For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)
We call Salvation, “the way of the cross.” As we move towards Easter, we focus more on this theme but in Anglican Spirituality it is the focus of every Friday. (See, An Anglican Prayer book pg 27)
Friday’s are days of self denial, (as is everyday of Lent) and on these days we remember the suffering and death of our Lord. We do this by:
- giving more time to prayer, Bible Study or spiritual reading,
- eating less or simpler foods
- by giving up some pleasure or luxury and using the money saved to help other people.
we acknowledge that “Christ died for our Sins once and for all”
“Building an Ark” for us means developing our spirituality. We need to see Anglicanism not as a denomination, but as a spirituality. Rooted in its pillars of Scripture, Tradition and Reasons. Sustained by the Eucharist – (the great Thanksgiving) the Eucharist is to be for us a way of life not just something that you receive as a ritual, but a participation with Christ with whom and through whom and in whom, we are given life.
We are to understand that our life is a response to God. God spoke first! God acts first! God calls to us before we call back to him. God noticed Noah and Moses and Joseph and Abraham and Philip and you, before you noticed Him. We seek God because he first sought us. We have life in God because while we were still sinners Christ died for us. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6 NIV)
The pattern that we are taught through the lives of others is that we are to live in gratitude to God who created us and loves us. When we live out of gratitude then we are truly a Eucharistic people.
“We who are many are one body for we all partake of the one bread” – and that bread is Jesus, a Jesus who gave us the Spirit, and a Spirit that hovers over our waters, brings order out of chaos, speaks to us in our weakness, intercedes for us to God, fills us with the gifts.
We are not one because we share one “wafer” we are one because we share in the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Today remember that we participate with Christ in his death and resurrection, it is the pattern of scripture from the beginning but fully manifest in Jesus the incarnate one, the perfection of our faith.
As you give yourself to Christ today, may God’s love overflow into every aspect of your life and my the joy of serving Jesus permeate your very being.
and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds secure in the knowledge and the love of God our father through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Almighty Father, hear our prayer and look with mercy on this your family for which our Lord Jesus Christ was ready to be betrayed into the hands of sinners and to suffer death on the cross, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God now and for ever. Amen.