My response...

I’ve had a number of questions lately. Some of which I’d like to address publicly. A whirlwind of unspiritual practice has flooded the Church. Both my brethren and I have entered into serious debate with our fellow brothers and sisters regarding the current ‘tetchy’ ecclesial climate. The Church of England, or, to put it bluntly, the General Synod, is now at a serious crossroads.

Rome has offered a provision- suitable for some, however not all have welcomed such a decision. Forward in Faith the flagship for those with theological difficulty with the ordination of women to the Priesthood and potentially the Episcopate devoted its national conference to the matter.

The provision, explained in the document Anglicanorum Coetibus has been examined by all parties. Some, naturally have welcomed its contents, others have found significant problems. There are many, including many of my friends who will swim the Tiber. The Church of England should respect that decision regardless of the cost, the loss of faithful, committed laity, and experienced dedicated Priests. There is a degree of inevitability here, many senior clerics have publicly welcomed the offer and have committed their future ministry to the Roman Catholic Church. Whilst this is regrettable their response is not without good reason.

My position unfortunately falls within the realm of uncertainty. As a layman, and possible Priest to be, if it be God’s will, I desire to serve within the Church of my Baptism and Confirmation, the Church of my upbringing. This is the Church in which my vocation has been formed; my faith has grown and deepened, the Church which I love, dearly, despite comments to the contrary.

Let me state plainly, I am an Anglican for a reason. I would like to qualify this statement with a number of examples of ‘Anglican Patrimony’ a term used frequently within the document.

The Church of England, the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion is renowned for her unique pastoral care system. This pastoral care system is fundamental to the Christian faith. Pastoral care finds its origins with Our Lord. This is reciprocated within the C of E, all are cared for, not just the Sunday Parishioners. The ‘Cure of Souls’ works on Parish level, not simply on Church attendance- this is the centre jewel in the Anglican Crown. Excellent Priestly formation in our Colleges turns this concept into realisation, this is unquestionable.

Anglican tradition is obviously been central to our understanding of Patrimony. The grandeur of our musical achievements, namely the Choral tradition (and its many variations) is not to be reviled but to be honoured and preserved. Our academic impact has been second to none, with figures such as Andrewes, Farrer and Ramsey to name but a few gracing our illustrious history.

I fully accept that the Church of England will proceed with its plans to consecrate women to the Episcopate, this is theologically rational, if a Church is to have women Priests it must have women Bishops, the nature of these ministries our interchangeable and it would actually be sexist to disallow the situation to continue. This is fundamentally wrong.

However, some including myself have significant theological issues regarding this the ordination of women- this is a respected position according to General Synod and the Lambeth conference, resolution 111.2 (Lambeth Conference 1998) asserted ‘that those in favour of the ordination of women and those opposed are equally loyal Anglicans’. This resolution, sadly has not always been upheld, this is evident in the lack of traditional senior clergy within Diocesan structures.

Regardless of this, the Church must make provision for all, as we know the C of E has always made provision for a number of different beliefs.

I have recently heard that a traditional Parish has been vandalised and its Vicar been threatened with violence if the Parish embraces the Pope’s offer. This is unacceptable, just as unacceptable as women being threatened in their own parishes simply because of their gender. I hope the Church takes heed of the situation that it finds itself in. There are many traditionalists, who want to stay, as one of those people I humbly beseech the Synod to provide what we need to flourish, gracefully and lovingly. I accept that the majority of the C of E disagrees with me theologically; this has been the case on a number of different issues however we have always remained united. Again, I ask those within the Church who agree with me or not to pray for the situation we are all in, and ask that the grace and holiness be placed at the centre, as we approach the penitential season of Advent- may we engage with Christ as we once again we praise and bless thee Loving Father.

Sermon

Hello to all in Blogsphere! Apologies once again for the lack of blogging as of late.

I recently gave this sermon at St Matthew & St James Church, Liverpool.

The Churches Evening service was the setting, its theme the book of Judges, my job- Samson's death.

Sunday 6th September 2009

Samson: ‘God in our weakness’ Judges 16:23-31

‘Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam’

+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Tonight, I’ve been given the opportunity to look at an Old Testament figure who is probably more famous for his promiscuity than his heroic, liberating deeds.

Tonight we encounter Samson. Again!

However, tonight is going to be slightly different, we are going to encounter the man, a person who according to the Biblical text, was chosen to be a liberator of the Israelites at the moment of his conception (Judges 16:17). His plan was outlined and he lived it out to what he thought was the best of his ability, perhaps we can see the emergence of the Prophet Jeremiah’s teaching in chapter 29, ‘for I know the plans I have for you’, I don’t think that needs much explanation (all I will say is although I’ve just jumped a few hundred years in terms of Biblical history, I wouldn’t worry, within the Ancient Near East, people were less concerned with dating and time periods, so never fear, our demand for them is a facet of our modern western society as any historian will know), but I won’t dwell on that….

Before we attempt to understand the situation, and thus the message conveyed, the most important thing to do is to look at the context. Here at Hilltop we practice the art of Hermeneutics…. Yes, I thought the majority of you would look at me strangely there. That’s the Greek art of ‘interpretation’ and to be contextual is the first stage at the process, the next stage looks at what the text actually says, then how it is to be understood, and finally applying the message to our own lives.

I’m going to be quite traditional tonight. No surprise there then. I’m going to use a method of heremeneutics as employed by the Fathers of the Church in the Apostolic and post Apostolic age- that is looking at the Old Testament through the lens of the New, the complete revelation. Of course the Old Testament stands on its own as Scripture, this is not disputable - otherwise we fall into Marcionism, a heresy propagated by Marcion that the Church faced during its early years, affirming the New Testament (well, some of it) and rejecting the Old Testament. This view has, and continues to be, completely unacceptable.

That aside let’s begin…

The Judges are a group of people set aside to maintain order within the Promised Land as conquered by Joshua, they are in one respect like regents, they prefigure the ancient monarchical system of Israel. As Maggie told us a few weeks ago, there was a concept of monarchy within Abimelech’s mind. The famous late Anglican Theologian, Professor Henry Chadwick, who was at one time Regius Professor of both Oxford and Cambridge Universities sums it up rather well I think: ‘The Old Testament was seen as the history of a people with an ineradicable capacity for apostasy, despite the continual warnings of the prophets’.1 I think Professor Chadwick puts it better than I ever could.

So, in short, the ministry of the Judges is to promote Monotheism, this is across the board with all of the Judges, as we’ve travelled through the series encountering Deborah, Ehud and many others, their ministry is the same, to promote the oneness and unity of God, as summarised in Deuteronomy 6, the Shema, which reads:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.

It is before the system of the Judges that this is initiated; the Judges fulfil Joshua’s command of promoting and defending this monotheism which features in chapter 23 of the book that bears his name.

Let us look to the text.

Verse 23 is were we start our reading tonight and this is a verse that is particularly is striking: ‘The Philistine chiefs assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god’, immediately we have here a clear indication of the Judges mission, poly and henotheism, that is the belief in many or devotion to one god in particular, respectively.

This practice is rife, and contrary to the Prophets warnings. Why? Why? Are the people falling into sin, and disobeying the very nature of God, and his testament as ascribed in the Ten Commandments?

Well, the Hebrew people (who are not yet commonly known as Jews) are a diaspora community, they’ve travelled extensively, and in doing so, picked up lots of the habits of the ANE, or Ancient Near East, which are not always in accordance with the stipulations of the covenant. As we recall the Exodus, chapters 20 and 21, even upon receiving the law itself on Mount Sinai, Moses catches the liberated people worshipping the golden calf, this would set a pattern and almost what could be called a ‘way of life’ which the ‘chosen people’ would continue to embrace certainly up to the very latest prophets. This concept was defined in Germany, and is called ‘Heilsgeschichte’ which translates to ‘Salvation History’ – I’m not a linguist so I won’t pretend that I’ve pronounced that correctly! And I’m not pretending that I agree with everything the concept of Salvation History portrays, but it’s a good way of looking at situation, understanding it, and in turn trying not to fall into it, although through the fragility of our fallen human nature, that’s easier said than done- but more on that point later.

So, Salvation History can be summarised in four points which are very useful in understanding Samson’s role and what follows:

The people of Israel are the chosen people, this is a reality found in countless places within the Biblical texts.

The people of Israel stray from the ways of God, by breaking his commandments and thus the stipulations of the covenant.

God punishes the people through exile and captivity by foreign powers. Then God forgives, order is restored.

Finally, the whole situation starts again.

So, what are the main themes that run through this text having looked at the background and contextualised the situation? Let’s start with what Samson has done, in the previous chapter Samson, after cavorting with Delilah has given the game away; he has given up his gift, his strength, through seduction. This highlights a point, despite his exalted position he is able to, and indeed does sin, a consequence of the Fall, Original Sin which is formulated in its entirety by St Augustine of Hippo, who is, according to Alister McGrath, Professor at Oxford and writer of the Dawkins Delusion and many other texts, “the greatest most influential mind of the Christian Church throughout its long history’.2

The consequence, his strength, the gift that was bestowed upon him is lost through his own actions. Delilah after finding out the secret of his hair summons the Philistines, who take their revenge on him, as he had, as we found out last week with Tina, destroyed the Philistine’s crops, as a result they cut his hair and gouge his eyes, thus leaving Samson blind and powerless, the scriptures put it more strikingly: ‘Yahweh left him’ (Judges 16:20).

This understandably creates a huge problem for Samson; he is without his God, not a good position to be in under the circumstances. Although this is obviously devastating, it is not particularly surprising, for as a ruler of the people he has not, as I indicated at the start, behaved in a way that befits his status. 16:1 says: ‘seeing a prostitute, he went to her’, cultic prostitution was a thing seriously frowned upon. However, despite his failing he did, in a round about way please Yahweh, on a number of occasions.

But despite this he remains Judge of Israel, despite Yahweh leaving him. He is alone, he is understandably frightened, he knows he is about to die. Verse 25 says: ‘Bring out Samson to entertain us’ it is likely that the form of entertainment that was being anticipated would be to witness his painful death, that said the text goes on to say that ‘he performed for them’ it is unclear what he does here, but that doesn’t change the situation he finds himself in.

We then encounter the ‘hour of death’ verses 28-31 tell us of his death, he calls upon the Lord, and although he physically dies, and in doing so causes the death of thousands of Philistines his relationship with Yahweh is salvaged he returns to him once again. In many ways there is a good picture being built here. Here, we see a pattern of the New Testament hope emerging, through the work of Samson. This work is not in the killing of the tribal Ammorites, neither is it in his participation with Delilah, however, despite these failings, reconciliation can be achieved. These failings can be turned to greater hope.

The work that is most significant is actually Samson’s death.

It is a redemptive death.

Through his prayers and supplications at the end, he is empowered, despite his weaknesses, physically, mentally and emotionally, they are dismissed because of his faith that is manifested with his words, his plea gives him hope. To emphasise that it is his own death, based on his own merit would be wrong, for it is all by the inestimable grace of God, to suggest otherwise would be considered heresy, never fear I’m not going to give another history lesson about Pelagian theology!

What these extraordinary circumstances show that in Samson’s weakness, at his end, the so called ‘enemy’ which is ‘death’ according to Hebraic and Hellenistic thought, despite this ‘enemy’ staring him in the face, he is steadfast, his response is good. Psalm 34 comes to mind ‘I sought the Lord and he answered me and he delivered me from all my fears’ (34:4). As a result of his faith, and his plea, the temple is destroyed, along with his pagan captors.

However, despite his somewhat glorious end there appears to be something out of sorts, something which has been mentioned but not dwelled upon throughout this current series. Something which every Christian, apologist or not, fears, that awful question, “doesn’t the God of the Old Testament, seem cruel in comparison to the revelation in the New Testament?”, I think a degree of honesty is in order here, I would say, well actually yes, the God of the Old Testament does appear cruel and jealous in fact the first of the Ten Commandments says ‘El Gannarah’ which translates to ‘jealous God’, but how on earth do we reconcile this picture with the person and works of Jesus?

I’m going to offer a few thoughts on the issue…

Over the last few weeks, a friend, who is sitting in front of me, she knows who she is, has asked me why, does God permit the death of children, and why does the God of the Old Testament seem so cruel? Unmercifully annihilating nations, such as the Amakelites, Babylonians, the people of Jericho and Canaan… the list continues.

Judges also illustrates this.

Perhaps some of you saw the BBC programme entitled God on trial, based at Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp, it shows a trial, the title is ‘Has God breached his Covenant?’ there arguments for and against are put before a Rabbinical council and in the programme, the Rabbi recalls the history of the Jewish people, from their liberation through the Exodus, travelling in the wilderness and entrance into the promised land. Whilst affirming that God is on their side he suggests that he is indeed cruel and unmerciful. How can this be reconciled? I think it only fair that the problem is looked at.

The scriptures attest to the sin of the nations. Some of which I mentioned just a few moments ago, this creates a problem, which is unacceptable to a Holy God.

Let me base this on a number of points to clarify, and after consideration of this we may come to some conclusions:

The nations disregard God, and all moral principles, granted that there are differences in morals at this time. For example the people of the ANE are involved daily in: incest, rape, child murder through sacrifice, idolatry, brutal torture and murder of the elderly and disabled. To give further example, the Assyrians method of murder was to slowly kill people by impaling their victims on poles and sliding them up and down until they died, then, after all that, they used their skin to make bags. Dismemberment of limbs was also common.

As a result of all this behaviour and idolatry, God pronounces judgement. He threatens with destruction.

This is then postponed in order to give the people in question time to repent and change their ways. For instance the Amalekites are given 400 years to repent and stop similar practices. They don’t.

Then, just prior to this judgement innocent people are given away out through expulsion.
Finally, God’s judgement is pronounced and many suffer the ultimate fate.

Harsh? Some would say yes, but let’s think rationally. As I have just mentioned the practices of the numerous nations, would this not cause outcry in the twenty first century, for example if broadcast on BBC News 24? Would we not feel it was our duty to stop this by force, perhaps acting brutally? Did we not feel the same way during the Second World War? Were mass genocide on a daily basis was common? What stops God feeling angry too, would this behaviour be acceptable in his sight? I don’t think it would, and we can quote the prophet Isaiah ‘my ways are not your ways’ we have to understand that we do not have the rationale or place to question the decision of God, but we do have intelligence to comprehend and have a small insight as to why these things happened. As I’ve just mentioned, would we just idly stand by? So is God really cruel, or is he just?

I think this goes some, and I concede not all the way to answering the question regarding what’s commonly termed as evil and punishment in the Old Testament, including our Judges series were death, e.g. the peg through the head, sword through the stomach and tonight the crushing of the Philistines through the destruction of the temple.

The destruction of the temple, Samson’s last act as Judge of Israel is memorable. All that the nation stands for in its pagan lifestyle is destroyed. Here we see poly and henotheistic society collapsing, quite literally. The ending of a cult or even the speaking out against such can result in its collapse, some 450 years later, circa, we encounter Samuel and his dealings with Ahab and Jezebel, similar things happen, another example would be of the Roman Emperor, propagation of Paganism over Christianity, Julian (now known as Julian the Apostate’s) pagan reign ended in 363 AD and Liberius, Bishop of Rome was then able to influence society enough to return to the true faith of Christ. 3

In this event, Samson’s great misfortune, we see perhaps a glimmer of hope, a hope of new life, resurrection. Here, we can contrast to Jesus pulling down the temple of sin, for through his redemptive actions there is life, indeed St Peter tells us, ‘the resurrection of the Lord is our hope’, perhaps we need, as the Psalmist says, to call upon the Lord, even in times of weakness for in those times the boundaries between God and us, do in a unexplainable way come ever closer. The great medieval mystic Thomas a Kempis suggested that ‘the acknowledgement of our weakness is the first step of repairing our loss’, so Kempis suggests that to feel weakness is to lose something. I think we can relate to Samson there in his loss… However, our God, the great provider is close at hand, what Jesus has done is to secure a hope, and as I mentioned earlier the great prophet Jeremiah’s words, ‘you will have a hope and a future’, or in the words of St John 10:10, ‘you will have life and life to the full’. Kempis wrote an influential document, ‘The Imitation of Christ’ which is marvellous, I’d just like to share a small extract with you- ‘O grace inestimable and marvellous worthiness, O love without measure singularly showed unto man, but what shall I yield unto God? And were with shall I recompense this so great grace and charity? Truly there is no thing I may give more agreeable to his mercy than to join my heart perfectly unto him. And when my soul shall perfectly unite with him then shall my inward parts joy! And then my Lord shall say unto me “if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee.” And I shall answer him “Blessed Lord I beseech thee to dwell with me for all the desire of my heart is to be with thee inseparably without departing.”

Despite hopeless situations we may find ourselves in, Jesus’ resurrection offers that hope and prospect of a ‘new heaven and new earth’ a place were weakness, and imperfection, have no hold, and life, true life endures forever, inseparably with him, and for our time on earth, he issues us with the directive, in the words of St Matthew 11:28: ‘come to me all of you that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart and you will have rest for your souls. ’

Amen


Endnotes
1. H. Chadwick, The Early Church, (London, 1993), p.22
2. A. McGrath, An Introduction to Theology, (Oxford, 2007)
3. H. Chadwick, The Early Church, (London, 1993), p. 158-159

Bibliography
A. McGrath, An Introduction to Theology, (Oxford, 2007)
H. Chadwick, The Early Church, (London, 1993).
Bible- The New Jerusalem Version, The New Revised Standard Verson & The New International Version

Corpus Christi

Friends, I must apologise (once again) for my lack of blogging activity as of late, its been the revision season once again! Thankfully all is now over!

Today, see's the celebration for Corpus Christi, that is the Body of Christ for those unfamilar to Latin terminology, apologies to those of you that are. Last night, I was at the lovely Parish of S. John the Baptist, Tuebrook were the famous Fr Paul Nener is Vicar. The celebrations started with Solemn Vespers from the Prayerbook, followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament and then Solemn Benediction, a splendid occasion with good attendance with people travelling from far and wide.

Corpus Christi, a day in the Churches year were we celebrate the very Body of Christ that hung at Calvary, a day were we remember Christ's words of instiution of 'take eat', a day were praise echoes throughout Holy Church directed towards the heavens to the resurrected Christ, a day of celebration and remembrance. St Paul in his famous 1 Corinthians 11 explains the mystery of the Eucharist declaring the true presence of Christ, but for clarity I think St John has it in chapter 6 of his Gospel, were the language is clear, for example the word 'munch' is used for eat. This is a day of real celebration for the whole Church.

'Hoc est enim Corpus meum'

Tantum ergo Sacramentum

Veneremur cernui:

Et antiquum documentum

Novo cedat ritui:

Praestet fides supplementum

Sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque

Laus et jubilatio,

Salus, honor, virtus quoque

Sit et benedictio:

Procedenti ab utroque

Compar sit laudatio.

Amen.

or

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! o'er ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.
To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty.
Amen.

Now, a little liturgical and cultural glimpse. You may wish to forward the video to 7.20.

Resurrectio Domini, Spes Nostra

A very Happy Easter to you all! Peace be with you! The day has finally arrived, after what has been a long lent, we now celebrate the Paschal mystery, the rising of the Salvator Mundi, the Saviour of the World. The Resurrection does three things, it is first and foremost an Eschatological breakthrough, the Resurrection of Christ informs, guarantees and secures our own Resurrection. Secondly, the sin and death of the first Adam has been overcome, new life is avaliable to all. Thirdly, the Resurrection fixes the problem of the fall, were we fall through sin, Christ's Resurrection allows us to rise in glory, to be with him in the realm of the Kingdom, we can feast with the Lamb of God, through his sacrifice and then glorious transformation.

'Praise be to God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ who in his great mercy gave us a new birth into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.' Peter 1:3

God passionatley wants all to 'believe and have eternal life' (S. John 20:31) Believe on the Lord and you will be saved.

Patrick Kelly

Whilst the Roman Catholic Bishop's were taking in the announcement of a new leader, one was celebrating. That is the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool. Archbishop Patrick was celebrating his silver jubilee of consecration to the Sacred Episcopate. A special Mass was held, the Archbishop being the celebrant at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral. A lovely occasion, it was ecumenical with plenty of fellow Anglicans in attendance, the Bishops of Warrington, David Jennings and Blackburn, Nicholas Reade. Alongside, the Dean of Liverpool, Justin Welby and a number of the Chapter. A lovely occasion, the Mass started by reading aloud a letter which he has written to +Vincent, subsequently his new boss, at one point, Patick had been in charge with him being Vice President of the Council, and de facto deputy. Vincent Malone, auxillary Bishop in Liverpool spoke eloquently of his Archbishop as did the Papal Nuncio who read aloud a letter from His Holiness Pope Benedict. This was followed by closing words from the outgoing Cardinal, Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

Archbishop Patrick is a true pastor with a passion for the Gospel. He is gracious and willing to spend time with every single person, even those who are not members of his flock, although he did say tonight that his grandparents were Anglicans, he has special affection! May God bless him in ministry.

Vincent Nichols

Today has been momentous for the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. The new Archbishop of Westminster has been announced, the office goes to the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, currently Archbishop of Birmingham.

Archbishop Nichols will be installed in May at Westminster Cathedral, London. Having met the Archbishop on numerous occasions, he is in my opinion fit for office. He is gracious and deeply thoughtful, whilst an obvious lover of his Church. Last year I attended a lecture entitled Proclaiming Christ in a multifaith city, Liverpool. Today and tomorrow he will face this task again, only this time it'll be back in London, where he once served as an auxillary Bishop under Cardinal Basil Hume (Requiescante In Pacem). May we all hold +Vincent in our prayers as he undertakes this new ministry, and his obedience to the Lord, of 'come, follow me'.

The Annunciation

Today the reality of the Incarnation comes to us again. Christmas is a time of celebration, a time when the Church specifically remembers the birth of Christ, the begining of his earthly life. However, the Annunciation brings this to light, the joyful response of Mary, "be it unto thee according to thy word" is fundamental to the whole Christian story. The Annunciation, the great announcement from the Angel Gabriel and the acceptance by Mary lead to one thing, the Imago Dei, the Image of God, in which we are made becomes more comprehendable, through the reality of Christ's dwelling, whilst not physically present to touch and see at this moment, he is a person, full of grace and truth, inside Mary's womb. Let us give thanks today for Christ's dwelling among us as a satisfaction for our sin, for Mary's obedience and for the goodness of God.

There is a devotion to the Annunciation, its called the Angelus. Its a common, but extremely beautiful prayer, drawing upon the Angel's message, Mary's acceptance and the salvation that will spring from it. It should be prayed at 6am 12pm and 6pm.

V/. The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary;

R/. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

R/. Be it done to me according to thy word.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V/. And the Word was made flesh;

R/. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V/. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray, We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that as we have known the Incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his + cross and passion, we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.