Bishop Eric Menees
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Last Sunday’s gospel lesson from the twentieth chapter of
John reported that amazing meeting in the upper room between Jesus and his
disciples. “21 Jesus said to
them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending
you.’” (John 20:21)
We are reminded in Jesus’ words that Christianity is not a
passive faith, but an active faith! Now, where in scripture does Jesus say,
“Sit back, relax, take a load off and I will take care of everything?” Jesus
does say, “I’m sending you out into a violent world with the message of peace
and forgiveness!”
All throughout the first five centuries after the
Resurrection, Christians were put to death for refusing to deny their faith.
Caesar required everyone to offer a pinch of incense to an idol, give a token
amount of money, and say the words, “Caesar is Lord.” For their faithfulness,
Christians were executed by the thousands, and yet they didn’t organize a
violent revolt. They went willingly to their executions, giving the sign of the
cross as a witness to the crowds prior to their execution. This, in large part,
is the root for our making the sign of the cross. It was a way of saying to the
crowds gathered, “I’m dying for my faith in Christ and not because I’m a thief
or a prisoner of war.”
In the present day, Christians are being martyred in even
greater numbers than in the first centuries, and still we do not organize
violent responses. On Monday in Holy Week we saw that in spades, as Fr. Boules
George, of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Egypt, preached a sermon the day after the
Palm Sunday terrorists killed 45 people in that church and another. Fr. George
entitled his sermon, “Thank You” It is an amazing sermon, and I invite you to
read it – it will be posted on the diocesan website before too long. In the
meantime, here is the link: http://www.copticdadandmom.com/fr-boules-george/
Fr. George captured the essence of Resurrection faith and
the Easter Message in this sermon.
This is what Jesus sends us out to do, with a message of
love, peace, and mercy.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Thirty-nine
Articles of Religion
XXVI. Of the
Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacraments
Although in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with
the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of
the Word and Sacraments, yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own
name, but in Christ's, and do minister by his commission and authority, we may
use their Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving the
Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their
wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith, and
rightly, do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual,
because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by
evil men.
Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline of the
Church, that inquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused by
those that have knowledge of their offences; and finally, being found guilty,
by just judgment be deposed.
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