From here:

As archbishop I have articulated four areas that I believe need to become our distinctives:

1) that we know ourselves to be the beloved of Jesus;
2) that we become a people committed to personal holiness
3) that we understand our work as fore-runners of Jesus; and
4) that we are those who sacrifice for the sake of others.

Among other things, such distinctives would form us into a different people than we presently are.  They would direct us in everything from our engagement with Islam to our embrace of the tithe.  Seeing these distinctives is a great beginning.  Embrace must follow.

The ordination of women to the presbyterate remains a matter that divides us.  Despite the deep theological and ecclesiological divide we have remained committed to each other, and have honored each other as our Constitution envisions.  The College of Bishops will have a morning (Friday) aimed at deeper understanding of the grounds of our divergent practice.  Moreover, the GAFCON/FCA Primates Council has agreed to appointment of a theological task force to consider both the theological and structural issues that not only divide us, but also them.  A healthy Church does not run away from its difficulties, nor does it act independently.

Read it all.

Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

—Matthew 15:29-31 (TNIV)

Here Matthew reminds us of a truth we must always keep in mind and offers us a preview of coming attractions, so to speak. Those who come to Jesus in faith will be healed. It may be in the manner that Matthew describes in today’s lesson. It may be a lifelong process that is almost imperceptible to us. It may be in some other completely different way. Whatever the manner, Christ will heal us and when death releases us from our body of sin (Romans 6:7), we will be fully healed and healed forever. This is part of what life in Christ promises and it is ours by faith. What a wonderful gift and promise! Thanks be to God.

Any good gardener knows that beautiful roses require careful pruning. Pieces of living plant have to die. It cannot just grow wild. We cannot simply “celebrate growth.” It is more to be regretted, it is tragic that we seem to have lost the insight that growth in Christ requires careful pruning. Pieces of us by our intentional action need to die if we are to become the person that is in God’s vision. We are not cutting away cancerous growth. Mortification refers to that intentional action of pruning of life that better life might grow by God’s grace—just as better roses grow by God’s grace.

Mortification is the intentional denial of legitimate pleasures in the spirit of Christian poverty that one might become more human. What we have failed to understand is that a life incapable of significant sacrifice is also incapable of courageous action.

— +Urban T. Holmes III, Spirituality for Ministry

For the Desert Fathers, the flight to the desert was a way of escaping conformity to the world. The world, including the Church, had become so dominated by secular materialism that, for them the only way to witness against it was to withdraw from it. They were seeking to revive true Christian devotion and simplicity of life by intense renunciation. Their experience has particular relevance, because modern society is uncomfortably like the world that they attacked so vigorously. Their world asked, “How can I get more?” The Desert Fathers asked, “What can I do without?” Their world asked, “How can I find myself?” The Desert Fathers asked, “How can I lose myself?” Their world asked, “How can I win friends and influence people?” The Desert Fathers asked, “How can I love God?”

—Richard Foster, Freedom of Simplicity

So do good to your companions not for their sake alone but for God’s sake. Whatever they may do, do not cease doing them good. Your reward will be greater. When you are vilified, if you quit doing good, you signify that you are seeking the praise of others, not the praise of God.

—The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 32.3

Even if the [spiritual] gift bestowed upon you is less than the gift bestowed on someone else, the Giver is the same, and therefore you have equal honor with him. It is the same fountain from which you draw refreshment.

—John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians 29.4

The Holy Spirit adapts himself to each person. He sees the disposition of each. He sees into our reasoning and our conscience, what we say, what we think, what we believe.

—Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechesis 14.22

The Spirit is in us all and he is the living water which the Lord supplies to those who rightly believe in him and love him.

—Against Heresies 5.18.2

Now, the Bible can have no other office or power, than to direct you to Christ. How then can you more magnify the Bible than by going from its teaching, to be taught by Christ? So you set Christ and the Bible in flat opposition to each other! And is this the way we are to learn of him? Nay, but we are taught of him, not by going from the Bible, but by keeping close to it.

—An Extract of a Letter to the Reverend Mr. Law, 9.505

Wesley would have one word for those folks who accuse those of us who take Scripture seriously as being bibliolaters: Horsefeathers.

Just received word that the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) has voted to approve us as a diocese. St. Andrew’s is now part of the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes. Woo-hoo and thanks be to God! 🙂