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Weekly Message 5-13-12

 ENVY

Fr. Ron Longero

This week I decided that I needed to begin reading a series of books I’ve had for years, (mostly for reference).  So, I started at the beginning.  The first book is the “First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians.”  Clement was of the sub-apostolic period having succeeded the original apostles.  

Apparently the Corinthians were having some issues once again.  If you read Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians you will notice that they were having issues then as well.  Clement writes, “Every kind of honor and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, ‘My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked.’(Dt. 32:15)  Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity.  So the worthless rose up against the honored, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the you against those advanced in years.  For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as everyone abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.”

One of the current trends is to talk about how people are evolving by accepting certain new moral positions which have been previously considered immoral.  I have never really thought that behaviorally humans have evolved.  In fact, I think we have a tendency during certain periods of history to devolve.  Hence my interest in what Clement was writing to the Corinthian Church.

The words that most especially caught my attention were emulation and envy.  The definition which Clement intended for emulation was ambitious or envious rivalry.  It is behavior that is harmful to the soul and hurts the community.  In this case it seems to have had devastating consequences for the Corinthian Church.  It brought about deep division within the church community.  Envy was considered by ascetics and moral theologians as one of the seven deadly sins.  Clement points out that this is not a new phenomenon.  Nor did his letter of exhortation end it for all time.

C.S. Lewis suggested “Everyone wishes everyone else’s discrediting, demotion, and ruin; everyone is an expert in the confidential report, the pretended alliance, the stab in the back.”  St. John Chrysostom says, “As a moth gnaws at a garment, so envy consumes a man.”  Envy is sorrow for another’s good. 

During my time of reflection I thought about the many problems and challenges that can confront any community or institution that arises from envy.  Gerhard Reed in his book, “C.S. Lewis Explores Vice and Virtue” quotes Hannah Arendt, “Modern man has come to resent everything given, even his own existence--to resent the very fact that he is not the creator of the universe and himself.  In this fundamental resentment, he refuses to see rhyme or reason n the given world.  In his resentment of all laws merely given to him, he proclaims openly that everything  is permitted and believes secretly that everything is possible.” 

He then quotes C.S. Lewis, “When equality is treated not as a medicine or a safety-gadget but as an ideal, we begin to breed that stunted and envious sort of mind which hates all superiority.”

So, what do we do with all of this?  As Christians we must be aware of at least two things.  First, that we too, as the Corinthians are not immune to envy.  Second, we cannot change those in the world who don’t have a world view that understands that the God and Father of Jesus is the author of all things including moral law.  What we can do is to always offer thanks and praise to God for the place in life we have been given and the opportunity and gifts He has given us to serve.  We do not need to know all of the reasons or even agree with God.  We simply have to trust that the author of all knows what He is doing.

Weekly Message 5/7/12

 

FREEDOM OF RELIGION

By: Jim Brandmueller

As I write this we are observing the National Day of Prayer.  This has been observed, more or less, for over 20 years in the United States and is generally lead by the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. 

As has been the case for several years, lawsuits abounded when the President issued the proclamation several weeks back.  They claim that the Day of Prayer infringes on the First Amendment's guarantee against establishment of a State Church.  Rightfully, the Courts have rejected this argument on the basis that people are not compelled to participate and certainly not directed to attend or worship at a given denomination.

Interestingly, I read an article this week by a noted Theologian who took the position that the decline of Christianity has as its root Emperor Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313.  The edict permitted the worship of the God of one's choice rather than the Ancient Roman Gods. 

Christianity was allowed to come out from hiding and flourished.  But, at the same time, the theologian argues, the commitment level by the membership was reduced.  The vetting process of the early Church was extensive.  To admit someone into the Church who was not fully committed could result in death to all.  The process required extensive study and preparation as a catechumen.  By the time of baptism, or renewal of vows for those who were baptized as infants one had exhaustive training and were prepared to don their white robe as members of Christ's Church. 

When the threat of death was remove, so was the need to so thoroughly prepare candidates as they could no longer betray the Church.  The theologian argues that with the allowance of freedom of religion, the Muslim movement ultimately conquered the city named after the emperor, Constantinople.

Freedom is a tricky thing.  It only works when people accept the responsibility to become educated and can make informed decisions. 

Unfortunately, it is far easier to remain somewhat ignorant and worship at the Church of Football, Baseball, NASCAR.... (fill in your favorite sporting distraction from Sunday morning)!!!  A recent study by the U.S.

Conference of Catholic Bishops found that religious education is down by more than 50% in the last 40 years.  The commitment to properly train young people in the faith is dwindling.  Within our own Anglican Fellowships, confirmation has become a 3 to 4 hour course in many cases.

The bottom line is:  Freedom, without the responsibility to learn and determine the history and requirements of the faith, becomes the tool for the lazy and uninspired.  This becomes Satan's playground.  If you cannot defend your moral positions, you are subject to whim and fancy, which lead to the utter destruction of the soul.  Let's work harder to demonstrate that we are responsible citizens who are capable of accepting this freedom by conquering the necessary basis for our faith. 

By learning how to grow as individual Christians and in fellowship with other Christians.

"Almighty God, repository of all knowledge, show your lamp upon us that we may emerge from the darkness and follow your Son, the true light of the world, for eternity."

Weekly Message 4/29/12

LEARNING AND LIVING IN FAITH

By: Jim Brandmueller

This week I had the opportunity to read about two actions which dovetail with our own ministries.

First, I read about a conference of charities which was held at the Vatican during Easter week.  The predominant theme was performing charitable function in a public manner, not to evangelize nor to seek members, but as a form of performing the Lord's work in the world with no expectation of return.  We are thankful for the gifts bestowed upon us by the sacrifice and life of Christ and this leads us to continue this generosity.  Recently, many parish ladies held a tea which raised funds and provided gifts to the pregnancy crisis center.  It was held at a Senior Living Community and was open to the residents to attend.  This is an example of a visible act of charity in the community.

The second item I was taken by was a discussion on the very topic of the Vicar's message last week and in Sunday's Homily. We all seem to have so many distractions in our lives which divert us from reading and studying the Word on a daily basis.  I learned of an interesting web site which is also presented on satellite radio, the one minute monk.  Members of the Benedictine Order provide a one-minute reflection on scripture.  Once you are comfortable with this (it's not too good to get comfortable) there are five minute and 15 minute programs.  Consider some of these options.

"Lord, help us to reflect you through learning your divine scripture and putting it into action through our acts."

Weekly Message 4/22/12

THE BIBLE AND YOU

Fr. Ron Longero

This week Jim sent me an article by Lauren Greene of Fox News regarding the status of the Bible in American homes.  In the article statistics from a survey conducted by the American Bible Society (ABS) indicated that a large majority of household have Bibles.  Many more than one.  It also shows that a majority think the Bible contains essential truths for life.  However, they go on to say that a minority know the difference between teachings of the Bible, Koran and Book of Mormon.  In short they conclude, “There are probably five Bibles on every shelf in American homes. Americans buy the Bibles, they debate the Bible, they love the Bible... they just don't read the Bible."

This got me to reflecting.  I think we as a society have become enamored only with things modern or current.  If something is old we think of it as outdated or not progressive enough.  I recently had a conversation with a lady who was questioning me and challenging me with regard to some of my non-progressive beliefs.  Since it was an occasion where I didn’t want to come off as too confrontational I decided to let this one question pass, “What is wrong with something old and tried and true?”  “Why does old and traditional have to be bad?”  What if there really are unchangeable truths that God has established that will still be true no matter what generation we live in?

The Books of the Bible are old, thousands of years old.  I think about the comment that people like to debate the Bible but don’t read the Bible.  How interesting!  Debating something that one doesn’t read.  If the Bible is so important why isn’t it important enough to read?  One doesn’t have to understand everything in the Bible.  You only have to read it.  At the most basic level one can read the Bible and listen to hear what God may be telling them in their own lives.  While one can read the Bible in such a way as to listen, one can also turn to teachers of the Bible to help with insight.  Often this is the parish clergy.

The second part of this is also important.  If the Bible contains things necessary for life (we clergy have to state a belief that Holy Scripture contain all things necessary for salvation) then why don’t people seek to order their lives after the pattern of the Bible?  St. Paul in his second letter to Timothy “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)  If this is true why not spend time every day in Scripture?  Is this not the primary textbook for a Christian?

I find Holy Scripture to be challenging.  Yes, I like to read books about Scripture sometimes more than Scripture itself.  Yet, I know I can’t hide (at least for very long) without going back to the Sacred Books themselves.  I remember when I was first ordained priest I was excited to think that I would be going into parish ministry and working with people and discussing how the Holy Scripture was working in our lives to and how through the Holy Scripture  and the influence of the Holy Spirit our lives could be changed.  Alas, I found years ago that there are very few people who were interested in this.  One has to wonder then if there are so many unread Bibles in people’s homes is there any wonder why the Church has so little impact upon the fabric of our society.

I believe St. Paul was right.  “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out how the Holy Spirit may want to guide our lives through reading and reflection upon the Holy Scripture?

 

SEEING ISN’T BELIEVING

By: Jim Brandmueller

Last Sunday's Gospel message included the retelling of the Apostle Thomas' story of needing to see the wounds in Jesus' hands and side to believe him to be present amongst those in the locked room.

Now, we can fast forward nearly 2000 years and yet there are millions who have not seen who believe.  Or have they?  Jesus works are all around us.  We witness his greatness daily.  But do we take the time to appreciate it?

Last week in this message I discussed taking the time to listen to God's messages to us.  Today, let's consider using our eyes to see God's goodness in our daily lives.  A wise man, Yogi Berra, once said "You can see a lot just by observing!"  How true.  Once you dig through the laughter at many Yogiisms, there is just plain logic.  In this case, we fail to observe our surroundings as we focus on our personal journey. 

We fail to open ourselves up to be a part of God's greater actions in this world, whether it is the dog who stood watch over the body of another dog who had been killed by a car, the unique growth of flowers in a garden, or that quirky neighbor who once in a while spouts something so profound that we are taken aback.

We don't need to see Jesus' wounds to know he is present.  He is here with us eternally.  This week let's try listening and observing, who knows what we may give witness to.

"Almighty Father, open our eyes to see you, our ears to hear you, and our minds to understand you, that we might be guided to serve you better, day by day".

Weekly Message 4/15/12

 THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED

By: Jim Brandmueller

 “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."

After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.""  John 20:19-20

We have witnessed Jesus' tribulation during our Holy Week observances. 

Services were somber, solemn and mournful leading to the joyous observance of the Risen Lord on Easter.  For many this was the first observation of the Easter Vigil which begins symbolically in the darkness of the tomb and concludes with the full festive lights of the Risen Christ!

Now, however we begin a very important period in our lessons.  The resurrected Christ will, over the next few weeks, educate us as to how we, as the successors to those huddled in the house, are to conduct the business of proclaiming him as the Messiah throughout the world.  We must, I repeat, must dedicate ourselves to ensuring that we proclaim the Risen Christ in every aspect of our lives.  This task is becoming increasingly more difficult.  We are admonished that while publicly our right to worship is a guaranteed right in the United States, it should be a right which is exercised in private.  In other parts of the world Christians are persecuted and in some cases put to death.  Last week a Saudi Imam advised followers to destroy Christian Churches.  Whether we want to face it or not, our Christian faith is under a full blown attack from those who do not believe.  An Anglican Priest was noted as saying in a recent interview "Many other than the Christians know or observe tolerance of differing faiths".  Certainly this is true amongst the radical leaders of Islam who call for Christian leaders in Iran to be executed for heresy against the state religion.

We are now with the Great redeemer in that room.  We must listen carefully, for in the words we will hear the instructions on how we are to react and behave amongst this onslaught.

Our tradition teaches that the Bible contains all which is required for our salvation.  Yet, how often do we turn to it for instruction on how we are to face adversity.  We are the evangelists for the servant Church.  We are the ones called by God to proclaim the Good News throughout our lives.

As most of you know, I have been stricken with an inner-ear disorder which has, and will continue to diminish my hearing.  I am required to wear hearing aids which I find to be very discomforting.  I am, however, blessed with the fact that when they are not in place I am permitted to be in a very quiet place, free from distractions, and able to hear the Lord as he directs.  I certainly found enough distractions through my life to avoid listening until this.  Now, most of those distractions have been removed and I can hear.  Why not take a little time from your hectic schedule to read the bible and silently reflect... you don't have to be stricken to hear the Lord's words.

"Lord, grant us your serenity, that we might better hear your words and grow as your servants.  Guide us through your Holy Bible, that we might perform your will in our daily lives."

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

He is risen, Indeed!  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Weekly Message 4/8/12

JESUS AND TRUTH

Fr. Ron Longero

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”  (John 18:37-38 ESV)

So what is truth?  This seems to me to be a pretty elusive question for our world.  As I meditate this Good Friday, I find myself wondering about the status of truth.  People are bombarded by our speed of light media with counter truth claims of all sort.  We have competing religious truths; competing political truths; competing ideological truths about nature; competing truths about global climate change and so on.  What are we to trust?  We also run into the situation where people can get away with making false statements as if they were truth.

I know if I spend too much time on much of this I start getting dizzy and cynical.  I don’t want to be cynical.  As a Christian how can I be cynical?  So, I got to reading a bit more. 

Benedict XVI wrote in his book “Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week” about truth. He asks, “What then is truth?  Can we recognize it?”  In speaking of Jesus as Jesus’ own testimony about himself is that he came into the world to “bear witness to the truth”, Benedict writes, “Again and again in the world, truth and error, truth and untruth, are almost inseparably mixed together.  The truth in all its grandeur and purity does not appear.  The world is “true” to the extent that it reflects God....And it becomes more and more true the closer it draws to God.  Man becomes true, he becomes himself, when he grows in God’s likeness.”

Being a Christian means believing in and trusting Jesus.  It means trusting that God condescended to humanity that we might come into relationship with Him.  It means that  only God can bring about our salvation and right relationship.  Jesus showed us that the way of truth is a way of lowliness.  It is a vision for man of becoming like a slave or like a child rather than gaining our own glory. 

As I participate in and observe life I find that I can only follow one direction, that of the one who said he came to “bear witness to the truth.”  As Benedict said, “truth and error, truth and untruth are almost inseparably mixed together.”  Our faith teaches that if we want to know what God’s likeness we are to look to the human form of God in Jesus.  Jesus through his death and resurrection opens the way for our own transformation into Jesus’ likeness and therefore God’s.  If I want to know the truth then what must I do?  I must seek Jesus’ help in transforming me. 

REFLECTIONS UPON HOLY WEEK

By: Jim Brandmueller

We are now in the most Holy period of our Christian year. It is a time for deep reflection as we travel from high, to low and end again on the highest and most Holy day of our Church year.

We began last Sunday with the Liturgy of the Palms. Jesus is triumphantly welcomed into Jerusalem as he is heralded by the masses. It would have appeared to the observer of the day that Christ's ministry was to be fulfilled through the acceptance of him as the King of the Jews. These same followers had refused to listen as he foretold the end of his earthly ministry to them as they approached the City.

On Thursday we celebrated the institution of the Eucharistic Sacrament which our Lord did following the third cup of the traditional Seder Supper. During this dinner he uncharacteristically washed the feet of his Apostles, setting into motion the fact that the greatest duty we have is to serve those beneath us. We strip the altar at the end of the Sacramental service, just as Jesus left the supper to pray to his heavenly father. We to, do not conclude this service, but traditionally set a prayer watch near the altar.

Friday is the most solemn day of our Church year. Our Lord and Saviour fulfills the many prophesies, both from the Old and New Testaments, in willingly giving himself over to death. Earlier this week I listened as a scholar attempted to debunk Christ's Divinity by saying that if he truly was God, he would have certainly used his powers to save himself from the suffering and painful death. This is a common misunderstanding for it is far greater an act to follow the path which our heavenly Father has set forth for us, despite our ability to take an easier route. Jesus knew that he must fulfill the prophesied, and willingly accepted this role on behalf of all who would take up his cross and follow him.

Traditionally, the prayer watch would continue just as the watch which observed Jesus' tomb. We know that he has left, but we await his return in glory. Can you imagine the Apostles and disciples thoughts at this time? They maintained their faith but were devastated by the actions which they had witnessed. One amongst them had betrayed Jesus, another denied him. All which were foretold. The prayer watch traditionally ends with the Easter Vigil. We gloriously see the darkness overcome with the light of a Lord who had descended into Hell and Risen again to fulfill the promises made by the Father to us. In many congregations the worship would end with the conclusion of the Vigil however we will celebrate the Risen Lord again on Sunday with the proclamation that “He is Risen”

If you have not done so, I would recommend that you commit yourself to read the Passion from one or more of the Gospels. It reminds us of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. In the last hours of his life the late John Paul II asked that he be read the passion. He focused his attention on the suffering endured by our Lord that we might be forgiven our transgressions rather than focusing on his own pain. This was an action which struck me with great conscience. During the last week of my own father’s life he slept a great deal. I read the passions to him during one visit. I came to better know that it was through this sacrifice that we are indeed saved and that we will one day join our Lord in eternal life.

May the Lord bless and keep you and may you find the Grace bestowed upon us through this Holy Week and our Saviour’s Death and Resurrection.

weekly Message 3/30/12

 

ETERNAL LIFE

Fr. Ron Longero

 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3

Recently I heard on the news interviews with atheists.  One was asked why he didn’t believe.  He said that he lived in reality.  Hmmmm.  What is real?  If one follows Holy Scripture, for example some of the writing of St. Paul, you would read about this world passing away.  In the above verse from St. John, we hear Jesus in the High Priestly prayer describing to us what eternal life is.  Now atheists believe that when you’re dead, you’re dead.  Now what do we silly Christians believe, you know the ones who are not grounded in reality?

First, we believe Jesus was real don’t we?  Secondly, we believe that the events captured in Holy Week lead to a crucial and pivotal point in history, that of the Resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.  It doesn’t matter to the non-believers that there were numerous people outside of Jesus’ intimate group of disciples and closest followers that also witnessed his Resurrection.  Thirdly, we believe that because of Jesus we will inherit eternal life.

So what is this eternal life?  Jesus says, “And this is eternal life...”  Read this from the Bishop of Rome:  “Eternal life is not, as the modern reader might immediately assume, life after death, in contrast to this present life, which is transient and not eternal.  Eternal life is life itself, real life which can also be lived in the present age and is no longer challenged by physical death.  This is the point; to seize life here and now, real life that can no longer be destroyed by anything or anyone.”

Eternal life is real life, knowing the one true God through His Son Jesus.  It is as Benedict XVI says, real life.  It is life lived in an near the ultimate reality who is God.  Those who disparage those of us who believe in the unseen God, think that the only reality is what they see.  They have to, by necessity, hang on to the visible power structures of society.  But true reality, God, is the greatest and only true power.  It is God  who gives those of us who are powerless, the final victory.  Why?  Because we place our trust in Jesus.  We place our trust in the unseen God. 

The real challenge we face as Christians is to not place too much faith in the same structures as those who oppose us.  Make no mistake, our faith is under assault in the modern age.  The world has been given a great gift by God through the grace which flows from the life and self-emptying of Jesus.  The challenge for those of us to say yes to that gift, and accept that gift is to participate in redemption by emptying ourselves for the sake of the Kingdom.  Participation in the life of the Church is one way we do this.  We empty ourselves of ourselves for the sake of the humble message of Jesus.  Participating in the life of the Church is a great privilege. 

Weekly Message 3/25/12

MILITANCY AND CONSTANCY IN THE CHURCH
By: Jim Brandmueller

This past week was a hectic one as well as a blessed one.

First, we lost our beloved friend, Mother, Grandmother and great-Grandmother, Alice Dofflemyre. She died at the age of 99 with dignity and faith in our Lord. Her services were a beautiful reminder of that faith and she was remembered as a member of Christ's Church. Requiescat In Pace.

We also had the blessing of the visit by our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Winfield Mott as we were welcomed into full fellowship as members of the Diocese of the West and the Reformed Episcopal Church.

The Bible study group examined the Holy Spirit and I called for a more militant form of Christianity in last week's message.

Now, I'm certain you're wondering how these all tie together. They are all part of the community of faith to which we are called. In our life of faith we are persuaded by the Holy Spirit to live and defend our Christian beliefs and life. We reaffirm our faith through our community of worship and are rewarded through the grace we receive from the Blessed Body and Blood of our Saviour. We stand as the Church militant in the defense of our foundational beliefs.

As Lent draws to a close we complete those necessary spiritual preparations for Easter. The resurrected Christ, on his throne of Glory watches over us in the firm knowledge of his coming again in Glory.

"Almighty God, Holy Spirit descend upon us. Grant us the strength and knowledge to defend you against those who would defile or deny you. Help us to grow in you, day by day, and help us to serve you in all that we do and are. Forgive us our transgressions and guide us to lead a more Holy life."

Weekly Message 3/18/12

COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS
by: Father Ron Longero

 This week I have found myself reflecting upon the communion of the saints, that article of faith found in the creeds.  I do so as I reflect upon the loss of my grandmother, Alice.  Gram ended her life with an emphasis on the two most important parts of it for her, faith and family.  I learned how important her faith was when I brought her the sacrament.  She would always cry.  She was comforted in that the last food she had was the sacrament.  It reminded me of a teaching of James Dekoven, an Anglican priest in the U.S. over a 100 years ago.  Dekoven taught that we could always be comforted with regards to the loss of a loved one as we receive the sacrament ourselves. 

That is what brings me to the ‘communion of the saints’.  The Church has taught traditionally that there are three parts of the Church, the Church Militant, the Church Expectant and the Church Triumphant.  The Church Militant is the Church here in this world, the Church Expectant is the departed entering purification, and the Church Triumphant is the Church who has come into the near presence of the Father.  We in the Church Militant are hidden from those in the Church Expectant and Triumphant by a veil.  Yet, we are not separated.  We are united in faith.  We are united in worship and sacrament.

It’s sad that we hear so little of the Church in this manner.  People in their desire to be comforted and not separated from their beloved departed often make up notions of communion which are contrary to the received faith.  But reflect with me for a moment about communion.  In our communion with Christ through the sacrament we are united with Christ and therefore with the saints who have gone before.  Even those who are being purified are in communion with us.  They are just being made ready to go further up and further in eternal life with God.

As I prepare for her funeral I am comforted that God in His perfect wisdom has made it possible for us to not be separated and continue in love and fellowship with those who have gone before us.  The Church is every bit a mystery as God himself.  The gift we have been given through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is that because earth was joined to heaven and heaven to earth we remain in communion with those who have gone before us.  This Sunday when we gather together around the Eucharistic table, may we all remember and give thanks for the departed who have gone before and to whom we are still with in communion.

 

IS IT TIME FOR MORE MILITANT CHRISTIANITY?

By: Jim Brandmueller

The ongoing war against Christianity and freedom of religious beliefs continues to escalate in the United States and throughout the world.

As you read last week in the Vicar's meditation, attacks on the sanctity of life, a significant issue of the Roman Church.  This creates an attack on all of our Constitutional right to worship as we see fit.  Once the government is permitted to mandate for or against any belief, all of us suffer.

This week the Cameron government in the UK announced that it was not going to fight European Community rules which ban the wearing of crosses in the workplace on the grounds that wearing a cross is not required of Christians (whereas wearing certain garb for Muslims is required by their faith).

I could go on and on with examples of these attacks upon our Christian beliefs.  Instead, I would like to open a dialogue on how we might become more militant, yet non violent in defense of our faith in Christ.  Obviously, non Christians may be offended by some of our actions just as we may be offended by actions and beliefs of others.

Let's consider how to stand up for Christ, in the face of opposition.  Our forefathers maintained their faith despite unpopularity and or threats and now this burden has fallen upon us.

I am a proud and devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  This devotion trumps all other loyalties.  Let's consider how to defend our faith together over the next few weeks.

Weekly Message 3/10/12

 

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM?
Father Ron Longero

Today I read a letter from Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan to the Catholic Conference of Bishops in the U.S.  The point of the letter was religious freedom and the Obama administration’s trampling of it.  The issue as you probably are aware is over the government’s decision to make people of religious conscious pay for methods of contraception, etc. that are contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.  Here’s what greatly concerns me.

Archbishop Dolan writes, “At a recent meeting between staff of the bishop’s conference and the White House staff, our staff members asked directly whether the broader concerns of religious freedom--that is, revisiting the straight-jacketing mandates, or broadening the maligned exemption--are all off the table.  They were informed that they are.  So much for working out the wrinkles (as promised by the administration).  Instead, they advised the bishop’s conference that we should listen to the ‘enlightened’ voices of accommodation, such as the recent, hardly surprising yet terribly unfortunate editorial in America.  The White House seems to think we bishops simply do not know or understand Catholic teaching and so, taking a cue from its own definition of religious freedom, now has nominated its own handpicked official Catholic teachers.

Here is the rub for me.  One way or the other the federal government under Obama is making the Church bow to it’s immoral laws.  While the administration has felt free to grant all sorts of exemptions for unions and so forth, it will not for the Church.  Why should a conscientious, morally bound body like the Church have to give in to such questionable laws.  The laws literally force the Catholic Church to commit grave sin.  The alternative is to close the many wonderful hospitals, charities, and schools in order to avoid the moral consequence.  If the government can do this what else will they interfere with? 

The second piece that troubles me greatly is the arrogance with which the administration acts.  The bishop’s conference “should listen to the enlightened voices of accommodation...”  The White House has “nominated its own handpicked official Catholic teachers.”  The first instructive point is that we Christians have to return to the clear teaching of what the Church is.  The Church is not some man made religious organization.  It was given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the first sacrament before all others.  We have developed some institutional means for governance but the Church is nevertheless Christ’s body of which He is the head.  As such the Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the body who defines what the faith is and teaches.  Modern Christians of all types have all too easily chosen to ignore the teaching of the Church.  It is our duty to conform our belief to that of the Church.  The door has been opened and people even within our own government are choosing to listen to the wrong prophets.  It reminds me of the false prophets during the time of Elijah.  They tell the leaders what they want to hear.  As many in the media have said, “During times like this we are all Catholics.” 

Lest we think the courts can put a stop to this Dolan writes, “In the recent Hosana-Tabor ruling, the Supreme Court unanimously defended the right of a Church to define its own ministry and services, a dramatic rebuff to the administration, apparently unheeded by the White House.”  We don’t even have to know exactly what the case was about.  We just need to know that the White House ignored the ruling.  Dolan goes on to say, “Given this climate, we have to prepare for tough times.”  My friends the frontal assault on the Church and that includes us as Anglican Catholics, has begun.  Unchecked I fear that the government will intrude more and more.  Please pray for the Church and advocate for the re-establishment of the religious freedoms we have always known in our country. 

Our Mission
To be a Christian community of high commitment in mission to people of the Eastern slope of the Sierra who want to be disciples of Jesus Christ by believing in Him through the ancient faith of the Church and by keeping a community rule of discipline in worship, prayer, study, personal giving and service.

 

Sierra Anglican Church
Mailing Address: PO Box 5543 Reno, NV 89513-5543
Worship Location: 565 Zolezzi Ln. Reno, NV 89511
Phone: 775-787-7750 | Fax: 775-787-7720
Email: info@sierra-anglican.org | Web: sierra-anglican.org
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