Tag: Psalm

February 2017

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“Light shines in the darkness for the upright.” Psalm 112:4

 

Dear Redeemer Family:

We are still in winter. The days are short. In fact, the other day I was kind of amazed at how early it was beginning to get dark towards the end of the afternoon. But, the good news is that we are also in the Season of Epiphany, the season of light. “Epiphany” means, at least in the Church, “God’s light breaking in.” To some, that may be an epiphany, but that is another meaning of the word. In this season of darkness for earth, we remember that God is breaking into our world and our lives through His Son Jesus Christ. I think that it is a good image for this time of year. Every day now, the day is getting a little bit longer. The light is winning over the darkness. God is coming in to enlighten us. That is a marvelous thought!

 

During winter, many people are affected by the darkness. I imagine that they are also affected by the weather of this season. The sky is gray. It rains or snows. Or worse, just a few days ago we had a three day ice storm. That can be depressing to many. For one thing, people may find themselves cooped up inside their homes and get “cabin fever.” There is the desire to be outside, and with it a desire for freedom which only the out of doors can bestow upon us. In winter, people’s spirits can become quite low.

 

This Season of Epiphany then is also a season of hope. God’s light is breaking into our world. The darkness is leaving us. We are given hope. Soon the weather will change. Days will be bright and sunny, and warm (especially in August). Although we may feel limited by the darkness of the world, and the sin which we have fallen into, we also know that God’s light has already broken into our world in the life of His Son. God’s light does not leave us, but grows stronger every moment. And through God’s light, we are renewed. The blessed rain renews the earth. God’s grace renews us. The weight of the “winter drearies” is lifted from us. And we are made free!

 

This Season of Epiphany is good for us. The light which began with the Star of Bethlehem shining on a manger continues to shine upon us. We gather like the Magi and Shepherds still to behold its brilliance in the face of our Savior. And being enlightened in such hope, we go back to our homes and those close to us to share that light and that hope with those who do not know it. This is a wonderful time, a glorious time, a time of brighter countenance in the face of a darkened world. Share the Good News with those who desperately need to hear it! Praise be to God and His light!

 

 

In Christ,

Pastor Rose

October 2016

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“Commit your way to the LORD; put your trust in the LORD.” Psalm 37:5

 
Dear Redeemer Family:
The summer seems to have ended, although it is in the high 80s as I write this. And we are entering into autumn. Autumn is my favorite earthly season here. Soon the beauty of the trees will break out in glorious colors, filling the hills around us. But, as the trees leaves turn to brilliant colors, they are also dying, preparing of the cold death of winter. But, they are also preparing for resurrection in the spring. It is an interesting cycle of life which we behold in God’s creation around us, and with God’s creatures. So, on that theme, let us look at others of God’s creatures, who served God well, and also are awaiting their resurrection.

 
On October 15th, we commemorate St. Teresa of Avila; Teacher and Renewer of the Church, who died on that date in 1582. She is also known as Teresa de Jesus. She chose the life of a Carmelite nun after reading the letters of St. Jerome (his commemoration is September 30, and died in 420. He is famous for his translation of the Bible into Latin, known as the Vulgate). She was frequently sick during her early years as a nun. But she found that when she was sick her prayer life flowered, and when she was well it withered. Steadily her life of faith and prayer deepened, and she grew to have a lively sense of God’s presence with her. She worked to reform her monastic community in Avila, which she believed had strayed from its original purpose. Her reforms asked nuns to maintain life in the monastic enclosure without leaving it and to identify with those who are poor by not wearing shoes. Teresa’s writings on devotional life have enjoyed a wide audience over the centuries (including me).

 
October 17th is the commemoration of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, martyr, who died then in 115 AD. He was the second bishop of Antioch in Syria. It was there that the name “Christian” was first used to describe the followers of Jesus. Ignatius is known to us through his letters. In them he encouraged Christians to live in unity sustained with love while standing firm on sound doctrine. Ignatius believed Christian martyrdom was a privilege. When his own martyrdom approached, he wrote in one of his letters, “I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth…Do not stand in the way of my birth to real life.” This date reminds us that there are still places where Christians continue to face death because of their beliefs in Christ.

 
October 18th is the Festival of St. Luke whose Gospel we have been hearing from this year. He is identified as the author of both Luke and the Book of Acts. Luke is careful to place the vents of Jesus’ life in both their social and religious contexts. Some of the most loved parables, including the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son are found only in Luke’s Gospel. It has also given the Church some of its most beautiful songs; the “Benedictus” sung at morning prayers, the “Magnificat” sung at evening prayer, and the “Nunc Dimittis” sung at the close of the day and the Sunday service.

 
We can do well in the autumn to learn from these witnesses who have gone before us, and render them the honor due their actions for the message of Our LORD.

 

In Christ, Pastor Rose.