

{I can't say that I'm familiar with all of what's said, but there's much to think about here.}

We can always make a new start each morning.

We can each do something, no matter how small we might see it.
It takes many, many bricks to build a house.

The Second Sunday of Easter ----- 19 April 2020

(For those who wish, you can see the YouTube video of this service and message here:)

St. John's === Second Sunday of Easter

John 20:19-31

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

·        Have we had enough of closed doors? Have we had enough of isolation? Lots of people have. I (for one) think it is still saving lives and still keeping our health care workers from being over-whelmed.

·        Jesus’ disciples were not isolated for fear of a disease; they were hiding for fear of being killed. They closed the doors to keep out people who would persecute them, not infect them.

·        Still here we are – locked away, maybe hearing from friends and loved ones on the phone or over some computer communication. We smell of antiseptic. We are tired of eating our own cooking. We are frightened by the news from both near and far. It just seem endless.

·        However we hear rumours. Something has been happening even as we stayed in our homes. The word has seeped into our isolation when we weren’t looking. The rumours are mysterious and the rumours are the same as we’ve heard at Easter all our lives. This year, more than most, we hear the words whispered rather than shouted or sung: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” Somehow this word of hope has entered our lives again despite the strangest circumstances many of us can think of or remember.

·        This is the Sunday were we often beat up Thomas, the disciple who wanted only what the other disciples had – to see Jesus. We call him “the Doubter”, but he believed! Thomas becomes either an example of the faith we all want or a symbol of the doubt we all carry. Anyway, let’s cut Thomas a break and let him rest for this year at least; he’s done enough.

·        The real focus is not on doubt and faith, nor is it on the resurrection of the body. The focus is Jesus entering our crumbled lives in the middle of a disaster. It’s about Jesus present in the strange darkness of our day, and not just of this unusual year of 2020.

·        Jesus let his disciples know he was alive in the most vivid way in the middle of what had appeared to be absolute failure and tremendous horror. He showed them his wounds as a way of saying “It’s really me, the fellow you’ve known… and I’m no ghost!” and as a way of letting them know that he has entered their wounded lives and the entire wounded world, bringing healing through his compassion.

·        We’re all living ‘a little closer to the bone’ these days. Our usual distractions are not available to us. Everything and everyone is at arm’s length and more. Still, Christ is with us and Jesus is here. We may not be physically gathered, but we’re gathered in our separation to hear the Word, to pray together, and to be together in spirit and in separate action. I don’t know how many people are seeing this, but if it were only one, then you and I are still together in Jesus’ name… which mean Jesus is here.

·        As Jesus stood among his first disciples and showed those wounded and frightened people the wounds in his hands and side, he stands among us now, today, where-ever you might be, fully aware of our fears and our ills, fully aware of the fears and ills of the world. We might not have a cure for the virus, but we have healing which brings peace, courage, and the strength both to endure and to move on.

·        He stays with us in this time of trouble, fear, and disaster.

·        Jesus is with us, with our hands in his wounded hand. I hope we’d remember his first words to the disciples on both Easter evening and the evening of the Sunday that followed. I think it’s what he’ll say to each of us when we see him face-to-face, but it’s what he says to us now:

·        “Peace be with you.”

Thursday's thoughts ----- 16 April 2020

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd
(Revelation 7:17)

     For all of us who feel "cooped up" in our residences, it may be time to do something that is not always recommended. Maybe we should all dream a little bit. Not about cook-outs and long walks, but who we want to be once this thing is over. People talk about getting back to "normal", but if we return to just the way things were before, what's the use? We will not have learned anything from what we've experienced! If everything goes back to the way it was before the onslaught of the COVID-19 virus, we've lost all that time. I'm not an advocate of "being productive" during this time of isolation. That simply makes us more of what could be called "economic animals." What we need to learn and remember is what we've lost and what we've gained. We've learned what we can do without and learned what we can do just where we are, just as we are. We may remain the same person we always were, but we can can see what's gone on around us and become better, kinder, more patient, and more grateful. 
     I'll never be grateful for the virus; it's done too much damage to our lives. However, by the grace of God, I could learn from how I've lived through it. And so can you.

For your personal prayer

I'd like to invite you all to join me for a service of Word and prayer this Sunday at 11:00am over the internet. Here is the link:

Second Sunday of Easter 2020

God be with us all!

Tuesday thoughts --- 14 April 2020 --- Tuesday of "Bright Week"

Jesus our Healer, have mercy on us!
O Divine Physician, come to our aid!

Today is the Tuesday of Holy Week, which is also called "Bright Week" in some Christian traditions. It's worth remembering and celebrating because Easter is a season and not just one day. Lent is forty days long and the Easter season is fifty days! (It ends with either Ascension Thursday or Pentecost Sunday; you're free to choose either as far as I'm concerned.) This can go even further because each Sunday is a little Easter! Each Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and his presence in each of us, in the Church, and in the whole of creation. Christ is risen and remains among us!

Easter Sunday --- 12 April 2020 --- The Resurrection of our Lord

Matthew 28: 1-10 

28 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid;

I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.”

·        In this weird and troubled time, we long for good news and we long for the community the virus has stolen from us. Now we find community by internet and phone, and the Good News still comes to us in this old story.

·        There is no better Good News than this! “He is not here… he has been raised…” And as with all big announcements in the Gospels, it begins with “Do not be afraid!” We hear this at Christmas and at Easter. 16 times in the four Gospels!

·        Now we know that if someone we say die walked up to us a few days later and greeted us, we be afraid. We’d ask “What’s going on? Who are you? Am I going crazy?” and a few other things asked out of fear. This is human nature and it appears that both the angel sitting on the stone and Jesus when he met the two women on the way to tell the disciples knew this, because both say “Do not be afraid…”

·        Jesus knows us and knows the human condition. He knew then that this was out of the ordinary. He knows it now as well.

·        We believe in the Resurrection of Jesus. If we didn’t, we probably wouldn’t be doing this right now. The real question is… do we believe what the Resurrection of Jesus means for us?

·        Jesus rising from the dead is not a return to the old life he led. He is resurrected and is different and yet the same. (Don’t ask me how that is. He was recognized by his friends and disciples, but he was different.) He’s more of what he always was; do not be afraid!

·         Jesus died and now lives. Death is not simply cheated; death is defeated! Do not be afraid!

·        In his rising from the dead, Jesus was freed from death. We are freed from the prison of death as well. The worship services of some churches say Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Do not be afraid!

·        Now if Jesus rose from the dead for himself only, it would be fantastic and it could stand as proof of some much about him. It would be for him and we would be left wondering about his message for us. But he rose not only for himself; he rose for us as well and that says even more! Where he leads, we follow – from death into life. Do not be afraid!

·        When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, during the table prayer we can say together “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.” The short phrases point to past, present, and future. Christ IS risen! ... that’s the present! Now! Always now. Do not be afraid!

·        One day… soon I hope… we’ll gather greet each other face-to-face, to hear the Word and to eat the Lord’s Supper. One day… soon… the stone will be rolled away and we’ll know the presence of Jesus Christ in those we meet. One day… soon… we’ll know and celebrate that rolled-away stone like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary did; with real joy.

·        Until our own stones are rolled away, let’s say together: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

·        Do not be afraid! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Happy Easter!

Good Friday ---- 10 April 2020

{Before I post my Good Friday sermon, I'd like to invite anyone who reads this to watch my internet service for Easter Sunday. Here is the link:

St. John's Aylmer Easter Sunday

If you can, listen for church bells ringing at 9:30am on Easter Sunday morning. The National bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Archbishop Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada have asked the congregations of both denominations that have bells to ring them on Easter Sunday morning to celebrate Jesus' Resurrection.}

John 19: 16b-30 

 So they took Jesus; ¹⁷ and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew^[d] is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth,^[e] the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew,^[f] in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” ²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

“They divided my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

²⁵ And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.”

Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

·        We all know the story of the Passion. Every year, it is proclaimed on Good Friday. The Church wants us to hear it for a number of reasons.

o  To know the reality of suffering in Jesus’ life

o  To know the depth of his love, giving up his life for the entire world in its entire history.

o  To tie Good Friday and Easter together. Some look only to Good Friday and the story of suffering and never to the wonder of Easter. Some look only to Easter and its triumph while ignoring what Jesus endured.

o To help us remember what was done when Jesus said “It is finished.”

·        Were we to say that, it would mean that we’ve finished the job or weeded the flower bed or did the dishes or repaired a torn sheet. Whatever the task, we did it… and we can move on to the next task.

·        For Jesus to say that just before he dies on the cross carries a lot more meaning. He isn’t simply saying “I’m done.” Far from it!

·        As John wrote it, those words are almost a shout of victory. In his death, Jesus is saying “I’ve done what I came to do… and everything I came to do is done.”

·        “It is finished” has more of a feeling of accomplishment and achievement, even though those words do not sound right when we consider what has gone on. We wouldn’t expect these words from a man dying such a death.

·        Jesus’ phrase, “It is finished” also has the sense of something that is accomplished which has effects for the future.

·        Yet there they are. “It is finished.” “It is accomplished.”

·        What was accomplished? Jesus has laid down his life for his friends and his friends over all time and space. Jesus has given his blood for the cleansing of all and the forgiveness of sin. That’s for all time and for everyone. Jesus did this – not our faith, not our works – but God’s free gift in Jesus.

·        Now… something different. I’ve never understood the separation some people make between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. They are forever linked and intimately linked. Jesus died and died for our sins. Jesus rose and rose for our new lives.

·        The proclamation of what Jesus came to do is tied to the Resurrection. They cannot be broken apart without losing the sense of both.

·        Jesus died for us and the Resurrection was not for himself alone; it is for us.

o   For our own Resurrection

o   For the proclamation of new life and forgiveness

o   For showing us his presence in all time and in all we do.

·        If we think of ourselves today, we do it in the light of what Jesus did for us. Despite our sins and failings, despite our unfaithfulness and forgetfulness, in his great mercy, he did it for us... for us as we are. He did it for us as we might become.

·        Something to remember and to live in.

·        Amen and amen.