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Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for Trinity Sunday 2025

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective, Political

Saddam – death

I’ve had this rather unwell, sick feeling all day – not because of any illness per-se, but because we, as a country and occupier are going to kill a horrible dictator – and I don’t like it.

Maybe ten years ago I would have said C’est la vie – and good for him. I can’t do that anymore. I cannot witness Christ and stand by and say OK, C’est la vie – and good for him. I can pray and I can say we are wrong. The merchants of death are wrong, and this is not what it means to be a Christian.

Mr. Hussein was not good by any stretch of the imagination. He was murderous, power hungry, and brutal. He was also our tool and vassal for a time. In the end it turns out that he was sick and deluded. But hey, the U.S. specializes in killing the mentally ill and incompetent.

Of course we could teach the civilized manner of dealing with a criminal. We could turn him over to the Hague. Let them kill him in bureaucratic meandering. Let those who seek justice have their chance to speak – and let him speak. But perhaps too much would be laid out in the open.

Must we pile up more bodies, invite more hate, vengeance, and glory in death? Must we pile one more body on the overwhelming stack we have created? Certainly Mr. Bush will rejoice – but you know, the law of unintended consequences hasn’t been all that good to him thus far, maybe he should back-off.

Our country will bury a president. The majority of Iraqis will rejoice in the death of theirs – welcome to demonocracy.

An excerpt from the NY Times: Iraq Prepares to Execute Hussein

BAGHDAD, Dec. 29 —” The close of the final chapter on the brutal reign of Saddam Hussein drew ever closer today, as Iraqi officials prepared the last legal notice necessary before his execution, a red card that will be presented to the former dictator to inform him that his end is near, Iraqi officials said.

—We will do it very soon,— Muneer Haddad, a judge on the Iraqi High Tribunal who will represent that body at the execution, said today. He said the execution would likely be —tonight or tomorrow.—

The pace of events left some of the American legal advisors working on the case stunned, according to one Western official. For all the guidance the Americans provided, in the end the dictator’s demise did not go the way they expected, the officials said.

—It just goes to show that the Iraqis call the shots on something like this,— the official said.

Ah, plausible denial – we didn’t want to kill him this way – those crazy Iraqis did it.

It is still possible that the execution could be delayed, Western and Iraqi officials cautioned. One senior Iraqi official said there may yet be other legal hurdles.

However, Mr. Haddad said that all that remained was the technical legal matter of court officials filling out a —red card,— a formal notice of impending death created during the Saddam era and widely used by his much feared secret police.

—We have almost finished his red card,— Mr. Haddad said.

It was unclear whether the red card has been presented to Mr. Hussein or whether he knows that his death may be imminent.

Iraqi and American officials have kept outsiders, including his legal team, from contacting him, according to Najib al-Nauimi, one of Mr. Hussein’s lawyers who is in Qatar…

Ah, and then a glimpse of the future American legal system – we don’t need to stinkin’ lawyers…

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective, Political

Be careful – what you agree to

Jacob G. Hornberger asks the all important question: Whether or not you would follow a President’s order, based on a contract you signed, to go and kill for no good (or just, or moral, or ethical) reason in Would You ‘Support the Troops’ in Bolivia?

It is a question faithful Christians should always ask. It is a question good and faithful Christians should be prepared to suffer and die for even asking —“ for that may very well happen.

The Young Fogey points to Mr. Hornberger’s article in: The president as a substitute conscience wherein he validly points out that we apply quite a different standard to the war criminals and dictators we don’t like, a standard that doesn’t apply to US.

On the face of it, no other man can assume responsibility for our conscience. It is the one and only thing we have certain and sole responsibility for. We cannot contract our conscience or soul away – regardless of the petty justifications we so readily acquiesce to.

A story on NPR today, Army to Court-Martial Soldier Featured in PTSD Story points to a factor Mr. Hornberger missed when he discussed our troops ‘contract’ with the government.

You see, Sgt. Tyler Jennings signed such a contract and went to serve on the President’s orders. He came back, along with his comrades, unable to cope and quite mentally ill. He sought help, got none. He turned to drugs to cope, and sin of sins he spoke out. Now the army is going to Court Martial this Sergeant.

You see, the contract employer —“ the Army —“ can award you a Purple Heart for your physical injuries, and leave your mental, emotional injuries untreated. The contract doesn’t cover the Army’s or the government’s responsibility toward you. If you no longer meet the requirement for contracted materials they will throw you out as just so much surplus.

Beyond that, they will readily ask you to kill the non-existent enemy and to do so without valid reason, your eternal soul not being a factor therein. As Mr. Hornberger points out:

Indeed, where is the morality in signing a contract that obligates a person to go kill people who haven’t attacked his country?

—But we signed the employment contract thinking that we were defending America,— soldiers say. —We’re just trying to be patriots.—

But everyone knows that presidents don’t use their standing army to defend America. They use it to attack countries that haven’t attacked the United States. After all, how many times has America been invaded by a foreign army in the last 50 years? (Answer: None!) What country in the world today has the military capability of invading the United States? (Answer: None!)

Can you sign a contract that you know, on its face, is a lie, and then follow through and perform on that contract? A question every parent should teach their children to ask. A question everyone who signed has the obligation to ask. Will you be punished for asking – certainly, but I’d rather take that punishment to the kind of punishment Sgt. Jennings will never escape, or the long lasting punishment of eternity – all for no good, moral, just, or ethical reason.

Pray for Sgt. Jennings, the men and women like him – so badly damaged, and for all servicemen and women, and most especially for our country. May we do justice and walk in the way of the Lord.

PNCC, Saints and Martyrs,

Feast of St. John the Evangelist – Blessing of Wine

Last night at Holy Mass we had a traditional blessing of wine on the Feast of St. John. The form is as follows:

THE BLESSING OF WINE (Feast of St. John the Evangelist)

Before Mass, the priest garbed in Mass vestments, without the maniple, stands at the Epistle side of the altar and blesses the wine.

P. Our help is in the name + of the Lord.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.
P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

P. The beginning of the Gospel according to St. John.
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and with¬out Him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men; and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony to the light that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light that was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, He gave to them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in His name, who are born not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (Here all kneel). AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

R. Thanks be to God.

Let us pray

Through the words of the Holy Gospel and through the merits of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, deign, O Lord, to bless + and hallow + this chalice of wine, and preserve from all evil those, who with faith shall drink of this cup, as Thou didst preserve from death Thy blessed Apostle John, who, having partaken of the poisonous potion, escaped all harm. Grant, O merciful Father, that likewise the poison of sin may prove powerless to hurt us, that sin, the dreadful enemy of mankind, may hold no power over us, and poison not our bodies nor destroy our souls. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

The benediction is pronounced, then the wine is sprinkled with holy water and incensed.

The blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son + and the Holy Ghost descend upon those partaking of this wine and remain with them forevermore.

R. Amen.

P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

P. The continuation of the Gospel according to St. John.
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

At that time a marriage took place at Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now Jesus too was invited to the marriage, and also His disciples. And the wine having run short, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. And Jesus said to her; What wouldst thou have Me do, woman? My hour has not yet come. Now six stone water jars were placed there, after the Jewish manner of purification, each holding two or three measures, Jesus said to them. Fill the jars with water. And they filled them to the brim. And Jesus said to them, draw out now, and take to the chief steward. And they took it to him. Now when the chief steward had tasted the water after it had become wine, not knowing whence it was (though the attendants who had drawn the water knew), the chief steward called the bridegroom, and said to him: Every man at first sets forth the good wine, and when they have drunk freely, then that which is poorer. But thou hast kept the good wine until now. This first of His signs Jesus worked at Cana of Galilee; and He manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

R. Thanks be to God.

The priest distributes the wine, to the faithful, after the second ablution and before covering the chalice.

Here’s what I had blessed:

  • Beaujolais Nouveau (Geoges Duboeuf, France, 2006)
  • Cotes du Luberon (Verget du Sud, France, 2002)
  • Merlot (3 blind moose, California, 2004)
  • Beaujolais Villages (Louis Jadot, France, 2005)
Christian Witness, Current Events, Political

On Gerald Ford

Portrait of President Ford by Ronald Scherr

Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States passed onto eternal life this evening.

I remember discussing the pardon of Richard Nixon in grade school. I was in the 7th grade then. The Felician sister who taught us stated in effect: an act of forgiveness and healing should never be criticized and should be encouraged.

I was a news junkie as far back as I can remember. I absorbed events and their implications. The pardon seemed incongruous at first, but after I heard sister’s words I thought ‘how wise, how appropriate.’ That act exemplified simple Christian virtue to me. The reaction to the event exemplified the worldly ‘need’ for vengeance.

The NY Times has an excellent retrospective in Gerald R. Ford, 38th U.S. President, Dies.

Mr. Ford was an Episcopalian. I wonder whether the Presiding Bishop will interject herself. Was Mr. Ford High Church?

Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord.

Saints and Martyrs

December 26 – St. Stephen, Proto-martyr (Św. Szczepan)

St Stephen by Giotto

Daj nam, prosimy Cię Panie, abyśmy to, co chwalimy naśladowali, a nauczyli się i nieprzyjaciół kochać: albowiem tego pamiątkę obchodzimy, który nawet za swoich prześladowców modlił się i błagał Pana naszego Jezusa Chrystusa, który żyje i króluje, Bóg na wieki wieków. Amen.

You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.

The sentencing and martyrdom of St. Stephen by Daddi

Twardego karku i opornych serc i uszu! Wy zawsze sprzeciwiacie się Duchowi Świętemu. Jak ojcowie wasi, tak i wy. Któregoż z proroków nie prześladowali wasi ojcowie? Pozabijali nawet tych, którzy przepowiadali przyjście Sprawiedliwego. A wyście zdradzili Go teraz i zamordowali. Wy, którzy otrzymaliście Prawo za pośrednictwem aniołów, lecz nie przestrzegaliście go». Gdy to usłyszeli, zawrzały gniewem ich serca i zgrzytali zębami na niego. A on pełen Ducha Świętego patrzył w niebo i ujrzał chwałę Bożą i Jezusa, stojącego po prawicy Boga. I rzekł: "Widzę niebo otwarte i Syna Człowieczego, stojącego po prawicy Boga».

A oni podnieśli wielki krzyk, zatkali sobie uszy i rzucili się na niego wszyscy razem. Wyrzucili go poza miasto i kamienowali, a świadkowie złożyli swe szaty u stóp młodzieńca, zwanego Szawłem. Tak kamienowali Szczepana, który modlił się: "Panie Jezu, przyjmij ducha mego!» A gdy osunął się na kolana, zawołał głośno: "Panie, nie poczytaj im tego grzechu!» Po tych słowach skonał.

Martyrdom of St Stephen

The armour of love – a sermon of St Fulgentius of Ruspe

Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we celebrate the triumphant suffering of his soldier.

Yesterday our king, clothed in his robe of flesh, left his place in the virgin’s womb and graciously visited the world. Today his soldier leaves the tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.

Our king, despite his exalted majesty, came in humility for our sake; yet he did not come empty-handed. He brought his soldiers a great gift that not only enriched them but also made them unconquerable in battle, for it was the gift of love, which was to bring men to share in his divinity. He gave of his bounty, yet without any loss to himself. In a marvellous way he changed into wealth the poverty of his faithful followers while remaining in full possession of his own inexhaustible riches.

And so the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier. Love was Stephen’s weapon by which he gained every battle, and so won the crown signified by his name. His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbour made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment. Strengthened by the power of his love, he overcame the raging cruelty of Saul and won his persecutor on earth as his companion in heaven. In his holy and tireless love he longed to gain by prayer those whom he could not convert by admonition.

Now at last, Paul rejoices with Stephen, with Stephen he delights in the glory of Christ, with Stephen he exalts, with Stephen he reigns. Stephen went first, slain by the stones thrown by Paul, but Paul followed after, helped by the prayer of Stephen. This, surely, is the true life, my brothers, a life in which Paul feels no shame because of Stephen’s death, and Stephen delights in Paul’s companionship, for love fills them both with joy. It was Stephen’s love that prevailed over the cruelty of the mob, and it was Paul’s love that covered the multitude of his sins; it was love that won for both of them the kingdom of heaven.

Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defence,- and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journey’s end.

My brothers, Christ made love the stairway that would enable all Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your progress in it, make your ascent together.

By the grace of God this is my 1,000th post – on the Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and Proto-martyr

Homilies,

The Nativity of the Lord

Christmas 2006

The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age

So He has come to teach and train us. He has come in humility and poverty to teach and train us. He has come in the appearance and reality of flesh and blood to teach and train us.

Blessed are the poor,
blessed the humble,
blessed are those who witness to Him.

As Paul tells us we are to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age. We are to live that way here and now, not someday, not in some sort of fantasy life detached from the reality of existence, but in our everyday lives. We are not to leave it to the saints, for we are all called to be saints, witnesses, and martyrs. We are called to be for Him alone because He has given us more than we could ever repay. He has given us a salvation we did not merit.

Witness Him. Witness the baby in the manager, the teacher on the Mount, the one bruised, broken, and crushed for us, the God-man cooking fish by the seaside, the one telling His followers feed my sheep, feed my lambs.

There are no excuses left.

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

In a poor mean city, in a cave at the outskirts, to a woman who was scandal to the people of her village, guarded by a man on his second marriage, a descendant of David looking for comfort in his waning years.

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Adored by the spectrum of reality, from the shepherds, poor and dirty to the full compliment of the heavenly host. From the Jewish shepherds to the Magi from the East.

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

The excuses are over for like the shepherds we must believe our eyes and ears.

—Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.”

Amen.

Everything Else, ,

A blessed Christmas to you

Icon.jpg

Coptic Icon of the Nativity: The icon of the Nativity tells the story of Christ’s birth from the Scriptures. It also shows that all creation is taking part in Christ’s birth. The angels give thanks with their song; the heavens give the star; the Wise Men give their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The poor, humble shepherds give their praise and amazement; the earth gives the cave, and humanity gives the Virgin.

Solemnity of the Nativity—”2006

To all my readers and fellow bloggers,

The Advent fast is past,
the time of preparation is over.

The universe rejoices,
the glorious hosts of heaven process forth
proclaiming the good news.

All creation is renewed
and our hearts rejoice
in the birth of our Savior.

May our dearest Lord find a home in your hearts now and always.
May the Blessed Virgin hold you in her tender embrace,
and intercede on your behalf.
May the goodly St. Joseph watch over and protect you.
And, may the joy of this season only be surpassed
by the joy of our promised life together in heaven.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers throughout this Holy Season and the year ahead, most especially as I serve the Lord at the altar.

—” Deacon Jim

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