Lenten Meditation #2 -Acts 2:42

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Act 2:42)

The first priority of this first Christian congregation was to “devote themselves” to learning, fellowship and the Holy Eucharist. This group which was distinguishing itself from the Roman world in which it existed realized that it needed to continue to learn at the feet of those who had learned at the feet of Jesus. These followers of the crucified one also realized that they needed the support of the community if they were going to be able to resist the temptation to fall back into the easy patterns that they had left to follow Christ. Finally, the gatherings of these new brothers in Christ included regular participation in the Holy Eucharist, through which they were nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, and reminded of the sacrifice that had been made to win their salvation.

After Pentecost, the apostles took on the role that had been modeled for them by Jesus during his earthly ministry. They became the teachers to this new group of disciples. And, the disciples were anxious to learn about the one who had sacrificed himself so that they might become heirs of his eternal kingdom. Luke, in his description here does not say that they met on Sundays to hear the teaching, he says that they “devoted themselves”. In actuality, this group of early believers lived together with the apostles, much as the apostles had lived with Jesus for three years. They were so interested in learning more that they did not want to leave the apostles’ side, so they moved in with them.

I am not suggesting that we, in the 21^st century, form a Christian commune, or that we all go off to a residential seminary. I am suggesting, however, that if we want to grow closer to Christ, we need to commit to learning about him. We can do this through Bible studies in homes, or at church. We can learn by reading good books, or even listening to preachers on the radio. But, if we want to grow closer to Christ, we must be willing to make a commitment to learning, and understand that learning is a life-long process. We will never graduate from learning about Christ, even after we leave this life and enter his nearer presence.

The second thing to which this early congregation was devoted was “fellowship”, the Greek “κοινωνία”(koinōnia). This means much more than talking about the upcoming football game over a cup of coffee in the parish hall. This fellowship more like a family relationship where the members share in the joys and pains of daily life. This is a deeply personal relationship of love and caring. These early Christians had left friends and family to follow Christ. In many cases they had become social outcasts. They needed to be a part of a community that was able to replace these lost relationships and support them through the difficulties of this new life. They knew the cost of discipleship, and needed others who had the same experience for support, they needed koinonia.

The culture in which we live has become so very impersonal. We are constantly connected, but lack genuine relationships. The church should be a place where genuine relationships are nurtured and supported. The congregation must be a place of safety and support for its members. If we do this, others will be drawn into our fellowship.

Third in this list is “the breaking of the bread and the prayers”. There are few who will argue that this is referring to the regular celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We know that the Eucharist was central to the worship of the early church. Enough so that St. Paul is able to write, “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you…” to the Corinthian church. By the time of Paul’s conversion – within a year, or two of the birth of the church – the Eucharist was a primary part of the practice of the church. The early church received the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ at least weekly, gathering on the “first day of the week”. This was much more than a memorial to these early believers, it was their source of spiritual nourishment and a participation in the death that Christ died to save us from our sins, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.“ (1 Cor. 11:26) If it were a mere means of remembering, why would Paul have written, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord?” (1Co 11: 27) Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand the gravity of the Sacrament in which they were participating, and the consequences of receiving it without discernment.

We are the inheritors of this Sacrament. It carries no less value today than it did nearly 2000 years ago. Every time we participate in the Holy Eucharist, we participate in the saving crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and we receive his Body and Blood – he becomes a part of us in a very real way. We must never forget the great gift that has been given to us through this Holy Communion, and we must invite others into this most intimate of relationships with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is ours to share, not to keep locked up.

If we are to follow in the footsteps of our Christian ancestors, we need to recapture their commitment to Christian community. One first step toward this aim is to recommit ourselves to the apostles teaching, koinonia fellowship within the family and sincere participation in the Holy Eucharist. By doing so, we will recapture the spirit that allowed the early church to flourish in a hostile culture.

Lenten Meditation #1 -- 3/7/2014

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

In these verses we have a snapshot of the Church in its infancy. Jesus has just ascended into Heaven. The Holy Spirit has, only days ago, given birth to this new Church, giving it the power to fulfill the mission that Jesus gave before his ascension:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  (Mat 28:18-20)

This is a group that has grown from maybe 50 before the Day of Pentecost to at least 3000, as that was the number that were added following Peter’s Pentecost sermon. The leaders of the group had known Jesus during his three-year ministry. He had spent those three years preparing them for this day, when they would become responsible for the spread of the Gospel – the good news that sin and death no longer have any power over those who believe that Jesus is the Messiah, that he become one of us, died for our sins, and rose from the grave victorious over Satan once and for all.

This snapshot offers us great insight into the priorities of the earliest Christian congregation – actually, they were not called Christians yet, they would first be called the people of “The Way”. It gives us an idea of what an ideal Christian community looks like, and, perhaps, even a goal towards which we should model our own communities.

This Lent, we will be seeking to better understand this earliest of Christian communities, this first congregation, so to speak. We will be looking at four primary characteristics, as outlined in the passage from Acts cited above.

First, this early Christian community worshipped, prayed and learned together: “they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” We will take a look at how the early church worshipped, prayed, and created disciples. This is listed as one of its primary activities. Through this examination, we will hopefully see how our liturgies reflect those of the early church.

Second, we will examine the “awe, wonders and signs” that were present in this group, through the Holy Spirit. As we look at the activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of the early church, we will take some time to discuss the existence of these in the church today.

Third, we will investigate the charity of the members of the early church: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” We will discuss how these early Christians offered everything that they had to the good of the community. As we look at this practice of the early church, we will examine how the Bible teaches us to handle money, and our own stewardship of the financial gifts God has entrusted to each of us.

Finally, we will spend some time investigating the ways that the early church grew from that small group of believers hiding in an upper room in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost to thousands in every part of the Roman Empire in the course of one generation. Through this investigation, we will seek ways that we can follow the model of the early Christians to spread the Gospel to our world that needs Jesus no less than Rome of the first century.

I pray that each of you will be able to participate in each of these sessions in person as we walk The Way of the Cross each Friday during this Lent. I hope that this series will offer fresh insight that will allow this congregation to celebrate the new birth of Easter with new vigor and commitment to fulfilling our purpose, which is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ this year.

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Bishop Morales' Advent Pastoral Letter

I thought that, rather than writing something myself this week, I would post the text of Bp. Morales' Advent Letter. Enjoy!

Advent 2013

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

Pax!

“Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.”  (Hymnal 1982, 66)

Advent, unlike any other season of the Church year, presents us with the already, but not yet nature of Christ’s Church. During this season, we take the time to look back on past victories, especially as we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as he came to live as one of us to offer himself as a sacrifice for the debt that we could not repay. But, also, especially at Advent, we look ahead to the final victory that will be won when Christ returns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to claim that which belongs to Him.

As a diocese, it is good for us to take some time to look at where we have been over the past year, as we prepare for the year to come.

This has been a year of many victories, most notably the new ministry opportunities that have presented themselves to us. We received four new congregations at our Synod in October, which brings the number of congregations that are members of our Synod to 27. This is important as we look back, as there were 23 congregations in the diocese in 2008. We also have many congregations looking to go through the process to enter our synod in the next year. We now have congregations that stretch from southern Florida to northern Wisconsin, and from Nashville, Tennessee to Montrose, Colorado. This is no longer “little Quincy”. I am encouraged by the Spiritual growth that has come along with, or perhaps led to, the physical growth of the diocese.

Looking forward, I see further expansion of the Diocese of Quincy as we become even more diligent in our efforts to build the kingdom of God, by “preparing the way of the Lord”.

When we gathered in October I set the theme of the Synod as “building up the kingdom”.  I said in my address that I would like this theme to resound throughout the Diocese.  That in order to build up the kingdom the focus of our preaching, teaching and training must be the message of the kingdom of God as it was proclaimed by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:15)

While we will return to this imperative over and over again, at no time during the church year does it ring more true than during Advent. What does Christ mean by the coming of the Kingdom?  He means that finally the cries of the marginalized and despised by the world will be answered; finally, God’s justice for all the disinherited of the earth, the poor, the oppressed, the weak, the defenseless will be realized. But the kingdom of God was not just a message of hope for the poor and marginalized by learning that they were loved by God.  Christ came to liberate them from their misery.

Jesus exercises a liberating activity with his miracles and exorcisms.  They are none other than “a sign that the kingdom of God has come” (Mt 12, 28).  They are manifestations of the divinity of Christ. From the name of the season, they are Epiphanies.

Jesus promotes solidarity among men. He fights separation in society and as a counterpart, reaches out to those who have been marginalized by society: he speaks to them, eats with them, defends them and praises them.  He implements a new collective conscience of solidarity.

Jesus denounces every action, attitude or structure that maintains men divided. He condemns the rich who only seek their own comfort.  He calls the rich farmer “foolish” for selfishly rejoicing in the abundance of his crops.(Lk 12, 16-21)  He condemns the rich man who could not share with the needy (Lk 16, 19-31).  And in the name of the Father he calls “cursed” those who do not take care of the vital necessities of his neighbor (Mt 25, 41-45) ““How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! (Luke 18, 24) for “no one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.” (Mt 6, 24).  According to Jesus, the only way to make just the unjust riches is by giving it to the poor (Mt 19, 21: Mk 10, 21; Lk 18,22).

How can we as a Church, as a Diocese make present the Kingdom of God in the society in which we live? We must announce the Kingdom of God among men.  Like the Seventy, the people of God are heralds of the kingdom sent forth as lambs among wolves to proclaim the Good News. The Church constitutes on earth the seed and beginning of the kingdom. It must become a reality wherever God is reigning by means of His grace and His love.

How can we be an obstacle to the work of building up the kingdom?  By being static, not forward thinking and considering what church we are leaving for those who follow.  By being content with not doing anything.  By pretending that we have nothing else to do.  In thinking that others will do what is our own responsibility to do.  By breaking bonds of communication with each other.  By not resolving old animosities.  By blaming everything on someone else and not accepting our own sins and faults.  When we forget about the importance of the petition we make practically every day: “may your kingdom come”, kingdom of peace, justice, of life and truth, kingdom that will only be achieved by the hardworking.

We must be about the work that Christ has laid before us as we pray the prayer of the ancient Church, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” As a diocese, we need to learn a lesson from those who design automobiles. As we drive we notice that cars have big windshields, but small rearview mirrors. We need to consider where we have been, that is important. But, our primary focus needs to be on where we are going. We must focus on moving forward with the work that Christ has placed before us, or we will surely crash, like a driver who spends too much time fixed on his rearview mirror.

My prayer this Advent is that this diocese will sing the hymn mentioned above with preparation and anxious expectation. That we will be constantly preparing for the kingdom of God to come, while being the incarnation of that kingdom in our world.

In Christ and Benedict,

+Bp. J. Alberto Morales, IX Bishop of Quincy