Bishop Eric Menees
O
God, who hast taught us to keep all thy commandments by loving thee and our
neighbor: Grant us the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to thee
with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Last
week I had the great honor of participating in the election of the second
Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America - The Most Rev. Foley Beach.
The bishops met in conclave for our first election of an archbishop following
the model of the Roman Catholic Church. In this process the bishops committed
to entering into a time of prayer and fasting, seeking the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. Archbishop Duncan, our first archbishop, opened with one of his
favorite sayings: "Let's keep the main thing the main thing," quoting
Stephen Covey.
In a
very real way this week's collect is also reminding us to, "keep the main
thing the main thing." The collect reflects the fact that God has, through
His Word, taught us to keep all of His Commandments. What comes to mind when
you think of God's Commandments? The 10 Commandments are a likely answer.
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) - not Ten Suggestions, as
is often said. Let's be honest - how tough is it to follow the 10 Commandments?
Well, about half are super easy to follow because they are negative
commandments - Thou shalt not: Steal, Murder, Commit Adultery, Bear False
Witness, take the Lord's Name in Vain. The other half are tougher - Worship God
and Him Alone, Keep the Sabbath, Have No Idols, Honor Father and Mother, Do Not
Covet.
Jesus
summed up all the commandments by reminding us to, “keep the main thing the
main thing.” When asked what the greatest commandment was, he said that we are
to: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love
your neighbor as yourself.’
(Matthew 22:37-39)
Let
me ask: How's that going for you, fulfilling the greatest commandment? If I'm
honest, fulfilling the greatest commandment is my highest aspiration but,
admittedly, impossible without the assistance of God the Holy Spirit, whose
power and grace constitute our only hope in being able to keep God’s
commandments. Simply by seeking to love God and neighbor by His own power and
grace, we offer the greatest witness to the world around us. Jesus again told
the disciples, “A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you,
you also are to love one another. 35 By
this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another.” (John 13:
34-35)
Simply
said, LOVE is the main thing. We can and will fulfill the commandments of God
if we will but love Him and love one another! I pray that this week you will
both give and receive that same love from our one God - Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
God
bless you all!
PS.
This week I am starting a new practice - placing one of the questions and
answers from the ACNA Catechism along with my Bishop's Note. I pray that
you will read it, memorize it and share it with others.
Catechism
1.
What is the Gospel?
The
Gospel is the good news of God loving and saving lost mankind through the
ministry in word and deed of his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Romans
5:15; John 1:12; 1 John 5:11-12)
Note: The Bishop's notes are written for the ADSJ and posted here with his permission for a wider audience. I included his Catechism question because To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism is a seminal document that I believe will help form our identity internally and give other churches an orthodox picture of Anglican Christianity in post Christian cultures. May God richly bless those who wrote it and those who read and inwardly digest it. The new ACNA Catechism is available here:
Dale+
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