Monday Morning Music Ministry

2-8-21

Grace is an essential component of life, of a well-ordered, just, and joyful life. It is not only a promise or goal. Its alternative is a life of bitterness, defeat, unhappiness, unforgiveness.

Grace is being forgiven, as we forgive those who… you know, that thing, to paraphrase Joseph Biden. No less Biblical are the commands and admonitions to correct and assist brothers and sisters, especially those who lead people astray.

We should not be judges, a saying goes, but we are authorized to be fruit inspectors – that is, recognize when the results of actions are being manifested. And not.

It is by grace we are saved. Not by works, that anyone should boast about their own power to save themselves. Our faith (another paraphrase that I pray is Biblical) is God’s fruit-inspection of our hearts, redemption that He follows with salvation.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. – Galatians 6:7

Friends: We need to remind ourselves, especially in these perilous days, to remain humble; to avoid self-righteousness; to discern good intentions; to love and forgive.

… to love God and the Truth. To discern between error and evil. To forgive our enemies. But to stand against God’s enemies.

We avoid self-delusion and being judgmental by that standard: God’s Word vs our wills. This was St Paul’s meaning – his warning – about God being mocked. Mocking God? Should God care about such a thing? Yes. God is a jealous God, often displayed and often disclosed in those exact in the Bible. He is Holy, and has provided a means of forgiveness and redemption. But mocking God is, rather, intentional rebellion.

Some have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof: from such people turn away. – II Timothy 3:5

These matters have consequences. When a man who was inaugurated as president of the United States makes a show of being a good Catholic, who the press follows to his masses, and calls him religiously observant – and who yet abolishes the prohibitions against encouraging abortions; who orders the funding foreign agencies and governments so to practice abortions; whom acts to allow states to proceed with late-term abortions… these things demand more than people of faith to cluck among themselves about apparent contradictions. Or hypocrisy. Or murder. Or mocking God.

For the government to allow these things is offensive enough. To compel people of conscience to support such things by taxpayer dollars is a grievous sin. Planted seeds bear fruit… and the government is forcing us to plant seeds we despise; we shall be judged too for the consequences.

We might “oppose” these sins, but we are being forced to commit them. Unless we resist and set our hearts aright, and redeem the culture. One issue at a time. God does not ask success, but He does require obedience.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

Are these personal challenges? Very. Must we confront our friends and neighbors? Yes. Are these political battles? Sometimes. But God equips us in all cases. We must choose sides! We can sometimes deceive ourselves, but we cannot deceive God. He will not be mocked.

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In 1634 Gregorio Allegri was inspired by Psalm 51 to write Miserere mei, Deus – “Have mercy on me, O God.” As we gird ourselves to do battle for the Lord, we cannot do anything at all without first seeking His grace and mercy. The prayer of Miserere:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.

According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies remove my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin.

I knowingly confess my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done evil before Thee: that they may be justified in Thy sayings, and might they overcome when I am judged. …

Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a righteous spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. I will teach those who are unjust Thy ways: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. …

Sacrifices of God are broken spirits: dejected and contrite hearts, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

Let us humbly – but boldly; not a contradiction – remind ourselves to fight not for ourselves only but our family, our nation, our heritage… and for Him. Let not our God be mocked.

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Music Vid: “Miserere Mei, Deus” (For readers with hand-held devices, click or copy and paste: )
https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=H3v9unphfi0

Click: Miserere Mei, Deus

5-13-19

Another holiday over. Now we can get back to normal. It’s not as bad as Christmas, with those countless little decorations. Maybe more like Thanksgiving. After that one, it’s “turkey this” and “turkey that” until we’re sick of it. Now, a few Easter decorations, but leftover ham isn’t bad, and, well, deviled eggs and egg salad for a couple weeks will never kill anybody.

I wonder who those new people were at church on Easter. Actually, they didn’t act new; everybody seemed to know them. Maybe they joined since we were last in church… what? Last year? 

Such thoughts go through a lot of minds in this land of many churches.

Some churches have nicknames for certain worshipers, or perhaps we can call them audiences. “Chreasters.” Folks who show up in the pews twice a year, Christmas and Easter. Which is better than no weeks per year… isn’t it?

God doesn’t need your fannies in the pews. He wants them… but He does not need them. The same with your offerings: your money, your talents, your resources? He wants your heart, not your pennies. It is about what you want to give, not anything He needs.

The spiritual fervor during Lent and Holy Week and Easter Sunday is good; good for our souls as we contemplate, meditate, hide the meaning in our hearts.

But we cannot deny that for the most part, society and our culture are little changed – as they really ought to be changed – after Easter. This is not totally attributable to human nature, the natural inclination of our wayward hearts. Not in the year of our Lord 2019; not in Western civilization as it has evolved; not in contemporary churches.

I believe the reason that the Resurrection means so little today is that we live in a culture of death.

• How can we truly celebrate the victory over death when we have legalized abortion and infanticide; when states vote to allow killing unwanted babies after birth?
• Wherever there is a problem in life these days, it seems like the first instinctive response is violence; death-oriented, not life-affirming. Not only on TV and movies (usually produced by anti-gun crusaders!) but from random urban street-corners to countries that oppress and kill their minorities or neighbors.
• Why should a Born-Again experience seem desirable when society teaches that what’s right for you is right; when there is no such thing as sin; when there are no standards but what everyone chooses for themselves? When Heaven is generally regarded as a legend?
• What is truth? – when the culture rejects Absolute Truth, and operates according to Relativism, “relative truth”? When Jesus said, “I am the Truth and the Life,” and we take it as merely His opinion, the rantings of a Nice Man?

When did we become a Culture of Death? What are the signs? – among many signs are legal abortion and mercy killings (excuse me, “assisted death”) of the elderly; the promotion of homosexuality, which obviously is antithetical to life and procreation; same-sex “marriage,” by the same standard; the ubiquity and toleration of drugs, which is a suicidal tendency; the prevalence of divorce, abuse, and illegitimacy; the de facto abandonment of Christian principles in homes, schools, the public square.

Of the rear-guard battles fought by Christians today, we really ought to surrender “under God” in the Pledge, and “In God We Trust” from the currency. Is America one nation under God? In God we trust – really? Do we?

Easter Day has passed… but is Easter “over”? Did Jesus rise… or not? If He lives, does He live in America? Does He live in your heart? Is this a nation of Life… or a Culture of Death?

Ask yourself, and look into the hearts of loved ones:
Do you rejoice over the New Life?
Do you return to the old ways?
Do you care?


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Click: Miserere Mei