The Meditation. The Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity September 16 th, A.D. 2018

Transcription

1 The Meditation The Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity September 16 th, A.D The Adoration of the Holy Trinity ( ) Painting by Albrecht Durer ( ) German Renaissance painter, print-maker, & theorist 1

2 The Alleluia Verse for the Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity O Lord hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee. Psalm 102 The root of immortality This verse from Psalm 102 is a very familiar verse to the contemplative. It s the opening verse to each of the offices in the Cannonical Day, and so it is recited, sung, or chanted seven times every day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year. This verse, in a way, might be seen as a cry from one who is homesick, and in many ways, we as a species are homesick. Man s homesickness comes from its desire for immortality. The 19 th century French writer Leon Bloy[1] called mankind a pilgrim of the absolute, who can find no peace in the world that passes. Man has always, one way or another, sought some means of making his life unending, and the more he feels himself threatened by extinction here on earth, the more he craves a knowledge of his future state. The question asked in every age is: will anything exist after death? Does the meaning of one s life on earth lie in the hereafter? Some of our greatest thinkers have been reassured that a belief in a future state is the only way to give mortal life its proper perspective. Only when the Eternal Light pierces humanity s darkness, do those earthly things lose the importance that desire gives them, and we realize that; The fashion of this world passeth away. (I Corinthians; Chap. 7, Vs. 31). A non-christian philosopher wrote: Oh, if we were certain, absolutely certain, that life continues after death, we should never think of anything else. The pleasures of this world would seem dull and without color, would fade, as the light of a lamp fades before the rays of the rising sun; passing pleasures making way for eternal joy. How many today, share those same thoughts, and yet, because they possess little or no faith don t dare to take that leap of faith and embrace that which is blessed hope? We, as Christians, possess that absolute certainty, but what effect does it really have upon our lives? Do we, because of it, remember that the fashions of this world will pass away? Our belief in immortality, in eternal life, gives us the measure of our Christian faith. St. Augustine happily declares: After the resurrection of the body shall have taken place, being set free from the condition of time, we shall enjoy eternal life, with love ineffable and steadfastness without corruption. [2] The word immortality first occurs in the Old Testament in the Book of Wisdom, and was influenced by Greek philosophy: The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. (Wisdom: Chap. 3, Vss. 1-4). The word (immortality) is a philosophical term for the hope which for ages had been that of Israel. The psalms assure us that the just enjoy intimacy with God, even after 2

3 death. My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. (Psalm 72, Vs. 26). Wherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For why? Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell; neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou shalt show me the path of life: in thy presence is the fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore. (Psalm 16; Vss ). God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. (Psalm 49; Vs. 15). So we can see in just these three examples from Holy Scripture, that immortality is not the property of the soul which, thanks to its very simplicity, can t be decomposed. It is before everything, life with God. God is the soul of our souls, which, without Him, would be dead. Immortality belongs to God alone. [3] Human immortality is part of our union with Him Who is immortal. It s true that devils, demons, and those condemned to hell exist eternally, but such an existence, separated from God; is not eternal life: it is eternal death. We must understand that immortality is like a flower which grows from our consciousness of God s justice and God s power. The secret of our alliance with Him lies in these two divine attributes. God s justice, in the language of the Scriptures, means that He always treats His chosen people according to the terms of the alliance which He freely contracted with them. God is just [4] means that He corresponds to all that man may expect of the God, Who, of His own free will, made an alliance with His creature; an alliance which is the source of all the gifts and graces His love bestows on them. God, at the same time, is almighty; He can do all that He has promised: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto the void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it. (Isaiah; Chap. 55, Vs. 11). So, in a biblical sense, immortality means that God is ours forever; He offers Himself to us as our inheritance, He Who possesses the power to raise the soul up to Himself. There s no truth in the Old Testament that is more frequently and more clearly confirmed than the doctrine of immortality. It appeared, with the coming of Jesus, as the greatest and final grace that God bestows upon His elect. Immortality of the soul was extended to the body: This is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son... believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life. (I St. John; Chap. 5, Vss. 9 & 13). Here again, we find the root; faith in God s justice and power, but in a different form. God s justice is shown at its most sublime. He keeps His word to mankind, which had proved itself unfaithful. In Jesus, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared. (Titus; Chap. 3, Vs. 4); He was Founder of a new and eternal alliance, fulfilling and sealing the old one. God showed in Jesus, His power over death: He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans; Chap. 8, Vs. 11). This is the mighty exercise of power which He places at the disposition of the faithful. Death loses its sting for the person who belongs to Christ[5] for our true home is in heaven.[6] 3

4 O God, thou knowest the desires within the hearts that thou hast created for thyself. Help us to believe in thy Word and to live according to our faith that, in passing through our time on earth, we may not lose our eternity with you. We ask this through Jesus Christ thy son, Who livest and reignest throughout all ages of ages. World without end. Amen. Meditation Notes: [1] Leon Bloy ( ). A French Catholic novelist, essayist, and poet. [2] St. Augustine of Hippo: excerpt from: Of Faith and the Creed. [3] Ref. I Timothy; Chap. 6, Vs. 16 [4] Ref: Job; Chap. 36, Vs. 5: Behold, God is mighty and despiseth not any : he is mighty in strength and wisdom. [5] Ref. I Corinthians; Chap. 15, Vs. 55 : O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [6] Ref. Philippians; Chap. 3, Vs. 20 : For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Deus, in adiutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina. 4

5 Priory Kalendar For the week of: September 16 th to September 23 rd A.D In Trinity Season Sunday, September 16 th... Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity. Comm. St. Cyprian; Bp. & Myr. 3 rd cent. Carthage, N. Africa Monday, September 17 th... St. Hildegard of Bingen; V. Abs. Doct. O.S.B th cent. Tuesday, September 18 th.... St. Joseph of Cupertino; C. O.F.M th cent. Comm. Bl. Edward Pusey; C. - Oxford Movement 19 th cent England Wednesday, September 19 th... Ember Wednesday.Day of Fast and Abstinence Comm. St. Theodore of Tarsus (and Canterbury); ABp. & Conf. - 7 th cent. Thursday, September 20 th.... Vigil of St. Matthew Friday, September 21 st St. Matthew; Ap. & Ev....Fast. & Abst. Comm. Ember Friday Saturday, September 22 nd... Ember Saturday..F. & A. Comm. St. Maurice & Companions (Theban Legion); Myrs. - 3 rd cent. Sunday, September 23 rd.... Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity Comm. St. Linus; Po. & Myr. & St. Thecla; V. & Myr. -1 st cent. September 17th September 18th September 21 st St. Hildegard of Bingen St. Joseph of Cupertino St. Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist 5

6 KALENDAR KEY: Abt. = Abbot, Abs. = Abbess, Abp = Archbishop, Anc. = Anchorite, Ancs. = Anchoress, Ap. = Apostle, Bl. = Blessed, Br. = Brother, Bp. = Bishop, Card. = Cardinal, C. or Conf. = Confessor, Comm. = Commemoration/Commemorate, Dcn. = Deacon, Doct. = Doctor of the Church, Ev. = Evangelist, H. = Hermit, LBr. = Lay Brother, LSr. = Lay Sister, K. = King, Mat. = Matron, M. = Monk, M.M. = Month s Mind ( Requiem for the recently departed on the 30 th day after death or burial). Myr. = Martyr, N. = Nun, Obl. = Oblate, P. = Priest, Po. = Pope, Pr. = Prior, Prs. = Prioress, R. = Recluse, RM = Requien Mortuorum, ( Mass and Offices for the departed once a month as designated on Kalendar). SDcn. = Sub Deacon, Q. = Queen, Ven. = Venerable, Vir.=Virgin, W. = Widow. FASTING KEY: A = Abstinence, F = Fast, F & A = Fast and Abstinence RELIGIOUS ORDER ABBREVIATIONS: C.O = Congregation of the Oratory (Oratorians), C.P. = Congregation of the Passion (Passionists), C.S.J. = Congregation of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Er. Cam. = Camaldolese Hermits, F.P. O. = Franciscans of the Primitive Observance, O. Car. = Carmelite Order, O. Cart. Carthusian Order, O.C.D. = Order of Discalced Friars (Carmelites), O.F.A. = Augustinian Order, O.F.M = Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), O.F.M. Cap = Capuchin Order, O.P. = Order of Preachers (Dominicans also called Blackfriars ), O. Praem. = Order of Cannons Regular (Norbertines), O.S.B. = Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines), O.Ss. S. = Bridgettines, O.S.U = Ursulines, O.C.O. = Order of the Cistercian Observance (Trappists/Trappistines), O.C.S.O. = Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists/ Trappistines). Tert. = Tertiary (Third Order religious) About the Meditation and About Us The Meditation is an online apostolate of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, USA. We are an Anglican-Catholic Benedictine contemplative community that follows the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, the 5 th century Father of Western Monasticism. We are resident within the Diocese of the Northeast (DNE), of the Anglican Church in America (ACA), a member of the worldwide Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC). The Meditation is a weekly online offering that is sent out free of charge to anyone who desires to receive it. Subscribers may copy and pass along The Meditation to their families and friends, or send us their e-address (with their permission) to add to our subscription list so they may receive it directly from us. Each issue is sent out as a BCC (Blank Copy) in respect to subscriber privacy and online security. To subscribe, contact us at: klamarre@maine.rr.com To read past issues of the Meditation, please go to our website at: and you can find them in the section marked Meditations on the homepage. PLEASE NOTE: In respect to our contemplative vocation and the animals in our rescue and rehab center, we do not have guest or bathroom facilities and do not regularly receive visitors. Fr. Kevin is available to hear confessions and give spiritual direction by appointment only. Please contact via to make an appointment or to make us aware of your needs, concerns and intentions for our prayerful attention. It is our privilege to pray for you. PLEASE CONSIDER REMEMBERING US IN YOUR ESTATE PLANNING Contact Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. for more information via our address 6

7 Animal News By Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. To thee before the close of day Jack the cat will do anything to get Sr. s attention especially with the days getting shorter. One of our favorite activities is to sit together on the deck in our chair and watch the stars come out. This is something that we do all fall and winter no matter how cold it is out. As each star appears, we say a prayer for a loved one that has passed. It is a wonderful way to end the day, calm the soul, get some perspective, and remind yourself that no matter how important you feel, you are but a speck of dust passing through time in a massive universe. Now while that may be an unnerving thought for some, the magnificent part of it all, is that God sees us, tiny specks that we are and we are significant to Him. If we sit still long enough and raise our eyes toward the sky, we will be illuminated by Heavenly light and the world won t seem so dark. 7

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