{"id":276,"date":"2010-10-26T16:01:32","date_gmt":"2010-10-26T16:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/wordpress\/?p=276"},"modified":"2010-10-26T16:01:32","modified_gmt":"2010-10-26T16:01:32","slug":"pentecost-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/?p=276","title":{"rendered":"Pentecost 22"},"content":{"rendered":"

KYRIE ELEISON<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON October 24th<\/sup> 2010<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/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

Luke 18:13 \u201cGod be merciful to me, a sinner.<\/em><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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

If you have been to an Orthodox church service (perhaps Russian Orthodox or Greek Orthodox) you will know that the phrase Kyrie Eleison <\/em>occurs regularly throughout the liturgy.\u00a0 <\/span>It is Greek for \u2018Lord have mercy,\u2019 which in our Book of Common Prayer is translated, \u2018Lord have mercy upon us\u2019.\u00a0 <\/span>The Kyrie Eleison <\/em>at the beginning of our liturgy echoes the tax collectors words in Luke 18:13, God be merciful to me, a sinner<\/em>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

In an Orthodox liturgy, the refrain is featured prominently though-out the service. The refrain is part of processions and <\/span>litanies <\/span>of intercession and praise.\u00a0 <\/span>It is not just a cry for forgiveness of sins, but a bigger and broader cry of, \u201cLord have mercy.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

In our Mass, the Kyrie occurs just once.\u00a0 <\/span>It is trinitarian, being said three times.\u00a0 <\/span>The first \u2018Lord have mercy’, is addressed to the Father.\u00a0 <\/span>The second \u2018Christ have mercy’, is to the Son, and the third ‘Lord have mercy\u2019 is to the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 <\/span>To emphasize this trinitarian <\/span>formula, at a sung Mass we sing each petition three times.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

However, whereas the English \u2018Lord have mercy upon us\u2019 reflects the tax collectors\u2019 cry of penitence, the haunting refrain of ‘Kyrie Eleison” in an Orthodox liturgy is a cry for the Lord to not only have mercy on us, but on those we intercede for, and on the whole world. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Coming at the beginning of the Eucharist, the Kyrie <\/span>is a penitential prayer to the Trinity. This is very necessary.\u00a0 <\/span>We sometimes come to Mass late, rushed, or not in a prayerful mood.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps we are chatting about irrelevant things before we enter the door. Episcopalians can be very much like the Pharisee, rather than the tax collector.\u00a0 <\/span>We are glad to be members of our parish, and are proud to belong to All Saints\u2019.\u00a0 <\/span>We enjoy our worship, and we know we are assured of salvation.\u00a0 <\/span>We are content with that.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps, we can be judgmental about those we don\u2019t agree with \u2013 very much like the Pharisee. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

The concept of sin these days seems to be pushed out of sight, and the phrase, \u2018Lord have mercy\u2019 doesn\u2019t have the impact it used to have.\u00a0 <\/span>The Bible is quite clear that sin is a reality in the world. Although it may have no relevance to our secular culture, the condition of our secular culture does not justify the denial of sin.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Our society is much more violent than it used to be.\u00a0 <\/span>More and more young people are lost, both practically and spiritually.\u00a0 <\/span>Youth suicide is increasing at an alarming rate.\u00a0 <\/span>People do wrong things – they deceive and are corrupt, particularly those in power.\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe, we are all just selfish.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

By contrast, the Pharisee, who seemed to be none of these things, but a good man – a churchgoer we might say – is portrayed by Jesus as the bad guy.\u00a0 <\/span>The man who stands afar off and says, \u201cLord have mercy on me, a sinner,<\/em>\u201d is the good guy, the righteous man.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

What does this tell us?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Firstly, in Western society there is an avoidance of the reality of sin and brokenness.\u00a0 <\/span>Most of us, when we see things we don\u2019t like, simply get on with our lives and avoid being involved.\u00a0 <\/span>When life does fall apart, people seek solace through therapy, or something less confronting \u2013 like shopping!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

The world\u2019s solution is not the way of Christ.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

For us, who claim to be followers of Jesus, the solution is a lot harder.\u00a0 <\/span>Not only do we have to acknowledge our sins (like the tax collector) but we must live according to Christian principles in a world that can be hostile, at worst, or just plain indifferent.\u00a0 <\/span>To be a Christian now in this \u2018Christian country,\u2019 often means to stand apart from the crowd, to walk in a different direction.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s not so easy, is it?\u00a0 <\/span>We don\u2019t like to be different than the crowd.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

The Christian poet, G.K. Chesterton <\/span>said: \u201cDead things go with the tide.\u00a0 <\/span>It takes a living thing to swim against the current<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

What about the temptations that come day-by-day, which often don\u2019t seem like temptations?\u00a0 <\/span>What about plain laziness.\u00a0 <\/span>For instance, there was a time that it was considered a sin not go to Mass on Sunday without due cause, especially for Catholics.\u00a0 <\/span>These days, many Christians would say that\u2019s not a sin; it\u2019s a matter of choice.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s not that they disagree with the Church\u2019s teaching, but because they don\u2019t see it as that important.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Church going is not number one on the Sunday morning list, even for Christians these days.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s because we live in a society in which individualism defines our culture.\u00a0 <\/span>What I think is important, is what\u2019s important.\u00a0 <\/span>The importance of anything is the importance I assign to it, no matter what others think.\u00a0 <\/span>Isn\u2019t that the basis of politics today?\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

For Christians, even though we may acknowledge sin and be uncomfortable with it, we know it is obliterated by God\u2019s all-encompassing forgiveness.\u00a0 <\/span>In our liturgy absolution of sin follows confession.\u00a0 <\/span>In the sacrament of confession there is a also a penance, which is a way of saying sorry to God.\u00a0 <\/span>Here is another thing that has gone by the way <\/span>– apologising.\u00a0 <\/span>The real Christian teaching is that because we are forgiven, we, in turn, forgive others.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only person who finds sinning easier than forgiving!\u00a0 <\/span>Too many people remain bitter because they cannot forgive a past injustice or hurt.\u00a0 <\/span>We need to remember that the only petition in the Lord\u2019s prayer that has a condition attached to it is, \u201cForgive our trespasses – as we forgive those who trespass against us<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

This simple lesson from the Lord\u2019s Prayer is illustrated wonderfully in II Timothy 4.\u00a0 <\/span>In this Epistle, St. Paul is writing to his young prot\u00e9g\u00e9, Timothy.\u00a0 <\/span>He is about to face his final trial, to be jailed and then martyred.\u00a0 <\/span>He begins by saying, \u201cFor I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.\u00a0 <\/span>I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>He then talks about the crown of glory that is laid up for him.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Then he says these words: \u201cAt my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me.\u00a0 <\/span>May it not be charged against them!<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>In other words, the previous time Paul was on trial for being a Christian, all the other Christians in Rome were nowhere to be seen. They deserted him.\u00a0 <\/span>He had every right to be bitter, angry, and even unforgiving.\u00a0 <\/span>We don\u2019t know why they deserted him.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps, it was because of the persecution of Nero, and they didn\u2019t want to risk their lives by standing up for St. Paul.\u00a0 <\/span>The thing is, Paul prays for their forgiveness.\u00a0 <\/span>For those who abandoned him, he prays, \u201cMay it not be charged against them.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t know if I could follow Paul\u2019s example, but it is our example. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Another thing about forgiveness is the phrase, forgive and forget.\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve heard people say, \u201cI can forgive, but I can\u2019t forget what they did to me.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Both are not easy – but forgetting after someone offends you is not necessarily a Christian virtue.\u00a0 <\/span>For instance, if you steal my wallet, I can forgive you and pray for you. But I will certainly not leave my wallet around the next time I see you. And I will not appoint you as the parish treasurer!\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Forgiveness does not mean an absence of consequences for our sin.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Forgiveness is an act we choose to do, but at times the sin committed has a consequence. Sometimes we have to remember.\u00a0 <\/span>Nor does forgiveness suddenly make us feel good about that person.\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s not about our feelings.\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s a deliberate act of the will.\u00a0 <\/span>If we have the mind of Christ, we love our fellow sinners, even when we reject sin.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

In this parable in Luke 18, the Pharisee\u2019s problem was that he didn\u2019t know he was a sinner. And he didn\u2019t want to admit he was a sinner.\u00a0 <\/span>Let that not be our mistake. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Always remember, that for Christians, there is only one remedy for sin, and St. Paul wrote about it in I Corinthians 15:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KYRIE ELEISON SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON October 24th 2010 \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 Luke 18:13 \u201cGod be merciful to me, a sinner.\u201d \u00a0 If you have been to an Orthodox church service (perhaps Russian Orthodox or Greek Orthodox) you will know that the phrase Kyrie Eleison occurs regularly throughout the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}