http://www.incarnationquakertown.org/

The Church of the Incarnation, 44 S 8th Street, Quakertown, PA (2026)

06/06/2026

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

"BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD."
+ I SAINT JOHN 4:7

The Lord's commandments direct us to become "imitators God, as beloved children, walking in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us." (Ephesians 5:1) The Summary of the Law is love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. Love is confused with feelings. Martin Luther cautions, "Feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving." Whereas the Apostle Paul says love abides forever.

The Sacraments require proper intention. The intention of Holy Matrimony is a life-long union unto death, showing forth the mystical union betwixt Christ and His Church. Love is a choice that is promised. Impediments nullify proper intention of the Sacramental union.

Rebekah agreed to become the husband of Isaac with marriage at first sight. As she approached Isaac at the end of her long journey, she covered her face with a veil. She got off her camel, and they went into Sarah's tent and consummated their union. Their marriage worked because their intention was to do God's will for them.

Our capacity to love is because God first loved us. Love is one of His communicable attributes with which He endows man whom He has made in His image. He loved us while we were yet sinners. A successful marriage requires both partners to be constantly striving towards the goal, setting the Lord first in their lives. This requires forgiveness when the other stumbles, for love covers a multitude of sins. Love fails because of the hardness of our hearts, making us unwilling to forgive. Love bears all things.

The Lord instructed the Prophet Hosea to marry Gomer, a woman known for unfaithfulness. Numerous times he sought her out to fetch her home when she strayed. They set forth God's unconditional love for us and the Prophet's redemption of his wife. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. "I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew / He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me; / it was not I that found, O Savior true; / no, I was found of Thee."

God is without body, parts or passion. His love is not a feeling, an emotion, that comes and goes. It is an action that remains unchanging. It is His sovereign choice to always act for our ultimate good. The Holy Trinity is perfect within Himself, needing nothing outside the three Persons of the Godhead for completeness. He does not need the world or us, but has created all things out of His love. He made us to have a relationship with Him as partakers of the divine nature. He transforms those whom He has redeemed in Christ by the Holy Spirit to share His moral and spiritual characteristics, escaping the corruption of the world.

We are sinners who get it wrong. We overlook our imperfection demanding impossible perfection from others. Those who love for their own benefit, end relationships that do not fulfill their need. They are ever seeking someone to complete them. The end of love is seeking the very best for another, most especially their salvation.

Some men are quick to claim a wife's duty of obedience without the corresponding requirement that he love her as Christ loves His Bride, the Church. A man willing to be crucified for his bride, will never have to demand her faithfulness. It is a blessing that goes round and round without ending. The most important thing is both partners possess a common faith in Christ to complete the trinitarian aspect of Holy Matrimony.

The English language has a single word to describe every form of affection. The Greek is precise in distinguishing between different types of love with eight principle words. We are familiar with agape which is unconditional, sacrificial love. It is the love God has for us. Philia (Philadelphia) is deep, affectionate and authentic friendship - brotherly love. Eros is passionate, romantic, and sexual love. Storge is family love (like that between a parent and a child). There are other words to describe self-love and even hospitality. We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, which sets a high bar.

The English word love covers the waterfront of relationships. Charity expresses agape or God's perfect love. Charity is giving something of ourselves to benefit another with no expectation of receiving anything in return. It makes us vulnerable. This describes God's relationship with us. What we give to Him is only a portion of what we have first received from His gracious hand.

When agape is connected with eros in marriage, it creates an unbreakable bond, like Christ and His Church. Nothing can separate us from His love. The intention of Holy Matrimony is for a man and woman to express the love of Christ for His Church. Absent this love, the relationship will certainly fail. Even when we are unlovable, Jesus loves us.

Following His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter if He loves Him. The English does not do justice to their interplay. The Lord asked if Peter had agape for Him. Peter responded Jesus knew he was fond of Him. Peter was not ready to confess the level of love Jesus desired of him. Jesus then asked if Peter was more fond of Him than his fellow Apostles. On the third time of asking, Jesus used the word fond, to which Peter could readily answer affirmatively. Jesus then predicted Peter would grow to unconditional love - agape - for Christ, being crucified rather than denying the Lord.

Jesus meets us where we are to begin our relationship with Him. He forgives our misusings of His grace, our prayer so languid, and our faith so dim, and gently nudges the growth of our faith and love for Him to reach the level of His love for us - agape. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life! Luther wrote:
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever!

"BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD."

Hymns: 273 155 208 568

Please join our Lord's Day Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. from your computer, tablet or smartphone on Zoom with the following link.
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05/30/2026

THE FESTIVAL OF THE HOLY AND BLESSED TRINITY

Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Churches around the world begins with these words.

This Sunday we celebrate the theological truth the Lord our God is One, existing in the Three Persons of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. This truth is revealed in the Creation account. We see it again with the three visitors to Abraham. The Prophet Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up in the Temple, to whom the angels sang Holy, Holy, Holy in honor of the Three Persons.

The Western Liturgy traditionally closes with the Last Gospel, the first fourteen verses of the Gospel according to St. John. This passage not only sets forth the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ, but also the Holy Trinity itself. "In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God (the Father), and the Word (the Son) was God. The same was in the beginning with God (the Holy Ghost)."

These truths set Christianity apart from the world's religions, and is the reason for the persecution of Christians as infidels. There is only one way to heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Last Gospel is proclaimed at the (liturgical) North-end of the Altar to the heathen in the land of darkness, that those who walk in darkness might see the light of Christ unto redemption.

Jesus said His Kingdom is NOW, not from hence. We are strangers and pilgrims in this life for our citizenship is rightly in heaven.

Our preacher is Father-Deacon Loren.

Hymns: 266 270 269 285

Please join our Lord's Day Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. from your computer, tablet or smartphone on Zoom with the following link.
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05/23/2026

THE FESTIVAL OF PENTECOST

"WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE."
+ ACTS 2:1

The Lord confused the common language of the people into several tongues at the Tower of Babel to restrain sin. (Genesis 11) They attempted to build a city and a tower in Shinar (Iraq) which would reach to the heavens to make a name for themselves. Man's sinful inclination is to become as God. "The Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." (Vs 6)

The confusion of language and scattering the people is a deterrent to sin and populated the earth. Man's rebellion against God would be far worse, had He not intervened. "Nothing will be restrained from them."

In the battle against spiritual wickedness in high places, the Church is challenged to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints in the midst of the heresy of men. The Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. None has an exclusive claim, but those who are "led into the way of truth, to hold the faith in unity of Spirit and the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life," express the fulness of the Ancient Faith in modern times.

Jesus came in the fulness of time. It was the most opportune time in world history according to the purpose of God. While Israel chafed under Roman oppression, the world was at peace; the empire had a common language, and a system of roads that permitted travel into the remote parts. Everything was advantageous for the rapid spread of the Gospel for salvation.

After rising from the dead, the Lord showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs over a span of forty days. He then ascended into heaven in the sight of His Apostles, leaving them with the commission to take the Gospel into all the world. They were to tarry in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Ghost who'd empower them to preach the Gospel first in Jerusalem, then Judea, on to Samaria and into all the world. The Jews were to be first to hear the Gospel, then the Gentiles would be grafted into the religion of Abraham for salvation. We are Israel, the children of Abraham, by faith in Christ.

When the day of Pentecost had fully come, there were devout Jews dwelling in Jerusalem "Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians." They had come to keep the Feast, as the Law appointed. Every man was to worship in the Temple at Passover, Pentecost (fifty days later) and Tabernacles. (Deuteronomy 16:16). According to Josephus, as many as 3 million Jews would come up to Jerusalem from around the known world for Passover, and many would stay on for Pentecost.

The Apostles were gathered in one accord in one place. The Church had unity! St. Luke (24:53) records the disciples were “continually in the Temple, praising and blessing God.” They were in the Temple for Pentecost in obedience at the hour of prayer. Suddenly there came upon them a "sound from heaven as of a rushing might wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Jesus instructed Nicodemus he must be born again of water and of the Spirit. He said (St. John 3:8), "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." His presence in the hearts and lives of men is manifested by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. He works efficaciously through the Word and the Seven Sacraments for our spiritual growth.

The Holy Spirit came as a rushing mighty wind upon the Apostles, and the people saw the effects of the cloven tongues of fire that sat upon them. The Bishop's miter visualizes this as one who stands in our midst in succession to the Apostles. St. Ignatius of Antioch said, "Where the Bishop is, there is the Church."

The Holy Spirit enabled the Apostles to speak the wonderful things of God in the native tongue of those kept the Feast. The Apostles were Galileans who spake a distinct Western dialect of Aaramaic. That is how others knew they were from Galilee. They were likely multilingual, speaking Greek for trade and hearing Hebrew in the Temple and Synagogue. Perhaps some had a smattering of Latin. However, the Holy Spirit gave them utterance in the several languages of the assembly.

It was necessary that Jesus ascend into heaven to pour out the gift of the Holy Spirit upon His Church. The Holy Spirit is God, and therefore eternal. However He manifested Himself on the Day of Pentecost to abide forever with the Church, to lead it into the truth of Christ. He takes the salvific work of Christ and applies it
to us by faith. He is the Lord and giver of life. Those who were present to celebrate the giving of the Law, had the Law written in their hearts as the Prophet Jeremiah foretold.

The Lord, through the Apostle Peter, explains this day is the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Joel (2:27f). "Ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God...and I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh." God's sovereign grace makes us His people through faith in the Person and Work of His Son, in whom He has redeemed us unto Himself, and who has poured out the Holy Spirit upon His Church according to the Scriptures "WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST HAD FULLY COME."

Hymns: 110 109 218 111 385

Please join our Lord's Day Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. from your computer, tablet or smartphone on Zoom with the following link.
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05/17/2026

One more.

05/17/2026

Scenes from our Roadside Chapel. DM us if you'd like us to set up at your event!

05/17/2026

Why aren't you in church today?

05/16/2026

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION

Ascensiontide began Thursday last, the Feast of the Ascension, and will continue until next Saturday to the Eve of Pentecost. The Sunday in Ascensiontide is the Solemnity of the Feast.

The Lord's glorious Ascension into heaven is the consummation of His Incarnation. God sent His Son to take our flesh upon Himself to be obedient unto the death of the cross for our redemption. Jesus has ascended upon high to prepare a place for us. His Ascension is His pledge that at the last day He will come again to receive us unto Himself, that where He is, we shall dwell with Him forever. The Lord is glorious in His saints.

Jesus rose from the Mount of Olives, which is outside the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem, also known as the Golden Gate. It was sealed shut in 1541 by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Historical and religious traditions suggest Suleiman did this as a defensive measure to prevent the Jewish Messiah—who is prophesied to enter the city through the East Gate—from gaining access to Jerusalem.

Jesus shall come as we have seen Him ascend, bringing His saints with Him. He will come to the Mount of Olives and the Eastern Gate will be opened unto Him to enter the Holy City. May God grant us grace to be ever looking for the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Preacher this Lord's Day will be Fr Deacon Loren M Byelich.

Hymns: 104-2 103 210 105

Please join our Lord's Day Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. from your computer, tablet or smartphone on Zoom with the following link.
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05/09/2026

THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER commonly called Rogation Sunday

JESUS SAID, "WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE WILL GIVE IT YOU." + SAINT JOHN 16:23

The four days before the Ascension of our Lord comprise Rogationtide. The name is from the Latin ro-ga-ti-o, meaning "to ask." We pray the Lord's blessing upon the Spring planting for a bountiful Fall harvest. We begin a task with a pure intention, and continue it with the Lord's blessing. The redeeming acts of God are intertwined with the agricultural life, as the Lord provides for both our spiritual and physical life. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Prayer is both personal and corporate. We offer personal prayer in the midst of liturgical worship. Scripture says we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Salvation is personal, but lived out in the Family of God. The Book of Common Prayer sets forth corporate worship that is common to the participants. The Lutheran's Common Service Book acknowledged their indebtedness to the first Anglican Prayer Book of 1549. The Orthodox Divine Liturgy is the work of the people of God.

Liturgical worship saves us from the whims of the priest, setting forth a common Service from antiquity which has been proven, and to which all can consent with Amen without mental reservation. Jesus worshiped liturgically in the Temple, the Synagogue, and home. He taught, "When ye pray, say, Our Father..." Repetition is good, only what is vain is contrary to God's perfect will.

We struggle in prayer with God as He brings us into conformity with His divine will. We hear His promises, but are "slow in heart to believe," due to emotions, circumstances or doubt. The Lord knows the consequences of our desires, withholding what is detrimental to our spiritual well-being. The Judge of all the earth does right, giving us good and perfect gifts, and saving us from ourselves.

Jesus gives insight into effectual prayer. What we ask of the Father in His Name, He will give to glorify His Son. Prayer in Jesus' Name is more than tacking on "in Jesus' Name we pray." Praying in His Name aligns us with His character and will for us. His sacrifice makes our prayers meritorious. We will receive what is in accordance with God's will. Prayers for others are generally answered because they conform to God's will; while prayers for oneself may not always be holy desires. When the Lord answers no or not now, it is for us to grow in faith by His grace.

Jesus teaches us to pray, "Not my will, but thine be done." He knew the end from the beginning, but asked that the Cup might pass from Him. For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the Cross, else we would be dead in our sins. His atonement for our sins is the incomprehensible love of God giving His Son to die in our stead. We follow His human example of obedience, striving to be perfect.

God is without body, parts or passion. He is not governed by feelings as we are. Love for God and others is a continuous act of the will, even as God choose to love us by giving His Son to be the propitiation for our sins, that we might come to Him who is holy. His love does not change with emotion, else we would be consumed in His wrath. His promises are true, their fulfillment is His prerogative.

The Lord's forgiveness of our many provocations is contingent upon our forgiving others. We take upon ourselves the burden of their offences against us. We choose not to hold it to their account, even as God remembers our sins against us no more. We must deal with the present crises in our relationships, by never letting the sun go down upon our wrath. God's property is to have mercy and forgive. In order to have happy endings and new beginnings, we must be quick to forgive and forget, never again to bright up the past. This is a matter of the will.

We can ask amiss. The Lord delights in granting petitions for the right thing. "The prayer of a righteous man availeth much," for the Lord promises to supply the needs of those who seek first the His Kingdom and righteousness. There is a principle in the law that one must come to court with clean hands. The court will never adjudicate fraudulent activity. You cannot claim the love of God with no corresponding acts of obedience. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments," as the evidence of faith in Him.

There is a difference between failing while striving to do the right thing, and willful disobedience. C.S. Lewis famously wrote in "The Great Divorce" (1943) that there are ultimately two types of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." Heaven is the culmination of choosing God’s will, while Hell is the result of choosing one’s own will. It is the abode of the children of disobedience, for God is of purer eyes than to look upon iniquity. (Habakkuk 1:13)

"He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is desiring what God desires. According to both Sts. James (1:6-8) and Mark (11:24), effectual prayer requires faith that trusts God to be doing better things than we can either desire or pray for. His gifts are good and perfect, creating a clean heart within us that transforms our desires to His perfect will.

The Temple Liturgy set forth Christ. The Altar of Sacrifice and the Altar of Incense teach prayer requires sacrifice. Jesus is our sacrifice as both Priest and Victim, who makes our prayers in His Name effectual. The Lord graciously never gives us everything we want, but will give us what we need - both for this life and the life of the world to come. We have this blessed assurance for -

JESUS SAID, "WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE WILL GIVE IT YOU."

Hymns: 101 138 276 497

Please join our Lord's Day Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. from your computer, tablet or smartphone on Zoom with the following link.
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05/02/2026

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

JESUS SAID, "WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH."
+ SAINT JOHN 16:13

Heeding the words of Jesus save us from error in religion. Many things attributed to the Holy Spirit, are actually deceptions by the spirit of the age. As the Church proceeds liturgically through Eastertide, it prepares us for the approaching Festival of Pentecost, fifty days later. The Old Testament Pentecost marked the giving of the Law; the New Testament commemorates the coming of the Holy Ghost, who writes the Law of God in our hearts, as the Prophet Jeremiah (31:33) foretold. Ideally, we need none to teach us; in reality, we must abide with the Church, the body of Christ.

Jesus announced He was going His way to the Father who sent Him, and the disciples did not ask where He was going. When He spoke earlier of His impending crucifixion, the disciples discussed who would become the greatest among them in His absence.

During their three years with the Lord in His earthly ministry, He met their needs, oft times through the ministry of the women who followed Him. He said with confidence to His Father, He lost none whom He'd given Him, except the son of perdition. Their time with Jesus was one of learning and preparation for the work of taking the Gospel into all the world after the Holy Spirit came upon them.

While they appear oblivious to what He was telling them, our Lord took note that "sorrow hath filled their hearts." People come and go in our lives, and their departure brings sorrow. We weep for those who die in the Lord, but not without hope. We join with those who rest from their labor in the Liturgy. The worship on earth must conform with that in heaven, as Moses was given instruction.

Jesus explains that while the disciples had sorrow because He was going away, His departure is expedient for them. It was necessary for Jesus to be glorified in heaven, that the Holy Comforter might come to strengthen us in the face of adversity. The resurrected Lord is always with us, free from the constraints of being in one place at a time.

The Holy Spirit is the Lord and giver of life. He is ever present in our spiritual life, to declare the things of Christ. He takes the salvation which Jesus wrought in His Person and Work, and applies it to us by faith for our righteousness. He convicts us of sin and judgement, showing our need for a Savior to enter the Presence of the Holy God to give an account for the deeds done in the flesh.

Salvation is a family affair, as reflected in the petition to "regard not our sins, but the faith of thy Church." In the Post-Reformation, salvation became individual, resulting in "so many men, so many opinions." It is through the tradition of the Church that we cling to Catholicism. Only the faith of the Church matters, never private opinion, as the Apostle Peter states concerning Holy Scripture.

There are promises Jesus makes to believers through the ages; and there are promises specific to His Apostles. He promised the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth. He never speaks of Himself, but declares the things of Christ to His Apostles, bringing to their remembrance what they heard of Christ during His earthly ministry. Take notice, there is no truth beyond Christ! The Second Person of the Holy Trinity cannot change. The Holy Spirit can only declare the truth spoken by Christ, for He is the full and complete revelation of God to man. This is the safeguard against error in religion.

The Holy Spirit will never lead the Church contrary to what the Apostles established. New liturgies, new theologies, and new moralities are the work of the spirit of the age. The ministry is established by the Apostles, and is bound in heaven, as St. Paul sets forth in Scripture. St. Vincent of Lerins says, "All novelty in faith is a sure sign of heresy." If Christ has not spoken it, the Holy Spirit cannot reveal it. There is no middle ground between truth and heresy.

The Holy Spirit is not a free-wheeler as the world believes. He guides us by continuing with the Apostles, in their doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers. (Acts 2:42) In the midst of a sea of change, we ask for the old paths to walk therein. There is nothing new under the sun, only old sin re-designed by Satan the great deceiver, who seeks to devour us as a roaring lion. The gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church: Catholic and Apostolic, built on the rock that Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus gave His Apostles authority to build His Church. What they established on earth, is bound in heaven. This authority ceased with them. The Church never conforms with the spirit of the age, to bring the world into conformity with itself. We are called out from the world to live separately as the people of God, to bring the world to Him for salvation. We are His chosen witnesses!

The Apostle John cautions us to "try the spirits to ascertain they are from God." The Apostle Paul writes, "If anyone announces a new dogma, let him be anathematized!" What is not agreeable to Christ, cannot be attributed to the Holy Spirit. He has caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, and cannot contradict Himself. He will never lead you contrary to Scripture. Luther cautions, "Feelings come, and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving. My warrant is the Word of God--Naught else is worth believing." The Prophet Isaiah (8:20) said, "To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

The Lord gives us good and perfect gifts, and withholds what is not right for us. While we can be wrong, He never is. Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." King Solomon further states: There is safety in a multitude of counsellors. The Lord surrounds us with a great loud of witnesses, who encourage us by their example, strengthen us by their fellowship, and aid us by their prayer, that we might run the race that is set before us, to attain unto Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, and the Crown of everlasting life.

JESUS SAID, "WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH."

Hymns: 273 325 210 92

Please join our Lord's Day Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. from your computer, tablet or smartphone on Zoom with the following link.
https://zoom.us/j/82276401025 Enter meeting passcode: Jesus

02/14/2026

QUINQUAGESIMA - APPROXIMATELY FIFTY DAYS TO EASTER

"LORD, THAT I MAY RECEIVE MY SIGHT".
+ SAINT LUKE 18:41

Jesus told His Passion to His disciples, but they did not understand, and the Apostle Peter rebuked Him. Christians are surprised that Jesus calls them into the fellowship of His sufferings. G. K. Chesterton observed: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Christianity does not fail because of flawed doctrine, but of its challenges. The Cross and the Crown are taken together.

Jesus said it is necessary to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have His life in us. Legion are the attempts to explain away the simplicity of His words, "This is my Body, This is my Blood," to avoid the mystery of His Real Presence in the Sacrament. St. Paul (II Timothy 1:13) says to "hold fast the form of sound words" we have heard of him, for truth is changeless.

Jesus prayed (St. Luke 22:42), "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, who humbled Himself in obedience unto the death of the Cross for our salvation.

Our Lord told His disciples what would befall Him as they went up to Jerusalem for His last time. As they drew near to Jericho, He paused to give sight to a blind man who begged mercy of Him. This was a subtle way of teaching His disciples they needed to have their eyes of faith opened to behold His works.

Jesus told the disciples the end from the beginning. "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again." He was resigned to do His Father's will of what is necessary for our salvation.

These hard words are in accordance with what the Old Testament spoke of His Passion, Death and Resurrection, as we confess in the Creed. The disciples spent three years with Him, yet they were spiritually blind savoring the things of God. On one occasion they discussed who among them would become the greatest.

Sometime earlier they asked Jesus (St. Matthew 19), "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" Their question was reasonable. They had forsaken the things of the world for the Lord, yet He, through the women who followed Him, supplied their every need. Jesus never promises earthly rewards beyond daily bread. He told them, "Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." They would be greatly rewarded, but not in this lifetime. They would await the Lord's coming again to make all things new. As Peter reminds us, the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is coming.

Job suffered the loss of everything he possessed in this life, his wealth, his health, his children. The Lord restored to him double what he lost, save his children. He lost ten, he had ten more. Lest you think he was given only what he lost, his first children, while absent from him, were present with the Lord. Job believed in the resurrection. In eternity he possesses twenty children. "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And in my flesh shall I see God."

On this final trip to Jerusalem, Jesus stopped to give sight to a blind man. He was told that Jesus of Nazareth passed by, and cried out, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." He confessed his faith that Jesus is great David's greater Son, the King of Israel. Jesus asked what he desired, and said, "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee." We walk by faith, not by sight. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Everyone suffers ailments for sin. The Lord gives medicine to heal our sickness, but His miracles portray that in His regeneration, we will not suffer the effects of sin upon the body. There will be no suffering, no sorrow, no tears, for Jesus shall make all things new.

The disciples were a confused lot. Following His Resurrection, Jesus found them huddled together behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. They were finding Christianity difficult! Until now the Lord had kept them. They suffered nothing following Him. However the Lord said the time is coming when those who would kill them would belive they were doing God service. They were beginning to learn the disciples is not above the Master, and it brought fear.

We can only speculate if the faith of the blind man embraced the suffering and death of the Son of God. However Scripture does say, "Immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God."

The Apostle Paul (I Thessalonians 5:18) writes. "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus." Even in the worse circumstances, we thank God for His grace that carries us through. We are never promised this present life will be free from difficulties, pain and sorrow, but in these things God is with us. Jesus has carried our sorrows, borne our griefs, and by His stripes we are healed. He was touched with our infirmities. The Christian life will be found difficult, but we are not to leave it untried. Jesus is our victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. We need spiritual sight to see the things of God, and the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is coming.

The Apostle wrote to the Ephesians he desired the eyes of their understanding be enlightened to know the hope of their calling, the riches of the glory of Christ in the inheritance of His saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power to those who believe. We make the prayer of the blind man our own,

"LORD, THAT I MAY RECEIVE MY SIGHT.

Hymns: 479-1 353-1 344 345-2

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