Justin, Martyr at Rome, c. 167

A song comes to mind, The Wayfaring Stranger, that typifies the searching of the children of the world, as they seek the Christ. Can we pray that God, in His infinite and great Mercy, might find them, laity, clergy and bishops, as He did Justin, and lead them into the Truth of His Word. Our heart aches for those who have lost the vision of Christ's atoning sacrifice and redemption, as man continues to do all that pleases themselves. Man's 'itching ears' cannot be the measure of salvation, and men MUST be found and taught His ways.


Almighty and everlasting God, who didst find thy martyr Justin wandering from teacher to teacher, seeking the true God, and didst reveal to him the sublime wisdom of thine eternal Word: Grant that all who seek thee, or a deeper knowledge of thee, may find and be found of thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect for Justin, Martyr at Rome, LF&F 233

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel Proper for the day

Luke 1:39-49
(39) And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
(40) And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
(41) And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
(42) And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
(43) And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(44) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
(45) And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
(46) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
(47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
(48) For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
(49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Father in heaven, by whose grace the virgin mother of thy incarnate Son was blessed in bearing Him, but still more blessed in keeping thy word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The "Know Nothings"

From the New Testament lesson for Whitsun Ember Wednesday,

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I Corinthians 2.2

How necessary is it to know a lot of 'stuff' as we work for the Kingdom? Paul sums it up nicely for us
...'know nothing, except Christ, and Him crucified'...
to pay, in full, the cost of our sins!

Too many 'Christians' today, even 'Christian' leaders, claim their status of salvation with Christ, yet refuse to acknowledge their sins, refuse to repent, refuse to make amendment of life, refuse to accept His terms for the gift of life that has been given us, through His sacrifice, once offered.

Much has been lost to us today, since the very concept of the presence or possibility of sin in individual lives has been 'taught away' by the Church; much that has torn mainline denominations, and even some of the more esoteric smaller groups. God had a plan, man messed it up first in the Garden of Eden; God set forth a new plan, man thought he had messed it up in Jerusalem; but God's plan was consumated in Christ. Since Him there has been and can be no new plan. As the old song says,

"Jesus paid it all,
all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a dreadful stain,
He washed it white as snow".

There are those who say they have had a 'new revelation', a new and different move of the Holy Spirit, new and grand ways to express love, inclusion and justice. To them I can only quote John in Revelation 22.18, "...If any man shall add to these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book". There are no new revelations, the Canon of Scripture is closed, man has given himself over to a reprobate mind, filled with justifying his own ideas and lusts, and God is ready to 'spew them out'.

Personally, I had rather be a 'know nothing'.

"This world is not my home,
I'm just a passin' though.
If heaven were not my home
O Lord, what would I do?
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home
In this world any more."

Maranatha. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Tuesday in Whitsun Week

The Epistle
Acts 8:14-17
(14) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
(15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
(17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reighneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
-- BCP 1928

Whit Monday -- Memorial Day (US)

Wisdom 9:1-6
(1) O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,
(2) And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,
(3) And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:
(4) Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:
(5) For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws.
(6) For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.
-- Morning prayer, Whit Monday, BCP 1928

Father, help us remember that we are but your creation, and that without your Son we are nothing at all under your sun. Order our steps, that we might please you, that we might not find ourselves rejected by you at your judgement, because of our lack of understanding of your laws, our rebellion against your laws, our misuse of your bounty, or our disinterest in your Word.

Grant to us thy wisdom, enable us to keep thy laws, direct us in all of your paths for us, and grant us the ability to refuse the temptations of the world as we seek your face.

May we keep in mind those, faithful, who have gone before...those heroes of faith and civil life, who have paid a dear price for the freedoms we enjoy, both in our secular lives, and in our faith journeys. Help us to remember, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, now and always. Amen.