First Sunday after Epiphany, January 7th, 2018

First Sunday after Epiphany, January 7th, 2018

On this first Sunday in the year 2018, the Church celebrates the First Sunday after Epiphany.  The epistle appointed for this Sunday comes to us from the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.  In this chapter, St. Paul is urging us to remember that we are called to a higher calling .  . . . .  called to be Sons and Daughters of the Most High.  He reminds us to present ourselves as a "living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God . . ."  (Romans 12:1)   This is difficult for us to do in the day and age in which we live.  I say it is difficult because human beings, let's face it, have a natural inclination to take care of ourselves first and foremost.  Self-preservation is a term that I have heard and read over the years.  In other words, human beings  . ..  like any animal, quite frankly,  . . . . have a need to take care of ourselves.  When we are hungry, we seek something to eat.  When we are sick, we seek medical attention.  As human beings, in other words, we need:  food, drink, a roof over our heads.  We need warmth in the winter months.   We have this built-in need to take care of ourselves.   What makes us human beings different from the animals is that we take it a "step further," so to speak.  We want things "our way."  We want not only the basic needs such as food, water, etc.  We want pleasure . . . we want our desires to be satisfied.  Now, these desires take different forms for different people.  Some people desire drink.  Some people desire drugs.  Some people desire to be popular.  Some people desire wealth, .  . . . or fame,   . . . .  or to satisfy their lust.  The bottom line is that whether we seek to satisfy ourselves with booze or money or the latest fashion trends, in whatever form we are talking about, we are simply satisfying ourselves,  .  . .   satisfying our urges.  Typically, when we satisfy these needs we are simply looking out for ourselves.  "Looking out for number one," as the old saying goes.  

St Paul, though, is again reminding us that as Christians .  . . as devoted, faithful Christians . .. . we are called to a higher calling.  To serve someone greater than ourselves . . . someone greater than our "needs."  ". . . . not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (v. 3)   As I have tried to show above it is only natural in the human way of things to want to have things our way.  And yet St. Paul asks us to be transformed by the "renewing of your mind." (v. 2)  This is why I say it is not always easy to achieve because our basic instincts as human beings demand that we take care of ourselves first and foremost.  Christ Himself gave up the comforts of Heaven to walk with us as a human being.  Our Blessed Lord Himself showed what true sacrifice entailed when He carried His Cross to the hill at Calvary.  And each and every one of us have seen a glimpse of true self-sacrifice in countless examples here on earth:  single mothers who work two jobs so that their children can be taken care of; fire-fighters who rush head-first into a burning building in the hopes of saving someone they do not even know; soldiers who march off to war knowing that they may never see home again and yet they do just that in hopes of keeping those homes safe for their loved ones; teachers, nurses, police officers, etc. who each in their own way go above and beyond to show that they do what they do not only for simply a paycheck but because they want to make a difference in the life of someone else.  All these examples and more truly show a glimpse into transforming lives into something more than simply looking after our own needs and leaving it at that.  We are called by St. Paul to transform ourselves into something greater.  As I like to say, each one of us is called to change the "ordinary" into the "extraordinary"  because this is what Christ did.   This is not always easy to do, but with God's help all things are possible.

St. Margaret Church celebrates Mass each and every Sunday at 9:30 AM.  Mass is celebrated at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located as 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

Join us for Mass as we listen to the Word of God found in the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Join us as we hear God speaking to us in His Word.  Our Lord also offers to each one of us His Most Precious Body and Blood at Communion time.  Receive the Precious Body and Blood to strengthen and nourish you for your daily journey.  And afterward, please join us for our Coffee Hour to have some delicious goodies and good fellowship.