Transfiguration/Anglican Order of Preachers

Proper13A The Transfiguration, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, August 6, 2023, by Sr. Annette Fricke, OP. "If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire." -St. Vincent Ferrer, O.P. The transfiguration has always been a mystery to me since the first time I was called upon to preach on it. I believe it’s not the toughest challenge in my life, but darn close. This is not about me and yet it is all about me because everything before us is not just about God and God’s saving grace, but how we are to access that grace and what we do with it. During our annual Chapter meeting which I attended the better portion last week, we discussed what it was like to be Episcopalian and Dominican and the various traditions we all came from. There was a common theme, and it could be summarized in the following way: ‘You are saved! That’s it!’ (pause) But what comes after that? Why do congregations die or become just a social club? For that very reason. We fail to deal with that last question. What comes after that? How do we share that faith in the world around us? And don’t put it all on the priest? Lay people and clergy alike are called to always share the gospel of God’s kingdom in all places. That is a profound difference in the Anglican Order of Preachers. We are not separated into men and women, and it is also inclusive in that membership includes married as well as unmarried, clergy as well as laity. Yes, you are also called upon to study, learn, and research ways to address the modern world as it informs evangelism. The Transfiguration, according to St. Thomas Aquinas is this: “It is a Eureka moment—one that makes a lasting impression. Jesus’ human soul and body is transfigured, communicating the clarity and the glory of his divinity is a miracle.” Instead of Jesus performing miracles pertaining to other humans, “Jesus performs a miracle on himself. Jesus’ soul and body are human and fallible like us except it is united to his divine nature. We share in the divinity of Christ in the Eucharist.” Thus, receiving the Eucharist is empowering. We receive Christ’s divinity in the Eucharist, giving us the strength to go out into the world and witness to God’s saving grace. We become like Jesus. But, in the life of a Dominican, it does not begin with evangelism, it begins with prayer. “Prayer is a reference point through which we all better know God. And for Dominicans in particular, it forms the very center of our lives and the starting place for our mission. The liturgy draws us out of ourselves, to pray with Christ and the Church and so to grow in compassion for all. The Dominican cross is flanked by the motto of Latin words meaning, “to praise, to bless, to preach (AND (not part of the Latin) to contemplate and hand on to others the fruits of contemplation.” Our bishop uses a method in our studies with the church meetings of both lay and clergy. It is the ancient method of studying the Bible which is termed Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina was the ordinary way to read the Bible even before ordinary non-clergy and non-religious community people had the chance at an education. It has these steps: “Reading. Read a passage slowly and carefully within the bible. ...Meditation. Thinking deeply or dwelling upon a spiritual reality within a text. ...Prayer. Having a loving conversation with God. Contemplation. Resting in God’s presence. Action. Go and do likewise.” My vows: “In the name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Recognizing the sovereignty of God, and desiring to be ever in his service, and in deeper fulfillment of my Baptismal vows, I now come before the Divine Majesty and before you my Brothers and Sisters, most solemnly to make a humble profession of my Life Vows. Before God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, I vow, for the rest of my earthly life, to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus Christ as understood by the Anglican Order of Preachers. Specifically, I vow: -To be obedient to Almighty God by placing myself under the authority of the Anglican Order of Preachers and the direction of my superiors in the Order. -To be chaste and pure according to my state of life being unmarried. -To live simply, not going after gain of temporal things, but using all things given to my charge for the building of the Kingdom of God. -To be diligent in the reading and study of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; to uphold their authority, and to seek to understand them in the light of the Holy Spirit; to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, by word and example, unto the salvation of souls and building up of the Church, the Body of Christ. -To be diligent in regular and catholic prayer; for intercession for the Church and for the world before God, for the strengthening of my faith, and for the formation of my soul.” “If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire." -St. Vincent Ferrer, O.P.

The Confession of St. Peter, Leader of the Church

Proper 16A, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Moses Lake by Sr. Annette Fricke Immediately after Jesus tells his disciples to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the discourse changes. Pharisees claimed Mosaic authority for their interpretation of Jewish religious law, while Sadducees represented the authority of the priestly privileges and prerogatives established since the days of Solomon, when Zadok, their ancestor, officiated as high priest. Jesus made it a habit to meet with just his disciples during his ministry. This is one of those moments. He asks an important question. “Who do people say that I am?” It appears that Jesus is asking for feedback. The disciples say that they are comparing him with other important figures in history including a contemporary, John the Baptist. The others in the list have long since died. Perhaps he wants to know this information to get a read on how his teachings are being received. He is also getting close to the time when he will be crucified, and he is aware that his time is short. He is also keenly aware that it is the disciples who will be left to carry on his ministry. He wants them to be prepared. He is testing the disciples. He has been with them a few years now. So, he asks the disciples point blank, “Who do you say I am?” Now, Jesus moves to a related topic where Peter is significant. But why Peter? Isn’t he the one who later denies he even knows Jesus? Peter and the other disciples fell asleep as Jesus prayed before being crucified. Isn’t he also the one quick with his tongue, not thinking about what is coming out? Why is Peter the chosen one out of the disciples? And remember the disciples fighting about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and who will be sitting in the seats of power? What’s so great about Peter? Jesus calls him a rock. And perhaps Peter is dumb as a rock as well as having the right answer rock. It is a nickname, that is not a real name during Jesus’ lifetime here. Martin Luther firmly believed that this passage of scripture does not mean Peter is the first of the popes. Martin felt that the important succession was the teachings of Jesus and that we are all to carry on teaching others about God in the same way that he did. Another view is that it is the belief of Peter that is important. Belief, because Peter’s actions aren’t exemplary. Jesus here mentions that “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you!” Along that same line of thinking is the catechetical instruction in Luther’s Catechism that states, “The Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth.” It means that God is always at work in the church here on earth. God is always at our sides to lead and bless our ministries despite our blunders, our awkwardness, our foolishness, and our mistakes. Peter is declared to be right in that he experienced Jesus as the gateway to the kingdom of God. Jesus is the Messiah. Messiah means ‘anointed one.’ Jesus is anointed like the kings of old who were anointed to rule over earthly kingdoms. To be anointed is to be set aside for a special purpose. But what does all this mean for us? It means that we are also anointed for ministry to lead others into the kingdom of God—baptism, confirmation, ordination, what is called the last rites before dying we are anointed with oil. It means that we are sent out like the disciples in our various ministries. It means that we are part of a team like the disciples and are to work together for the common purpose of teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God and gathering God’s people together. The Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies all of us. We are all Jesus’ modern-day disciples. It means sharing in the ministry of the church, participating in what goes on here and in the world where we live and work. Peter was chosen because he was a leader and believed in his heart that Jesus is the chosen one of God. Peter testified that Jesus is the Christ. Many years have passed now since the disciples were first sent out. Now it is our turn. There are structures within each of the Christian churches at local levels and above, each designed to push us forward, to encourage us to grow both individually and corporately. We are able, like Peter to grow to a mature faith that works to figure out a way to study and act, pray and navigate our ways both within and outside of these walls. We are strengthened when we come together for worship. We grow when we learn from each other. God has blessed us with many gifts and talents in this small gathering of people, but it always has the potential to become a vibrant presence in our community and reaching beyond our small corner of the world. That’s really what this gospel lesson is all about. It’s about us as a group and us as individuals. It is about us willing to let God lead us forward. The world is waiting. We have the keys. We have the authority. We have the promise that God goes with us everywhere and will never abandon us.