preferences
Post-hurricane I don’t know where my books are, my most-used books now packed up in boxes, that were in my den in 7H; my second most-used books also now packed up in boxes, that were in my office at the church. And also packed up in boxes, a few that were in the church library that I kept either in my shelves that were there with my Bibles, BCPs and EOWs for Sunday School or at my place at the table because I used them almost every week. I don’t know where they are or how to get to them, and it doesn’t matter in the least, although I have to rely on memory, not a hundred percent reliable source.
Otherwise I’d look up in Hatchett (Commentary on the American Prayer Book) the source of next Sunday’s collect (prayer) for the day, which will be Proper 27 Year B. It’s always interesting to check out the collect's theology, and to know how old the prayer is, when it was first used, and, if it’s fairly modern, 20th century, who wrote it. Sometimes the collect is a relic from so early in church history that its theology is challengeable to a thinking and stubborn or skeptical 21st century Christian. There’s a taste of that here:
Otherwise I’d look up in Hatchett (Commentary on the American Prayer Book) the source of next Sunday’s collect (prayer) for the day, which will be Proper 27 Year B. It’s always interesting to check out the collect's theology, and to know how old the prayer is, when it was first used, and, if it’s fairly modern, 20th century, who wrote it. Sometimes the collect is a relic from so early in church history that its theology is challengeable to a thinking and stubborn or skeptical 21st century Christian. There’s a taste of that here:
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
But the collect, which supposedly is meant to collect the worshipers’ thoughts and attention on uniting in the day’s theme, does indeed sit well with this coming Sunday's lesson from Hebrews:
Hebrews 9:24-28
Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Which we are finishing up the following Sunday, Proper 28B, by reading from Hebrews 10 and without getting to, to me, the most interesting part, which is Hebrews 11. Why do the lectionary framers do these things - -
At any event, this Hebrews reading upholds the, even though Hebrews was not written by Paul, theology that developed after Good Friday and Easter, but that to me, like much of what developed in the Early Church after the otherwise inexplicable execution of the Messiah who was expected to restore the throne of David and, among other things, lead Israel back to world prominence, was never in the mind of Jesus, that Jesus’ death was a sacrifice for the sins of all such that, at the Second Coming the living and the faithful dead would be saved into the new kingdom of God on earth. Hebrews may be early enough, written before the fading of Paul's (see 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23 ) and the Church’s expectation of imminent parousia.
Rather than, with some religionists from time to time, gathering on a mountaintop and with sure and certain confidence watching the clouds, much of the Church seems content anymore with simply reciting the Nicene Creed (He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.) and proclaiming the Mystery of Faith, (A) Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. (B) We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory. (C) We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.
We don’t always get our preferences in life, or I would be writing this morning’s muse sitting happily on the couch in my 7H den with a little stack of books beside me. As it is, that den is empty, books as I say boxed and now elsewhere, drywall removed as necessary, and carpet stripped to bare concrete; but now filled with Linda’s washer & dryer because on further moisture metering the laundry room also had to be cleared for dehumidification.
Nevertheless and Notwithstanding, I need constantly to be thankful and mindful that Life Is Good.
Hurricanes aside, I love the sight, sound and smell of the sea.
Hurricanes aside, I love the sight, sound and smell of the sea.
RSF&PTL
T