Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 16th, 2018

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, September 16th, 2018

I carry a back-pack from home when I go to work.  In it I have various items:  a note-pad; pens; an eraser; my eyeglasses; etc.  As you can probably tell I carry things in there that I might need.  At home I have a drawer in a dresser which seems to be a "catch-all" where I store all kinds of things:  scissors; post-it notes; pocket knives; tape; measuring tape; etc.  Again, I store all kinds of things in that drawer and when I need something I go looking in that drawer.  If I can't find what I looking for anywhere else, the odds are good I'll find it in that drawer.   I am sure that each of us have something or someplace where we store all kinds of things.  Whether it be a drawer in a cabinet or a box in the garage.  

  Just like that bag that I bring to work everyday or the dresser drawer that seems to keep all my odds and ends, we can also find all kinds of "things" stored in our heart.  What do we "keep" in our heart?  Do we find fear?  Do we find anger?  Do we find hatred?  Perhaps we find sorrow.  We can store all kinds of things in our heart, can't we?  In the Epistle to the Ephesians, St Paul talks about what we should store in our heart:   ". .  . . that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;" (Ephesians 3:17)   St. Paul tells us that we should have Christ in our heart.  This is absolutely true but, that being said, this is easier said than done, isn't it?  As human beings we are affected by various emotions: whether they be sorrows, fears, anger, hopelessness, etc.  So the point is not that we are not affected by emotions.  We are human beings and we are certainly affected by emotions.  The point is what do we do with these emotions?  When we get angry, for example, do we act out on that anger?  Do we stay calm on the outside and let the anger rage and "boil" deep under the surface?  Do we allow this anger to turn into hatred?  Do we hold on to this anger and hold a grudge?  As Christians, we are called to give everything over to God.   I think St. Paul's advice is good for all of us:   ". .  . . that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;" (Ephesians 3:17)"   If we do our best to focus on the love which we have for Our Blessed Saviour we won't have time to focus on our fear.  If we dwell on our love of Christ we won't have as much time to dwell on our hatred of those who did wrong to us, will we?  It's similar to taking a glass  and filling it with water.  If the glass is full to the brim, we won't be able to pour any more water into it, can we?  Similar with our hearts, if we fill our hearts with hatred, with jealousy, with fear, with anger, etc. how can there be any room for the love of Christ?  On the other hand, if we follow St. Paul's admonition for us that we let Christ dwell in our heart, we won't have any place for fear or anger or hatred . . . . Fill your heart with Christ.  Fill your heart with things of God.  Fill your heart with the love of God and watch that love spread throughout your heart and beyond.  

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.