Posted on 12/22/2008 8:25:20 AM PST by stan_sipple
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5).
The world settles into winter, at least in the northern hemisphere, and life to many seems increasingly bleak. Foreclosures, layoffs, government bailouts and financial failures, continuing war on two fronts, terrorist attacks, murders of some identified only by their faith -- this world is in abundant need of light. We know light that is not overcome by darkness, for God has come among us in human flesh. Born in poverty to a homeless couple, to a people long under occupation, Jesus is human and divine evidence that God is with us in the midst of the world's darkness. Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, Divine Counselor is come among us to re-mind, re-member, and re-create. A new mind and heart is birthed in us as we turn to follow Jesus on the way. The body of God's creation is re-membered and put back together in ways intended from the beginning. And a new creation becomes reality through Jesus' healing work. Christians tell the story again each Christmastide, and the telling and remembering invites us once again into being made whole. Our task in every year is to hear the story with new ears, and seeing light in the darkness of this season's woes, then to tell it abroad with gladsome hearts to those who wait in darkness. Where will you share the joyous tale of light in the darkness?
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Presiding Bishop The Episcopal Church
KJS is a joke.
But then Episcopalians are not known for reading the Bible.
its midnight in christendom (sarc). the “homeless” quip really torqued me.
For the millionth time, they we not homeless. They were temporarily forced from their home by a meddling government. They weren’t “in poverty”, Joseph was a skilled craftsman. Someone we would call “middle class” today.
“Born in poverty to a homeless couple,”
In her haste to make things bleak, I guess she forgot to read the actual account.
Luke 1:56, “And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.”
I’m an Episcopalian, albeit a bit lapsed, and I think the business about same-sex marriage, an ordained homosexual bishop, and many other things are absurd, which has much to do with why I’m a bit lapsed, and it’s my understanding that KJS is right in the middle of all this absurdity; however, this seems like a nice message. Am I missing something?
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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
In their defense, they do -- and it is built right into the service. Somebody remarked that you'll find the Bible read more in the Episcopal/Anglican services, day in and day out, than in any other church.
Whether the leadership of TEC pays attention to what they read is another matter...
I am shocked, however, that the Head Wiccan did not hammer on the MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS like she constantly does.
KJS is reciting from the Book of Common Preyers.
the “occupation” thing is a stretch too, since the romans allowed jews to practice their religion.
pboffice@episcopalchurch.org
“And a new creation becomes reality through Jesus’ healing work”
And what does Jesus heal? She talkes about war, foreclosure and poverty. I guess she forgot about global climate change. Anyway, these are the ills she describes prior to mentioning Jesus’ healing work. Does this mean Christ came to heal us of disease and poverty? Did Jesus come to free us from foreclosures? Did He come among us to stop the destruction and misery of war?
To be healed of poverty is to become affluent. To be freed from foreclosure is to be given a home. To be liberated from war’s destruction is to prosper. Did Jesus come so that we may prosper and thrive in this life and in this world? Who took Christ to a high tower, showed Him all the kingdoms and wealth of the world and said “All these I will give to You if You bow down and worship me”?
I actually have concrete proof of that. However, if one is discussing the NT, then the amount not actually read in services is very small. It’s the OT of which the Episcopalians are largely ignorant, unless they personally take the time to search out the text.
Thing is, the text in question is supposed to be very well known to these people. And it’s clear from what she writes that she knows the text. It’s just that she has no orthodox clue how to interpret it.
Until recently, the Sunday Eucharist readings came from Psalms and the New Testament. The usual service would have an Epistle, a Psalm and then a Gospel reading. These passages were actually printed in the 1928 BCP. The 1979 BCP added an Old Testament reading. For space reasons, none of the readings were printed in the 1979 BCP (we have Bibles), but the Psalter was retained in a separate section (it is punctuated for singing/chanting). It really wasn’t until recently the OT reading became part of the regular service (even at that, a lot of parishes skip it).
I know. I entered ECUSA in 1980 and departed for an orthodox Anglican communion a few years later. I’m familiar with both the 1979 and 1928 BCPs.
Thing is, if one relies upon the scanty extracts used in the normal Eucharists for knowledge of Scripture, the effort will be only just begun. The real contact is through Morning and Evening prayer. That was what I was actually referring to.
The inclusion of Old Testament readings is perhaps the only positive thing that came out of the changes of the ‘70s. Still, as Christians, our focus is, and should be, on the promises of the New Testament.
A lot of this stuff about homelessness and Jesus hanging out with n’er-do-wells is an attempt to re-invent Him as a rebel along the lines of some of our sixties counter culture figures. That won’t wash.
Jesus was no hippy, and He was no pacifist. He was God and God doesn’t need any of our labels.
Schori’s theology is pathetic and she’s not a legitimate bishop anyway. She is just the latest in a long list of things that drove me out of the Episcopal Church a number of years ago.
i thought about putting a “barf alert” on this post
I was an Epicopalian back when it was a religion not a political party and believe me reading the Lessons went over most peoples heads as just a part of the service. I went to Baptist VBS with my next door neighbor as a kid and they taught the Bible. Calling Joesph and Mary homeless is just a political statement on how wretchedly evil we are in theis country.
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