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His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel at the European Commission

Posted on by Fr. Peter

DanielBasilica – On May 30th, the Patriarch of Romania participated in the annual meeting of the religious leaders of Europe with the presidents of the Commission, Council and European Parliament, as well as with other high officials of the EU. This year, the discussions were focused on the concept of European citizenship, 20 years after its introduction, through the Maastricht Treaty, and especially in the context of the multiple challenges that the present economical and social climate addresses to the future European project.

The meeting took place at the headquarters of the European Commission, in the context of the European Year of the European Citizenship, under the motto “Putting the citizens at the heart of the European project in times of change”. So, the participants changed points of view on how the European project can be brought closer to the citizens of the Union. The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church delivered a speech within this context entitled 2013 – Year of the European Citizenship. The present crisis – a chance to progress in wisdom.

His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Targoviste gave details on the discussions held for Trinitas Radio station: “To start with this morning session, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered a speech in which he did stress the fact that wisdom and responsibility are badly needed at all levels in order to promote the European project. The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso opened this morning’ speeches saying that while we try to promote the European values and take Europe out of crisis it is very clear that we refer to a crisis of trust and of the European values’.

The Patriarch of Romania was accompanied at this meeting by His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Targoviste and Patriarchal Exarch for the relationship of the Romanian Patriarchate with the International Christian Institutions, and by Rev. Sorin Selaru, Director of the Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the European Institutions.

Some of the participants were His Beatitude Leo of Karelia, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Finland, His Eminence Emanuel of France, representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the EU and president of the Conference of the European Churches, His Eminence Ieremia, Orthodox Archbishop of Wroclaw and Szczecin and President of the Ecumenical Council of Poland.

Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Union Council, Mr. Laszlo Surjan, Vice-president of the European Parliament, Mrs. Viviane Redding, Vice-president of the European Commission and European Commissioner for justice, basic rights and citizenship, and Mr. Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for agriculture and rural development participated on behalf of the European institutions – as the website www.orthodoxero.eu informs us.

In the afternoon His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel met Mr. Laslo Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social affairs and Inclusion, Mr. Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural development, as well as Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

The delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church will return to the country tomorrow.

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Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis

Posted on by Fr. Peter

I am not one to compare my particular Church (or denomination if you will) with any of the others.  I believe that one should simply speak about what he believes and the reasons why he believes it and not compare one faith against another .  Until now.

A few years back, a survey was conducted regarding the churches in America and the attendance.  With one exception, Orthodoxy, most of the other “Christian” churches have been and continue to be on a decline. Now I am not a sociologist, nor do I play one on TV, but I can think of a few reasons why this might be.  In my opinion, it is hard to recognize the historic Church of Jesus Christ in any other Church, save perhaps the Church of Rome and Orthodoxy has disagreements with her as well.

The problem is, so called Christian Churches, today is they tend to stray towards what is popular rather than what is right.  If a certain group of people want their particular lifestyle recognized, regardless of what the historic church has thought about that particular lifestyle, then we simply vote on it and move on.  Turning one’s back on thousands of years of theological understanding and tradition to see things the way 21st century man wants the church to be run.  You see, it is easier to say “I’m okay and you’re okay” than it is to say, “we love you and cherish you as a person, but your behavior is unacceptable and it needs to change.”  That takes courage and I am afraid courage is something that is lacking in the American Church today.

I think we sometimes forget that the Church exists so that fallen humanity can turn away from the fallen word and come to the realization that we are sinners, rather than we need to shape the Church in the image of our sinful lifestyle and make it believe what we believe.  That is not what Christ died for, and it is certainly not what countless people have been martyred and continued to be martyred for.

Many of the once great American Christian Churches are barely recognizable as Christian anymore.  Between the “make it up as you go along theology” and “anything goes” morality sometimes it is hard to recognize them as they once were.  I believe that Orthodox has grown and will continue to grow because we do not change.  I would rather be right than popular, I would rather worship the way the Church was left to us rather than change one dot or iota of her Liturgy to suit the short attention span of today’s American Christian.  I would rather have worship that is meaningful and traditional, than worship that makes you feel good about yourself or where there is a rock band and a puppet show!  Worship is not entertainment that is what the movie theater is for; worship is just that, worship.  We come into the presence of the Almighty and we bow down in awe of Him as Moses did when he approached to burning bush.

Yes, worship should be engaging but if worship is celebrated with all reverence and awe then props are not needed, one will simply feel the presence of the Almighty in their midst and worship Him as did our first parents in the Garden of Eden.  Our Church should be temples set aside for worship of that which is Holy, not concerts of the latest band that happens to be passing through town.  Our worship space is sanctified and holy as was the Holy of Holies in the Temple of our spiritual ancestors. If you want to have concerts at your Church build an auditorium and leave the sanctified space for that which is sanctified.

Historically speaking, every church that has changed its worship or its theology has undergone some sort of reformation, there is no coincidence that in the more than 2,000 years history of Holy Orthodoxy there has never been a reformation.  Sure people have changed, but the worship and the theology remains the same.

As Christians we are called to a higher lifestyle than those around us, we are called out of this word and to set our sights on the world to come.  We are not called to conform ourselves to the world but ourselves to Christ. Jesus Christ did not come and say “hey, whatever you guys doing is great keep it up.” No Jesus came to call us out of that broken, blind, self-loving world, and towards greatness.

It is time to turn away from man’s rules and man’s ability to make you feel okay with your life, and turn towards that Man who came to change the entire world.

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Sermon ~ Aid to Those in Need

Posted on by Fr. Peter

JCSAMWOMAll during the period after Easter we read from the Book of Acts.  The book of Acts tells the story of the formation of the early church and the ministry of St. Paul.  We see a shift starting from the ministry of the original Apostles to that of others.  The Book of Acts also records for us the election of bishops, in the replacement of Judas, and the first council of the Church to determine the answer to a question.  And today we see the church in action.

We heard this morning about how the message of the Gospel had spread pretty far.  Up to this point the Apostles had only been preaching to the Jews but the message has managed to reach people all on its own.  Sometimes we do not have to preach the Good News it just sort of makes it way around.

When word reached the Church in Jerusalem that someone was preaching the Word, they sent out a representative, Barnabas, to see what was going on.  You see, even in the early days of the church, it was important to make sure that those who were preaching in the name of Jesus were in fact preaching the right message.  Barnabas was overjoyed with what he saw and heard and went to get Paul and brought Paul back to Antioch to preach and teach.  Scripture tells us he remained there for a year teaching and making sure the Church has a proper foundation.

Antioch is the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians.

So in this verse we see some of the first missionary activity of the Church, but we also see some of the first Philanthropy in the Church in the sending of aid to the Church where famine has broken out.

I have said this before, but we are commanded to love our neighbor.  We heard on the Sunday of the Last Judgment, Jesus telling His followers by what measure they would be judge.  He goes on to talk about those who are hungry, naked, and sick and in prison and whether or not we helped them.  You see, aid to those in need is not optional for Christians.

The Church we read about today from the Book of Acts was in need.  The people were suffering from a famine and the Church decided to send aid.  But the way they sent the aid is what is important for us to hear.  “Every one according to his ability.”  Everyone is to help according to their ability.  Now what does that mean?

Some of us have been blessed by God with money.  Those of us who have been so blessed should give to their ability as determined by them in consultation with their Spiritual Father.  Some of us have been graced by God with strong backs, strong hands, and the ability to perform physical labor.  We are to give to those in need according to our ability.  And some of us have been graced by God with the ability to pray for those in need.  You see it is not just about money, or physical labor or even prayer, it is about doing what we can with the gifts that God has given us.

The interesting point of all of this today is that the same Church that the writer of the Book of Acts wrote about and their need, is the same Church that on this very day, is in need.

I don’t think I need to tell you that for the last few years of the so called “Arab Spring” Christians in the Middle East have been under persecution and dare I say extinction.  There is a concerted effort by radical Islam to cleans the Middle East of all traces of Christianity.  This harkens back to the time of the Nazi persecution of the Jews prior to and during the time of World War II.

If I understand my history correctly, and I believe I do, the war in Europe was because one man was trying to exterminate a race of people and replace that with the master race.  Now I know that the reasons for a war are never that simple, but the United States, and other Nations, have sent the military all around the world to save people in all sorts of situations, but in this case we are funding those who are actually doing the killing.  Under the guise of bringing democracy to an oppressed people, we are sending aid to the very people who have perpetrated this holocaust on the Christian population in the Middle East.

The Church in the Middle East is desperately in need of our aid!

But what can we do?  How can we help?

First and foremost we can pray.  If you are not praying for the Christians in the Middle East now, start to pray for them.  Prayer is the simplest thing that we can do.  We can ask God to intercede in this, and every situation to bring comfort to those people if that is His will.  We can support the IOCC with funds.  IOCC is on the ground in the Middle East bringing what comfort it can and works as an advocate at the highest levels of government.  You can write, call, send emails, if you are active in the Social Media you can post stories to raise awareness of the situation and call people to action.  And you can educate yourself on what is going on.  It is time for us to remove our heads from the sand and realize that is happening in the world.  Christ demands us to love our neighbor and that is not just the person living next door to you!

The entire message of the Gospel is one of action and it is clear today that we are being called to action.  We can no longer afford to just sit by and watch this happen, we have the power, the power of God, to defeat the enemy and we must join our voices to the thousands of others.  By ourselves we are small, but together we are Great!

Christ is Risen!

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Decoration Day

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated by U.S. flags on Memorial Day weekend.
The gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated by U.S. flags on Memorial Day weekend.

The last Monday in May has been designated Memorial Day here in the United States.  Some have classified this day as the official start of the summer season, although with the weather we have been having here in Massachusetts it is hard to think of it that way, but this is not how this day began.

On May 5, 1868 Union General John A Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, published General Order No. 11 that designated May 30th as the day that decorations were to be placed on the graves of soldiers who lost their lives in what has become known as the US Civil War.  In laying out the reasons for this annual remembrance he uses these words:

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude,–the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

May 30th was chosen as the date in part because the flowers would be in their full beauty in all places of the United States and also because it did not conflict with any other celebration in the United States.

General Logan also cautions us with these words about keeping their memory alive:

Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic.

I have been engaged in project these last few weeks, to locate and identify the Civil War dead from Southbridge.  I am amazed at the number of graves that have fallen into disrepair.  This is no fault of the cities and towns where these graves lie, but to us as a nation, that we have forgotten these men that gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Some of the stones are so weather warn that it is almost impossible to read the names, but thankfully each year, flag are placed at the grave to honor their service.

The date was moved to its present, Last Monday in May, by act of Congress in 1971.  The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, moved four holidays from their original date to Monday in order to create convenient three-day weekends.  Some organizations like the VFW and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, advocate returning the holiday back to its original date.

On Memorial Day, in large cities and small hamlets, all over the United States, ceremonies will be held to honor, not only those from the Civil War, but all veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  Traditionally the Flag is raised “briskly” to the top of the pole and then lowered solemnly to the half-staff position where it will remain until noon when it is again raised back to the top of the pole.

The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

It was also traditional to hold a “dinner on the ground” a pot luck dinner where people would go the cemetery and enjoy a meal and gather as family.  Although we no longer do this in the cemetery families still gather on this day and enjoy a meal together.

Although I enjoy a parade as much as the next guy, I really do not think that today is the day for parades.  However with that said, a parade that is solemn and moves from monument to monument or from cemetery to cemetery where wreaths would be placed is very appropriate.  Speeches should be made to honor those who have died, not speeches by those trying to get elected to something.

My hope is that everyone will take time to visit a grave of a fallen soldier.  Perhaps it is one in your family or a grave of a soldier that has been neglected.  If you are in the cemetery, and notice a grave near your loved one, why not a few moments and place flowers at their grave as well and say thank you for their service.  It is the least we can do for those who have given so much.

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Sermon ~ What Paralyzes You?

Posted on by Fr. Peter

me speakingI recently took up horseback riding.  That’s right, your truly gets on a horse and rises around.  I know that right now you are picturing a John Wayne type sitting high upon his majestic beast and riding off into the sunset. Well, you can get that image right out of your head.  I am more like one of the three stooges, hanging on for life, as the horse does what it wants.  But, like anything else, you need perseverance to make it all work.

I have not been riding long, in fact I have only ridden once, but it was an experience I will not soon forget.  I serve as Chaplain for the National Lancers.  The Lancers are the oldest military unit still in existence in Massachusetts and they are the mounted honor guard of the Governor.  Their role now is ceremonial but the work is still hard and demanding.

So there I was, in the stable a few weeks ago.  Standing beside a very large horse, not the largest of horses mind you but a large horse none the less.  I put the blanket on, then the saddle, adjusted the stirrups and walked the horse out to the field where we would ride.  The name of the horse was Taps and I was not sure if that was a good thing or not.  Since I am bound to the earth by the force of gravity I could not mount the horse in the usual way, I needed to use the steps that are set aside for rookies.  Keep in mind that this entire experience brought much joy to my fellow riders.  But I got on the noble beast and prepared to ride.

That is when it happened, I was paralyzed with fear!

I have done many things in my life and I have been placed in some pretty harrowing situations but I have never been so scared in my life.  Here I was, sitting on a horse, wondering what in the name of all that is Holy ever possessed me to get on this animal.  Perhaps possession is the right word, but I was literally paralyzed.  I could not move, the horse was willing, but the flesh was weak.  All I wanted to do was to get off of this thing and back on the ground, standing up of course, but that was not going to happen.  Everyone was telling me it was going to be okay and to just relax.

This may come as a surprise to many of you but I like to be in control.  Being in control of a situation is important to me and is part of my personality, I have learned to let go of a lot of things in my life and continue to work on this daily, so to be so out of control was way over the limit for me and it was not comfortable.  Well relaxation did not come until I was on my way home, but I did settle in and it turned out to be a rather joyous ride.  I do plan on doing this again by the way.

Today we heard the story of another man who was paralyzed, although I doubt it was because he was riding on a horse.  We do not really know why he is in this condition but we do know it has been a long time that he has been afflicted.  Scripture tells us he had been waiting 38 years to be healed, waiting by the pool for just the right moment, but that moment never came.  He would just sit there, day in and day out, and wait.  Wait for someone to carry him into the water so he might be healed.

This water, that he was waiting to enter, would be moved by an angel and the first person to enter the water after this happened would be healed.  He sat and watched person after person, enter the water and come out healed from whatever it was that ailed them.  But it was to never happen to him.

Jesus comes and sees the man sitting there.  He walks over to him and asks him if he wished to be made whole.  The man replies to Jesus that he has no man to put him in the pool and that another come before he has a chance to get in.  In other words he does not answer the question that Jesus had asked him.  Nevertheless, Jesus tells him that he is healed and to take his bed and go.

St. John Chrysostom tells us that Jesus singled out this man, who had suffered for 38 years, to teach us about perseverance.  Imagine having the patience to wait 38 years for something.  To lie within reach of it, but not being able to grasp it.  In our world today we want everything right away.  We want fast food, we want instant savings, we go through the express line, and we get agitated if we have to wait in traffic.  We are not a citizenry that likes to wait.  Our attention span only last about 10 minutes, imagine waiting 38 years.

But this is what our spiritual life is all about.  We are called to persevere each and every day on the spiritual walk.  There will be good days and there will be bad days but we must keep on going.  Regardless of what is going on in the world we have to keep on track with our spiritual life.  We need to spend time in prayer and reading each and every day not just on Sunday.

The other part of the story that needs to be pointed out is what happens at the end.  Where did the man go after this miracle had been given to him, did he run and tell his family?  Did he go out to eat and celebrate this victory over sin?  Did he head to the local bar and hoist one?  No, Scripture tells us that Jesus found the man in the Temple, after his healing he went to Church and there he thanked God for what had happened to him.

Far too many only come to church, or even think of God when the going gets difficult.  We are quick to blame Him when things go wrong, but many people think that if things go well it is all them that made it happen.  Sure we are the “masters of our own destiny” but the gifts that we have, the skills that we use to make things happen, have come from God and we need to thank God for all of the graces that have been given to us.

When I climbed down off that horse, by the way, getting off the horse is easier than getting on, I thanked God that I was able to stay on the beast in the first place.  I thanked God for the people who were there to watch over me and to make sure that I was safe.  And I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to reach beyond my fears and to do something that I thought I would never do.

How much time do we spend thanking God?  Do we turn to God only in the bad times or do we turn to Him at all times, in season and out of season, and thank Him for the many blessings, and yes there are many, that He bestows upon us.

As we continue our celebration of all that He has done for us, take time to thank God and really mean it.

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26 May ~ Augustine of Canterbury

Posted on by Fr. Peter
He is the founder of the Church in southern England, which at that time was almost entirely pagan, though Christianity thrived in the Celtic lands of Ireland, Wales and parts of Scotland. Augustine, a monk at the monastery of St Andrew in Rome, was chosen by Pope Gregory I to lead a mission to England…He and a party of about forty monks landed in England in 597; they were received warmly by King Aethelbert, who was baptised by Augustine and thus became the first Christian king of the Anglo-Saxon people. In 601 Pope Gregory made Augustine Archbishop of Britain, and he established his cathedral at Canterbury, where he also established a monastery. Saint Augustine worked unsuccessfully to unite his churches with those of the Irish monks and hierarchs, who followed different liturgical practices, kept a different date of Pascha, and disapproved of the less severe Roman monastic practices introduced by the Archbishop. He reposed in peace.

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General John A. Logan’s Memorial Day Order

Posted on by Fr. Peter

General Order

No. 11

Headquarters, Grand Army of the Republic

Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868

logan_engravingI. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion.” What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foe? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their death a tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the Nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and found mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude,–the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this order effective.

By command of:

JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief.

N. P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant-General

Source

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Is civil dialogue a thing of the past

Posted on by Fr. Peter

I am getting more and more frustrated with the level of debate in our country.  It seems we cannot have a conversation about anything without it turning to personal attacks.  Most recently, a candidate for the United States Senate, the body that usually raises the bar on debate, called his opponent “pond scum.”  I just do not understand it any longer.

Last night, I posted a story to Facebook about the decision of the Church of England to ordain woman to the hierarchy.  Now just to make it clear, I do not really care what the Anglican Church does or does not do and it is a settled argument, regardless of what people think, that the Orthodox Church will never ordain women, but I posted it for informational and discussion purposes only.  But it soon turned to personal attacks, by two Orthodox Christians!

This is not the first instance when this has happened.  If I post anything about sexual morality, call me a prude if you like but I think people should only be having sex with the person they are married too, and only the opposite sex, but if I post anything along those lines I am ridiculed for my position.  I find it interesting that the very people who are asking for tolerance and, acceptance of their position do not respect my right to hold an opposite position and will paint me as intolerant, as well as my faith.

I have always held the position that you are entitled to your position on an issue.  I also agree that you have the right to speak in opposition to what I believe, in fact I will argue that right to the death if necessary, but in this world of political correctness gone amuck, if one does not hold to what is popular today you are held up for ridicule.  So, I will gladly take it and continue to point out the fallacy of the liberal position on certain topics.

We have some big problems in America right now and all voices need to be heard in the debate, but when the argument is reduced to personal attacks it is time to just walk away from that discussion as it is not helpful.  We have people in America today who can barely survive and we are more concerned about getting elected then fixing the issues.  We want to demonize people and make them afraid rather than have a meaningful discussion about poverty, abortion, education, sexual morality, etc.  Rather than talk about the state of mental health in America we want to start banning guns.  Rather than a discussion about teen pregnancy and the number of abortions and what the cause of all of that is, we want free condoms for everyone.

What needs to happen is a serious conversation about what is causing all of this and not some band aid approach, but that will never happen in the America of today because we have to blame someone, or make you afraid of someone, of turn to comments like “pond scum.”

So I am going to try and raise the bar.  I will continue to solicit comments and discussion on the social media, after all it should be more about discussion than picture of cats and horses, but if your comments turn personal or you attack another person unjustly, then you will be deleted, and I am the judge, it is my wall so these are my rules.

“We the people,” need to control the story and hold our elected officials to a higher standard, but the only way we can do that is if “we the people” hold ourselves to a higher standard.  America deserves better!

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Tornado Watch vs Warning

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Oklahoma tornado damage
Oklahoma tornado damage

In less than two weeks we will be commemorating the second anniversary of the tornado that struck Western and Central Massachusetts.  I was not directly in the path of the tornado but I know many people who were and it is the most horrifying thing one can imagine.  We are used to all sorts of bad weather here in Massachusetts but tornadoes are rare and hard to get used too.  Listening to the television reports this past week from Oklahoma I guess you never get used to tornadoes.

So with more bad weather on the way for us here in Massachusetts I thought I would define some terms:

A tornado watch means that there is significant chance that the weather pattern could create a tornado.

A tornado warning means that thunderstorms with a tornado is imminent or that a tornado has been spotted on the ground.

This past week, the folks in Moore, Oklahoma had about 16 minutes notice that a tornado was on the way.  This may seem like a long time but it really is not.  Being prepared is important and taking time to be prepared before the weather strikes is the way to go.  If the weather service reports a tornado warning for your area you need to seek shelter immediately and stay there until the threat passes.  You need a place that is safe, experts say below ground is the best place to be, but if you cannot get below ground than an interior room is the best.  If you are outside, get inside immediately.

The most important part of all of this is to pay attention to what the weather folks are saying.  The “weather man” takes a lot of abuse about being wrong and hyping things up, but it is much better to be prepared and then stand down than it is to try and prepare when the “beast” is approaching. Usually on the day that severe weather is predicted, there will be reports about it all day so pay attention and be prepared.

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Sermon ~ He is not Here

Posted on by Fr. Peter

MYRRBEARLast Sunday we came face to face with the person of St. Thomas and an act of faith that changed him from one filled with uncertainty to one of great faith.  Today we come face to face with the women who came to the tomb of Jesus to prepare His sacred body for burial.

The crucifixion took place very close to the Sabbath and so there was no time for the burial ritual to take place.  Joseph of Arimathea came and took the body down and placed the body of Jesus in his own tomb.  They did this rather quickly to prepare for the Sabbath with the idea that they would come back the next day to finish the ritual of burial.  Boy were they in for a surprise.

So the women set out on Sunday morning to go and prepare His body.  They were carrying the spices and other such things that would be needed for the task at hand.  I can only imagine the conversation along the road as they walked, if there was a conversation at all.  They were still trying to make sense of what they had witnessed.  The man they had been following for all of these years, who they believed was the Son of God, was dead and they did not know what was next.

But as they walked they asked a very down to earth question, who will roll away the stone for us?  After placing the body of Jesus in the tomb, a very large stone was rolled in front of the opening and sealed up the tomb.  They did not know how this was going to be moved so they could go about the ritual they were there to perform.  But they continued on.  Perhaps they thought they would find someone there that could help, who knows, but they continued on.

Much to their surprise, when they arrived the stone had, in fact, been rolled away and the tomb was open.  This was not done so Jesus could exit, he did not need any opening for that purpose, but this was done so the women, and us by the way, could looking into the empty tomb and see that Jesus was no longer there.  Now when they did this they were filled with anxiety.  Who could have taken the body?  Where did they put him?  They went deeper into the tomb, venturing very slowly, tears streaming down their faces at the very thought that the body had been stolen, and there they found a young man sitting inside the tomb.

Now if this was me, I think I would quickly turn around and leave!  Imagine walking into a tomb, expecting to find the dead body of Jesus, but rather you find a young man sitting there in a long white robe.  Scripture tells us, “they were alarmed” ya, no kidding!

He reassures them and tells them that Jesus has risen.  He tells them to go and tell his disciples, and Peter, that Jesus will meet them in Galilee.  Mark’s Gospel tells us that they left and were afraid and trembling and said nothing, but the others have the story of them going and telling the Apostles what they witnessed and Peter running back to see for himself.

The Angel tells the women to go and tell His Disciples, and Peter, about what has happened.  I find this an interesting phrase, and Peter.  Was Peter not one of the Disciples?  Why did the Angel single out Peter by name?

Some biblical commentators say this is because of the denial of Peter.  Because Peter denied Christ, he would have felt that he was no longer able to call himself a disciple of Christ.  He was guilt ridden for what he had done.  At the time when Christ needed him the most, Peter denied Him to others.  He looked them in the eye and said it was not him he was not there with Jesus and did not know who He was.  To Peter this was the ultimate betrayal, perhaps even more than what Judas had done.  This was the way that Jesus used to redeem Peter and to forgive him for what he had done.  This is the act of unconditional love that God has for all of us, Jesus forgave Peter, his closest friend, for denying Him.  If Jesus can forgive Peter, He surely can forgive us for what we have done!  Peter is redeemed and goes on to be one of the greatest of the Apostles.

But the other interesting part comes in the verses that follow what we read today.  In the next part Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.  Scripture tell us she is the one that Jesus cast out seven demons from.  Mary goes and tells the others, she is the first Evangelist!  Notice, He did not appear first to the Apostles, who by the way fled when He was arrested, no, He appeared to the women, and not just any woman, but a woman who had been possessed by demons!  The first Evangelist of the Christian Church, the first one to being the Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was not a man, but a woman!

Remember, it was the men who fled from Jesus, it was a man the betrayed Him, it was a man who denied Him, but it was a woman who He appeared to first, and it was a woman who preached the first Easter Sermon on that first Easter!  In fact the Church has given Mary the title of the Apostle to the Apostles.

In this action we see the redemption of Peter and the commission to spread the Good news of the Resurrection, not just the men, but all of us we all have the responsibility to proclaim the good news in word and in action.  No one is to sit on the sidelines here, just as Mary did, we all have to preach when we have the opportunity too and not look back and not be afraid.  We have a divine commission to do this it is not just left to the so called professionals, but by Jesus making His appearance first to Mary, he opened the Gospel to everyone and He gave the command to everyone to preach the risen Lord.

Just a little side note here, notice we do not sing “Christ HAS Risen” but we sing “Christ IS Risen!”  This is not some historical event that took place two thousand years ago, this is a daily event that takes place with each of us each day, Christ IS Risen! And He is alive and working in each of us and that is the message that is the good news that we must bring to the world!

Christ is Risen!

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