St. Aidan's Anglican Church, Kansas City - weekly talks

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Collect:

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 5:21-37

Note - Due to a failing battery in Fr. Michael's mic, the ending of this sermon was cut off. The concluding idea ends with the way we perceive each other in Christ, no longer after the flesh-2 Cor. 5:16-(this present age under the reign of sin and death) but after the Spirit (the age to come, New Creation, God's Kingdom breaking into the present).

Our Holy and Gracious Father, in his infinite love, made us for himself. But when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, goes the Eucharistic liturgy, the Father sent His Son, to become one of us, to share our human nature and to reconcile us back to himself, the God and Father of all.

We were not designed for murder / anger, lust, adultery and lies. We were designed to adore God, mouth to mouth, in an unbroken communion. We are being restored back to the purity of our origins in Jesus Christ.

What do we do with disordered desire? Through unceasing prayer, offer it back to God, growing in intimacy with his original intent ... to love and adore him.

See C.S. Lewis, the Weight of Glory, on awakening holy desire.

Matthew 5:13-20 Fifth Sunday of Epiphany

In this second introductory section of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" the Church is given three identity markers: Salt of the earth, Light of the world and a City (on a hill). Jesus is saying that the presence of his earthly body is to provide vital qualities and impact in this present age. His Church participates in the age to come by living as the Already/Not-Yet Kingdom where all is upside-down until the Kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. And He shall reign forever and ever. Amen!

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany:

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany:

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today Christ descends into the waters of the Jordan, a body of water symbolizing the great divide between the wilderness of this present evil age and the age to come, the Kingdom of God.

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"The one who was born of an unwedded virgin is revealed to be the Son of God, with the Spirit of God resting upon him and the Father himself proclaiming his sonship to all.

The one who was concealed in the depth of the earth in a cave begins his public ministry, openly proclaiming the gospel to all.

And the one who appeared as a weak infant is revealed to be the Lord of creation.

By descending into the Jordan, Christ has made known the true knowledge of God as Father, revealed by his Son an known in the Spirit, the Trinity whom we worship.

By descending into the Jordan, Christ brought illumination to the world, so that we may all live in the light of the gospel.

By descending into the Jordan, Christ has transfigured the waters and all creation, so that we also may be transformed, reborn in the same waters to live in his Kingdom" (from Fr. John Behr, homily on the Theophany.

These three themes—Epiphany, illumination and transformation (New Creation)—are at the heart of this feast of Epiphany or, in the Eastern Church, Theophany. For at the baptism of Christ, the Holy Trinity is revealed … the true knowledge of God as One God in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Collect of the Day: The Holy Name

Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 2:15-21; Philippians 2:9-13

The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is a time to contemplate the revelation of Jesus' name given to Joseph in a dream by an angel, and likewise the revelation of the same to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “you shall give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

Jesus is a transliteration of the Hebrew name, Yeshua which is the English name, Joshua. The Hebrew meaning of Yeshua is "YAHWEH is salvation". Jesus is the new Joshua, the final Joshua, who leads his people into the promised land, the final wedding feast of God and his people. God will be all in all.

Today's Gospel is from Matthew, chapter one. Fr. Michael shares about the common struggles of trust facing Joseph.

Sunday's Collect:

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today's Gospel is from Matthew, chapter one. Fr. Michael shares about the common struggles of trust facing Joseph.

Sunday's Collect:

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Rod McNeall, a member of St. Aidan's and an ordained Methodist Minister, shares the Father's heart for his people.

The Collect of the Day:

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.