The First Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Isaiah xliii. 1, Psalm 103, 1 St. John v. 4. -- John xx19
The Sons of Confederate Veterans have recently experienced a rift that has shaken the organization, and that is the inspiration for this homily.
Our collect today carries a message of hope and reconciliation. This is the same prayer that many of our forefathers heard each year on the Sunday after Easter Day. A message that asks God to help us to put away the "leaven of malice", in order that we might serve Him in all pureness of living and truth.
I am a member of an organization whose purpose is to honor its ancestors. I've been privy to a spate of messages over the past month that speak of the great malice that has been fermenting in highest quarters of this organization over the past year. It finally exploded with one group going to court to have those with whom they disagreed removed. We in the trenches perceive a picture of people who have ignored our Lord's command to love one another, and have let the leaven of malice bring our beloved organization to a state of open hostility.
The things that led to this state of affairs are not of God. God is not the author of hate and malice. The things that led us to this place are of men and are a part of our nature.
There will be an opportunity in the next month or so for the organization to look closely at some of the institutional issues that may have contributed to this state of affairs. Members will gather to consider changes in the organization's constitution that may help us to move forward in peace and unity. As we meet this challenge, I have faith that the membership will act with good intent to improve our beloved organization. I pray all will recognize and acknowledge the sacrifices of members on both sides of the issue in the past. I pray we will seek and find common ground that allows for reconciliation and healing. If some come to find that their actions in the past may have contributed to this situation, and were not done in charity, I pray they will admit this and ask for forgiveness. I pray that those offended will do the right thing. It is basic to Christianity and was given to us in the Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us." When Peter asked Him "how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" Jesus answered, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
In our Gospel today, Jesus came among the disciples who were gathered together after His crucifixion, hiding in a closed room. I imagine they were scared. They probably lacked unity. Many certainly felt guilt and remorse as they had fled and denied Jesus in His last hours. Jesus, however, did not come to chastise them. He came to bring peace! He stood in their midst and said, "Peace be unto you". He said it twice, and then He gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit to embolden, sustain, and unite them. It worked. They moved ahead together in one accord. The very one who had denied his Lord, Peter, led them. Forty some-odd days later, on the day of Pentecost, they received the Holy Spirit in a new way that helped them and their successors change the world through love. As John says in the appointed epistle, "whoseover is born of God, overcometh the world." Let us remember that promise and with faith in God, do the right things to overcome this present difficulty and move ahead in unity to the glory of God.
O GOD, by whom the meek are guided in judgement, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly; Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of Wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Reverend "Parson" Mark Carroll, Col Ben Caudill Camp, SCV, 2005
READINGS
Isaiah xliii. 1.
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
1 St. John v. 4.
WHATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
St. John xx. 19.
THE same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.