Edmund

Edmund                      20 November
King of East Anglia, Martyr, 870 -- Commemoration

Today we recall Edmund, an Anglo-Saxon king who was martyred in the year 870.  He was raised in the Christian faith and at the age of twenty-three succeeded his father on the throne of East Anglia.  His kingdom lay on England's coast and was expecially vulnerable to the Vikings, who were sea-faring marauders from Scandinavia.  Five years after Edmund began his reign they mounted a huge raid upon his kingdom and shattered the East Anglin army in a single battle.  Edmund himself was captured and brought before the Viking leader, who offered to spare the king's life if he renounced the Christian faith.  Edmund rejected the offer and confessed Christ before his captor.  Tradition says that the Vikings tied him to a tree, scourged him brutally, then riddled him with arrows and finally beheaded him.  Once his murderers had departed, the East Anglians recovered the body of their king and eventually interred it with honour at the town of Bedricsworth, which ever since then has been called Bury St. Edmunds.  The reputation of King Edmund the Martyr spread beyond the borders of East Anglia, and he became a national saint, honoured by all the English for his valour in holding on to Christ even at the cost of his life.

O God, who called your servant Edmund through the brutal trial of martyrdom from an earthly to a heavenly throne, mercifully grant that, holding him in remembrance, we may be fruitful in good works and attain to the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth                           19 November
Princess of Hungary, 1231 -- Commemoration

Today we remember Elizabeth of Hungary, a thirteenth-century princess who devoted her short life to serving the poor, the sick, and the homeless.

She was born in 1207 and at the age of fourteen became the wife of Ludwig, the ruler of Thuringia.  Their marriage was happy and with her husband's support Elizabeth not only cared for their own children but also found time to supervise various projects for the aid of the poor.  She founded several hospitals and homesw for the lderly, and provided shelters for orphans and abused children.  But then Ludwig died, and her brother-in-law drover her from the royal court.  Elizabeth joined the Franciscans as a lay-associate and adopted a life of poverty.  She did menial labour in the very hospices which she had founded and went into the homes of poor people to help them with their daily tasks.  Love for Christ kep her going in the most brutalizing conditions, but in 1231 she succumbed to overwork and a sudden virus.  She was only twenty-four when she died.

The people of Germany immediately began to venerate her, and she was declared a saint of the Church within four years of her death.  Even today, many hospitals throughout the world bear her name, in memory of her devotaion to binding up the wounds of suffering humanity.

Almighty God, by whose grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary both knew and honoured Jesus in the poor of this world, grant that we, following her example, may serve with love and gladness those whom we find in any need or trouble; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Weekly Meditation

Weekly Meditation

Christ the King Nov. 22nd


John 18: 36

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world..."

You can almost hear Pilate's consternation in Jesus' response. How can a kingdom be not of this world? It would have been much simpler if Jesus had been like previous trouble makers - Romans out! Join the Judean Peoples' Liberation Front!

But we are to be careful as well. If his kingdom is not of this world, it does not mean that his kingdom does not require our full allegiance and obeisance. Many have in the past have quickly spiritualized the implications of the kingdom of God. We have placed the kingdom of the world alongside Christ's kingdom, and in many cases have relegated the Kingdom of God to the position of sanctifier of our worldly kingdoms. Jesus is highlighting that his kingdom does not behave, act or even originate with the same set of presuppositions that are held by our worldly kingdoms. The difficulty which we must face is to which kingdom do we give allegiance?

Two Sundays ago, here in Britain, was Remembrance Sunday. As an American in the Church of England, it is a unique experience because in the States we do not mark Remembrance Day in the same manner. However, I felt a tension because there was a distinct blurring of the lines between Church and State. I watched the Royal British Legion's Remembrance Celebration on BBC1 on Friday night. A full slate of performers - military bands, pop singers and the like. All of this was followed ended by a few hymns and prayers led by a bishop; ending with a rousing singing of God save the Queen. I am all for remembering those who have sacrificed and given their lives. But Jesus' statement - My kingdom is not of this world... - haunted me. Is this what the kingdom of God looked like?

Christ the King ends the liturgical year. We begin again with the familiar season of Advent. But I wonder if the creators of the liturgical calendar did not have something in mind in placing Christ the King next to the first Sunday of Advent. It is almost as if they have expounded on the statement of Jesus - My kingdom is not of this world..... and here is what it looks like! A baby in a manger...

As we celebrate and look toward the time when the fullness of the kingdom of God will be among us, let us also strive to allow the fullness of the kingdom to permeate our lives now.



Pax et bonum,

Br. J+

Challenge of the Week:
As with any King, Jesus commands allegiance and obeisance.  If Jesus is King in our lives, how do we show allegiance and obeisance?

Hilda

Hilda             18 November

Abbess of Whitby, 680 -- Commemoration

Hilda was a seventh-century Englishwoman who became the abbess of Whitby and nurtured adjoining households of nuns and monks.  The Venerable Bede wrote of her:  "All who knew abbess Hilda, the servant of Christ, called her Mother because of her wonderful devotion and grace ...; she never ceased to give thanks to her Maker or to instruct the flock committed to her care."

She was born into the royal family of Northumbria and lived a quiet, devout life in the world until the age of thirty-three, when she decided to take the habit of a nun.  Almost at once she was given charge of a small community at Wearmouth, and her guidance proved so effective that she was asked to renew the life of another community nearby.    In the year 657 she finally moved to Whitby, a monastery which included a household of monks and a household of nuns.  Under her leadership it became the most famous religious community in all England.

The Venerable Bede reported:  "Not only was Hilda an outstanding example of holy life to all who were in her monastery, but she also provided an opportunity for salvation and repentance to many who lived far away and who heard the happy story of her industry and virtue."  Bede went on to say:  "So great was Hilda's prudence that not only ordinary people but also kings and princes sometimes sought and received her advice when they were in difficulties.  She compelled those under her direction to devote so much time to the study of the holy Scriptures and so much time to the doing of good works, that there was no trouble in finding many who were fitted ... for the service of the altar."

So, we give thanks for Hilda of Whitby, who died in the year 680 and used her own gifts of holiness and wisdom to nurture holy gifts in others, that they might serve the people of Christ and make seventh-century England a household of God. 

Lord our God, you girded your servant Hilda with the gifts of justice and holy strength, and made her a wise and prudent mother in the household of your Spirit.  May we never cease to give thanks to you, our Maker, or be slow to instruct one another in the knoledge and love of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Hugh

Hugh                17 November
Bishop of Lincoln, 1200 -- Commemoration

Today we commemorate Hugh, a twelfth century bishop whose rare holiness and generous love nurtured the people of Lincold from 1186 until his death fourteen years later.

As a young man Hugh joined the Carthusians, an order of monks who dwelt high in the French Alps.  They kept communal life to a minimum and made each monk free to pursue contemplative prayer in solitude and silence.

In 1175 Hugh ws sent to head the first Carthusian house in England.  His leadership proved so effective that, eleven years later, King Henry II appointed him bishop of Lincoln, then the largest diocese in the kingdom.  He reorganized the institutional life of his unwieldy see;  he restored Lincoln cathedral, even joining in the work with his own hands; and he took a leading part in defending the Church against the policies of King Henry and his son, Richard the Lion-Heart.

He did not spend all his time with senior clergy and mighty kings; on the contrary, he was constantly on the move among his people as he sought to keep in touch with their needs.  He also took the side of those who were ostracized or oppressed.  On two occassions he threw himself into anti-Semitic mobs and singlehandedly rescued their Jewish victims from being murdered.  On another occasion he rebuked foolish clerics who said that God disdained to be loved by women.  He asked them to think, saying, "To no man was it granted to be called the father of God, but it was given to a woman to be the Mother of God."

As a bishop, Hugh shared the inner freedom he had learned as a Carthusian, and the people responded with gratitude and love.  When he died in 1200, his coffin was escorted into Lincoln cathedral not only by kings, archbishops, and abbots, but also by a mighty throng of ordinary women and men -- all of whom felt that they were not burying a bishop so much as honouring a friend.

Holy God, who endowed Hugh of Lincoln with boldness before sovereigns and humility in serving his flock, grant that we also, rejoicing in your mercy and fearing nothing but the loss of you, may be bold to speak the truth in love; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Margaret

Margaret           16 November
Queen of Scotland, Helper of the Poor, 1093 -- Commemoration

Margaret was an Anglo-Saxon princess who became the consort of King Malcolm III of Scotland in 1069.  She bore eight children and through her husband initiated civilizing reforms in the Scottish royal court, the Scottish Church, and the Scottish nation.  But Margaret is chiefly remembered for her efforts on behalf of Scotland's poor.  She not only gave out large sums of money but also ensured that institutions already in place did indeed provide relief for the homeless, the hungry, and the orphaned.  In addtion, Margaret supplied the funds which purchased freedom for those Anglo-Saxons who had been sold into slavery by their Norman conquerors.  Hence, to her title of Queen is added the still greater title for a Christian -- "Helper of the Poor."

O God, you gave to your servant Margaret such faithfulness as Queen of Scotland that she cared for the poor and relieved the needs of those who lay in prison.  Grant us a like devotion, whatever the service to which you call us, that we may be agents of your justice and true servants of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Consecration of Samuel Seabury

The Consecration of Samuel Seabury          14 November
First Anglican Bishop in North America, 1784 -- Commemoration

On this date in 1784 three Scottish bishops laid hands on Samuel Seabury, making him the first Anglican to be consecrated for the office and work of a bishop in North America.

For over a century the Anglican Church in the American colonies had been governed by the bishop of London, and despite repeated pleas to English authorities it still lacked a resident bishop when the United States were granted independence.  To end the absurdity of being episcopalian without and episcopate, the clergy of Connecticut held a conference in March of 1783, at which the elected Seabury, a native son with thirty years' experience as a priest, to sail for England and be consecrated their bishop.

He expected his negotiations with the English bishops to be easy and quick, but was bitterly disappointed.  After a fruitless year in London he packed his bags and journeyed north to Aberdeen, where he opened negotiations with the bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church.  They quickly agreed to consecrate him, but on one condition -- that he do all in his power to make the American Church adopt the Scottish Communion Office.  This liturgy was the first true "alternative rite" in Anglican history; it remodelled and enriched the Communion Order of the English Prayer Book, so that the eucharist might conform more closely to the shape of the ancient liturgies.

Seabury accepted the Scottish condition and when he returned to the United states was successful in fulfilling it.  The first Amercan Prayer Book of 1789 incorporated a Prayer of Consecration which was substantially the same as Scotland's -- thus turning a local rite into an international alternative within the Anglican tradition.  So, we honour Samuel Seabury not only for his perseverance in bringing the Anglican episcopate to North America, but also for his role in renewing the liturgical heritage of our communion. 

Eternal God, you blessed your servant Samuel Seabury with the gift of perseverance to renew the Anglican inheritance in teh churches of North America.  Grant us unity in faith, steadfastness in hope, and constancy in love, that we may ever be true members of the body of your Son Jesus Christ; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.