Bishop Eric Menees
As we approach the end of the year
we also approach the end of this series of Bishop’s Notes on the Gifts of the
Holy Spirit. In the early church God the Holy Spirit equipped individuals for
ministry in building up the Body of Christ – The Church – through the
advancement of the Good News of Jesus Christ. He is still doing so today!
St. Paul in his letter to the
Church in Ephesus speaks of certain groups of people whom God has gifted
through the Holy Spirit: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the
saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we
all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to
mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so
that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful
schemes.” (Ephesians 4:11-14 ESV)
The first on this list were the
Apostles. The Apostles were those men specifically called by Jesus who lived,
worked, prayed, and suffered with our Lord. Most importantly, these are the men
to whom Jesus chose to reveal himself, and who he chose to empower through the
Holy Spirit in order to establish and govern the whole church. These men had
the authority to speak the words of the Son of God, which were and are - in
every way - equal to the power and authority of the Old Testament Scriptures.
“The names of the twelve apostles
are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the
son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and
Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the
Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:2-4 ESV) Judas, the betrayer, was replaced by Matthias
in Acts 1:26. Soon afterwards, Saul met the risen Lord on the road to
Damascus and became the 13th and last Apostle.
Thank God for the Apostles, whom He
used to govern the church in her infancy. They were the ones who were entrusted
with the Gospel, and who were given the right and charged with the
responsibility to share, protect, and defend the faith. This meant that the
Apostles were required to raise up, train, and ordain new ministers, and to
exercise discipline in the church.
As a bishop, I am humbled, honored,
and blessed to have been raised up and equipped by God to be a successor to the
Apostles in the Diocese of San Joaquin.
I pray you a blessed
Second Sunday of Advent!
Catechism Questions 191 - 195
191. What is the
Fifth Petition?
The Fifth Petition is: “Forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
192. What are
trespasses?
A trespass is a thought, word, or
deed contrary to God’s holy character and Law, missing the mark of his will and
expectations. (Romans 3:23)
193. Have you
trespassed against God’s Law?
Yes. Together with all mankind, I
sin daily against God’s Law in thought, word, and deed, and love neither him
nor my neighbor, as I should. (Jeremiah 2:12-14; Romans 1:18-24; 3:23)
194. What is
God’s forgiveness?
God’s forgiveness is his merciful
removal of the guilt of sin that results from our disobedience. (Isaiah 1:18;
52:13-53:12; Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 2:13-14)
195. On what
basis do you ask forgiveness?
I ask God to
forgive all my sins through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which was
completed for me on the cross and is given to me through faith and Baptism.
(Acts 2:38; Romans 5:17; Colossians 2:9-12; 1 John 1:9-10)
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