Presentation of the Lord

Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, Sunday, February 2nd, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."  (St. Luke 2:22ff)

In this second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, St. Luke is kind enough to share with us three different religious customs that the Holy Family took part in.  Just prior to the where the Gospel began in Mass today, we heard about the Circumcision of Our Lord and the Naming of the Child Jesus.  Then in today's Gospel passage, we heard about the Presentation of the Child Jesus and the Purification of the Blessed Mother.

We hear in verse 22 of today's Gospel:  "And when the days of her purification . . ." St. Luke cites Leviticus 12:2:  "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, if a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child, then she shall be unclean seven days."  Hence, St. Mary was fulfilling the law in her Purification in the Temple.  

Also, we hear of the Presentation of the Child Jesus.  This custom is mentioned as well in Exodus 13:2:  "Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel both of man and beast; it is Mine."   Here, the Lord reminds all the children of Israel that the firstborn, whether it be of man or of beast, belong to Him.  Some commentators believe that possibly this went back to pre-Jewish customs/practices where the first born would be offered up in sacrifice.  When we think of Abraham and his offer to sacrifice his son, this may not be too hard to imagine.  Other commentators believe that offering up the first born to God is showing dedication to God and appreciation for the gift of life that is represented in our children.  It is certainly something to think about:  i.e., God gives life to us and we offer it back to the same God who bestowed it upon us.  Isn't this what Christianity all about or what it should be about?

St. Luke reminds us that St. Joseph and St. Mary offered up two turtle doves as their offering to the Temple.  This tells us that that the Holy Family was actually poor because normally the offering was supposed to be a lamb, unless you were poor, then you were directed to sacrifice two turtle doves.

Now this brings us to Simeon.  As we have talked about in the past, the children of Israel were expecting the arrival of the Messiah but as we have discussed they were expecting the Messiah to be very powerful and to come with great armies and to help establish Israel as a geographic super power over all their enemies.

There were, on the other hand, certain people who were constant in prayer; in humble adoration; and faithful expectation.  These people were known as the "Quiet in the Land" and they humbly prayed for the coming of the Messiah and did not really focus too much on the political ramifications of His Coming.  This was Simeon.  He humbled himself before God daily in the Temple and the Holy Ghost had told him that he would not see death until he had laid eyes on the Messiah.  Thus, we can only envision Simeon and his excitement when he laid eyes on the Child Jesus and he knew this was the Messiah, so long awaited.  He presented the Child Jesus in the Temple and he blessed God for the Gift that He had bestowed not only on Israel, but on all of mankind!

Afterward, Simeon spoke to St. Mary.  What he stated can be broken down into four things.

1)  "Jesus will be the cause of many to fall."  Keep in mind that God never causes anyone to fall.  Why would He send His Only Begotten Son into the world to save the world if He wanted the world to fall?  We cause ourselves to fall by not accepting Jesus as our own personal Saviour.

2)  "Jesus will be the cause of many to rise."  Those who rise will be the ones to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour . . .  those who rise will be the ones who follow God in His commandments . . . those who rise will be the ones who follow Our Lords directives to "love one another as I have loved you."  "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?  Prudent, and he shall know them?  For the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein." (Hosea 14:9)

3) "Jesus will be met with much opposition."  If we look throughout the Gospels, we soon see that this third point was certainly an understatement, to say the least.  But we should remind ourselves that if Our Blessed Saviour Himself faced so much opposition, we should not be surprised in the least when being a Christian will bring us opposition.  If you doubt me, just make a point to stand up for God.  Make a point to stand up for something you believe in.  Make a point to defend someone who you see being picked on.  Make a point to stand up for your convictions and pretty soon you will find all sorts of opposition.

4)  Simeon said to St. Mary that  "a sword shall pierce through your own soul."  When you think of all the people who ever lived, who do you think was the happiest person in the history of the world?  If you would ask me, it was Our Lady.  When you think about it, she was in the presence of God for over thirty years.  This was her Son.  She lived with Him, raised Him, cared for Him, ate with Him, worked with Him, enjoyed life with Him.  She saw Him grow from a baby to a boy to a man.  And while she spent so many wonderful times with Him, her heart was also broken as well.  When she could not find Him and found Him teaching in the Temple.  When she saw her Son mocked and ridiculed.  When she saw Him cruelly scourged at the pillar and made to carry His own Cross.  And, finally, when she saw Him die an agonizing death on the Cross.  Each one of times, as Simeon predicted, a sword pierced her heart and her soul.

We should learn from this lesson that even after we dedicated our lives to God, we know that there will be times when we will be tried . . . when we will be persecuted . . . when we will face challenges . . . when we will be mocked for our beliefs . .  and yet, just like the Blessed Mother, God was with her in the good times and the bad.  And, she remained faithful to Him as well in the good times and the bad.  The same can be said for us that we should remain faithful to God no matter what . . .  in the good times and the bad.

Play Dirty and Pray!

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Sunday, January 26th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit

Greenfield, Indiana

" His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."  (St. John 2:1ff)

or

"Play dirty and pray!"

Now, you probably noticed that the first quotation I read to you was from the Gospel that we just heard from the second chapter of St. John's Gospel.  But you might be scratching your head wondering what that second quotation was from:  "Play dirty and pray!"  This was one of the favorite sayings of Bishop James Mote, whom I had the great honour of knowing and being friends with in the last years of his life.

When I tell you that Bishop Mote was a true pioneer, I do not use that term lightly.  He was one of the first four bishops consecrated back in 1978 when those of us in what has come to be known as the "Continuing Churches" left the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Mote was a Hoosier.  He was born and raised in Indianapolis and from his youth, he was always a committed Anglo-Catholic.  As a young man, he served in the United States Army during the Second World War and even fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  He was given the Bronze Star for his bravery.  When the War was over, he returned back home and eventually went to the Seminary, receiving his theology training from Nashota House.   Upon his ordination to the priesthood, he ended up in St. Mary's Parish in Denver, Colorado, assisting Fr. Lehman.  Upon the death of Fr. Lehman, then Father Mote became the rector of St. Mary's and he was associated with his beloved parish of St. Mary's for fifty years.

As stated earlier, when many people were beginning to grow weary of the changes in the Episcopal Church in the 1960's and 1970's, particularly the changes to the Book of Common Prayer and also the coming ordination of women, Bishop Mote led his parish out of the Episcopal Communion.  Again, along with many other faithful Anglicans and Episcopalians throughout the country, this was the beginnings of the Continuing Churches.

Upon his retirement, Bishop Mote moved to Florida for a few years, but after that, he moved back to his native Indianapolis where he lived out the final years of his life.  It was during this time that I got to know Bishop Mote very well because I would spend time with him in church and outside of church.  Bishop Mote was a character.  He would repeat the same stories over and over again but I would have gladly listened to those stories a thousand more times.  I considered him to be not only a wonderful friend but a true inspiration to me as a priest.  When I was ordained to the priesthood in 2002, I had the great honour of having Bishop Mote lay hands on me when I was ordained.  And before he died, he gave me his Mass set, which I still use every time I celebrate Mass at St. Margaret.   Thus, when I celebrate Mass I cannot help but think of him.

Now, Bishop Mote was truly a pioneer in the history of the Continuing Churches and Anglicanism, in general, but this is not why I regard him so greatly.  Through knowing Bishop Mote, I discovered that he was many things as a priest, but chiefly I discovered that Bishop Mote, as a priest, was:  Humble; Prayerful; and Faithful.

Firstly, Bishop Mote was humble.  As mentioned above, the fact that Bishop Mote was a bishop and the fact that he was a real pioneer in the true sense of the word, you would probably expect Bishop Mote to be treated as such, with much dignity and respect.  But Bishop Mote would have none of that.  He was, first and foremost, very humble.  " . . .  all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (I St. Peter 5:5-6)  Bishop Mote was humble to a fault.  There were many times that we would have a church dinner, where you would find Bishop Mote pouring coffee; picking up dishes; cleaning tables; washing dishes; etc.  He was a bishop, yes, but he remembered that he was a servant, first and foremost.

When I was a young priest, newly ordained, I was assigned to say the Tuesday and Friday daily Masses each week.  Where there was no one to serve, Bishop Mote would insist on serving the Mass for me.  I begged Bishop Mote to switch places with me so that he could say Mass and I could serve for him but he would have nothing to do with that.  He insisted on serving Mass for me because he stated that I was the one that was scheduled to say the Mass so he wanted to serve for me.

" . . . but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant; and whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant.  Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many."  (St. Matthew 20:26-28)

Bishop Mote truly followed the example of Our Blessed Saviour, Who came to serve.  The Master taught the Disciples through example.  So did Bishop Mote.

Secondly, Bishop Mote  was prayerful.  "Pray without ceasing." (I Thessalonians 5:17)  Some of my favorite recollections of Bishop Mote was when I would arrive at church, no matter how early I would get there, Bishop Mote would always be there praying in the front pew.  I remember Bishop Mote had a binder where he had his prayer intentions typed out and he would spend his time praying for each and every one of these intentions.  If someone asked Bishop Mote for prayers, he definitely took these requests seriously and would pray.  Bishop Mote, if you ever talked to him, always had a wonderful smile on his face.  Certainly, this came from his relationship with His Saviour.  He had an intimate relationship with Our Blessed Saviour, which he spent time with God each and every day.   Bishop Mote used his prayer time as a time to get to know God.  He had a confident relationship with God because he spent time with God on a daily basis.

Thirdly, Bishop Mote was faithful.   "And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is as mine heart and in my mind:  and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever." (I Samuel 2:35)  Bishop Mote was faithful to God but also was faithful to his beliefs as a devout Christian / Anglo-Catholic.  Bishop Mote did not just talk the talk, he walked the walk.  As mentioned earlier, as a parish priest, when he saw that the Episcopal Church was going astray from their roots, he cut ties and left.  In many ways, it certainly would have been easier and simpler to just stay and not leave.  But as a committed Anglo-Catholic, he made the decision to leave and he did just that.  Later, Bishop Mote also spent many hours in prayer at the abortion clinics.  In fact, when Operation Rescue took place, Bishop Mote traveled to Atlanta and got arrested in the abortion protests there.  And while in jail, he witnessed not only to the prisoners but to the guards!  Bishop Mote remained faithful to God throughout his entire life.  He led by example, first and foremost.  He was firmly committed to his relationship with God and he let others know about God not only through the words he spoke but the actions he took.

As I have described so far, these are certainly wonderful qualities to find in a priest, but honestly these qualities described are what we should find in any committed Christian:  humility; prayerfulness; faithfulness.  This attributes come from a having a daily relationship with God.  Bishop Mote had this and so should we.

Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Sunday, January 26th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."  (St. John 2:1ff)

Throughout St. John's Gospel, he writes with two meanings, so to speak:  on the one hand, there is a simple surface story, but on the other, there is a deeper meaning underneath the story, where if you dig deeper beneath the surface you will see the deeper meaning.  This is especially evident in today's Gospel passage that we heard in regards the miracle of the wedding feast of Cana.

Now, while it is not stated in the passage which we just heard, we know from Jewish law and customs of the time that the wedding of a virgin would take place on a Wednesday.  So we know that this wedding took place on a Wednesday.  As we are all aware, while the wedding feast was going on, the couple ran out of wine, which would have been considered a horrible thing and would have caused much embarrassment for the couple.

Now, the Blessed Mother, who was made aware of the situation did what she knew would solve the problem:  she informed her Son.  In verse four, we hear:  "Woman, what have I ot do with thee?  Mine hour is not come."  Now, keep in mind to our modern ears, this response sounds harsh but actually the response is not what it may seem to our modern ears.  Firstly, the term "woman" was actually a form of a respectful address for St. Mary.  There is not an exact translation in our modern English but the closest equivalent would be "lady," which would be appropriate when you think about it because we address the Blessed Mother as "Our Lady."  Next, the term "what have I to do with thee?" really would translate more correctly as "Leave it to me" or "I got this covered."  So, the term is really not what it sounds like.  Finally, when Our Blessed Saviour makes reference to "Mine hour is not yet come," we have to remember that St. John makes numerous references to the fact that Our Lord makes mention of this throughout this fourth Gospel.  In other words, Our Lord is pointing out that "His Hour" is when He is called to die on the Cross and not making reference in this passage to "not being ready to perform miracles.

But despite what sounds like reservations or harsh responses from Our Lord, the Blessed Mother does not miss a beat, she immediately turns to the servants and tells them, "do whatsoever He tells you."  Now Our Lady has confidence in her Son because she had spent some thirty years of her life living with Him; conversing with Him; working with Him; watching Him; listening to Him; etc.  In short, she knew Him because she spent time with Him on a daily basis.  And through this daily interaction with Him, she grew in faith and understanding of her Son.  She knew He was able to take care of matters because she knew Him.  Period.  This is the lesson that we can learn from Our Blessed Mother:  spend time daily with Our Blessed Saviour and through this daily interaction, grow in faith and confidence in Him.

"Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us."  (Psalm 62:8)

In the Ninth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, we hear the story of the two blind men who came to Our Saviour to be healed of their blindness.  " . . . the blind men came to Him; and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?  They said unto Him, Yea, Lord."  (St. Matthew 9:28)  Faith comes through belief.  Belief comes through confidence.  Confidence comes through watching and experiencing.  We have faith in something because we have seen it with our own eyes.  If we are not sure, it is because we do not trust.  But, like Our Lady, she had trust in her Son because she came to have faith in Him because she knew Him.  She had confidence in Him because she had interaction with Him on a daily basis.  We must do the same thing:  have daily interaction with Our Blessed Saviour . . .  come to know Him . . . . have faith in Him . . . have confidence in Him . . .  love Him.

Condescend to men of low estate

Second Sunday after Epiphany, Sunday, January 19th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate."  (Romans 12:16)

St. Paul is speaking in this 12th chapter of the Letter to the Romans that St. Paul is speaking to the young church at Rome how specifically to live as a Christian Community, living with one another and how to act with others in community.  In the rest of the epistle, St. Paul is really speaking in regards to how to live as a Christian in the individual sense of the relationship with God and one person.  But here in the 12th chapter, the emphasis for St. Paul is centered on the community and how they react one with another.

In the KJV translation, it states " . . .  but condescend to men of low estate."  This may be confusing to people that may focus on the word "condescend" in the negative sense of the word.  But if we look at other translations, it helps to shed light on the meaning of this verse.  In the New Living Translation, we hear, "Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people." and also in the New King James Version:  " . . .  associate with the humble."  Thus, St. Paul is telling the Romans not to be too proud or think that they are better than anyone else.

"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters."  (Psalm 131:1)

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heard and a humble mind." (I St. Peter 3:8)

Preaching the Gospel

Sunday after Epiphany, Sunday, January 12th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" . . . beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."  (Acts 10:34ff)

In the 10^th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we hear an example of Kerygma which is a Greek word for “Preaching” or “Proclaiming”  i.e.,  to cry or proclaim as a herald, and meansproclamation, announcement, or preaching

In this 10^th Chapter, St. Peter has arrived at the house of Cornelius and he is preaching to a gathering there at the home of Cornelius, a centurion: 

Acts 10:1-2  “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion . . .  a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.”

In a vision that Cornelius had, and angel of God told him to go and seek St. Peter, whom the angel tells him to bring to his house.

Acts 10:5   (the angel said) “And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.”

Acts 10:25 “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down and worshipped him.”

Acts 10:26 “But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

And this is what sets the scene for St. Peter preaching the Kerygma . . . or preaching of the Gospel.

Acts 10:37-43  “That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Deuteronomy 18:18  “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”

Abba, Father

Sunday after Christmas, Sunday, December 29th, 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."  (Galatians 4)

In the ancient world, there were definite, set times in the process of growing up.  For the Jews, on the first Sabbath after a boy had his twelfth birthday, the boy would be considered an adult.  The father would take the boy to the synagogue and pray over him:  "Blessed be Thou, O God, Who has taken from me the responsibility for this boy."  Likewise, the boy would also pray a prayer thanking God for allowing him cross over from childhood to becoming an adult.

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things."  (I Corinthians 13:11)  St. Paul is making the point that similar to growing up physically, a child has different ways of looking at things and thinking and acting as opposed to how an adult looks at things and acts, etc.   So, too, with our relationship with God, we grow in our faith life and we grow spiritually and mature as we live our life with God.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)  St. Paul is stating that in our relationship with God, we are so blessed that God has not only adopted us as His children, but our relationship with Him is so close that we can call Our Heavenly Father, "Abba" or "Daddy."

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."  (Galatians 3:36)

Be so filled with Love

Christmas, Wednesday, December 25th, 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy."  (St. Luke 2:10)

As a human being, it seems that fear is something that we have to deal with.  As human beings, we do not like the unknown.  We like everything to be right there before us.  We have 24 hour news channels and the Internet and texts and emails, etc.  We like to be informed immediately and anything that we are not sure of, it causes us to be fearful in a certain sense.

Certainly if we look back to the first Christmas over two-thousand years ago, there was probably fear from not knowing what was happening, or at the very least, not knowing why things were happening the way that they were happening.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am Thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)

As Christians, we are not called to be fearful.  Rather, we are called to always place our trust in Our Heavenly Father.  Despite the fact, that we may not know what may befall us, we can always be certain that God will be with us and there for us in times of need.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us." (I St. John 4:18-19)

What St. John is trying to point out is that when we are filled with the love of God, fear has no room.  If we think of the example of a bottle.  If the bottle is filled to the brim with water, for example, there is no room for anything else.  We have to first remove some of the contents of the bottle in order to fill it with something else.   This is what St. John is pointing out in regards to "fear" and "love:"  be so filled with love that there is no room for fear. Be so filled with love for God, that there is no room for fear of the unknown.  Be so filled will love of God that there is no room for anything else.