tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post3204726653567369876..comments2024-03-29T22:00:02.999+13:00Comments on Anglican Down Under: What is Holy Week and Easter without the Gospel of John?Peter Carrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-3881125838914691502022-04-18T08:38:20.717+12:002022-04-18T08:38:20.717+12:00Dear Father Ron,
Thank you for your kind words.
It...Dear Father Ron,<br />Thank you for your kind words.<br />It was a lovely and uplifting service.<br />Happy Easter!<br />Peter.Peter Carrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-58899298360691190572022-04-17T11:46:35.852+12:002022-04-17T11:46:35.852+12:00Thank you, Bishop Peter, for your presiding presen...Thank you, Bishop Peter, for your presiding presence and your thought-provoking sermon at our SMAA Easter Vigil last evening (Holy Saturday).<br /><br />One cannot but be impressed by the Evangelical Message of the Vigil ceremonies, wherein the First Fire of Easter is used to ignite the new Paschal Candle, which is then processed into the church with the acclamation "The Light of Christ" - which is acknowledged by the congregation with the words: "Thanks be to God". The chanting of the traditional 'Exultet' - in praise of the Light of Christ in the Paschal Candle - then told the story of our redemption by Christ in his self-offering on the Cross, his death and descent into Hades, and his Resurrection from the Dead; securing the gift of Eternal Life to all who are Baptised into his death and resurrection.<br /><br />Then, the Baptism at the Font, followed by your action in the Confirmation of two young men, in which the Holy Spirit was invoked upon them, and then poured out upon the whole congregation as we re-affirmed our Baptismal Vows during the Sprinkling of the Waters of the Font upon all of us present. These liturgical actions gave a strong indication of the work of the Holy Spirit amongst us as we re-affirmed our Baptismal Promises together.<br /><br />This provided a wonderful springboard for the Celebration of the Eucharist (over which you presided); from which we ALL received the further grace of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.<br /><br />Altogether, a wonderful experience for all of us gathered together to greet our Resurrected Lord and Saviour as the Body of Christ at Saint Michael and All Angels, in our city.<br /><br />Christ is Risen, Alleluia! He is Risen Indeed? Alleluia, Alleluia!Father Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17062632692873621258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-80557417615324376802022-04-12T02:52:04.860+12:002022-04-12T02:52:04.860+12:00None of the bible was written in English to C21 We...None of the bible was written in English to C21 Western Christians. So it's not as though three gospels were published by the Times this morning for 13 year olds who understood them and a fourth needs an excuse for being harder.<br /><br />It's all strange. Most people who have always had bibles in the house and have heard (or given) weekly chats about them for years overestimate how much they know about them. <br /><br />A book from a foreign language and a remote culture lends itself to comfortable but irrelevant projections from the present. Kirill preached something on Sunday that did not cause a riot in the Kremlin.<br /><br />The miracle is: a little of Jesus seems to get through to even eavesdroppers who are lazy, distracted, or narcissistic. The documents are about a god, not a religion.<br /><br />BWUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11931946224142718747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-69467858013085402492022-04-11T19:15:01.060+12:002022-04-11T19:15:01.060+12:00Thank you for this, Bishop Peter. I have just a br...Thank you for this, Bishop Peter. I have just a brief comment: Noting that John was possibly the closest disciple to Jesus - having laid his head on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper and from his self-references as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved - I cannot but accept that he would have been in the very best position to record the sayings and actions of Jesus during their time together. I remember, also (from Scripture), that Jesus requested John to take care of his mother, Mary, after his demise. This would surely have made him privy to Mary's own precious memories of her Son's doings.<br /><br />I guess that the different recollection in the gospels and epistles would reflect the human variations in remembrance that occurs in every generation. We have a wonderful pot-pourri of testimonies from those whose lives were deeply affected by Jesus' ministry to and with them.<br /><br />Perhaps we need to factor in the role of the Holy Spirit in each and every account, and to reflect on the contemporaneity and appropriateness of recovered memoranda to find a middle way that can guide and help us on our own journey of faith.Father Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17062632692873621258noreply@blogger.com