Please
remember that the Pasta Dinner is on November 24. Tickets are $25 for adults
and $10 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the back of the church
on weekends and from the office during the week. They are not available at the
door.
The
Evening with Santa is on December 1st. Tickets are $5 and are available at the
back of the church on weekends and from the office during the week.
SACRED
SCRIPTURE
Do
you recognize the signs of God's kingdom - signs that point to his power and
action in our lives and in the world around us? The Lord Jesus came to bring us
the kingdom of God and to set us free from bondage to sin, death, and
destruction and from the powers of the evil one who tempts us through lies and
deception. Jesus told his first
disciples that it was for their benefit that he return to his Father in heaven
in order for the Holy Spirit to come (John 16:7) and fill the earth with the
fire of God's love, truth, and glory. The Lord Jesus in every age fills his
people with the power of the Holy Spirit so that each one of us can hear his
voice, understand his truth, and sow the seeds of his word - the good news of
the Gospel - wherever he sends us. The Lord Jesus is preparing his people for
his return - for the day of "tribulation" and "shaking"
when he will appear "coming in clouds with great power and glory".
The
image of a "Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven" is taken
from the vision of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14). Daniel's vision is a
royal investiture of a human king before God's throne. This king, whose
authority comes from God, is given power to rule over "all peoples,
nations, and languages" (Daniel 7:14). The kingdom which he comes to
establish cannot be broken or destroyed because it is built on the foundation
of God's justice, truth, and holiness. The day of the Lord's return will be
unlike any other moment in time, history, and destiny for the human race and
our place in God's creation. Then the "stars of heaven will fall and all
will be shaken" before the presence of the Lord when he comes. Then the
peoples of the earth and their rulers will know who is the true King and Ruler
over all.
What
lesson does the Lord Jesus want us to learn from the parable of the budding fig
tree? The fig tree was a common and important source of food for the Jews. It
bore fruit twice a year, in the autumn and in the early spring. The prophet
Joel mentions its fruit-bearing as a sign of favor from the Lord (Joel 2:22).
The Talmud (a Jewish commentary and instruction on the Torah or Five Books of
Moses) said that the first fruit came the day after Passover. The Jews believed
that when the Messiah came he would usher in the kingdom of God at Passover
time. This parable foretells the joy of God's kingdom - the joy of new life and
the promise of a new age of peace and blessing. The signs of spring are evident
for all who can see. Just so are the signs of God's kingdom. The
"budding" of God's kingdom begins first in the hearts of those who
are receptive to God's word. Those who trust in God's word will bear the fruits
of his kingdom. And what are the fruits of that kingdom? "The kingdom of
God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
The
first coming of the Lord Jesus is inseparably linked with his second coming at
the end of this present age. We do not know the day or hour when the Lord will
return again in glory. But now in this present age we can experience the
first-fruits of the kingdom of God - the abundant new life in the Holy Spirit
who dwells within us, and the fruits of the Spirit - love, peace, joy,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians
5:22-23) and so many other qualities which the Spirit works within us - thus
enabling us to love and serve others with tender hearted mercy, patience, and
goodness.
I
hope you all have a good week!
Fr. Phil
