Epiphany 3 - Monday - Feast of Phillips Brooks

Text: Matthew 24:24-27 (see below)

If I said, “Phillips Brooks” in a crowded room of Christians, very few people would recognize that name.  And yet, Brooks is remembered every Christmas Eve, for he was the author who penned “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” More than that, Phillips Brooks was one of the greatest American preachers of the nineteenth century. You can read many of his sermons on the internet. I have a collection of his writings in my office for he is one of my favorites.

He was a New Englander through and though. Born in Boston in 1835, he went on to be educated at Harvard and received his M. Div. from the Virginia Theological Seminary.  He served parishes in Philadelphia after seminary but is best remembered for his time at Trinity Church, Copley Square in Boston where he served as Rector from 1869 until 1891. There he proclaimed the Gospel Sunday after Sunday bringing many people to the faith. If you are in Boston on business or a visit, I encourage you to wander over to Copley Square. To the right of the large parish stands a statue of Brooks. The Church is well worth a visit.

The lesson from Matthew deals with end times. Some things never seem to change for generation after generation has been fascinated with the end of all things. We spend so much time focusing on what might happen, or when it might happen, or how it might happen, that we lose the most important moment that we have – NOW.

If you and I believe that God is ultimately in charge of all things and God is nothing but good and full of love, then why do we worry or focus so much on a future end time? Today is enough for me. I will try and live fully into THIS day – loving my God – loving my neighbor – and working for the betterment of the world and community in which I live.

Love One Another - Brian

Doing What Is Right

Aung San Suu Kyi

You should never let your fears prevent you from doing what you know is right.

Source: Verse and Voice website

Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel laureate and leader of the nonviolent movement for human rights and democracy in Burma

Matthew 24:24-27

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, “Look! He is in the wilderness”, do not go out. If they say, “Look! He is in the inner rooms”, do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.