FEAST OF PETER

Apostle and Martyr
Feast observed on Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Gracetide

Born Simon bar Jonah at Bethsaida in Galilee, Peter was a fisherman who was re-named Peter (Cephas) by the Lord, and called by him to be a fisher of men. He was present at the Transfiguration and at the Agony of Christ. When he professed his belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Lord promised to build the Church upon his confession of faith. Peter said that he would never leave his Lord, and was answered by the prediction of his triple denial. Later, Peter made reparation for his triple denial by a triple protestation of love. After the Ascension, Peter became a prominent speaker. He spoke on the day of Pentecost and was the first to perform a miracle in the name of Jesus. He accepted Cornelius for baptism and thus opened the Church to the Gentiles. Peter planted the Church in Antioch, and later, according to tradition, he journeyed to Rome where he was crucified upside down.

Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you inspired the apostle Peter to confess Jesus as Christ and Son of the living God, and to witness to that faith through his suffering and death. Build your Church upon the rock of his faith, that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth and follow one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 23
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 26: 12-16
New Testament Reading: Acts 4: 8-13 or 1 Peter 5: 1-4
Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 13-20

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

You displayed the wonders of your grace in the apostle Peter,
the first to profess faith in the divinity of Christ.
For by the working of the Spirit you equipped a simple fisherman
to become a fisher of men.

His profession of faith is the bedrock of the Church,
and his example of fearless faith leads us in living our faith.
His life was lived in your honor,
and was given up in martyrdom for the glory of your name.

And so, with Peter and all the saints,
and all the heavenly hosts and powers,
we join together in giving you praise
as we sing the endless hymn of your glory.

THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF GRACETIDE

Proper G4: Repentance

Prayer of the Day
Gracious Father, you desire not the death of a sinner but rather his repentance, conversion, and rebirth unto eternal life. By the power of your Spirit, convict our hearts to know and grieve the error of our ways and to flee to the saving mercy of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day:
32

Torah/History Readings:
Genesis 44:1 – 45:15
Deuteronomy 10: 12-22
2 Samuel 12: 1-15 (C)

Wisdom Readings:
Job 14: 1-12
Job 14: 12-22
Job 42: 1-6

Prophetic Readings:
Lamentations 5: 1-22 (B)
Amos 5: 14-15
Jonah 3: 1-10 (A)

Deuterocanonical Reading:
Tobit 14: 1-7

Apostolic Accounts:
Acts 2: 22-41
Revelation 2: 1-7 (B)

Apostolic Epistles:
2 Corinthians 7: 5-16 (A)
1 John 1:5 – 2:2 (C)

Gospel Reading:
A Matthew 12: 38-42 (Alternate: Luke 11: 29-32)
B Mark 6: 1-13 (Alternate: Luke 18: 9-14)
C Luke 15: 11-32

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

In your kindness you absolve the repentant,
you restore to your friendship the sinner who seeks your forgiveness.
You curb the punishment due for guilt
and with great mercy you bestow the gift of eternal life.

And so we praise you,
joining our voices with angels and archangels,
and all the company of heaven,
as we sing the endless hymn of your glory.

Joseph of Arimathaea

Seeker of Truth and Benefactor of the Lord
Memorial observed on Thursday of the Fifth Week of Gracetide

We read about Joseph of Arimathea, the "noble counselor," in all four Gospels. As with many of the Biblical figures, numerous legends accrued around his name in later years. Joseph was a wealthy member of the temple council and a secret follower of Jesus because he was afraid of persecution from Jewish officials. He attended the Crucifixion, and legend has it that he caught Jesus’ blood as he hung upon the cross. Joseph persuaded Pontius Pilate to let him have Jesus’ body, wrapped it in linen and herbs, and laid it in a tomb carved in a rock in the side of a hill, a tomb that he had prepared for himself. Later tradition has embellished the biblical account to add that Joseph was a distant relative of Jesus, who derived his wealth from tin mines in Cornwall, which he visited from time to time. Is there any merit to the legends of Joseph? Perhaps. Tin, an essential ingredient of bronze, was highly valued in ancient times, and Phoenician ships imported tin from Cornwall. It is not unreasonable to believe that some first-century, Jewish Christians might have been investors in the Cornwall tin trade. Christianity gained a foothold in Britain very early, perhaps, in part, because of the commerce in tin. If so, then the early British Christians would have a tradition that a wealthy Jewish Christian had evangelized them. Having forgotten his name, they might have consulted the Scriptures and found that Joseph and Barnabas fit the description. Because much of the life of Barnabas was already described by the Acts of the Apostles making him an unlikely candidate, only Joseph was left. Thus, Christians seeking an immediate connection with their Lord, grasped on to Joseph as their evangelizer.

Prayer of the Day
Merciful God, your servant Joseph of Arimathaea reverently prepared the body of the Savior for burial, and laid it in his own tomb. Grant that we, your faithful people, may be filled with the grace and courage to love and serve the Messiah with sincere devotion all the days of our life. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 16: 5-11
Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 4: 10-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 23: 50-56

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God.

On this day we celebrate the memory of Saint Joseph of Arimathaea,
who abided in expectation for the coming of the Kingdom,
and who, filled with justice and truth, loved Jesus to the end,
ministering to him even after the scandal of the cross.

Thus, in union with Joseph,
and all the angels and saints,
we raise our voice,
and join in their unending hymn.

Andrew, Apostle and Martyr

Apostle and Martyr
Feast observed on Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Gracetide

A disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew heard him refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Andrew asked for an audience and saw Jesus for a day, then proclaimed, “We have found the Messiah,” in itself a creed and confession for the Christian faith. He brought his brother, Simon-Peter, to Christ. Although not one of the inner circle, he played the first role in several events that are recorded. Eusebius in his Church History states that Andrew later went to Scythia. According to tradition he founded the Church in the city that was to be called Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul in Turkey), and was martyred at Patras, Greece, crucified on an X-shaped cross.

Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you filled Andrew with such grace that he readily obeyed the call of the Messiah, and brought his brother with him. Call to us with your Word, give us the grace to follow without delay, and inspire us to share the good news of your kingdom with every soul we meet. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 19: 1-6
Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 3: 16-21
New Testament Reading: Romans 10: 10-18
Gospel Reading: John 1: 35-42

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

You displayed the wonders of your grace in the apostle Andrew,
first-called disciple of the Christ.
He called others to follow the path of your Son,
and gave his life for the glory of your name.

And so, with your blessed apostle,
and all the heavenly hosts,
we join with the citizens of heaven,
in this, the ageless hymn of your glory.

FIFTH SUNDAY OF GRACETIDE

Proper G3: Our Choice

Prayer of the Day
Gracious Father, you have shown us that the path of life leads unto the fullness of your eternal kingdom and that the path of death leads to eternal damnation. Send your Spirit to dispel our confusion so that we may daily choose the way of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day:
62

Torah/History Readings:
Deuteronomy 11: 26-32 (A)
Deuteronomy 29: 28b – 30:14 (B)
Joshua 24: 14-28 (C)

Wisdom Readings:
Job 28: 1-28
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Ecclesiastes 7: 1-25

Prophetic Readings:
Micah 7:18-20
Zechariah 1:1-6
Malachi 4:4-6

Deuterocanonical Reading:
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 5:9 – 6:4; 15: 16b-21

Apostolic Accounts:
Acts 4: 5-22 (B)
Revelation 3: 14-22 (C)

Apostolic Epistles:
2 Corinthians 1: 12-22 (A)
Hebrews 4: 1-13

Gospel Reading:
A Matthew 7: 24-27
B John 6: 52-59
C Luke 6: 46-49

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.

For he is your Word who feeds and sustains your people;
the source of that gracious compassion which seeks out sinners and calls them to conversion,
and who has promised to empower us with the Spirit,
that we might answer his calling on our lives.

We praise you for these great gifts to your Church,
and with all who stand before the altar of the Lamb,
we join our voices and lift them to you,
as we sing the unceasing hymn of your praise.

Memorial of Nicodemus

Seeker of Truth and Benefactor of the Lord
Memorial observed on Thursday of the Fourth Week of Gracetide

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and, like Joseph, an important first-century Jew. We know from John's Gospel that Nicodemus went to Jesus at night—secretly—to better understand his teachings about the kingdom. Later, Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus at the time of his arrest and assisted in Jesus' burial. We know little else about Nicodemus.

Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, in your great mercy you revealed the mystery of regeneration to Nicodemus your servant, and you filled him with grace to confess your Son openly in the Sanhedrin and at the holy Sepulchre. Give us such an increase of faith and grace that we may not fear to bear the reproach of Christ; but rather that we may serve him in boldness with fervent zeal. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 36: 5-10
New Testament Reading: Romans 12: 9-13
Gospel Reading: John 19: 38-42

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God.

On this day we celebrate the memory of Saint Nicodemus,
who earnestly sought the truth,
and who, having met the way, the truth, and the life,
loved him to the end, ministering to Christ even after the scandal of the cross.

Thus, in union with Nicodemus,
and all the angels and saints,
we raise our voice,
and join in their unending hymn.

JOHN, Apostle and Evangelist

Feast observed on Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Gracetide

Also known as the “Beloved Disciple”, John is believed to have been the youngest individual called by Christ to membership in the apostolic band. John and his brother, the apostle James, were fishermen by trade, like their father Zebedee. On the Cross, Jesus entrusted his mother to John's care. We know that John was a pillar of the church in Jerusalem, and that he later moved to Ephesus where he served as a leading Christian authority (presumably the city’s bishop), until his public ministry was cut short. During the reign of the tyrannical Roman emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96), John was exiled to the nearby island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Traditions about the latter years of John’s life vary. Some state he died in exile on Patmos, while others convey that, upon the emperor's death, John returned to Ephesus to resume his episcopacy and to write his Gospel. According to tradition, John was assisted by a man named Prochoros (the seated/transcribing figure in many icons of John) in writing his Gospel text. John was nearly one hundred years old when he died, sometime between the years 96 and 100 A.D.

Prayer of the Day
Merciful Father, you have revealed the mysteries of the Word made flesh through John the apostle and evangelist. Let the brightness of you light shine upon the Church, so that all your people may walk in the light of your truth in this life, and in the world to come attain to everlasting life. We make our prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 7: 1-2, 10-12, 17
Old Testament Reading: Hosea 14: 1-9
New Testament Reading: 1 John 1:1 – 2:2
Gospel Reading: John 21: 20-25

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
as we celebrate the memory of Saint John the Evangelist.

For the Lord bestowed upon him a lasting place
and privilege among his own.
As he hung upon the cross Christ willed that his beloved disciple
should be a son to his own Mother.

The love with which Christ loved him
transformed him from fisherman to disciple
and gave to him a more than moral insight
to perceive and proclaim the uncreated Godhead of Christ the Word.

And so, with your blessed apostle,
and all the heavenly hosts,
we join with the citizens of heaven,
in this, the ageless hymn of your glory.

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF GRACETIDE

Proper G2: The Call of God

Prayer of the Day
Gracious Father, throughout the ages you have called your people by name to know, love, and serve you. From the waters of baptism, your Spirit has called us to be living witnesses of your Son. Strengthen us to serve him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day:
135: 1-6

Torah/History Readings:
Exodus 3: 1-15 (A)
Judges 6: 1, 11-24 (B)
1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (C)

Wisdom Readings:
Job 42: 10-17
Proverbs 1: 20-33

Prophetic Readings:
Isaiah 43: 1-7
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
Hosea 11: 1-6

Deuterocanonical Reading:
Wisdom 18: 1-4

Apostolic Accounts:
Acts 1: 12-26
Revelation 17: 8-14 (C)

Apostolic Epistles:
1 Corinthians 1: 26-31 (A)
1 John 3: 1-2 (B)

Gospel Reading:
A Matthew 10: 1-16
B Mark 3: 13-19
C Luke 6: 12-16

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God.

Through the gracious call of the Gospel
you inspire us to be eager followers of Christ.
Obedient to his word we follow him with cheerfulness
as we serve you by serving those in need.

Through him, all creation gives you glory,
and together with the angels and saints,
we join in ceaseless adoration
as we sing this ageless hymn of your praise.

MEMORIAL OF MARTHA AND MARY OF BETHANY

Martha and Mary
Holy Women of Bethany and Friends of the Lord
Memorial observed on Thursday of the Third Week of Gracetide

Martha and Mary of Bethany, together with Lazarus (their brother,) are described in the New Testament as close and well-loved friends of Jesus. In the Gospel reading appointed for their feast, Martha and Mary are each noted for what they do best. As such, Martha is often an example of the active life of extending the ministry of the Church into the world, while Mary is generally characterized as a guide in turning away from worldly concerns and embracing the contemplative life that Christ offers. Neither vocation is criticized as being wrong, in spite of what seems to be a reproof of Martha on Jesus’ part. Both vocations, while honorable, cannot exist without the other. As the contemporary adage says, “one can be so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good.” The reverse is equally true. Martha is obviously a deeply faithful woman in her own right, proclaiming her faith in the ability of Christ to raise her brother in John’s gospel. Mary exemplifies selfless love in her own manner when she anoints Jesus’ feet with ointment and wipes them with her hair. Together, Martha and Mary are intense examples of love and devotion to Christ, and true guides on the path towards a life balanced between caring for worldly needs and cultivating a deep faith in the Savior.

Prayer of the Day
Heavenly Father, your Son enjoyed rest and refreshment in the home of Martha and Mary of Bethany. Give us the grace to follow in their steps, loving you, hearing you, and serving you as we minister to those we serve for the sake of Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 36: 5-10
New Testament Reading: Romans 12: 9-13
Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 38-42

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.

On this day we celebrate the memory of Saint Martha,
who welcomed the King of heaven into her home,
and served him with great attentiveness,
showing her love through her works of service.

We celebrate also Saint Mary her sister,
who forsook the work of the house to give heed to the teaching of the Savior,
who learned humbly and faithfully at his feet,
and thus chose the better portion.

Through them we learn that both service and learning,
each have their proper time and rightful place,
and so we join with them and the heavenly host,
in their exultant hymn of praise.

FEAST OF LUKE, EVANGELIST

Tuesday of the Third Week of Gracetide

Prayer of the Day
Almighty and eternal God, you called Luke the physician, whose praise is in the gospel, to be an evangelist and physician of the soul. By the grace of the Spirit and through the wholesome medicine of the gospel, give your Church the same love and power to heal. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 145: 10-13, 17-18
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 35: 5-8
New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 9-17
Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 1-9

Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.

You established that the mystery of our salvation
should be made known through the holy scriptures,
the work of authors chosen and inspired
by the light of the Holy Spirit.

In this way, the words and deeds of the Savior,
written in the pages of the eternal Gospel,
have been entrusted to the Church to become a fertile seed
which bears the fruit of grace and glory forever.

We who have received this Gospel unite with Saint Luke,
whose memory we celebrate today,
and together with the angels
sing the unending hymn of praise.

Biography
Almost all that we know about Luke comes from the New Testament. He was a physician and a companion of Paul on some of his missionary journeys. In Luke's account of the Gospel, we find an emphasis on the human love of Christ, on His compassion for sinners and for suffering and unhappy persons, for outcasts such as the Samaritans, tax collectors, lepers, shepherds (not a respected profession), and for the poor. The role of women in Christ's ministry is more emphasized in Luke than in the other Gospel writings. In the book of Acts, we find the early Christian community poised from the start to carry out its commission, confident and aware of Divine guidance. We see how the early Christians at first preached only to Jews, then to Samaritans, then to outright Gentiles like Cornelius, and finally explicitly recognized that Gentiles and Jews are called on equal terms to the service and fellowship of Christ. Luke is commonly thought to be the only non-Jewish New Testament writer. His writings place the life of Christ and the development of the early Church in the larger context of the Roman Empire and society.

THE THIRD WEEK OF GRACETIDE (Sunday, June 5, 2005)

3rd Sunday of Gracetide (Proper 1)

Theme: "Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom/Reign of God."

Prayer of the Day:
Gracious Father, your Son Jesus announced the last days through his proclamation of the coming of your kingdom. Open our minds and hearts to the power and guidance of your Spirit, who draws us unto the mind and heart of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Corpus of Lectionary Citations:

Torah or History:
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
2 Samuel 7:8-17
1 Chronicles 17:10b-15

Psalm:
Psalm 145:1-13

Wisdom Writings:
Psalm 103:19-22
Psalm 146:1-4,10
Proverbs 8:13-17

Prophets:
Isaiah 9:1-7
Jeremiah 18:5-11
Daniel 4:19-27

Deuterocanonical:
Tobit 13:1-10

Apostolic Epistle:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Colossians 1:9-14

Apostolic Account:
Acts 8:9-13
Revelation 5:6-14

Gospel:
Matthew 4:12-23
Mark 1:14-20
Luke 8:1-3


Readings Proposed for the Divine Liturgy:

Year A (2005)
Isaiah 9:1-7
Psalm 145:1-13
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Matthew 4:12-23

Year B (2006)
Jeremiah 18:5-11
Psalm 145:1-13
Colossians 1:9-14
Mark 1: 14-20

Year C (2007)
Daniel 4:19-27
Psalm 145:1-13
Acts 8:9-13
Luke 8:1-13

WEEKDAY READINGS WILL BE POSTED ON SUNDAY

MEMORIAL of CORNELIUS THE CENTURION

MEMORIAL of CORNELIUS THE CENTURION
Thursday of the Second Week of Gracetide
White Vestments

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty and loving Father,
by the working of the Spirit
you called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles.
Grant to your Church in every nation
a ready mind and will to proclaim your love to all who turn to you with unfeigned hope and faith.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING Acts 10: 1-48
PSALM 135: 19-21
GOSPEL READING John 7: 37-39

PROPER PREFACE
It is indeed right and salutary
that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you,
O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God,
On this day as we celebrate the memory of Saint Cornelius.

Though he was not of the blood of the Hebrews,
he professed his faith in the Messiah sent to them,
proving that the Christ was sent to seek and save all the lost,
both Jew and Greek, those near, and those far away.

Thus we join with the angels,
And we acclaim you with the powers,
As we join with all the saints
And sing this hymn to the glory of your name.

BIOGRAPHY
Cornelius, was a Roman centurion, and a God-fearing man (a term the Jews used to refer to monotheists who were not of the Jewish confession). One day, as he was praying, an angel appeared to him and told him to send a messenger to Joppa and ask Peter to come and preach to him. Peter, meanwhile, was given a vision that disposed him to go with the messenger. When Peter had preached to Cornelius and his family and friends, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on the first Christians at Pentecost. Thus, there was ample evidence to convince Jewish Christians who hesitated to believe that it was the will of God that Gentiles should be brought into the Church.

As such, Cornelius was one of the earliest Gentile converts to Christianity, along with his household, and Luke, recording this event, clearly regards it as an event of the utmost importance in the history of the early Church, the beginning of the Church's decision to admit Gentiles to full and equal fellowship with Jewish Christians. Cornelius lived in Caesarea, the political capital of Judea under Herod and the Romans. Although he is not mentioned again, he and his household presumably formed the nucleus of the Christian community that we find mentioned later in this important city.

Our Lord has not chosen this day to return.

I had the good fortune of spending a few hours with Fr. Rob and Bishop Craig on Monday afternoon. I must say that anytime I get a chance to discuss matters of faith with them, it is indeed a blessing, but this last Monday was even more so as it got me to thinking about how I live my life and ultimately how we should all live our lives.

During discussion of the Timothean rite, Bishop Craig made mention of re-introducing an ancient custom where the deacon, at the direction of the celebrant would leave the building, and upon returning the celebrant would ask “Has the Lord returned”? The deacon would then reply “Our Lord has not chosen this day to return”, then the catechumens would be dismissed and the liturgy of the Eucharist would begin. I at first, in my haste, balked at this idea, as I am pretty sure that when the trumpet blasts with our Lord’s coming, that we would know about it, but then it was explained to me, that one of the main tenets of our faith is that the Lord will indeed return, and that it should be stressed in our liturgy. After meditating on this since that conversation I have realized that I do indeed agree with that. So much so, that not only should be stressing that he will return (maybe even in the embolism of the Lord’s prayer) but also we should be stressing that we must be prepared for when he does return.

I have no doubt that the return of our Lord will catch us off guard. We will be surprised by it, and not expecting it. Scripture tells us that this will be so.

2 Peter 3:10 (ESV) “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

Also in Matthew 24:37-41 (ESV) “As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.”

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 (ESV) “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”

So, we have been warned, that no matter what we will be caught by surprise when our Lord decides to return.

We are taught that the people should always do that which is pleasing to God, out of Love for Him. For many this is enough motivation for them to strive for holiness in all they do, but there is a segment of our population who unfortunately has a skewed sense of what it means to love a person let alone God. So how do we reach them? We must appeal to a more innate human sense, and that is fear of being caught. Even Adam and Eve hid themselves, but we now know we cannot hide from God. He knows all, He sees all, but somewhere deep down inside, humans just don’t get it. So we must add to the motivation as to why we must strive for holiness. Not only must we do so out of the Love of God, but we also don’t want to be caught doing something offensive to God at the moment our Lord returns.

Think of the activity you are doing when our Lord returns being recorded next to your name in a book. Would you rather have “was plowing the field” next to your name, or “fornicating with the next door neighbor”?

Every activity we do must be with the thought of would this be something I would want My Lord to see me doing if he came right now? We don’t want to be caught with our pants down, no pun intended. We must weigh our activities carefully with the question “If the Lord saw me doing this when he returned, would I be ashamed?” Even everyday activities that we do without thinking take on a whole new meaning. “Would I want the Lord to catch me in a movie theatre, thereby supporting Hollywood?” “Would I want the Lord to catch me with a buzz after having one too many beers?” “Would I want the Lord to catch me sitting in my underwear watching TV?” The list could go on and on and it should go on and on. If we weigh our activities in this way, we will find ourselves moving closer to holiness in spite of any lack of understanding of how to love God and in the end, as we grow in holiness, we will learn how to love God, and we will find ourselves doing things out of love for Him after all.

So this means we are to WATCH for the return of our Lord, and like the boy scouts, be PREPARED for the return of our Lord. That being prepared is to be sure that whatever activity we engage in will be something that is glorifying to God.

Deacon Greg Elsbernd, SST