{"id":168,"date":"2009-02-10T19:45:24","date_gmt":"2009-02-10T19:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/wordpress\/?p=168"},"modified":"2009-02-25T19:59:31","modified_gmt":"2009-02-25T19:59:31","slug":"feb-8-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/?p=168","title":{"rendered":"February 8, 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHRIST THE HEALER<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

ON FEBRUARY 8th<\/sup>, 2009<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mark 1:35 “In the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place – and there he prayed.”<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I know exactly what Saint Mark is describing! On Tuesday evening I returned from holiday, and because of jetlag didn’t sleep much. Thursday I woke up at 3.30am, and on Friday 4.30am.\u00a0 <\/span>So I was sitting at my desk saying my prayers and Office – and it was a wonderful time to be praying. San Diego was dark, and there was hardly a sound. Nothing else to do but to focus on God.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Whilst this was an accident of time for me, for Jesus is was a necessity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s gospel Saint Mark paints a wonderful picture of Jesus’ busy life. Not only was early morning the only opportunity for Jesus to pray – it was essential if he was to fulfil his mission.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the same way, the Church requires its clergy to say daily the divine office – so that prayer and scripture undergird their ministry.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As Episcopalians, we are also fortunate that our Book of Common Prayer contains the Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer for the laity to use.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The compiler of the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, Archbishop Cramner, wanted the laity to have this treasure. So he combined the 7-fold monastic office into the two Anglican offices of Morning and Evening Prayer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It comes from the example of Our Lord that we find in today’s Gospel.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>This time of prayer in the Gospel today was essential for Jesus – and it is also significant. It actually is a dividing point in the story.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Firstly, we notice the opening words: “And immediately he left the Synagogue”<\/em>. This refers to Jesus teaching in the Synagogue in Capernaum. Saint Luke records that he read from Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”<\/em>, and concluded by saying: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”<\/em>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When we look at all the four Gospels we see a pattern of events:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n