Pax et Bonum

The Online worship resource for St. James Parish

October 28, 2009

Not the power to remember,
but its very opposite, the power to forget,
Is a necessary condition for our existence.
---St. Basil---
In the footsteps of the holy witnesses
Of all the ages,
Since Mary and the apostles,
To the believers of today,
Grant us to prepare ourselves inwardly,
Day after day, to place our trust
In the mystery of faith.
---from the Taize Community---

St. Simon and St. Jude

Today is the feast day of two of the twelve Apostles, Simon and Jude. Jude was called Thaddeus in two of the gospels. Simon was called a Zealot, meaning he was probably a Pharisee who felt strongly enough about Israel’s independence to fight for it along with others. Jude, or Thaddeus, was the brother of James the Greater.

There is not much known about these apostles. They are mentioned in the Bible, but their actions are hidden. It is possible that Jude wrote the letter of Jude that is found near the end of the New Testament.

Legend says that both were apostles in Persia. Some sources say they were both martyred; others say that Jude died a quiet death in Beirut or Edessa.

Like all the apostles, Simon and Jude have been entered into the official list of Saints. They were part of that list of people who literally changed the world after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Yet, as All Saints’ Day approaches this Sunday, I hope we also remember those saints who are perhaps not found in canon of scripture, or in the traditions of the church: those who have touched the lives of many by their faith that may go unnamed and unnoticed. Whether Apostle or not, we will all stand before the glorious Christ one day, all washed through baptism, all saved by God’s grace. Each apostle, and each saint, known or unknown, help to guide us toward that ever-present goal of knowing and serving Christ more fully.

O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Contemplative Living: Stability

"If you do not find Him here it is useless to go and search for Him elsewhere because it is not Him who is absent from us, it is we who are absent from Him"
Anthony Bloom

In the Benedictine Order final vows include the vow of stability. This vow promises that I will stay put—stay in the community, stay in the place God has called me.

The vow curtails thinking about leaving.

Once we entertain leaving, or quitting something, we are half way out the door.

Our attention then is less focused and our investment in what goes on around us is also scaled back. What the vow of stability engenders is looking for God where I am. I do not look to a greener monastery or denomination. I am convinced as I practice this vow that it isn’t God that needs to be pinned down-it is I.

God is everywhere, but I cannot even be in two places at once, so I need to stop scurrying around looking for God and settle into a commitment to find God here and now.

Stability takes commitment, and like all spiritual disciplines requires consistency and grace. I know something about the vow of stability because I have been practicing it for the last 33 years in my marriage.

I can attest to the need for grace, and I can affirm the beauty of its presence in the relationship. And we come to the difference, I believe, between commitment and spiritual discipline. The difference is God’s presence and God out pouring of grace.

I can make a vow of stability, or a marriage vow, or a commitment to a church community, but only grace can help me keep my promise.

So before we rush out t see what things we ought to make stable in our lives, Let us pray for grace, amazing and powerful grace.

Grace given as gift.

Blessings,
Debra

In following you, O Christ,
We choose not love and not to harden our hearts,
Even when the incomprehensible happens.
As we remain in your presence with perseverance,
Day after day,
And pray with simplicity of heart,
You come and make us into people
Who are a leaven of confident trust
By the way we live.
And all that your Gospel calls us to,
All that you ask of us, you give.
---from the Taize Community---

This Week at St. James

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:

For Matt our Postulant, and Barbara.
For those who are deployed.
For the victims of the bombings in Baghdad and Pakistan.

In Closing:

Christ Jesus,
Even if we had faith enough
To move mountains,
Without living charity,
What would we be?
You love us.
Without your Holy Spirit
Who lives in our hearts,
What would we be?
You love us.
Taking everything upon yourself,
You open for us a way towards faith,
Towards trust in god,
Who wants neither suffering
Nor human distress.
Spirit of the Risen Christ,
Spirit of compassion, Spirit of praise,
Your love for each one of us
Will never disappear.
---from the Taize Community---

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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