Second Sunday After Trinity, June 25, 2017

Second Sunday after Trinity, June 25th, 2017

In the Fourteenth Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke, we hear about Our Blessed Saviour going to eat at "the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day." (Chapter 14 verse 1).  While he was there, St. Luke tells us that Our Blessed Lord told many stories, parables and answered questions for all the guests gathered there.  Further on in this same chapter though Our Lord tells the story of a man that made a great supper and invited many people to the feast.  But as Our Lord tells the story we soon find out that many of the people that got invited to the supper came up with all kinds of excuses for not coming.  One, for example, says that he has bought property and has to go see it.  Another one states that he has bought farm animals and has to go take care of them.  Another one states that he just got married and has to take care of his wife.  Well, you get the idea.  Our Lord, as He tells the story, is pointing out that everyone that got invited to the supper is making excuses for not coming.

How many excuses do we make when it comes to having a personal relationship with God?  How many excuses do we come up with when it comes to not spending time with God?  Quite frankly, all the people in the story had legitimate reasons for not going to the supper.  All of their "excuses" were valid and yet how many "valid" excuses do we try to use to justify the fact that we do not go daily to God in prayer?  How many of us say how busy we are with work  . . . .  and chores around the house . . .  . and running errands?  Do we use our busy schedule as an excuse to justify not spending time with God?  All of us lead busy lives.  But if we are too busy to spend time with God . . . .  we are TOO busy.  The story that Our Blessed Saviour tells about the man who made a supper and invited folks represents, of course, God.  God invites each of us to have a personal relationship with Him.  The only question is whether or not we accept His invitation.  Let us prioritize our lives in such a way that we "make time" for God . . . . not make excuses for avoiding Him.  Let us go to Our Heavenly Father on a daily basis . . .  not only when we "need" Him for something.  Let each of us accept His invitation.

St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday morning.  We gather together as a family and worship Our Heavenly Father.  We listen to the Word of God found in the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  We listen to God speaking to each one of us.  And then we come and receive the Precious Body and Blood of Our Blessed Saviour at Communion time.  Please take an hour out of your busy week and dedicate that hour to God.  So often we dedicate our time to ourselves, let us dedicate one hour to God.

St. Margaret Church meets at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Mass begins at 9:30 AM.

Trinity Sunday, June 11, 2017

Trinity Sunday, June 11, 2017

In the Third Chapter of the Gospel of St. John, we hear a conversation between Our Blessed Saviour and Nicodemus talking about being "born again."  At one point in the conversation, Our Lord says to Nicodemus:  "We speak that we do know . . . "  I am sure that everyone reading this can think of a time  . . . . or two  . . . . or three . . . . where you could not get something to work.   Perhaps something broke.  Perhaps something quit working when it was previously working.  Perhaps you bought something at the store and although it was working . . . .  it did not seem to be doing what it was supposed to be doing.  In any case, you get in contact with an "expert" to remedy the situation.  In other words, to see if someone else could fix it.   I am sure that each one of us can think of a time where we sought someone out to fix our problem that we could not fix ourselves.  And when this person started working, you were amazed at how quickly and efficiently they were solving the problem.  I know this has happened to me many a time.  In other words, people are "experts" at what they do.  People "know" what they are trained in.  Teachers know how to teach.  Cooks know how to cook.  etc.  But, of course, with just about every field there comes education .  . . there comes training . . . . there comes dedication to learning and knowing that particular field . . . . there comes effort to put in the needed work . . . . etc.  An engineer has to go to school in order to be a good engineer.  A doctor has to go years to Medical School in order to become a doctor.  Same way with a nurse, a teacher, .. . .  . you name it.  The point being is this:  everyone is an expert in what they know because they have made the effort to learn about it;  they have dedicated the time to know the specific subject.  When it comes to God, the question becomes "Are we able to speak with authority?" or "Is God a far-away subject that we know little about?"  As Our Lord says, "We speak that we do know."  As Christians, we should be sure in our faith.  As Christians, we should be rock-solid in our beliefs.  As followers of Christ, we should be able to speak with authority on behalf of Our Saviour.  And yet, sadly, so many of us do not stand firm in our Christian beliefs.  We do not feel comfortable speaking on behalf of Christ out in the world.  Is this because we do not have the proper training?  Is it because we do not have the desire?  Is it because we do not have the motivation to learn the things of God?  To spend time with God?  When a person decides that he or she wants to become a nurse, for example, we could say they desire to become a nurse.  But it doesn't stop there.  Desire must transform into motivation . . . . being motivated to follow through on the classes  . . . follow through on taking all the courses necessary.  This, of course involves effort to study, to read, to prepare for tests.  And of course dedication is needed to continue towards the goal.  Without dedication, it would be easy to give up.  Remember Christians also need to have desire .  . . motivation . . .  dedication . . .  and effort as well.  We need to desire to have a relationship with God.  We need to be motivated to spend time daily with Him.  We need to dedicate our lives to Him.  And all of this involves effort on our part, to do what God calls us to do.

St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.  We gather together at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. Come join us as we listen to the Word of God found in the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

Whitsunday, Sunday, June 4th, 2017

Whitsunday (Pentecost), Sunday, June 4th, 2017

I am sure that you have been somewhere and you heard something that caught your attention.  For example, if you were home and you heard a crashing noise from another room and you discover the cat has knocked over a picture frame.  Or if you hear a noise from outside and you discover that someone has pulled into your driveway.  Since owning a dog, I have discovered that dogs especially listen for "strange" noises that they are not familiar with.  Each one of us can think of an example of hearing some sort of "noise" that caught our attention and set us on edge.  We read in the Second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles when the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles while they were gathered together.  We hear "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, . . . ."  When I read this, I wonder what exactly does a "sound from heaven" sound like?  Here, it sounds like a "rushing mighty wind."  If that is the case, then yes, that would certainly catch my attention.  And yet is that how a "sound from heaven" always sound like?  I would imagine God speaks to us  . . . .  tries to catch our attention . . . .  tries to get us to listen  . . . in many varied ways.  Of course, a mighty, rushing wind from Heaven would more than likely catch our attention.  But how about if God whispers softly in our ears?  Would we be able to hear that?  You know sometimes my wife tries to tell me something from another room or if I am outside and she is in the house.  So the distance doesn't necessarily help me hear her and what she is saying to me.  But when you factor in things such as a television blaring.  Or a stereo booming.  Or a lawnmower cutting grass.  Well, you might as well forget about it.  I can't hear what she is saying at all.  Sometimes that is how it is with us and God.  God may be speaking to us but we may not be able to hear Him because televisions . . .  and stereos . . .  . and lawnmowers  . . . .  in other words, things of the world . . . .  are all blaring away, keeping us from hearing what God is telling us.  We need to pay attention  for what God. is telling us  We need to attune our ears to hear what God is trying to tell us.  God doesn't always send down a "mighty rushing wind from heaven" to grab our attention.  God tries to grab our attention by other ways as well.  And if we aren't paying attention, we run the risk of missing out.  Listen for God.  Set time aside for prayer.  Tune out the radios, and the televisions, and the lawnmowers of the world and spend time listening to God and what He has to say to you.

St. Margaret Church gathers together every Sunday morning and we would love for you to join us in our weekly worship of Our Heavenly Father.  Mass begins at 9:30 AM.  We celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Please choose to take some time out of your busy schedule to spend some quality time with God.