Ready to be changed.

The Transfiguration by Raphael.

The Gospel for today is that of the Transfiguration (Mark 9:-2ff). Which makes sense in that it prepares us for the revelation of God's glory that unfolds through the season of Lent, climaxing in the blazing joy of the Easter Vigil.  It is interesting that in Byzantine icons of the Transfiguration, the  emphasis is  light and the manifestation of the glory of God. Such icons try to convey the "uncreated light" of divine glory. 

When we move from thinking that God is actually like our mental or artistic pictures of him/her/it, even in Christ, and recognising that our images (mental artistic, verbal or philosophical) are simply partial glimpses of the immense and incomprehensible nature of the Triune God, then we understand the idea of Transfiguration better .  The Apostles saw and didn't fully understand but understood a bit more and grew somewhat in spiritual stature - they got a bit closer to God.

We often imagine that is closeness is only attained by "spiritual" means - prayer fasting penance etc.  But St Maximus the Confessor begs to differ in a sermon he wrote on Charity: 

"The Lord himself reminds us: Whoever loves me will keep my commandments. And this is my commandment: that you love one another. So the man who does not love his neighbour does not obey God’s command. But one who does not obey his command cannot love God. A man is blessed if he can love all men equally. Moreover, if he truly loves God, he must love his neighbour absolutely. Such a man cannot hoard his wealth. Rather, like God himself, he generously gives from his own resources to each man according to his needs. 

Since he imitates God’s generosity, the only distinction he draws is the person’s need. He does not distinguish between a good man and a bad one, a just man and one who is unjust. Yet his own goodness of will makes him prefer the man who strives after virtue to the one who is depraved.

 

A charitable mind is not displayed simply in giving money; it is manifested still more by personal service as well as by the communication of God’s word to others: In fact, if a man’s service toward his brothers is genuine and if he really renounces worldly concerns, he is freed from selfish desires. For he now shares in God’s own knowledge and love. Since he does possess God’s love, he does not experience weariness as he follows the Lord his God. Rather, following the prophet Jeremiah, he withstands every type of reproach and hardship without even harbouring an evil thought toward any man.  For Jeremiah warns us: Do not say: “We are the Lord’s temple.” Neither should you say: “Faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ can save me.” By itself faith accomplishes nothing. For even the devils believe and shudder.

 

No, faith must be joined to an active love of God which is expressed in good works. The charitable man is distinguished by sincere and long-suffering service to his fellow man: it also means using things aright."

 

Lenten observance?  Don't just pray -do!

Anglicans and Orthodoxy

SS Cyril & Methodius, 11th Century fresco, Basilica of S Clemente Rome

Here is some interesting ecumenical news for fans of unity between Churches: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/anglicans.and.orthodox.churches.formalise.ecumenical.relationship/29274.htm  

The Oriental Orthodox are the old "Monophysite"  (now referred to as "Miaphysite") Churches.  However, back in 1984 the Pope and the Patriarch noted that  the Chalcedonian schism was not seen as terribly relevant, and they issued this common statement:

"The confusions and schisms that occurred between their Churches in the later centuries, they realise today, in no way affect or touch the substance of their faith, since these arose only because of differences in terminology and culture and in the various formulae adopted by different theological schools to express the same matter. Accordingly, we find today no real basis for the sad divisions and schisms that subsequently arose between us concerning the doctrine of Incarnation. In words and life we confess the true doctrine concerning Christ our Lord, notwithstanding the differences in interpretation of such a doctrine which arose at the time of the Council of Chalcedon."

This Anglican /Oriental Orthodox agreement is particularly good news, given that tomorrow is the Feast of SS Cyril and Methodius, who were the great missioners of the Slavs, engaged in inter faith dialogue with Islam (albeit with a nasty anti-Jewish slant) or to quote Wikipedia: "Cyril's mastery of theology and command of both Arabic & Hebrew made him eligible for his first mission. He was sent to the Abbasid Caliph to discuss the principle of the Holy Trinity with Arab theologians, and to improve relations between the Caliphate and the Empire.

Cyril took an active role in relations with the other two monotheistic religions, Islam and Judaism. He penned fiercely anti-Jewish polemics, perhaps connected with his mission to the Khazar Khaganate, located near the Sea of Azov and  ruled by a Jewish king who allowed Jews, Muslims, and Christians to live peaceably side by side. He also undertook a mission to the Arabs with whom, according to the "Vita", he held discussions. He is said to have learnt the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Arabic languages during this period.

The second mission (860), requested by the Byzantine Emperor and the Patriarch Photius, was a missionary expedition to the Khazar Khaganate in order to prevent the expansion of Judaism there. This mission was unsuccessful, as later the Khagan imposed Judaism on his people as the national religion."  Cyril & Methodius are patron saints of Ecumenicism, especially between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church Churches and also of Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Europe. Europe.  Give thanks and pray for more unity between Christians.

Lord of all,
who gave to your servants Cyril and Methodius
the gift of tongues to proclaim the gospel to the Slavs:
make your whole Church one as you are one
that all Christians may honour one another,
and east and west acknowledge
 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
and you, the God and Father of all;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen

The New Bishop!

 

As you might have noticed, we in the Diocese of Embra have been electificating a new Bishop.  Confidentiality and all that means I can't  give a blow by blow account of the process ("No Canon's egos were harmed in the making of this new bishop" and other such disclaimers may be issued elsewhere) but I am personally well chuffed that the Dean, the Very Rev Dr John Armes of St John's Princes Street (that weel kent site for leftist graffiti and Choral Mattins), was elected.  His style has enabled good and creative dialogue to be held with disparate viewpoints both within the Anglican internal context and in Interfaith and political concerns.  And he has been clear about his unease with the whole Anglican Covenant thing and solidly supportive of LGBT people and clergy and in favour of Same Sex relationships being normalised within the Church.  In other words a decent middle of the road Anglican Churchman with sensibly liberal views on some sensitive matters.  And nice and pastoral man (who vaguely resembles the late Vladimir Lenin minus the taste for gulags!)

I prepared for all this electing by going to see "Avenue Q" at the Playhouse the night before but resisted the temptation to go from Electing a Bishop to viewing the new Muppet Movie! Good stuff (like Sesame Street but with refs to porn and being gay and Everyone being a little bit racist!).

St Scholastica, bossy nun!

 

St Scholastica (c. 480 – 10 February 547) was the twin sister of St. Benedict.  St. Gregory the Great, in his Dialogues, tells us that she was a nun and leader of a community of women at Plombariola, about five miles from Benedict's abbey at Monte Cassino. We do not know what rule this community followed, although it seems most likely it was the Rule of St. Benedict.  Scholastica was dedicated to God from an early age (some versions of her life suggest she preceded Benedict in godliness, and he came to holiness after she did). The most often told story about her is that she would, once a year, go and visit her brother at a place near his abbey, and they would spend the day worshipping together and discussing sacred texts and issues.

One year at the end of the day, they had supper and continued their conversation. When Benedict tried to leave, she protested, and begged him to stay with her for the evening so they could continue their discussions. He refused, insisting that he needed to return to his monastery. At that point, Scholastica closed her hands in prayer, and after a moment, a wild storm started outside the guest house they were  in. Benedict asked, "What have you done?". She replied, "I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery." Benedict was unable to return that night, and they spent the night in discussion. According to Gregory's Dialogues, 3 days later, from his cell, Benedict saw his sister's soul leaving the earth and ascending to heaven in the form of a shining white dove.  Her Feast Day is 10 February. She is the patron saint of nuns, convulsive children, and is invoked against storms and rain.

Lord God, may we, like Saint Scholastica,

serve you with an unsullied love.

Then our joy will be full

as we receive from your loving hand

all that we desire and ask.

through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.  Amen.

Serving the Servers

Tonight I was off after work to the Cathedral (aka the Big Cauld Church in the West End) for the Edinburgh Servers General Meeting.  By Edinburgh, I mean everything in the Diocese that isn't in the Borders (their servers come under the Fraternity of St Boisil and ain't our problem!).  The meeting lasted just over 1/2 an hour and we ended up with the old Committee + a new Treasurer (aka the Guardian of the Sacred-Sock-under-the-Bed-with-the-pennies-in-it) & 3 new (and tell it not in Gath) and slightly younger members!  The good thing about it was that it was a gathering from all over the diocese: Falkirk, the various City churches (St Ninian's, St John's Princes St, St Michael's, the Cathedral, St Peter's and St Mark's Portobello) and even Haddington.  Sometimes you start to think that servers only exist in the Spike Shops so it was good to see some broad representation at a do.  We finished with Compline in the Lady Chapel which is lovely in the quiet and shadow - even if it is utterly perishing!