Freedom of Speech under fire

As Orwellian as it seems...
Just think somebody like you or me, posting his or her opinion on a blog could someday be tried for international crime(s), if somebody feels offended by what is stated. That's right, simply writing about the Christian Faith in a favorable light in contrast to "another religion" could land you in the criminal justice system. Read more at Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575849,00.html?test=latestnews

Hey United Nations, Jesus Christ is Lord! I'm sure you'll know how to find me - look forward to seein' ya. Thanks ; )

Maranatha+
Father Daniel

UPDATE: Thanks be to God the resolution did not pass. However, keep praying because this resolution has been presented before and is sure to be seen again in the near future.

The Beattitudes (Matthew 5: 3-16)

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falselya, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushelb, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, (+) and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the begining, is now and ever shall unto ages of ages. Amen.

Blessings+

Father Daniel

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a falsely: Gr. lying
b a bushel: the word in the original signifieth a measure containing about a pint less than a peck
The Holy Bible : King James Version. Electronic edition of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Mt 5:3

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Glory be to Jesus Christ!


On this glorious Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord we have gathered for the Divine Liturgy, and received the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Having been nourished with His very Body and Blood and having sung the resounding acclamations of His victory over death we have returned to our homes to spend time together as a family celebrating the transcendent reality that life no longer ends in death. Rather, as Christians we celebrate that for those who are alive in Christ Jesus earthly life continues to eternal life in spite of our temporal physical mortality. One day we shall be raised from the grave as He has been.

Christ Jesus has overcome sin, death, and the devil. In this 16th century Russian Orthodox icon the iconographer tells of Christ's descent into Hades. Christ has knocked down the gates of death (notice them lying in submission under His feet in the form of a cross) and takes Adam and Eve by their hands and leads them and the other faithful out of Hades to the place which He has prepared for them. Spiritually they are alive and in paradise awaiting the final day of resurrection when their bodies and souls will be raised together. On that day the fulfillment of His victory will not only be for us a spiritual reality, but also physically evident to all eternity. Therefore let us boldy rejoice in what He has accomplished for us. Throughout my seminary years the Easter sermon of the fifth century Bishop of Constantinople, St John Chrysostom (literally John the "golden-mouth" because of his homiletical abilities), was passed around among the seminarians. He begins his homily by addressing those who have stringently fasted throughout the Great Fast / Lent in repentance and in preparation for celebrating this glorious feast. He also recognizes that not everybody has been so steadfast in their dedication. He welcomes those who have stumbled and faltered along with those who have withstood the physical, emotional and spiritual demands of this preparatory season. Grace and forgiveness is offered to all not on account of their efforts but on account of the work of Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross. One and all who receive what Christ has done, come and celebrate for yours is forgiveness, life and salvation.

Blessings+
Father Daniel

P.S. Below is St John Chrysostom's magnificent Easter homily; please enjoy.

An Easter Sermon
by St John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople (b.347-d.407)

Are there any who are devout lovers of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Are there any who are grateful servants? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour,let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour,let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour,let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour,let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,let him not be afraid by reason of his delay. For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends. Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward;rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day! You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.Enjoy all the riches of His goodness! Let no one grieve at his poverty,for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. He destroyed Hell when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said,"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below." Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.It was in an uproar because it is mocked. It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see. O death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory? Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead,is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever! Amen.

Behold the Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sin of the World

In the Name of Father and of the Son ( + ) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Almighty and everlasting God who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent. Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world. Amen.

Blessings+

Father Daniel

Palm Sunday: Jesus Enters Jerusalem

Today is the Feast of Palm Sunday, the day of the church year which transitions us from the season of Lent to Holy Week. We remember on this day the entrance of Christ Jesus in to the city of Jerusalem. He entered not as a vanquishing soldier on a mighty steed to topple the earthly thrones of Caesar and Herod, but rather as a suffering servant coming to nullify the spiritual tyranny of sin, death and the devil. The crowds cheered and exalted the arrival of the one whom they mistakenly thought would free them from the occupying forces of the Roman Empire. As he entered the city the throngs of people cheered him and offered jubilant praise. They demonstrated their welcome for his arrival by spreading their coats and palm branches upon the ground in the path of his little donkey's hoof steps. They called out the words "Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord." Jesus was was popular this day as the people thought he would drive out Rome and re-establish the autonomy of Judea. By the end of the week, their misinformed and disillusioned minds would be crying out for Rome to execute their has-been hero. How about us? Are we any different? How easy it is to follow Jesus when it all is going well and it seems that things are going as we prefer! O how difficult it is to praise him in the storms of life when it all seems to be so very adverse! He has demonstrated that he hears our prayers and addresses our deepest needs. For they had cried out "Hosanna" and Jesus did rescue and redeem his countrymen and the whole world. He did come in the Name of the Lord and he took upon himself our curse that we may receive God's eternal favor and blessing. May we too, but with very much informed and illuminated hearts and minds, call out with true praises of Him who came to rescue us from the kingdom of Satan. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Amen!

Blessings+

Father Daniel

Say the Word and I Shall Be Healed

Life is broken. Relationships tarnish and rust. Words and actions cut into the spirit deeper than any knife. Our failures surmount - sorrows surround. What will reverse the course of this destruction? Who would we call to rescue and resuscitate? Not I, for I am a victim of this doomed vessel also. The writer of the Psalms speaks words of encouragement assuring us of God's stance toward us. He desires to rescue, and eternally bless us.

"He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147 : 3)

He indeed offers healing and hope. Regardless of the presence of any temporal healing, he offers and assures that He has procured the healing salve of His grace and mercy for our eternal healing and life. His word of forgiveness speaks life and salvation.

O Holy One visit and heal us for Thy Name's sake. Amen.

Blessings+
Father Daniel

Feast of Epiphany

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, and it introduces the new season of the Church year which usually lasts several weeks. Its length is affected by when Easter occurs; thus some years Epiphany Season is longer or shorter by a few weeks. During this season we consider the various ways that Christ Jesus manifested or made known that he was indeed God incarnate. Interestingly enough the word "Epiphanios" appears in the Greek (original language of the) New Testament. Today it is translated as “manifest” in modern translations of the Scriptures. (Throughout Epiphany Season maybe we will consider some of these texts.)

The Feast of Epiphany in centuries past was celebrated with as much enthusiasm as we now customarily celebrate Christmas. The Feast of Epiphany marks the arrival of the wise men that traveled from afar to find the child of most noble birth of which the Star in the Sky had signified. When the wise men entered and saw the child Jesus enthroned upon the lap of his Blessed and ever Virgin Mother, they fell to their knees in adoration. That these gentile men who were drawn to the Christ child and worshiped him, indicates that God’s love and promise of salvation is not only for the Jews, but also for the gentiles. As these men beheld and adored the Incarnate God, let us likewise bow our knee with the historic Church as she confesses her faith and glorifies God saying, I believe in Christ Jesus “… being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man…”[1]

Epiphany Blessings+
Father Daniel

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[1]Nicene Creed, Article II. Lutheran Church. Missouri Synod: Concordia Triglotta - English : The Symbolic Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. electronic ed. Milwaukee WI : Northwestern Publishing House, 1997, S. 31

Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus

Today, the eighth day of Christmas, regarded secularly as New Year’s Day, is ecclesiastically the Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. The remembrance of this day calls to mind that on the eighth day following his birth, Jesus was given his name, and the ritual cutting demanded by the ancient ceremonial law was performed upon his young tender skin. He who gave the Divine Law through Moses subjected himself to the same Law on our account. The sinless and completely innocent Son of God born of the blessed and ever Virgin Mary* was consecrated according to the custom of man so that he might fulfill all righteousness and bear our sin upon himself ransoming us from everlasting destruction. He who was named Jesus, which means savior, fulfilled the promise of God and has rescued us, bringing to us forgiveness, life and salvation. Oh what merry news this is indeed!

Blessings+
Father Daniel


*On account of this personal union and communion of the natures, Mary, the most blessed Virgin, bore not a mere man, but, as the angel [Gabriel] testifies, such a man as is truly the Son of the most high God, who showed His divine majesty even in His mother’s womb, inasmuch as He was born of a virgin, with her virginity inviolate. Therefore she is truly the mother of God, and nevertheless remained a virgin.[1]

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[1]Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VIII paragraph 24.
Lutheran Church. Missouri Synod: Concordia Triglotta - English : The Symbolic Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. electronic ed. Milwaukee WI : Northwestern Publishing House, 1997, S. 1023