3rd Sunday after Easter – 14th 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. )

3^rd  Sunday after Easter  –  14^th April 2013 (Colour of Celebration – White)

Traditional Catholics:

Let us shout with joy to God; let us sing a psalm to His Name, because out Lord Jesus Christ is risen again and has given His life for us.

Liberal Catholics:

 O Lord Christ, as though didst at this season rise from death into the wondrous power of an endless life, so may we by thy most gracious help rise from the darkness of sin into the ineffable splendour of conscious life in thee, O Light of light, who livest and reignest for evermore.  Amen.

Roman Catholics: (Fourteenth Sunday of the Year)

Within your temple, we ponder your loving kindness, O God.  As your name, so also your praise reaches to the ends of he earth; your right hand is filled with justice.

Father,

through the obedience of Jesus,

your servant and your Son,

you raised a fallen world.

Free us from sin

and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.

Commemoration of the Saints, for the coming week

April 14^th:  St. Justin (Martyr)

·         St Justin was converted from pagan philosophy to Christianity.  He became the most illustrious opponent of pagan philosophers.  He addressed to Apologies to the persecuring emperors.  He died A.D. 165.

April 17^th:  Commemoration of St. Anicetus (Pope, martyr)

·         This Pope governed the Church under Marcus Aurelius from 155 to 166.  He suffered so much for the faith that, although he did not shed his blood he was given the title of martyr.

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:

Colossians, chapter 2 & 3, verses 6 onwards

Luke, chapter 24, verses 36 onwards

Isaiah, chapter 66, verses 10-14

Galatians, chapter 6, verses 14-18

Luke, chapter 10, verses 1-20

Peter, chapter 2, verses 11-19

John, Chapter 16, verses 16-22

Homily:

Today we see a similar story to the one of last week.  Jesus stands in the midst of the Disciples.  This week we are looking with a slightly different perspective.

Jesus the Christ explains in detail how all the things that were written about him, right from the Books of Moses, all the way to the books of the prophets, and to the psalms.  All these things had to be realized.  As he spoke to them, their understanding was opened, and they understood what he was teaching them.  Keep in mind that these people, the disciples were not novices on the subject, they had gone through the boot camp, to get where they were now.  They just needed to be reminded of the significance of the recent events, that had left them confused and unsure.

Jesus went on to explain that in the same way as all these things were written, he had to do the practical side.  He had to suffer and die, and rise from the dead on the third day.  These things he had done to fulfil the prophesies.  But the disciples needed to understand that this was just the first step.

The next step was also a practical step, but it was now their turn to do something.  They had to go throughout all the world, to all the nations of the earth, and preach the good news of repentance, and the remission of sins.  They were to begin at Jerusalem, which was probably not the easiest place for them, given the circumstances.

Some years later we meet with far more mature disciples, who have been doing what was required of them.  In the process they have come to deeper understandings of things, from which everybody can benefit.

We see how Jesus is described as having the fullness of the Godhead within himself.  The Godhead is the Trinity of course, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  They are able to see Jesus as possessing all aspects of the Trinity.  This is true in the sense, that if you know the Son, you know the Father, if you know the Son, you know the Holy Ghost.

If you know the Son, you are complete in Him, who is representative of the almighty God, who is in fact the Almighty God.  We are Sons and Daughters of the Father, Brothers and Sisters of Jesus the Christ.  So in him we are elevated to tremendous heights in a spiritual level.  In physical reality we are still who we are, and we still need to go about the daily duties and chores for surviving on earth.

The teachings go on to describe just how enmeshed one has become with the Godhead or the Trinity, the Almighty God.  We are buried with him in baptism, and Risen with him through Faith.  So on a spiritual level we are right up there at the highest possible level.  But there is a catch to it, we are still stuck on this earthly plain; and we are still proving our worth in this earthly existence.  So we can’t afford to say, that we have practically become spiritual beings, and forsake all thought of earning a living to support yourself or your family.  We in fact need to perhaps focus even more seriously on these physical aspects, because they are the aspects that are going to trip us up on the spiritual level.

So the right approach to receiving these insights on just how high we have progressed or potentially progressed spiritually, is to focus more on the physical in order to achieve a healthy balance.  Set up a budget, and try to work according to it and stick to it as far as is possible.  Make sure that you do your expected amount of work for your employers, so that you do not diminish your heavenly spiritual levels, by these mundane physical concerns.

You will have to do much more than that in fact.  You will have to go the extra mile.  You will have to spend time and effort, and your creativity, in finding and executing carefully thought out plans to improve your physical and financial situation here on earth, and hopefully to benefit some of your fellow men in the process.  Remember the physical and the spiritual are a reflexion of each other; so the better you do down here on earth, the better you will do on the spiritual level in heaven.  Dedicate all you do to God, not in the sense of donating all your money to God, but in the sense of donating your effort as a child of God to improving the lot of yourself and others on this earth that god has made for us.

For every job well done, for every act of charity to a fellow being, for every prayer to God, for every good thing you do on earth.  For every bit of progress you make towards developing your own talents, your own financial well-being; you are improving your spiritual treasures in heaven. 

Don’t be confused by people who accumulate wealth in the wrong way by disadvantaging other people along the way; they have severely decreased there treasures in heaven.  You should be doing it in the right way.  Of course you can’t take it with you to heaven, but you can take the lessons with you, you can take the achievements with you on a spiritual level.  You can tell God, that you had two talents, and through hard work you increased them many fold, you uplifted many people around you.  Then you will be given residence in a mansion in heaven that is appropriate for the effort and goodwill that you produced while on earth.  Of course you don’t have to do anything to get into heaven, besides being justified by faith, but then you will just get into heaven , and that is all.

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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