The Annunciation: 25 March 2014

The Annunciation

http://www.coptorthodox.ca/museum/galery/Australia/Annunciation.jpg

The Annunciation was  the premier feast of the incarnation in the early history of the church.  Because of it, the modern premier feast of the incarnation, Christmas received its date.    More than likely, the feast of the Annunciation came to be celebrated on this date because Yeshua died on this date, and Messiah must have been conceived on the same day as his death, as Moshe died on the same day he was born. 

This is the day when we celebrate Yeshua’s coming into the world.  He humbled himself to be born for our salvation.  As C.S. Lewis puts it so well, Messiah is like a pearl diver descending to the bottom of the sea, where all is colourless, and dank, and wrests the pearl from the oyster, to bring it into the light where it gleams.  He stooped down beneath us, to lift up us and all creation,

Christmas is nine months from today.

Eucharistic:
Psalm 40:1-11 or 40:5-10 or Canticle 3 or 15;
Isaiah 7:10-14;
Hebrews 10:5-10;
Luke 1:26-3
Daily:
AM: Psalm 85, 87
Isaiah 52:7-12
Hebrews 2:5-10
PM: Psalm 110:1-5(6-7), 132
Wisdom 9:1-12
John 1:9-14

Collect:  We beseech you o Lord, so fill our hearts with your grace that as we have known the incarnation of your son our Lord Yeshua HaMoshiach  by the message of an angel, that so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection.  And what we ask for ourselves, we ask for all those for whom Messiah died, that those who sin against you would come to love you, and that those who love you would be drawn nearer to you. To the glory of God the Father, Amen.  (Blue)

Oscar Romero: Bishop, Martyr

http://psalm85.blogspot.com/2009/03/icon-by-br.html

Oscar Romero (15 August 1917 – 24 March 1980) was born in San Miguel, El Salvador.  His public school education at a government school only lasted three years.  He continued his education with a private tutor, while serving as an apprentice carpenter until he was thirteen, when he entered the minor seminary in San Miguel.  From there he went to the National Seminary in San Salvador and then to the Gregorian University in Rome, where he received his licentienate, and was ordained as presbyter.  He remained in Rome to receive a doctorate, but was recalled to El Salvador before receiving it.   He ended up in prison in Cuba on the way back because of complications relating to Fascist Italy and World War II.

He started his work in Anonoros, and then went to San Miguel, where he promotd apostolic groups and started an Alcoholics Anonymous group.  Later he became secretary to the bishop’s conference and was later named auxiliary Bishop to the Archbishop of El Salvador.  In December 1975 he was named as Bishop of Santa Maria, and then 23 February 1977 was named as Archbishop of El Salvador, a move which dismayed the more “progressive” elements of the Salvadoran Roman Catholic church, who saw him as conservative. 

Life changed for the Archbishop, when his friend Fr. Rutilio Grande was assassinated.  Traditionally here to fore, the church had been seen as an ally and accomplice in the government’s workings, but no longer.  Romero demanded an investigation, and who said, “"When I looked at Rutilio lying there dead I thought, 'If they have killed him for doing what he did, then I too have to walk the same path'"

Human rites abuses continued, and Romero even wrote Jimmy Carter asking him not to support the government of El Salvador, advice that Carter ignored, fearful of provoking another Nicaragua.  Because of him humanitarian efforts, he became known on the international stage, and received an honorary doctorate in Belgium.  In his speech he denounced the Salvadoran junta for its persecution of those presbyters who worked for the benefit of the poor.  Eventually he proclaimed on radio and television the name of those presbyters, nuns and lay workers who were persecuted, tortured and even murdered for helping the poor. 
            In addition to helping the poor, and defending the church, Romero made holiness a personal goal.  He apparently hit a soft spot when he called for soldiers who were Christians to stop carrying out government oppression, persecution, and violations of human rights.  Romero was assassinated while elevating the chalice at a mass at the Divina Providencia hospital on 24 March 1980. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93scar_Romero

http://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/romero.shtml

http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/programs/youth-outreach/peace-heroes/romero-oscar.htm

Psalm 31:15-24
Isaiah 2:5-7
Revelation 7:13-17
John 12:23-32

Abba, father, as you called Oscar Romero to help the poor and resist the powerful, raise up in this and every generation prophets to challenge the powerful and to defend those who are defenseless.  This we ask in the name of Yeshua who died to set us free.  Amen. 

Thomas Cramner, Bishop, Liturgist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cranmer

Thomas Cranmer (2 July 1489 – 21 March 1556)

Born 1489 in Nottinghamshire, Cranmer followed a typical career of younger brother. Since his brother John inherited the family estate, Cranmer and his younger brother were prepared for lives as clerics.  Fourteen years old, he came to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he took some eight years to earn his Bachelor of Arts.  In 1515 he received his MA and became a fellow of Jesus College.  He lost his fellowship after marrying, but regained it after his wife died.  He received his Doctorate in Divinity in 1526, having gained Holy Orders in 1520.  In June 1527 he met the king, whom he described as the kindest of princes. 

From 1527 he became involved with the King’s divorce.  During these proceedings, he met some of the continental reformers in 1531.  In 1532 he was appointed ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire, and in travelling with the Emperor from area to area was able to see the reformation in action.  In addition to meeting several reformers, he ended up marrying Ossiander’s niece.  Sadly for him, he was unable to convince the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles to support King Henry’s annulment from Catherine (Catherine was Charles’ aunt). 

In 1532, he was notified that he would be the next Archbishop of Canterbury and was so consecrated on   the 30^th of March of 1532.  He continued to work on the king’s divorce, with the affair becoming more complicate due to Anne Bolyn’s pregnancy and her secret marriage to Henry VIII.  Cranmer declared Henry’s marriage void, and the Pope excommunicated Henry and his advisors.  Life was difficult for Cranmer as many of his bishops did not support him in this new role.  His life also continued to be made difficult because of the King’s urgent desire for a male heir.  He was also not particularly astute in dealing with the bishops. 

Fifteen thirty six saw the publishing of the 10 Articles of religion which pleased and annoyed both sides of the debate.  The Institution of a Christian Man was printed in response, but the king insisted on changes.  Cranmer was the most vigorous in fighting against the King’s changes, especially relating to faith alone and predestination.  From 1536 to 1544 there were many ups and downs involving Cranmer which he survived.  In 1544 he printed the first legal services in English, being the Exhortation and the Great Litany, which is still found in many Anglican prayer books today (and indeed in the liturgy used by the diocese of La Porte, Christian Church, Synod of St. Timothy).  Fifteen forty-seven saw the introduction of the Book of Homilies to all parishes (4 written by Cranmer).  As many of the reformers were suffering persecution, Cranmer invited them to England and put them to work training clergy.  (Reina and Valera who composed the first Bible in Spanish were among these).

It is unknown just how much Cranmer actually wrote in the Book of Common Prayer of 1549.  His sources include the Sarum Rite, Hermann von Wied, Ossiander, Justus Jonas (and several other Lutherans), and Quiñones.  What we do know is that he was the final editor of this and the 1552 Book of Common Prayer (not used because of Mary accession to the throne.  In 1550 he printed an Ordinal, and in the same year: Defence of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ , the only book actually printed in his own name.  In 1552 he came out with the Articles of Religion.

After Mary took power, Cranmer was imprisoned and during the course of his imprisonment, recanted his Protestant faith.  On the day of his death however, he recanted his recantations, and was burned at the stake, placing his right hand in the centre of the fire as a sign of repentance regarding the written recantations. 

Cranmer’s greatest influence on the church was the Book of Common Prayer, which was the basis of all Anglican Books of Common Prayer into the 1960’s.  His Eucharist also found its way into the Methodist liturgy, and his marriage and burial services are the base services of many denominations.  The English used in his BCP has affected the English language as much as the language of the King James Bible and Shakespeare.  His second work of genius was transforming morning prayer and evening prayer into something that could be used by any family or by individuals.  His third act of genius was slow transformation, which produced a book which has lasted over 450 years. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_Cranmer

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Thomas_Cranmer

http://www.stpeter.org/cranmer.html

Psalm 142 or 124
1 Corinthians 3:9-14
John 15:20--16:1 

Collect:  Heavenly Father, you granted to your Bishop Thomas Cranmer great gifts in ordering the worship and prayer life of the English people, and though he slipped, you led him to repent of his recantations.  Grant that we would truly seek to worship you in the spirit of holiness, and be ready to give up our lives for you.  This we ask through Yeshuah, who lives and reins and is worshipped with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting.  Amen.  (red)

St. Cuthbert, Bishop: 20 March 2014

http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Cuthbert.htm

Cuthbert (c. 634 – 20 March 687)

Cuthbert was probably from Dunbar at the mouth of the Firth of Forth in what today would be Scotland, but in Northumbria when he was born.  As a youth he was a shepherd, but having had a vision of a soul borne to heaven by angels on the night of St. Aiden’s death, he resolved to be a monk and joined the monastery of Melrose in Northumbria.  He became a soldier for a short period (he was a cousin of the king of Northumbria) before returning to Melrose.  He became famous for his piety, diligence and obedience and as a consequence was assigned to the new monastery at Ripon.  He returned to Melrose, and became prior.  During this time he was faithful in visiting the people, serving their spiritual need, going on missionary trips (sometimes gone for a month), and performing miracles. 

After the Synod of Whitby, he adopted the Roman ways and was asked to introduce them to Lindisfarne, which he did. He continued his missionary journeys from Berwick to Galloway, leading many to Christ, and diligently working with the poor.  In 676, he moved into a cave on one of the Farne islands.  In 684 he was elected Bishop of Lindisfarne.  Reluctantly he went to be consecrated by Archbishop Theodore of York in 685, and was bishop for two years before his death in 687. 

http://satucket.com/lectionary/Cuthbert.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04578a.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuthbert_of_Lindisfarne

Psalm 104: 32-35
Isaiah 55:6-12
Romans 12:6-13
John 10:25b-30

Collect:  Father, you called Cuthbert from being a shepherd of sheep to being a shepherd of persons.  Grant that as he was willing to spread the Gospel in remote and dangerous places, that we too may be willing to proclaim the Gospel in areas of which we might fear and to people of whom we may be afraid.  This we ask through Yeshuah haMoshiach, who lives and reigns with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting.  Amen.  (white)

St. Jospeh: 19 March 2014

We know little of the life of St. Joseph.  We know, from the offering at the temple that he was a poor man, and we are told by the Bible that he was an honourable man, who did not wish to see his betrothed disgraced (The penalty would have been stoning for her).  We do know that he was a man who obeyed the Lord.  Each time God spoke to him in dreams, Joseph immediately followed through.  As he is not mentioned much in the New Testament, it is believed that he died before Jesus began his public ministry.  We do believe that he must have been a very special man to have been given the job of being Jesus’ step father.  We pray that we would be like him, obeying the Lord. 

Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:1-4,26-29;
2 Samuel 7:4,8-16;
Romans 4:13-18;
Luke 2:41-52 

Collect:  Heavenly Father, you raised up Yosef to be a step Father to our Lord Yeshuah haMoshiach.  Grant that every father would be as faithful as Yosef in his sacred responsibility of modeling your fatherhood to us.  This we ask through the same Yeshuah  haMoshiach our Lord, who called Yosef, “father.”  Amen.  (white)

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop

http://www.stcyril.us/photos.html

Cyril was born in Jerusalem in about the year 315 and became bishop in about 349.  He lived in tumultuous times, and was exiled three times, once by the Athanasians and twice by the Arians.  He attended the Council of Constantinople in 381 and supported the Athanasian view of the Trinity.

Cyril is important to us chiefly for three things.  It is believed that he was the author of the precursor to the Nicene Creed we use today.  Secondly, he organized activities for pilgrims and much of what we do during Holy Week comes from what was done in Jerusalem during his Episcopate.  (An account by a Spanish nun is available here: http://www.ccel.org/m/mcclure/etheria/etheria.htm)  Thirdly, he is the author of a series of lectures (18 for Lent and five for Easter) given to candidates for baptism and the newly baptised.  These probably do not exist in the original form, but he is the original author.  (They can be ordered here:  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0913836397/bookofcommonprayA/  or viewed here: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_author/4/St._Cyril_of_Jerusalem.html)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_of_Jerusalem

http://satucket.com/lectionary/Cyril_Jerusalem.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04595b.htm

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Cyril_of_Jerusalem

Psalm 122 
Ecclesiasticus 47:8-10
Hebrews 13:14-21
Luke 24:44-48

Collect:  Heavenly Father, you raised up Cyril as Patriarch of Yerushalayim to guide Bishops and Presbyters in their calling to be teachers and ministers of the sacraments.  Raise up in this and every generation Bishops and Presbyters who will faithfully instruct your people in practical Christian faith and living.  This we ask through the author and perfecter of our faith, Yeshuah haMoshiach our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting.  Amen.  (white)

St, Parick, missionary, Bishop: 17 March 2014

http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Patrick.htm

St. Patrick is the most well known of the Irish saints, a true hero of the church.  Sadly his day has become more known for revelry and green beer than truly celebrating what he did.

The exact time and place of his birth is unknown.  Guesses range from Wales to Kilpatrick, Scotland.  What is know is that his father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest.  They were according to various sources either Romans, or Romanised Celts. 

At the age of 14, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates (common at the time) and taken to Ireland where he herded sheep as a slave.  During his captivity his prayer life grew, and at about the age of 20, guided by a dream, he found a ship willing to carry him and made his escape.  (I find it appropriate that we celebrate another man guided by dreams ((St. Joseph)) in two days.) 

He studied to be a presbyter, and eventually was ordained as Bishop.  Guided once again by dreams, these expressing the need of the Irish for his presence, he traveled back to Ireland to proclaim the Gospel.  Patrick successfully preached the Gospel, aided by disciples he made in Ireland.  He was also the first bishop of the Catholic church to denounce slavery, and it is probably through his efforts that slavery disappeared from Ireland. 

Of the legends attributed to him, he used the clover to preach the Gospel.  When explaining the trinity he would pluck a clover and ask, is it one leaf or three (botanically speaking it is actually one leaf), and ask the Irish whether it was one or three.  Easter at one point fell the same night as a Celtic festival, but Patrick beat them to the draw by lighting a bonfire first.  Apparently the king’s men were unable to put it out.  Several songs are attributed to Patrick, the most famous being his Lorica or the Deer Cry.  It is said when one of the kings was out to capture Patrick, he and his disciples sang this song, and the king’s men only saw deer as they passed by them.

The true miracle behind Patrick’s life though is his great forgiveness.  Anyone who can serve as a slave for some 6 years and return to the people who enslaved him to tell them about Jesus shows the true power of forgiveness.  Would that we were all so eager to forgive those who sin against us, and to proclaim the Gospel. 

Psalm 97:1-2,7-12
Ezekiel 36:33-38
1 Thessalonians 2:2b-12 
Matthew 28:16-20

Collect:  :  Heavenly Father; who gave Patrick the strength to persevere and power to forgive his enemies, give us the strength and ability to forgive those who wrong us, and willingness of heart to tell them of the great love of Yeshuah.  This we ask in his name, who lives and governs with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting.  Amen. (white)

The Deer Cry

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/stpatric.htm