Rector's Words | saviourtheredeemer

Canon Bahman Kalantari

Sermon on the Shepherding (John 10:1-18)

Our beloved Lord Jesus Christ uses a variety of symbols related to many professions to teach us about his identity, his kingdom, and his leadership.

In today’s Gospel passage, our Lord uses shepherding terminology and symbols to illuminate the main qualities of a dedicated leader. This is the reason why I want to share with you a story, a story that I heard from a shepherd a few years ago.

While a shepherd is tending his flock in a beautiful region, a wealthy man shows up in his elegant car. The man steps out of his car and asks the shepherd,

"Hey, if I tell you exactly how many sheep you have, can I take one?"

The shepherd nods, and the wealthy man opens his laptop, calls up some satellite photos, sends the information to an app on his cell phone, and announces, "You have 996 sheep.”

Pretending to be impressed, the shepherd says to the wealthy man, "You're right. Go ahead and take one of my sheep.”

So the wealthy man loads one of the animals into the backseat of his car with a smug smile on his lips.

"Now," says the shepherd, "I'll bet all my sheep against your car that I can tell you what you do for a living."

The wealthy man agrees, and the shepherd continues, "You're a politician."

"Wow!" exclaims the politician. "How did you know?"

"Well," explains the shepherd, "you arrived uninvited, driving a flashy car and wearing a smart suit. You told me something I already knew, and you have no understanding of my profession. You seek to gain without giving, thinking you are intelligent, but you are far from it. You have no awareness of what's happening around you. Now, give me back my dog.”

This serves as a great example of what Jesus reveals in today’s Gospel passage. The shepherd in the story knows everything about his sheep. He knows how to protect them. He is wise and is capable of dealing with intruders. He is determined not to lose even one single sheep, as well as his dog.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is unveiling his identity to the audience. He distinguishes between authority figures and shepherd-leaders.

Jesus also mentions the gatekeeper at the beginning of the chapter. John the Baptist serves as this gatekeeper, bridging the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament, marking the dawn of a new age, the age of Messiah-Leadership, exemplified by the Good Shepherd.

Today’s Gospel passage highlights that when Jesus speaks symbolically, some either fail to understand or pretend not to understand him. Consequently, Jesus directly reveals himself as the gate.

Jesus is the gate, offering new life, divine wisdom, and eternal life to those who seek it, particularly the poor in spirit.

We may wonder, who serves as the gatekeeper for humanity today? Who guides us to Jesus Christ? The gatekeeper is the Holy Spirit of God.

This Holy Spirit, this incredible Advocate, this compassionate Comforter, knows what we are looking for and what our needs are. It is this Holy Spirit who calls us by name, inspires us, encourages us to move on, and invites us to the sheepfold, that is, Christ Jesus’ kingdom on earth.

We all have this knowledge that Jesus Christ is the gate and also the Good Shepherd. We know that the Holy Spirit directs us to Jesus’ Kingdom. We know that our beloved God always devises a way to empower us day and night.

But, if we want to get results, we need to use this knowledge in an effective and practical way. We need to confess to Jesus Christ that he is our Good Shepherd and the gate to our salvation and liberation. Then, we need to transform this liberating knowledge into a daily prayer.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to earth to feed people with provisions and wisdom, to bring peacefulness, to protect people from danger, to give your people the joy they need, offer the healing water to all human beings, to build a community of believers, and to turn all people into one great joyful family.

We now ask you to give us all these blessings today and tomorrow. Thanks be to our God: our beloved Abba, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sermon on the Magi and St. Matthew

During Epiphany, we celebrate the Magi visiting baby Jesus. Epiphany means a big appearance or showing up. It is when Jesus was revealed to more than just his local community but to the whole world.

The Magi’s event has been understood in a few ways. I have talked about this before, but today I will share with you some new findings about the magi.

In the Gospel, the Magi asked Herod about the newborn King of the Jews, guided by a special star to worship Him.

First, why did the Magi come to the Holy Land? Their religious beliefs drove them to journey to the Holy Land.

The Magi were king-priests from Persia (Iran today) who followed Zoroastrianism. They were rulers beneath the highest King. Their belief involved a Trinitarian god: the wise lord, the wise lord's Son (Mithra), and the wise lord's daughter (Anahita).

Mithra, the wise lord's son, is the protector of truth and justice; he is the universal light, acts as the divine representative of the wise Lord on earth, and shields the righteous from the darkness.

Anahita, the wise lord's daughter, is the queen of heaven; she protects pure waters, and offers wisdom, renewal, and peacefulness to people.

Now, let's understand why we believe the Magi were three individuals:

1. One represented and served the wise lord.

2. Another represented and served the wise lord's son, Mithra.

3. The third represented and served the wise lord's daughter, Anahita.

According to the Magi's Holy Scriptures, there are FOUR Saviours expected at the end of each one-thousand-year period. They traveled to the Holy Land seeking the new saviour of their time, who would be the wise Lord's adopted Son.

Again we need to ask, why did St. Matthew write about the Magi in his Gospel?

First,

1. Matthew was a tax-collector and money-changer.

2. He likely had literacy in multiple languages to gather information for his job.

3. His success as a moneychanger required understanding various currencies and exchange rates.

4. To comprehend economies, living in different countries was crucial in ancient times.

Second,

Ambrose, a church leader in the fourth century, mentioned that Matthew, the Gospel writer, traveled to Persia and Macedonia.

During his time in Persia, Matthew stayed along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. This explains why a copy of Matthew's Gospel made its way to India around the same period.

Christian Persians believed and wrote that Matthew's Gospel was originally written in Aramaic. They converted to Christianity because they had access to this Aramaic version, which educated Persians could easily read.

However, historical evidence confirms that the Gospels, including Matthew's, were written in Greek.

But, Papias, an early church leader from the first and second centuries, noted that Matthew also wrote a Gospel in the Hebrews' own dialect, which was Aramaic.

Therefore, we believe that Matthew wrote his Gospel in both Aramaic and Greek. His journey to Persia aimed to continue the mission initiated by the Magi, sharing the good news with those in that region.

Another question: Did the Magi return to Persia?

Marco Polo, a traveler from the thirteen and fourteen centuries, wrote about the Magi in his book. He learned they were from Persia by reading local history and interviewing the people. According to his findings, the three Magi started their journey from a city called Saba, returned there from the Holy Land, and passed away. Marco discovered their graves in Saba's cemetery.

This is the gist of the new findings.

And the last question is: what is the message of Epiphany for us today? What is God's liberating message in this Gospel passage?

Sometimes, like the Magi, we await a significant change or event, longing for renewal. Our Heavenly Father understands this and sends signs:

These signs can lead us to the new and amazing things that bring about significant change in our lives. It could be a rainbow (like in Noah's case), a lamb (like in Abraham's case), a ladder (like in Jacob's case), or a star (as with the Magi).

When we see the star, do we perceive it as a distant beauty or recognize it as a sign? Having faith means accepting the star as a sign of God's activity, not just a beautiful sight.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, during this Epiphany season, we long to come to you, honour you as our King, worship you, and walk in your footsteps. Guide us with faith and happiness, much like the Magi on their spiritual quest. Empower us through the Holy Spirit's work to establish your Kingdom here on earth. In Abba’s presence we pray. Amen.

How to make the Anglican Rosary

Anglican Prayer Beads

A Form of Contemplative Prayer

Anglican Prayer Beads are a relatively new form of prayer, blending the Orthodox Jesus Prayer Rope and the Roman Catholic Rosary. The thirty-three bead design was created by the Rev. Lynn Bauman in the mid-1980s, through the prayerful exploration and discovery of a contemplative prayer group.

The use of the rosary or prayer beads helps to bring us into contemplative of meditative prayer—really thinking about and being mindful of praying, of being in the presence of God—by use of mind, body, and spirit. The touching of the fingers on each successive bead is an aid in keeping our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more readily into stillness.

Anglican Prayer Beads.

Symbolism of the Beads
The configuration of the Anglican Prayer Beads relate contemplative prayer using the Rosary to many levels of traditional Christian symbolism. Contemplative prayer is enriched by these symbols whose purpose is always to focus and concentrate attention, allowing the one who prays to move more swiftly into the Presence of God.

The prayer beads are made up of twenty-eight beads divided into four groups of seven called weeks. In the Judeo-Christian tradition the number seven represents spiritual perfection and completion. Between each week is a single bead, called a cruciform bead as the four beads form a cross. The invitatory bead between the cross and the wheel of beads brings the total to thirty-three, the number of years in Jesus’ earthly life.

Praying with the beads

To begin, hold the Cross and say the prayer you have assigned to it, then move to the Invitatory Bead. Then enter the circle of the prayer with the first Cruciform Bead, moving to the right,

go through the first set of seven beads to the next Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle,

saying the prayers for each bead.

It is suggested that you pray around the circle of the beads three times (which signifies the Trinity)

in an unhurried pace, allowing the repetition to become a sort of lullaby of love and praise that enables your mind to rest and your heart to become quiet and still.

Praying through the beads three times and adding the crucifix at the beginning or the end, brings the total to one hundred, which is the total of the Orthodox Rosary. A period of silence should follow the prayer, for a time of reflection and listening. Listening is an important part of all prayer.

Begin praying the Anglican Prayer Beads by selecting the prayers you wish to use for the cross and each bead. Practice them until it is clear which prayer goes with which bead, and as far as possible commit the prayers to memory.

Find a quiet spot and allow your body and mind to become restful and still. After a time of silence, begin praying the prayer beads at an unhurried, intentional pace. Complete the circle of the beads three times.

When you have completed the round of the prayer beads, you should end with a period of silence. This silence allows you to center your being in an extended period of silence. It also invites reflection and listening after you have invoked the Name and Presence of God.

Closing your Prayers
The following ending can be used with any of the prayers in this booklet. After three circuits around the prayer beads, you may finish as follows:

Last time through:

Invitatory Bead
The Lord’s Prayer

The Cross
I bless the Lord.

Or, in a group setting:
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.

Prayers
You may mix and match or put together your own.

Bless the Lord

The Cross

Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
Glory to God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Cruciforms
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. You that stand in the house of the Lord, lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord.

The Weeks
I lift up my eyes to the hills;
From where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,
The maker of heaven and earth.

Trisagion and Jesus Prayer

The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Cruciforms
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me (us).

The Weeks
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Or, in a group setting:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy upon us.

*Trisagion means "thrice Holy"

Agnus Dei Prayer

The Cross
The Lord’s Prayer

The Invitatory
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."—Psalm 19:14

The Cruciforms
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us,
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us,
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
give us Thy Peace.

The Weeks
Almighty and merciful Lord,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us.
Amen.

*Agnus Dei means "Lamb of God"

Julian of Norwich Prayer

The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Cruciforms
God of your goodness, give me yourself,
For you are enough to me.
And I can ask for nothing less that is to your glory.
And if I ask for anything less, I shall still be in want, for only in you have I all.

The Weeks
All shall be well, and all shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well.

In His love He has done His works, and in His love He has made all things beneficial to us.

This prayer was created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
www.solitariesofdekoven.org

A Celtic Prayer

The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Cruciforms
Be the eye of God dwelling with me,
The foot of Christ in guidance with me,
The shower of the Spirit pouring on me,
Richly and generously

The Weeks
Pray each phrase on a separate bead.
I bow before the Father who made me,
I bow before the Son who saved me,
I bow before the Spirit who guides me,
In love and adoration.
I praise the Name of the one on high.
I bow before thee Sacred Three,
The ever One, the Trinity.

This prayer was created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
www.solitariesofdekoven.org

Come Lord Jesus Prayer

The Cross
"Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."—Revelation 7:12

The invitatory
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble."—Psalm 46:1

The Cruciforms
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s Holy Name."—Psalm 103:1

The Weeks
"Come Lord Jesus, draw us to yourself."—John 12:32

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

The Cross

I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.

The Invitatory
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

The Cruciforms
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.

The Weeks
1. I bind this day to me for ever, by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
2. his baptism in Jordan river;
3. his death on cross for my salvation;
4. his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
5. his riding up the heavenly way;
6. his coming at the day of doom:
7. I bind unto myself today.

1. I bind unto myself the power of the great love of cherubim;
2. the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour;
3. the service of the seraphim;
4. confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
5. the patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
6. all good deeds done unto the Lord,
7. and purity of virgin souls.

1. I bind unto myself today the virtues of the starlit heaven,
2. the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
3. the whiteness of the moon at even,
4. the flashing of the lightning free,
5. the whirling of the wind’s tempestuous shocks,
6. the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
7. around the old eternal rocks.

1. I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
2. his eye to watch, his might to stay,
3. his ear to hearken, to my need;
4. the wisdom of my God to teach,
5. his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
6. the word of God to give me speech,
7. his heavenly host to be my guard.

Words: attributed to St. Patrick (372-466)
translated by Cecil Frances Alexander, 1889
Adapted for use with Anglican Prayer Beads by Laura Kelly Campbell

An Evening Prayer

The Cross
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Invitatory
Open my lips, O Lord,
and my mouth shall proclaim
Your praise.

The Cruciforms
Guide us waking, O Lord,
and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may watch
with Christ, and asleep
we may rest in peace.

The Weeks
Jesus, lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, give us your peace.