Feast Reflection: Conversion of St. Paul

The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle
                               Thursday 25 January 2018

O God, who, by the preaching of thine apostle Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

      ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Today the Church commemorates the conversion of Saul to Paul through which the apostle most known for taking the Gospel of Christ into places and among peoples outside the boundaries of those long believed to be the exclusive people of God.  Paul is the champion of the apostles to the Gentiles, to the least and the forgotten, to those told by others that they have no place in the Kingdom.

The great irony, of course, is that Saul the Pharisee was quite certain that those among the Gentiles and sinners were rightly beyond hope and not capable or worthy of being the people of God.  There is a shocking difference between Saul the Pharisee and Paul the Apostle.  Could these really be one and the same man?  Yes, granted, one is the young man, and the other is the older man.  But as much as we cherish the thought that with years come wisdom, in reality we are still shocked when we see great stories and proof that years and wisdom have brought radical transformation to such a degree that the younger appears as one who has passed away and the older one who has been resurrected from the ashes of the past.  In this apostle whose conversion we celebrate today, we such such a transformation that is so powerful that this new man even gets a new name.

That conversion began on one day and in one moment of time.  The record of that day is found in the Acts of the Apistles, 9:1-22:

Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

Today, as we celebrate the Conversion of this great apostle, remember that we as Christians all have such a conversion story.  It is almost certainly not as dramatic, but nonetheless in it we encounter again and again the transformation made within us by the presence of Christ in our lives.

Throughout his writing, Paul recalls this moment on the Damascus Road frequently.  He does so not only to share his story but also to keep himself grounded in the transformation of rhe Christian that is always ongoing in those who walk daily in living and loving relationship with Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd, the Lover of Souls.  Therefore, today, as we celebrate the Conversion of the Apistle to the Gentiles, let us reflect on our own conversion and transformation, seeking prayerfully how we might grow today and be more clearly the servant of Christ and of Christians who in word and deed tell a story of faith that points to Christ as the hope of all and the lover of everyone.

      ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
                                    Father Timothy Alleman

Gospel Reflection: Sunday 28 January 2018

     Almighty and everlasting God, you govern
           all things both in heaven and on earth:
        Mercifully hear the supplications of your
  people, and in our time grant us your peace;
        through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
   and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
                          God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mark 1:21-28

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

-------

This Gospel reading ends with a crowd wondering who exactly is this Jesus of Nazareth, and how he has the ability to heal. Remember that these ones have not received the gift of the Holy Spirit whose first gift for all of us is to reveal the answer to this question that is still asked in our own day and generation. As we have received the promised Holy Spirit, we know that this Jesus who heals the sick, forgives sinners, and raises the dead, who himself rose from the dead and opens the tombs of the deceased, is none other than God Immanuel, God among us, God clothed in our humanity to be like us in every respect save that he is eternally perfect, free from sin.

                                    Father Timothy Alleman

Epistle Reflection: Sunday 28 January 2018

     Almighty and everlasting God, you govern
           all things both in heaven and on earth:
        Mercifully hear the supplications of your
  people, and in our time grant us your peace;
        through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
   and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
                          God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

-------

It was crucial that Paul spoke this message to the Corinthians. It was highly unlikely in the ancient city of Corinth in which Paul preached Jesus that one would find meat that had not been offered in sacrifice in one of the pagan temples. From these temples, meat offered in sacrifice was taken to the markets and sold not only as food for the body but indeed as food from the gods for the soul and the body.

Paul stresses that these idols to which this meat has been offered in sacrifice are no gods whatsoever and that the rites of sacrifice are empty rites which have no meaning. Paul represents a Jewish theology that has transformed from an earlier time in which God was seen as the one true and desireable God among the gods to a later understanding that there is only one God. If we read the Old Testament, we find signs of that progression. Reflecting that later view, Paul encourages the Corinthians yo have no fear in partaking of food offered in the temples of those who are in fact not gods but merely false idols.

But Paul also speaks of conscience as well as freedom. He stresses that if one Christian's eating of meat within the freedom he proclaims causes another to stumble and be weakened in their faith, the first should not partake for the sake of the weaker believer. There is something to this that we need to embrace. Our Christian freedom is wonderful, but it should always build up and never tear down. That continues to be an important reminder in our own day and generation, and it is centered on many more things than meat.

Let me give you an example. I grew up in a family and a faith tradition in which alcohol was viewed as abhorrent. I know people who believe that any reference to wine in the Scriptures is actually a reference to juice and not wine. As an Anglican, I have no problem with the reaponsible consumption of alcohol. But if I am in the presence of someone who thinks differently than me on alcohol, should I partake? My Christian freedom tells me yes. But my Christian freedom has boundaries. If it causes offense for me to partake, and causes harm to the faith of a brother or sister, then it is wise for the sake of the love of that Christian brother or sister to refrain from partaking.

                                    Father Timothy Alleman

Old Testament Reflection: Sunday 28 January 2018

     Almighty and everlasting God, you govern
           all things both in heaven and on earth:
        Mercifully hear the supplications of your
  people, and in our time grant us your peace;
        through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
   and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
                          God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”

-------

Moses promised that another prophet would follow him. Things get interesting with this promise when we remember the name of the immediate successor of Moses, known to us as Joshua. It was Joshua who lead the people into the Promised Land given long before to the ancestors of Abraham that God promised the aged Patriarch that he would father with his wife of many years, Sarah.

But remember that the apostolic writings that found their way into the Canon of the New Testament spoke of a greater promised rest and a greater promised land that would endure forever. These writings speak of another figure who will lead the people of God into this enduring rest and eternal promise. The one who thus leads the people, according to the apostolic witness and the Christian faith, is Jesus.

What is really interesting is to note that the names of Joshua and Jesus are in fact one name; Yeshua. Jesus is more than the successor to Moses. He is the faithful and perfect Joshua. In Jesus, we encounter God who is perfect, who keeps the promises made by doing what humans time and time have not been capable of doing. Jesus is the perfect leader, for he is God Incarnate among us.

                                    Father Timothy Alleman

0121 Reflection -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

                     Sunday 21 January 2018
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NRSV)
I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

It feels like this reading ought to be in Advent and not in between Epiphany and Lent. And yet there is a message that is always good to hear in this reading. Paul is challenging our priorities. This reading is stressing a focus on the eternal things in the midst of things temporal. It reminds me of the reprimand of Jesus following the feeding of the multitudes in John 6 when he teaches: "Strive for the bread that lasts." What are we focused on and striving for that which lasts forever?

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

0121 Reflection -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10

                     Sunday 21 January 2018
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (NRSV)
The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

I love the whole book of Jonah. This reading is wonderful. But this is not going to be a Sunday to even think of Jonah as a preaching option given the fact that the following week I will be starting a preaching series on a whole list of Old Testament Easter Vigil readings as Lent and the old pre-Lent are days of preparation to keep the Paschal Feast. So Jonah will appear soon!

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

0114 Reflection -- 1 Samuel 3:1-20

                         Sunday 14 January 2018
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

1 Samuel 3:1-20 (NRSV)
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.” Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.” As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

I love this reading! This is Samuel's first encounter with God. At first he thinks Eli is calling. Alas it is God. Eli realizes what is occuring and leads the boy to the understanding that God is calling. From a preaching perspective, I wonder who it is that has been the one who has guided us to be attentive to the God who speaks to us, and are we listening?

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

0114 Reflection -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

                         Sunday 14 January 2018
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NRSV)
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, “The two shall be one flesh.” But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

There are a handful of possible preaching paths in this.

All things are lawful, but...
This is a reminder that we are bound to one another. The greatest lesson that I learned from my 10th Grade English teacher had nothing to do with English literature or grammar. He told us again and again: What I do touches you and what you do touches me." As Christians, we need to remember that our freedom in Christ meets limits when it places a stumbling block in the path of someone else, anyone else.

Do you not know that your body is a temple...
We are a dwelling place for God. I'm always struck by the fact that there are things we think we cannot say or do within a sacred space such as a Church. Do you realize what we are saying is that in these places God is somehow more attentive and aware? Only we don't meet God only here. God is present everywhere, and fully aware of our words, deeds and thoughts at all times and places. God is with us always. The purpose of that eternal presence is not our judgment but rather our salvation, driven not by the desire to condemn but rather to love. So if there is anything we shouldn't say, do or think in Church, this should be true everywhere else. Likewise, if there is something we should do here, we should do so everywhere.

Do you not know ... you are members of Christ?
Christ has claimed us for himself, to be his beloved. As a wife is faithful to her husband, and a husband to his wife, so also we are called to be faithful at all times to Christ.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

0121 Reflection -- Mark 1:14-20

                     Sunday 21 January 2018
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Mark 1:14-20 (NRSV)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

Jesus calls the Andrew, Peter, and the Sons of Thunder, and they follow that call. They give up a comfortable and familiar way of live to set out on an adventure filled with the unknown. Are we willing to drop the ordinary and familiar in response to the call of Jesus that is for us? We all have multiple callings. Like these four who became apostles, we are called to witness to Christ, to make Jesus known to the world. And the kicker for us as Episcopalians, who believe we don't witness, is that at every Baptism and every Affirmation of Baptism, we say we do. So perhaps today is a good day to ponder on the Baptismal Covenant as persons called to fishers who humans who bring the world to Jesus.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

0107 Reflection -- Genesis 1:1-5

Sunday 7 January 2018
           The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV)
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

This feast of the Lord's Baptism marks the beginning of his earthly ministry. As this is about new beginnings, it makes sense that the Old Testament takes us to the beginning, the First Day. I must admit, though, it feels a bit odd here to only hear of that day and have no mention to the remainder of the "week of creation, of beginning." But then again maybe it isn't about beginnings. It's about light. The First Day points to the light given by God. The Lord's Baptism shows him who created light with Father and Holy Spirit to be the true light which casts out darkness. From his baptism, which has become our own, Jesus shines in the world to be the light that guides our way and warms our hearts.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

0107 Reflection -- Acts 19:1-7

 

 

Epistle

7 January 2018

 

 

 

 

    The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ                           Acts 19:1-7

 

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

 

This Epistle reading for the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism references our own baptism as well as that of Jesus.  It speaks of the Baptism of John and the Baptism of Jesus, recalling the fact that we have been baptized into Christ, into his baptism, into his death and resurrection.  And from the Day of Pentecost, the Church has proclaimed that in Baptism the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the faithful who are baptized.  And why is this so important and so vital for us?  Today would be a good day to recall the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and on the Christian.  This recollection reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the one who gives us boldness to live, words with which to witness, wisdom to know how to serve, the ability to pray.  And when we do not know how to do so, or struggle to do so, the Holy Spirit teaches and acts on our behalf to bring us to do the very thing our faith demands.

 

 

 

Father Timothy+

 

 

 

0114 Reflection -- John 1:43-51

Sunday 14 January 2018
         The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

John 1:43-51 (NRSV)
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

I can't help but think that if this moment were lived out among us today, among this parish family specifically, that the response would be anything less than "Can anything good come out of Wilkes-Barre?" If we think of this honest reality, suddenly Nathanael makes more sense to us. Nathanael can't fathom what he is hearing about Messiah and Nazareth. These two things simply don't go together. As a good Jew, he knew well that the Messiah was foretold to come through a much different place, specifically Bethlehem. And as a good Jew, on it's own merits, Nazareth was not a desireable place.

All of Nathanael's judgments fade away in the experience of Jesus, to whom he is brought in disbelief, in the shock of being known by Jesus. How does Jesus know him? How can Jesus say the things about him that he has just heard? There is only one logical answer. In spite of his connection to Nazareth, this truly is the Messiah, and the message he initially doubted is true.

Are we willing to be shocked like Nathanael? Better yet, as this should be a "Preaching to the Choir" moment, are we willing to be bold like Philip who sought out Nathanael and who responded to doubt with the invitation to come and see? The greatest and most effective means of passing on the faith is simply one person sharing with another, and inviting the other to come and see. We try so hard to make it more complicated than that. And let's be honest; the reason we do so is usually to give ourselves an "out" on grounds that we simply cannot do such a difficult task. This Gospel reminds us that it's not that difficult. But it does challenge us to lay aside our desire to keep our dirty little secret, our faith, to ourselves.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

0107 Reflection -- Mark 1:4-11

Gospel

7 January 2017

The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ                                Mark 1:4-11

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 worthy 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.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

On this First Sunday after the Epiphany, the Church celebrates the Lord’s Baptism.  Jesus goes into the Baptismal waters to call us to join him and be clothed in his baptism.  This is one of the four great baptismal feasts of the Church Year.  How fitting it is then that we at Holy Cross will be celebrating a baptism.  As we celebrate the Lord’s Baptism, and that of the child to be baptized, we celebrate our own baptism.  This is the beginning of the commemoration of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and it is a fitting time to remember that we have been called to ministry in the world from the moment in which we were baptized into Christ, into his death and resurrection, into his baptism.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus.  We are his voice and his presence in this generation.

Father Timothy+

1126 Reflection -- Matthew 25:31-46

The Feast of Christ the King:
The Last Sunday after Pentecost
               Last Sunday of Church Year
                              Sunday 26 November 2017

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

This Gospel builds wonderfully on the previous Sunday's Gospel Parable of the Talents. It is a strong reminder that when we who are the followers of Jesus do or do not do things unto others, we have done or failed to do these things for and to Christ himself. This is a Gospel that applies very easily to us and our generation. It is a reminder that our faith, what we believe, and our actions, what we do or do not do, are deeply intertwined. There is no separation of Church and World. In each we are to see the face of Jesus and to act in the knowledge that Jesus is the one to whom all hearts are open and from whom nothing is hidden.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

1126 Reflection -- Ephesians 1:15-23

The Feast of Christ the King:
The Last Sunday after Pentecost
                             Last Sunday of Church Year
                              Sunday 26 November 2017

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

The Feast of the Reign of Christ as King of Heaven almost always calls to mind a focus on Christ and some specific moment in the Gospel. But right now I am struck by a sense that Paul models something that is very much in keeping with this feast that marks the last Sunday of the Western Rite Liturgical Calendar Year. Paul gives thanks for the faith of those to whom he writes and encourages these ones to stand firm in their confession of faith. He shares his commitment to lift up these ones in prayer to God. He commends them again to Christ and recalls for them the significance of Christ and applies that significance to the lives of Christians. Perhaps Paul models for us how we can keep the feast in a way that both marks Christ as King and enables us to embrace him not only as our King but as our Lord and God.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

1126 Reflection -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

The Feast of Christ the King:
The Last Sunday after Pentecost
                             Last Sunday of Church Year
                              Sunday 26 November 2017

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

God promises to be the Shepherd of the people. The reading does not explicitly speak of the contrast from the realities of life into which this Word of God was proclaimed. If we read between the lines and beyond the limits of the expectations, we find that God is promising to be what none others have been. Others have taken advantage of those entrusted to them. Others have abandoned those in their charge. God does not abandon us. God does take advantage of us.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

1119 Reflection -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Sunday 19 November 2017

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NRSV)

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

Paul urges all Christians to be ready for the day of the Advent of the Lord. We are not only to prepare ourselves. We are to encourage one another. The Advent of Christ is for us all.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

1119 Reflection -- Matthew 25:14-30

Sunday 19 November 2017

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Matthew 25:14-30 (NRSV)

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven will be as when a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

This text uses monetary references, but don't be fooled into thinking that this is about money. The parable speaks about talents. Yes, this is a unit of currency in the literal sense for those who first heard this parable. But a talent is something other than exclusively an ancient unit of money. These days we speak of talents as building blocks of character that equip us for certain tasks and help us to succed in our endeavors. The call of this Gospel is to take our talents and invest them in the marketplace that is the world. The talents we have been given are intended to be shared. If we hoard them, they are wasted. When we share them, they grow. Christ expects us to take our talents and invest them for the salvation of the world.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

1112 Reflection -- Matthew 25:1-13

Sunday 12 November 2017

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

There are two words that are at the heart of this Gospel: Preparation and Expectation.

Once more Jesus uses imagery of a wedding to speak of the Kingdom of God. In previous places these references speak mostly of the wedding feast. This imagery calls to mind what occurs before the feast. The bridegroom's coming has been anticipated. We know this because the bridesmaids are awaiting him. But what might seem odd to us is that they don't know when he will arrive. They must be ready for that moment to come. Preparation is essential, chiefly because the time of waiting may be prolonged. Preparation is rooted in expectation. If the bridegroom was not expected to arrive, there would be no need to prepare.

We hear this as we near the end of the Church Year and consider the "last things." This Gospel is a call to be preparing and expecting for the Advent of Christ not as a child but as the victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Only this isn't just for the appearance at the end of all days. It is also for the end of our days. We know not how long we will journey in this life. When the time of death comes, Christ will come to us as the bridegroom comes to the feast. Are we expecting to be greeted by Christ? Are we preparing for that encounter?

It's also not just about the end of our days. Christ comes to us and is in our midst on all days. Are we expecting to encounter Christ today and preparing to respond in faithfulness and love today, knowing we are in the presence of Christ? And I don't just mean this for days like Sundays when we encounter Christ within the walls of the Church, at the Altar where the Blessed Sacrament is consecrated in obedience to Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the Father. I mean this for the most ordinary days of the week when Christ's presence in our midst might catch us off guard and unaware that he is near.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman

1112 Reflection -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Sunday 12 November 2017

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NRSV)

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

This is yet one more reminder that we do not grieve as ones without hope. We have set our hope on Christ who is the life of the living and the dead. Today Paul reminds us that the victory of Christ's resurrection will call the dead from their tombs and the living from the confines of this world to enter into the fullness of the Kingdom of God. As Christians, we embrace this Easter hope for ourselves and share it with all others as the gift that shall never end.

•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤

                                          Fr. Timothy Alleman