2nd Sunday after Easter – 7th April 2013

Dear Readers,

My name is Fr. Franz Devantier of Saint Titus, Independent Old Catholic Church (IOCC) of Africa, operating in South Africa, and also creator of this blog.  My background was that of a liberal Catholic Priest, and a Traditional Catholic Priest in South Africa, and then an independent Priest in the Catholic tradition.  I was incardinated into the IOCC by Archbishop-Primate Emeritus Maurice McCormick founder of the IOCC of America.  

IOCC of America

Primate Archbishop George Le Mesurier,  IOCC of America
Primate Emeritus Archbishop Maurice McCormick, IOCC of America
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IOCC of Africa

Bishop George Otieno Odhiambo, IOCC of Africa

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Saint Titus IOCC South Africa

Saint Titus IOCC Newsletter

Father. Franz Devantier, IOCC South Africa

In nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spititus Sancti.  Amen   (In the name of the father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen. )

2^nd Sunday after Easter  –  7^th April 2013 (Colour of Celebration – White)

Intent: Solemnity

Traditional Catholics:

This Sunday is often called Good Shepherd Sunday:  the Gospel tells us of the Good Shepherd.  Jesus is indeed the Good Shepherd of our souls.  He came to give his life for us.

Liberal Catholics:

 O Lord Christ, the sun of righteousness, who as at holy Eastertide didst rise from the darkness of death to shine with exceeding glory upon thy people, grant unto thy church so to prepare and make ready thy way that the earth may be filled with thy glory even as the waters cover the sea:  thou who livest and reignest ever in the unity of the Father and of the Holy Spirit, God throughout all ages of ages.  Amen.

Roman Catholics: (Thirteenth Sunday of the Year)

All nations, clap your hands.  Shout with a voice of joy to God.

Father,

you call your children

to walk in the light of Christ.

Free us from darkness

and keep us in the radiance of your truth.

Commemoration of the Saints

April 11^th:  St. Leo I (Pope, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church)

·         St Leo the Great saved Rome from the invasion of Attila.  He defended the rights of the Holy See, condemned Nestorianism at the Council of Ephesus, and the Monophysites at the Council of Chalcedon.  He died A.D. 461

o   Nestorianism:  Is a doctrine advanced by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople from 428-431.  The doctrine emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus.

o   Monophysites: In Greek monos means “only single” and physis means nature.  It is the position taken that, after the union of the divine and the human in the historical incarnation, Jesus Christ, as the incarnation of the eternal Son of God, had only a single “nature” which was either divine or a synthesis of divine and human.

April 13^th: St. Hermenegild (Martyr)

·         Son of the King of the Visigoths in Spain, he was put to death by the Arians out of hatred for his faith in the consubstantiality of the Word of God with the Eternal Father.  A.D. 586.

Announcements:

·         We are still collecting names for submission as Marriage officers, under Saint Titus.  If you would like to become a marriage officer under Saint Titus, then please contact Fr. Franz  devantierf@gmail.com

News:

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Sacred References:

John, chapter 5 verses 4 onwards

John, chapter 20 verses 19 onwards

Kings, chapter 19, verses 16-21

Galatians, chapter 5, verses 1-18

Luke, chapter 9, verses 51-62

Peter, chapter 2, verses 21-25

John, chapter 10, verses 11-16

Homily:

On this second Sunday of Easter our attention is focussed quite strongly on Jesus the Christ, and the possibilities of the afterlife that were revealed to the disciples around this time.

There are three parts to God, the Holy Trinity, and each part of God is keeping watch over us and keeping records of what we are doing.  Records kept in triplicate, but not exact copies, but accounts from three different perspectives.  How do you think God the Father would record our doings here on this earth plain.  Jesus the Christ who walked this earth and experienced our human weaknesses.  Do you think his account of us would be different to the account recorded from the Father?  Then there is the record keeping done by the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost.  This account is taken from the perspective of the female perspective, the mother perspective, the comforting perspective.  Do you think that these records would be a little different to the other two.  Imagine how interesting it will be to combine all three accounts together, to create a comprehensive account, from three different perspectives.  I would imagine that this would be the complete perspective, the comprehensive perspective of what we are doing down here on earth.  Maybe if we could read, just a little part of this special record, we would be able to understand ourselves so much better.

Then we get to the concept that God has given us eternal life.  Because the son of God came down to earth to save us, we can accept the concept that; he that has the son hath found eternal life.  He that has not the son hath not eternal life.  Let’s imagine that it is really on a bit broader basis.  Let’s say that if you recognise the teachings that were given by the Son of God as the truth, then you can have life or eternal life.  Let’s define it a little bit further;   Let’s say that if you discover this truth and follow this truth that you will have found life or eternal life.  Lets just broaden it all the way out and say:  If you are in any of the Christian churches, then this is for you.  Now that definition would include all the protestant churches, the Catholic church, the Orthodox churches, in fact all of Christendom.  If you believe in the message of truth you can be saved and enjoy eternal life.  Of course in your spiritual body.  We would not imagine living forever in an imperfect and decaying physical body.

So this means that wherever you are in the world, and lets make it even broader.  Where-ever you are in the world, whoever you are, and whatever you may or may not believe; and you hear the message of Jesus the Christ.  The message that you can be saved, and you follow this truth, regardless of who you are, or what religious organization you currently belong to, you can be saved.  You can have eternal life, you can live forever in your spiritual body.  This is truly a message for everybody on earth, and not just for Christians.      

We find the disciples assembled together behind closed doors, afraid to go outside, because of what might happen to them, because of the proceedings of the last period, ie Passover, the crucifixion, the resurrection from the dead.  People were confused, people were upset, we can understand that.

Imagine this, suddenly Jesus is right in the middle of this group as they hide away from the world around them.  Peace be unto you he says, and shows them his hands, and his side, where the sword pierced him.

Now remember all the teaching had already been delivered to this group of disciples, what they were receiving now was like a master class. Jesus says to them “As my father sent me, even so send I you”.  So Jesus the Christ was the son of God, and the Father sent him to earth to save us.  The disciples of, and/or by implication we, are the brothers and Sisters of the Christ, or the sons and daughters of the Father.  Jesus says “even so send I you”.

Wow, what does this mean.  Where is Jesus sending us.  Well Jesus came to spread the message of truth to all the world.  Jesus is sending us to continue this work, and spread the message of truth to all the world.  Strangely almost everyone you meet will have heard about Jesus Christ at least once in their lives.  They may claim not to believe at all, but if something goes wrong then they will use his name.

Many years ago I was in a light aeroplane, a Dakota with about fifteen people who had all unsolicited claimed to be atheists, agnostics, non-believers or members of all sorts of exotic belief systems.  I had not said much, but found the whole thing quite interesting.  About two hours into our trip the weather picked up, and we hit an air-pocket and dropped out of the sky like a stone.  Altogether we fell at least four thousand feet, and seemed to get pretty close to the ground, before the wings were able to provide any lift again.  I looked around me and witnessed a group of men suspended half way between their seats and the roof of the aeroplane, almost as if they had overcome gravity.  All of them down to the last man was praying desperately to Jesus, at the top of their voices.  “O Jesus please save us”.  I could have been in a very on-fire Pentecostal prayer-meeting, instead of a group of self confessed atheists, and agnostics, potentially falling to our deaths in a Dakota.  When we did not crash, I could see all of them giving thanks to God.  I had been so fascinated that I had forgot to become afraid with the situation.  When we finally landed the plane, the Pilate came to talk to us, he was a seasoned man in his forties who still looked green in the face from the flight; he told us that he really did not think that we were going to make it that day.

So at the end of the day, just about everybody seems to have heard about Jesus Christ.  The great commission is to take the message of truth to all the world, the message of Jesus Christ.  You will find that the Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and many other religions acknowledge Jesus Christ in some sort of way.  It is like everybody seems to know about Jesus Christ, but somehow have not accepted the truth, and found eternal life.

Now I am going to leave you with this one:  How should we go about doing it, given the circumstances?  Is there something else that we should be doing, instead of asking, “Have you heard about Jesus Christ”?  Are you saved?  Are you going to heaven or to hell, when you die?  In the meantime, the people that we are talking to have heard about Jesus Christ many times in their lives before, and chosen not to follow the truth that was presented to them.  Our approach does not seem to make much difference to them. 

What is it that we all seem to have missed?  I am purposely not going to attempt an answer, firstly because I don’t have a definitive answer, and secondly, because I would like you to give it a go.  Why not send me an email with your solution, if you find one?

Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name:  Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation.  But deliver us from evil.

[Protestants can optionally add:  For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.]

Amen.

Benediction:

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son, Christ our Lord; and the Blessing of God almighty, the Father, + the Son and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Love,

Rev. Fr. Franz Devantier of Saint Titus, IOCC, South Africa,

devantierf@gmail.com

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