Christ the King, October 27th, 2019

Solemnity of Christ the King, October 27th, 2019

Who is your king?  Whom do you serve?  We all serve someone or some thing, lets face it.  In other words, some person or some thing rules our life to one degree or another.  Those of us who work serve bosses  . . . . we serve supervisors . . .  we serve managers.  Even if we own our own business, . . . business-owners serve customers.  It might not even be a person whom we serve.  What is most important in a person's life?  Is it food?  Drink?  Drugs?  Could it even be possessions such as name-brand shoes or clothing?  Is it an addiction which is the ruler of our life?  How about something electronic such as a video game or even our cell phone?  There are all kinds of things which we serve.  All kinds of things which have taken over our lives.  In that regard they rule our lives . . . they rule our passions . . . . they take up our time and we pay the most attention to them.  Who rules us?  

 Pilate asked Our Blessed Lord some two-thousand years ago:  "Art thou the King of the Jews?"  (St John 18:33)   To which Our Lord asked the question:  " Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? "  In other words, Our Lord asked Pilate if he himself wanted to know or if the Jewish rulers told him this.  Pilate lashed out angrily at Our Lord by saying that the chief priests and the people have brought Him to Pilate.  Thus, Pilate was saying that by their actions they showed that Christ was not their king.  So we come full circle back to each one of us.  Who is our king?  Who rules our life?  If we would find ourselves in the great Judgement Hall facing Pilate and he asked us a very simple question:  "Is Christ your king?"  How would we respond?  What would we say?   It's a very simple question, actually.  All it would require would be a simple "yes" or "no."  But if we say yes, would our actions demonstrate that Christ is our king?  How about the way in which we live our life?  Would it testify to this fact?  Is there any proof that Christ is the King of our heart to back up what we say?  Christ indeed is the Ruler and King.  But each of us must make Him the Ruler and King.  He never forces Himself into your life.  He leaves it up to you.  You must make Him the King of your life.  

St. Margaret Church meets every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Please join us.

Blessed Karl I of Austria, October 21st

Blessed Karl I of Austria, October 21st

October 21st is the Feast Day of Blessed Karl I of Austria.

Pictured above is Blessed Karl I and his wife, Princess Zita.  

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 20th, 2019

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 20th, 2019

The beginning of today's Epistle states:  "I thank my God always on your behalf . . . "  (I Corinthians 1:4 ff)  Here, St. Paul is making the point that he thanks God for the witness of faith found in the Church at Corinth.   It is amazing how many times in a day that we say "Thank you."  Have you ever tried to count the number of times that you said these two simple little words in the course of a day?  Probably not but I bet you say it a lot.  If you go to the store and you buy something, the odds are probably good that you say "Thank you" to the cashier after making your purchase.  If someone holds the door for you on the way out, again, the odds are probably good that you once again say "Thank you" to the person showing the courtesy of holding the door for you.  If the waiter takes your order . . .  if the server brings you your drink  . . . . if someone says "God bless you" after you sneeze . . .  I would be willing to bet that you probably said "Thank you" at  each one of these scenarios I just described.   If you have ever worked in the customer service field like I have, you get in the habit of saying "Thank you" a lot!

But how often do we say "Thank you" to God?  As demonstrated above, the odds are that we thank an awful lot of people in the course of a day, week, or month.  But how often have we thanked God during the last 24 hours . . . or week . . .  or month?  Have we thanked Him at all?  We are awfully quick to speak to God when we need something from Him but is that the only time we ever take the time to speak to Him?  When we need a favour?   If we had a friend that only spoke to us when he/she needed something from us, over time, I doubt if we would think very highly of that so-called friend.  And yet that is what we do to God at certain times during our life.  We get busy with the "busy-ness" of everyday living and we do not take time out for God:  to spend time with Him  . . .  . to talk with Him ... . to thank Him.  And then when we get in trouble over one thing or another, then we run to Him and ask Him to help us.  The bottom line is this:  God wants us to run to Him when we are in need.  He wants to help us.  And yet I am willing to bet that He would also like to hear from us for no other reason than to simply say "Hi" or to say "Thank you for the blessings you have given me this day."   Make a point to thank God for what He has given you.

Take some time out of your busy schedule and join us for Mass.  Take one hour out of your week and dedicate it solely to God.  Come join us as we hear the Word of God spoken to each one of us in the King James Version of the Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Join us as take time out to worship Him and also to receive His Most Precious Body and Blood at Communion time.

Mass is celebrated each Sunday morning at 9:30 AM at St. Margaret Anglican Church.  Mass is held at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road.

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, October 13th, 2019

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, October 13th, 2019

The more things change, the more things stay the same.  Have you ever heard that saying?  It seems this notion is especially true in the world of fashion.  Styles that were really hot way back when come back and people start wearing them all over again.  In Hollywood, they also seem to end up re-making movies and TV shows from long ago.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.   This is definitely true of human beings.  When we read the Fourteenth Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke, we see that this is particularly the case.  For it is in this chapter where we hear Our Blessed Saviour tell the story of the man who had to be put back in his place because he assumed he had more importance than he really did.  Our Blessed Lord told this story to show the importance of humility because even back then people were full of themselves.   Our Lord saw how people wanted others to notice how important they were.  They wanted everyone else to see how important they were not only by what they wore . . . but also by the titles they possessed . . .  and where they sat at important events.  Our Lord noticed all this and He made the point to tell the story of a man who assumed that he should sit down at a seat of great honor.   But Our Lord went on to tell how embarrassed this man was when he was told to move out of the way for someone more important than him and go over to a different seat.  

The more things change, the more they stay the same.   Whether it was two-thousand years ago or today, people always think they are more important than they really are.  They want the world to know how important they are.   We want to be known at work.  We want to be important in our community.  We want to be popular.  We want people to love us.  But, unfortunately, someone will always hate us no matter what.  Someone will always be jealous of us.  No matter what we say, we will usually please some folks and irritate others.  As Christians, we are called to please God.  As Christians, we are called to do the will of God.  As Christians, we are called to imitate Christ.  And Christ was humble.  Christ humbled Himself.  "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross."  (Philippians 2:5-8)  " . . . . but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant . . . . . "  Our Lord came to serve.  He humbled Himself.  And He did all of this because of love.  Love for you and for me.  Our Blessed Saviour gives us a difficult task when it comes to humbling ourselves.  And yet Christ never asks us to do anything that He Himself was not willing to do.  Christ humbled Himself.  We are called to do likewise.  

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.

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 6th, 2019

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 6th, 2019

This week we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, which falls annually on October 4th.  Without a doubt, St. Francis loved God and wanted to do His will in life.  Whenever I think of St. Francis I think of his striving to do the will of God.  He wanted to know what God wanted him to do.  This is why St. Francis asked God, "Lord, what would you have me do?"   Certainly, isn't this what every devout, committed Christian should ask God:  "Lord, what would you have me do?"   It usually ends up being the opposite, though, when we pray.  "Lord, I would have you do this for me."  "Lord, will you do this for me?"  We get more caught up in what God can do for us than what we can do for God.  St. Francis had it right when he asked:  "Lord, what would you have me do?"   This is the question all of us should ask on a daily basis. 

 In this day and age in which we live, we get all worked up over what we see on the news . . . what we see in social media .  . . . what our friends are talking about.  We get all worked up over what this politician says . . .  or doesn't say, for that matter.  We get all worked up over what the media says.  We get all flustered over what this bishop is going to say or going to do.  But, truth be known, we would all simplify our lives considerably if we would simply echo the words of St. Francis:  "Lord, what would you have me do?" and then go from there.  "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)  St. Paul wanted us to be transformed by God instead of being transformed by the world or conformed to this world.   St. Paul also prayed: "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17)    We should all pray this prayer of St. Paul that we would have the fullness of God in us.  Most of us want to be full, alright.   We want to fill ourselves with the "goodies" that this would has to offer.  Whether it be food . . . . or possessions . . .  or riches . . .  or power . . . . or fame . . . .  We want to be filled with the desires of our heart, whatever form that takes.   We want to be satisfied by what we want.  But St. Francis had it right:  "Lord, what would you have me do?"  Fill your mind and your heart with God and there won't be any room in your mind and heart for the things of this world.  

St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.  We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  We use the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Come join us as we listen to God speak to us through His Word.  At Communion time, we receive the Precious Body and Blood of Christ to nourish us and give us strength for our journey called life.

St. Michael and All Angels

St. Michael and All Angels, September 29th, 2019

September 29th the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.  In the Epistle appointed for today's Mass, the Twelfth Chapter of the Book of Revelation, we hear about a war in Heaven where St. Michael and the Angels of God defeated Satan and his angels.  "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."  All you have to do is look around the world to see all the evil and you know this is true.  Just turn on the nightly news and you hear about murders and robberies and accidents and killings and you will know this is true.  Just listen to the way in which folks treat one another in  person and on the internet for that matter and you will see this is true.  "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."  We know that Satan and his angels do their best  to get our minds away from God.  But that is not what I want to focus on  because we know all about evil and hatred, envy and jealousy.  We know all about killings and violence and people dying in the streets for no reason.  As I said, just turn on the nightly news and you will soon find out about all of these things and more.

What I want to talk about is St.Michael and his legion of angels who fought again Satan and his army.  And yes, St. Michael is pictured as being very mighty.  Typically artists depict St. Michael with either a sword or a great spear ready to do battle.  I would imagine that, yes, St. Michael, and St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael and all the angels of God are indeed very brave and very majestic.  They do the work of God.  They are His servants.  They are His messengers.  But that being said, listen to what Revelation says about Satan and his army being defeated:  "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;"  No matter how strong the angels of God are.  No matter how fierce and how mighty they truly are, did you hear how they defeated Satan?  " . . . they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony."   The angels of God put their trust in the Blood of Christ!  They placed their trust in Christ Himself!   How often in this world do we place our trust in ourselves or upon things of this world.  And what happens?  We end up being disappointed.  We end up failing.  We end up losing.  And yet when we place our hope in Our Blessed Saviour we can never go wrong.  Even when things look the worst, when the night is the darkest, it is then that Christ wins the battle.  They thought they had defeated Christ at Calvary and they were so amazed three days later when they found the stone rolled away from the tomb!  They thought that they had defeated Christ but God will never be defeated.

The sin of Satan and the other angels who followed him was the sin of pride, pure and simple.  It was the sin of focusing on what they wanted instead of focusing on what God wants.  We should do our best not to follow Satan's lead.  We should do our best not to get so focused on ourselves that we do not focus on God.  We should always do our best to focus on what God wants instead of solely focusing on what we want.  This was the sin of Satan.  Focus on God.  Focus on doing God's will.  Focus on being a servant of the Almighty.

Mass is celebrated each and every Sunday 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.  Please join us as we listen to the Word of God found in the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 22nd, 2019

Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 22nd, 2019

When I go to the store to get one thing I usually end up leaving the store with all kinds of items.  Everything, that is, except what I went to the store to get in the first place.  Normally when I go to the store to get that one item I end up getting a whole bunch of items that I had not planned on getting.  In fact, this just happened to me the other day.  So by the time I got up to the cash register the woman there saw me with all the items I had grabbed and she stated that I should have gotten a cart.  To which I replied:  I would have but I only came in for one item.   But this isn't the only example.  Does anyone else have this problem:  You go into the kitchen to get something or do something and by the time you get there, you get totally sidetracked by something else and you end up not even getting what you went to the kitchen to begin with.  It could be that you get forgetful as you get older, but I think it's actually more the case that our minds are too occupied.   We get sidetracked too easily.  We forget to do things that we should do because we become fixated on doing other things.  

In the Seventeenth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, we hear about the time in which there were ten lepers calling out for healing.   They needed to be healed and desired Our Lord to heal them from being lepers.  In fact St. Luke tells us that they must have made quite a scene because even though the lepers were some distance off they still caught Our Lord's attention and He came over and healed all ten of them.  Out of the ten lepers which were healed, only one out of the ten came back to give thanks to Our Lord.  Even Our Lord took notice of this because He stated:  "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." (St. Luke 17:18)  What happened to the other nine lepers?  Did they simply forget to thank Our Lord?  Were they too caught up in being cured that they did not have time to thank Him?  How often are we like the nine ungrateful lepers?  So often it seems we do our best to get out of a jam but when we get to the end of our rope and realize we can't do it, we run to God in prayer.  We humble ourselves.  We beg God for help.  We acknowledge to God what we have done wrong and promise to do better.  And then when God blesses us and takes care of our problem, we don't take time to thank God.  It's almost as if we don't have time for God once our problem is taken care of.   Why is this?  We should thank God every day.  We should thank God for the many blessings He bestows upon us.  We should not be ungrateful children and only run to Him when we need something and then forget Him when everything is running smoothly.  Thank God every day.  Praise God for simply being wonderful.  Intercede not only for your own needs but intercede on behalf of others.  And ask God to forgive the times in which we were not perfect and made mistakes.  

St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.  We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  We use the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Come join us as we listen to God speak to us through His Word.  At Communion time, we receive the Precious Body and Blood of Christ to nourish us and give us strength for our journey called life.