Temporary December 2002

Sadly, we are still not back to full form as we are still recovering from the persecution mentioned in a previous Temporary COCM. It has ended but the related stress has had its desired effect. It is still amazing how much we are hated. They hated Jesus first.

We hope to open a store page which will advertise some items. Orders and payments will have to be handled by mail.

Malachi 3:1-6
Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold, he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb: And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years. And I will come to you in judgment, and will be a speedy witness against sorcerers, and adulterers, and false swearers, and them that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widows, and the fatherless: and oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, saith the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, and I change not: and you the sons of Jacob are not consumed.

James 5:7-12,19,20
Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and latter rain. Be you therefore also patient and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, for example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we account them blessed who have endured. You have heard of the patience of Job and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be: Yea, Yea: No, No: that you fall not under judgment. My brethren, if any of you err from the truth and one convert him: He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins.

John 1:35-51
The next day again John stood and two of his disciples. And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God. And the two disciples heard him speak: and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turning and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him: Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou? He saith to them: Come and see. They came and saw where he abode: and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour. And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard of John and followed him. He findeth first his brother Simon and saith to him: We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona. Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter. On the following day, he would go forth into Galilee: and he findeth Philip, And Jesus saith to him: follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses, in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth. And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered him and said: Rabbi: Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see. And he saith to him: Amen, amen, I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

During the Fast before Holy Week and the Feast of the Resurrection, we contemplate God's mercy. During the Advent Fast (Moses’ Fast), we contemplate Christ's coming in Humility at His Incarnation and His coming in Judgment. The theme of Advent is that of preparation: preparing a place in one's heart for Christ: making the way straight so that you may receive Him.

On the First Sunday of Advent the God tells us many things in the Holy Scriptures. Every time I read them, another aspect of the combination of the three readings is made clearer. One statement that struck me in particular this year is from Malachias: "I will come to you in judgment, and will be a speedy witness against sorcerers, and adulterers, and false swearers, and them that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widows, and the fatherless: and oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, saith the Lord of hosts." [Mal 3:5] Why are all of those grouped together? It is because such people have turned from God and are become servants of the devil.

Since the founding of the Church, there have been attempts to guide God's people toward a more "tolerant" view of ungodly thought and behavior. Many churches have wandered from Christian truth because they desire to avoid offending trustees and other patrons. So God's message is moderated. As a result one finds such oddities as an article in the magazine of a major Orthodox jurisdiction reinterpreting the Beatitudes as saying: "blessed are the rich". They might as well have had a cover that month which depicted a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

God says, "... I am the Lord, and I change not: and you the sons of Jacob are not consumed." [Mal. 3:6]. God does not change and His true followers do not succumb to falsehood. The Church does not change its views to accept falsehood or tolerate evil. Yet some have wandered and this is a major concern to God. It is considered so important to Him that we are told that "if any of you err from the truth and one convert him: He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins." [James 5:19:20] Correction of error is so important to God that such work is considered deserving of forgiveness for many sins. Cyprian of Antioch, a former sorcerer is numbered among the Saints because he championed the Gospel even unto Holy Martyrdom. Conversely those who allow the people of God to wander from the Truth, such as some bishops, are counted in the prophecy of Malachias with the sorcerers and others servants of the devil for they are false-swearers. They need guidance, but fear to let their followers know more than the rudiments of the Christian Faith least their errors be challenged.

What is the core of the Truth that we are to preach? It is stated in today’s Gospel: Saint John the Baptist proclaims Jesus is the Savior and Nathanael states that Jesus is the Son of God. Not "a" Son of God. Not "a resemblance to God." Not "an especially evolved being." Not "God putting on the semblance of humanity." Jesus is THE SON OF GOD!!! God begotten by God: by nature God. Human born of the Virgin Mary: by nature human.

This is God’s Mercy: that all Who believe in Jesus Christ recognize that He is Truly God the Son. They accept all of His Teachings which "if they were written every one, the world itself … would not be able to contain the books that should be written." [John 21:25]. By this they will be saved.

May attentiveness to this Fast and its lessons become a Blessing to you and guide you. Prepare and receive the Eucharist every Sunday. Follow the Teachings of the Church and reject error so that in true unity of Faith all of us may one day say:

+Maelruain, Cele De

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