September 29, 2008
I Believe in Angels: Feast of St. Michael & All Angels
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12
One of our Christmas pageants had the role of Angel Gabriel announcing the message to the Blessed Virgin. The role was assigned to 2-yr-old Ruby. Her part was: “Fear Not.” Whenever Ruby appeared, even when it wasn’t her turn, she would in her little voice say “fear not.” I can’t think of Angel Gabriel without thinking of Ruby’s, “Fear Not.” Children are adorable indeed.
Our remembrance of angels could be from a pageant, movie or story told by someone of their encounter with angels or someone who saw angels in action through humanitarian outreach. The thought of angels is so comforting. We read about them in the Holy Bible—of Cherubs and Seraphs and hosts of angels in service of the Divine Majesty. We see them in churches in adoration before the throne of God, or before the mercy seat. They are more than a figment of imagination. They are spirits and they are real. How wonderful it is to know when in some dire need we come across an unforeseen person coming to our rescue. Could it be an angel?
Years ago long before the age of tubes and you tubes, when pictorial presentation was in vogue, I used to wait for my communion /confirmation preparation class. The parish sexton Antony, used to be our catechist and we better get our answers right, lest there was a cane. He was a good man, putting the church family before his own, living behind the quarters of the church at beck and call of the Parish priest or any family. I have not seen the busiest man like him. He would be prompt to ring the angelus bells, including the toll on the passing away of members of the parish. The parish where I grew up comprised of over 60 villages and around the church were novitiates, philosophates and Christian schools. The peel of the toll bell would remind us of the passing away of a dear soul. From across the parish hill was my own little church surrounded by cemeteries, the place where I was born.
Tony would instruct us and we better be present to learn our lessons every Saturday; that we had to walk to the parish church on our own was another story. The much awaited part of the lesson was the pictorial essay. One picture that I saw is afresh in my mind, apart from the stories of Genesis.
This was the picture of judgment, where our Lord was seated. To the right, was the depiction of the great cloud of witnesses and the scene of an angel accompanying a person to Heaven. The angel’s face was of a happy countenance and so was the soul that the angel accompanied, of course the picture of the devil was very sad and he looked disappointed. To the left it was an opposite scenario. The devil was accompanying a person to hell and the person’s angel was disappointed. Of course the devil was happy over his accomplishment. Jesus’ own words on our angels interceding before God’s throne confirms this scenario: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)
How important it is then to treat the children with utmost care. Especially those that commit atrocities against children should beware of this stern punishment from our master: Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:5, 6)
Our Lord himself makes reference to Angels: To treat the children with utmost care for their angels are in constant adoration before the Father in heaven. Wish those who abuse children for whatever reasons; be aware of what the Lord thought: It would be better for the millstone be ….
The New Testament speaks of Angel Gabriel (God’s strength) on a mission to Nazareth to young virgin named Mary to deliver the good news of the birth of our savior. Which indeed take place: And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us as John the Divine testifies. The apostle John also testifies to the great war took place in heaven and how the devil was defeated by Archangel Michael (God’s semblance) Revelation 12.7-12 In Tobit of the Apocrypha we read of Raphael (the angel of healing) who is on a mission to heal Tobias a God fearing man of his blindness.
Angels are real and they are at our service appointed by God to lead us towards Him: Here is a song that reminds us of angels.
Today we celebrate the feast of the
Guardian Angel please watch over me
Wherever you go where I be
I know you’re there though you cannot be seen
You are my God’s greatest gift to me
My sweet little child I will watch you today
When you are speaking and when you’re awake
I’ll be there beside you when you’re tired
I’ll be your shepherd and heav’nly guide
O my good angel whom God has appointed you to be my guardian, enlighten, protect, direct and govern me, who have been entrusted to you by the Divine Mercy.
Here is a Youtube on Guardian Angels:
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Posted by frleo at 11:25 AM | Comments (0)
May 1, 2005
Why Make MUCH of St. James the LESS?
Today's Feast of Ss. Phillip and James the Less is a continued remembrance of the fact that the blood of martyrs is the seed of our Christian faith. The faith that you and I have inherited has been handed down (tradere) through the centuries by the lives and deaths of so many martyrs. In this free world, it is very easy to opine and think and express whatever one wants. However, we cannot let wolves in sheep clothing talk whatever they want, defiling the faith that these apostles have safely handed down to us. The apostles have taught and imparted the unique experience of Jesus, who is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. Phillip, in today's question, earnestly seeks to understand the Father. Jesus replies that he who sees HIM sees the Father.
The early fathers of the Church point to the fact that the first Bishop of Jerusalem was St. James the Less. He was recognized as the first Bishop by the Apostles themselves. When he was brought before the sanhedrin and was adjudged to be stoned to death, James spoke of the profound experience of Jesus, who ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father and will come again to judge the quick and the dead. He was stoned to death as he testified to his faith in Jesus.
The UECNA has the Jerusalem cross on its crest and on the flag. The Jerusalem cross is one main cross surrounded by four smaller crosses on its four sides. The main cross signifies the Cross of our Savior and the four small crosses denote the four Gospels. Jesus' commission to his followers was that, beginning from Jerusalem, the Gospels must be preached to all nations.
Jerusalem is also connected in a significant way to UECNA in the line of apostolic tradition. Our Presiding Bishop, Stephen C. Reber, comes down the great apostolic line of succession which has two streams blending into one -- namely, the Canterbury one and the Welsh one. St. David of Wales was consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem John III, who had his apostolic succession starting from St. James the Less himself. Although he is called St. James the Less, he is in no way "lesser" than any of the apostles in meeting with the criterion that he had lived with and seen the Risen Lord and laid down his life for his faith.
Whenever we have an opportunity to stand for THE TRUTH, THE WAY AND THE LIFE, we need to defend it with all our might. Defending the faith is also an aspect of growing in the faith, and we have St. James the Less and the other apostles to look to for inspiration.
Posted by frleo at 11:46 PM
April 18, 2005
Apologetics: The Art of Defending Faith
Our way of growing in the Faith is by knowing Him more clearly, loving Him more dearly and following Him more nearly, day by day. But there are also moments when we need to be involved in Apologetics (defense of the faith). In this regard, the following press release has been provided to the local newspapers:
What Went on at The 1977 St. Louis Congress of the Episcopal Church?
The 1977 Episcopal Church Congress at St. Louis brought about the change from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer to compromise theology and liturgy, sowing seeds for the current spiritual and moral crisis in the church today. What REALLY happened at the Congress? Come and listen to the inside story from the person who gave the opening address at the Congress in 1977. Captain Walt R. Swindells, member of the United Episcopal Church of North America, a traditional Episcopal church continuing in the faith once given to the saints, will speak this Sunday, April 24th at 9:00 am at St. Gabriels Episcopal Church (UECNA), 1803 W. Emma Avenue, Springdale. All are welcome.
Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn about historic events which led to the establishment of the Anglican Continuum.
Posted by frleo at 5:47 PM
October 23, 2004
Adult Education Special Session
I have placed the following announcement in the local newspapers. Please bring along an ECUSA friend to this week's Sunday School.
St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Springdale, a traditional orthodox Episcopal church family, following the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, will hold a special session, "Windsor Report, What Next?" at this week's Adult Anglican Education class, 9:00 a.m., Sunday at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church. All are welcome. The discussion will be based on the Lambeth Commission on Communion, The Windsor Report 2004, published this week. This report gives the Anglican communion's stand on the homosexual issue that has rocked the Episcopal Church. We will review this report in terms of its orthodoxy and its relevance based on Scripture, Tradition and Reason. All those in search of traditional, sacramental, and liturgical worship are also welcome to attend the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m., following the Anglican Education class.
God Bless, and I hope to see you all tomorrow at Sunday School and Holy Eucharist.
Posted by frleo at 5:33 PM