I’m on vacation this week, so in lieu of the weekly Mettlemaker and Holy Communion service, I present the following new video. In a way, this video describes what Heritage Arts is all about. See you next week! Yours in Christ,
Archdeacon Mitch
Holy Communion 6/12/22: The Solemnity of the Holy Trinity
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, 6/12/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, June 12, 2022
Readings: Prv 8:22-31, Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9, Rom 5:1-5, Jn 16:12-15
John 16:12-15 American Standard Version
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. 15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
Today, brothers and sisters, in keeping with ancient tradition, we read as our homily the Athanasian Creed. Although scholars are relatively certain that St. Athanasius is not the true author (the most likely candidate is St. Vincent of Lérins or another Gaulish priest of the period) the Athanasian Creed is central to Christianity in the West. 1
“WHOSOEVER desires to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith. Which faith, except every one do keep entire and inviolate, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. Now the Catholic Faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is one; the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. As the Father is, such is the Son, such the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Ghost infinite. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal. As also they are not three uncreated, nor three infinites; but one Uncreated, and one Infinite.
In like manner the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son God, and the Holy Ghost God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.
For as we are obliged by the Christian Truth to acknowledge every Person to be God and Lord: so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are three Gods or three Lords. The Father was made by no one, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is by the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, not made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers: one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less; but the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is to be worshipped in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, that desires to be saved must thus believe of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man. He is God of the substance of His Father, begotten before the world; and He is man of the substance of His Mother, born in the world: Perfect God and perfect man; of rational soul and human flesh subsisting, Equal to the Father according to His Divinity; and less than the Father according to His humanity. Who, although He be both God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by the assuming of human nature unto God: One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
For as the rational soul and the body constitutes one man, so God and man is one Christ: Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, arose again the third day from the dead: He ascended into heaven; He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead: At whose coming all men must arise again with their bodies, and must give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully and steadfastly he cannot be saved.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall ever be, world without end, Amen.”
1 As published in A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1889) by Clarence E. Woodman. The archaic renderings “uncreates” modernized by the author to read “uncreated” in keeping with modern usage. All other archaisms left intact.
Sack, Hack, and Unpack: Mettle Maker #309
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Sack, Hack, and Unpack: Mettle Maker #309
Self-defense: Put in 3 rounds of “shadow wrestling.” Get out your floor bag and lay the smackdown on it. Come up with your own routine or watch the video on the left (and by the way, there’s a personal development bonus element to that drill that you won’t want to miss). Want more martial arts training info? Check our our free distance learning program.
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Wildwood. Check out this video about Danish outdoor kindergartens. The evidence is in — has been in for many, many years — that outdoor play is fantastic for kids and adults! Everybody wants to talk about “hacking” stuff, especially your brain. Here’s a great mental health “hack.” Go outside and engage in unstructured play, and take your kids with you if you have any. You’ll be glad you did. Is there enough interest to start an outdoor kindergarten here in Richmond? Well, if there was, Heritage Arts would love to be involved. If you would like to lend money, time, and/or resources to such a project, email me at mitch@heritageartsinc.com.
Spirit: There are four types of spiritual practice. The first three are contemplation, meditation, and prayer. What’s the fourth? Watch this video, unpack it’s message, and see if you can figure that out. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Mass 6/5/22: Pentecost - the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
Join us today as we celebrate Mass for Pentecost Sunday, 6/5/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
CLICK HERE to receive daily motivational text messages in your phone.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homilies for Pentecost Sunday
Readings: Acts 2:1-11, Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34, 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13, Jn 20:19-23
Archdeacon Mitch:
The idea that objective truth exists and can be understood by the average person is not something we should take for granted. Today we see everywhere in our culture, and around the globe, the dire consequences of doubt in the idea of objective truth. If we encourage everyone to “speak their own truth,” ignore science, and deny unpleasant facts, should we be shocked when absurd fictions resurface, like “flat earth theory?” Should we wonder why each political and social tribe has its own set of “truths?” No, we shouldn’t be surprised by this at all. It’s perfectly natural.
Since the dawn of history, every tribe has had its own truth. Every indigenous tribe of North America had its own language, customs, laws, and pantheon of gods – the Powhatan, Cree, the Commanche – just as every European tribe did – the Vikings, Celts, Picts, Greeks – and that was story across the globe, in Asia, Africa, the Levant, South America, and so on. The truth has always changed based on where you went. Based on your tribe. No case was made for objective truth outside Christianity, especially not in sacred books. The Hindu Vedas, are recited for their sound, not for their meaning. They are intended to vibrate in tune with the cosmic chords of creation rather than to be interpreted. In Zen Buddhism, as Suzuki said, written texts are merely “fingers pointing at the moon.” Each Zen practitioner has his or her own personal encounter with truth through meditation. To Muslims, the Quran is the actual, literal word of God – written in Arabic and never to be recited in any language other than Arabic. The Torah are the written tales and stories of the Jewish people, and they are written, read, studied, and recited in Hebrew.
Certainly, all religions contain wisdom. And certainly, Christians understand that some truths are beyond words and must be experienced and embodied – like accepting into oneself the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ during Mass or Holy Communion. This is why we call them “the Sacred Mysteries.” But unlike other religions, Christianity makes the bold claim that there are universal truths that can be heard and understood by all people. Our God is the truth itself, and his son Jesus Christ – the Word made flesh – is “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6). And so, in today’s readings, at the climax of our most sacred season, we read the eyewitness account of the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – in which the apostles of Christ are given – by the power of the Holy Spirit – the ability to proclaim the truth to all people of all nations in their own language.
Don’t you see everybody – that’s why the Gospel has been translated into every human language! We never doubt the ability of the hearer to understand because we know the divine heritage of humanity. We see the potential in every beating human heart! And so, everywhere the Holy Bible has gone, people have heard the words of St. Paul in their own language, just as we heard them today: “For in one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free.” Everywhere the Bible has gone, people have heard Jesus – the Word of Truth made flesh! – speak directly to them in their own languages, saying “love your enemies and bless those that curse you,” that blessed are the poor, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the ones who are persecuted, that “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.”
There’s a reason why Christian believers are called “witnesses.” We believe in these truths and we have seen them for ourselves. Cry out brothers and sisters, “Come Holy Spirit come!” Proclaim, in your native tongues, the good news – tell the world that in Christ we all are one, that all human beings are brothers and sisters descended from the same two parents who were themselves made in the image of God. Wherever there is reversion to stale and backward ideas of subjective truth, don’t let the clock be turned back to bygone, tribal eras. Cry out “Come Holy Spirit, come! Shine your light into that darkness and make it bright!”
Bishop Erik:
This Sunday We Celebrate, the Feast of Pentecost.
Tonight, We Celebrate God’s Spirit, God’s Breath, God’s Love, Being Poured-Out, Upon the World.
This Spirit of God, which Saint John calls,
the Paraclete [ par-ah-klete ] [ EW-1 ] is Sometimes also called, –– the Holy Spirit, or
–– the Spirit of Christ. [ Cf. 1 Cor 12:3-13; Rom 8:8-17; Acts 2:1-4 ]
By What-Ever Name, We Give to It, the Love of God, is Being Poured Out Upon Us,
as was Promised by Jesus Christ.
This is the Life of God,
Being Poured-Out Upon Us,
[ John 14:26 ]
through which, we are Created, and Sustained.
[ Ps 104:30 ]
It is through the Breath of God, God’s Ruach,
[ EW-2 ]
that We Have Life.
All these Words, Flow Together,
Painting an Image of God’s Love for Us,
[ Ps 104:29 ]
of God Creating Us, Breathing Life into Us, Sustaining Us, and Calling to Us;
[ Gen 2:7 ]
Desiring that We Join His Divine Family,
Heirs of the Spirit of God ––the Spirit of Christ–– and that We Know, God the Father, as Our Abba,
Our Father, by Adoption Through Christ. [ Rom 8:14-17 ]
For We ALL Drink of One Spirit. [ 1 Cor 12:13 ]
In Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, [ Rom 8:8-17 ]
Paul is trying to get us to Understand, that we Each, have a Choice to Make…
We can Follow the Path of the Flesh, the Way of the World; but that Path Leads, only to Death.
Our Other Choice, is to Choose Life, to Choose the Way of Christ, and to Allow His Spirit to Life Through Us, to Dwell, With-In Our Spirit;
And as a Result of the Spirit of Christ, Residing, Abiding, With-In Us, we Have Life.
And this Life,
is the “Spirit of Adoption,” [ Rom 8:15 ] and That Spirit,
–– the Spirit of Life, Abiding With-In Us –– will Testify for Us, As Our “Advocate,” to God the Father,
Claiming Us, as Heirs, as Children,
of the Spirit of Christ. [ Rom 8:16-17 ]
It is for this Reason, that We May All Acclaim, as Our “Alleluia” Proclamation Cries Out…
“O Come, Holy Spirit,
Fill the Hearts of the Faithful, and Kindle in Us, the Fire of Your Love.”
And in Our Gospel Reading for this Pentecost Sunday,
We Hear the Promise of Jesus, Calling to Us, Across the Centuries of Human History, and from the Eternal Sanctuary in Heaven, which, We Share,
During Our Celebration of the Eucharist.
Jesus Said, [ Cf. John 14:23-26; John 20:19-23 ]
“Whoever Loves Me will Keep My Word,”
This “Love,” is the Same Love that is Rooted in agape, [ S. 25 ] which we Spoke of Last Week.
This Love is Rooted in the Love of God, and in Loving in Such a Way, as the Love of God, for His Creation, is Manifested in Our Lives.
“...and My Father will Love Them, and We will Come to Them,
and Make Our Dwelling with Them.” [ v. 23 ]
This Word for “Dwelling,” is monen, in the Greek. [ S. 3438 ]
We Recently Encountered this Same Word, when Jesus was Speaking, of Preparing for Us,
“Many Mansions.” [ John 14:2 ]
This Word is only used Twice, in the New Testament, and both Times by Jesus, in the Gospel According to John.
And, I Remind You, this Has Nothing to Do with Buildings…
This is Christ Living With Us,
Abiding With-In Us, and the Meaning, is to be Understood as, Our Constant Companion.
Thus, when Christ Abides with Us, in this Way, it is an Eternal Event.
The Spirit of Christ, will be with Us, For-Ever.
Jesus, then Speaks of the Sending of the Holy Spirit,
–– the Advocate, the Paraclete –– that God the Father, Sends to us, in the Name of Jesus…
“The Advocate, the holy Spirit, that the Father will send in my name — will Teach You Everything, and
Remind You, of All that [I] Told You.”
[ v. 25 ]
Here, “All,” means “All,” as in ‘Everything that is Important,
Everything, that is Relevant,
Everything, that is for Your Benefit.’
[ S. 3956 ]
And the “Reminding,” is a Kind of Remembrance,
Due to Prompting,
Which Suggests to Me, that the Holy Spirit, is Not Only In-Dwelling,
[ S. 5279 ]
But Actively So!
The Holy Spirit –– if We Only Open Ourselves to It –– Will Teach Us Everything, that Jesus Taught, and Will Actively Prompt Us, Reminding Us, of Everything that Jesus Has to Share with Us.
This is an Active Love, and Active Participation, of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, in Our Life.
This Morning I Came Across a Homily,
Written by Father Richard Rohr, in 2014. [ I commend his books & web site ]
I’ll Share a Few Lines with You, and Provide a Link to His Homily in My Footnotes… [ EW-2 ]
“God does Not give God’s Spirit to those of us who are W orthy , because None of us are Worthy.
“God gives God’s Spirit, in this Awakened Way, to those who W ant It.
So, “On this Feast of Pentecost... Quite Simply… … Want It!
… Rely upon it.
… Know, that you Already have it.”
– Fr. Richard Rohr (emphasis & formatting mine +EW)
“Why Do You Ask for What Has Already Been Given?” June 8, 2014.
https://cac.org/podcasts/pentecost-why-do-you-ask-for-what-has-already-been-given-to-you/ https://cac.org/
And Jesus, Promises This Too…
‘My Peace Be With You.’ [ John 14:27 ][ EW-4 ]
This “Peace,” is Shalom… the Complete-ness, the Whole-ness, the Inter-Connected-ness,
That We May Only Experience, by Living in God’s Presence, Abiding with God’s Spirit.
This, is the Peace of Christ.
And this Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost, We Remember the Words of Jesus, and We Share them with Others…
“Peace be with you.”
And After Saying This, He Breathed on Them,
Jesus, Gifts to Us, the Breath of Life Itself,
Saying,
“Receive the holy Spirit.” [ v. 21-22 ]
And as Father Richard Rohr, Reminds Us…
“God does Not give God’s Spirit to those of us who are Worthy, because None of us are Worthy.
“God gives God’s Spirit, in this Awakened Way, to those who W ant It.
So… “On this Feast of Pentecost…
… W ant It!
… Rely upon it.
… Know, that you A lready have it.”
This is the Good News we share!
May you be Blessed, in the Name of, the Father, the Son ++ and the Holy Ghost.
Amen!
Excerpts: Mettle Maker #308
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Excerpts: Mettle Maker #308
Self-defense and fitness combo: Try the training session on the left. If you’re not into martial arts, so what? It’s still solid, practical fitness. But if you are, you’ll be doing martially-relevant material. I know I sound like a broken record, but you really must think about what you are training for, and keep it specific. Check out this fun snippet on strenghth from Henry Attie Stone's "Wrestling, Intercollegiate and Olympic" (1950).
Want more fitness and/or martial arts training info? Check our our free distance learning programs.
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Wildwood. Check out this snippet from The Outdoor Omnibus by Stewart Edward White (1911). Truer words never spoken. Great book. Read it. Then go get dirty. Or even better — get dirty first, then read it.
Spirit: Stay tuned for tomorrow’s homily. It’s going to be about truth, and you really need to hear it. Come back tomorrow, click here, and the link will be good then. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Holy Communion 5/29/22: The Ascension of the Lord
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Ascension of the Lord, 5/29/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
CLICK HERE to receive daily motivational text messages in your phone.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homily for the Ascension of the Lord
Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9, Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23, Lk 24:46-53
Luke 24:46-53 American Standard Version
46 and he [Christ] said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 Ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.
50 And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 and were continually in the temple, blessing God.
Brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel reading, Christ says four things. First he says look, I’ve been telling you this stuff for my entire ministry. I’ve been telling you how events were going to unfold, and you’ve been pretty dense. You knew this was coming. This shouldn’t be a shock. Get with the program. Next he tells them that everything written about him in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms was being fulfilled in him. He says, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” You should note that your Bibles do not footnote this statement to a specific Old Testament passage because there isn’t one. Nowhere does the Old Testament literally say that the Messiah was to suffer and rise on the third day. It’s all allegorical, metaphorical, typological, and tropological. Luke says that Christ, “opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” This is important, because it emphasizes a less fundamental way of approaching, not just the scriptures, but all things of ultimate concern.
Third, Christ says “you are witnesses of these things.” You’ve seen it with your own eyes. So don’t let anybody convince you that you didn’t see the things you saw. When people state falsehoods, set them straight on the facts. And lastly, Christ says, “I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power on high.” He’s telling them not to go wandering about proselytizing, healing people, casting out demons, and so forth until the Holy Ghost has descended upon them. And that’s what they do — the the disciples are obedient — they stay in the temple, continually blessing God.
Okay, so I’ve broken it down completely for us. Great. Terrific. But what are we supposed to do with it? Well, look here: these aren’t dusty old words in a book spoken by some wise moral teacher who may or may not have really existed a couple of thousand years ago. These are not the words of some dead social reformer. Nor are they the musings of another political activist or community organizer from a history book. These are the words of the risen Christ. He’s very, very alive. And he wasn’t just talking to the disciples back then – he’s speaking to you right now. So let’s run through them again.
Don’t be bullheaded, dense, and deliberately ignorant. Get with the program. Everything that that was written in the scriptures is fulfilled in him. So, as you go about proclaiming the good news to all the nations, don’t be fundamentalists and harsh literalists – use all your interpretive faculties to see things metaphorically and allegorically. But you are also witnesses to the fact of the Resurrection. Don’t let anybody convince you that it didn’t really happen.
And don’t you dare leave the temple until the Holy Ghost has descended upon you. Don’t you dare go out there witnessing, preaching, and proselytizing until you are filled up with the Holy Ghost. You need that. Because everybody knows that mere mortals – human social reformers, policy makers, and activists – are only able to achieve modest, temporary successes. If you believe that’s all Jesus was, you’ll never withstand persecution, negativity and evil. If you think you’re working for temporary change on behalf of just another wise, but deeply flawed human activist, you’ll very quickly run out of steam.
But if you are filled with the Holy Ghost – if you always have in mind that you are in the service of the risen Christ – you will never be deterred from your mission to bring permanent change to the form of life everlasting, and the coming of a new heaven and a new earth.
Christ is risen indeed, brothers and sisters – he his risen indeed!
Fisticuffs: Mettle Maker #307
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Fisticuffs: Mettle Maker #307
Self-defense: Work on your “fisticuffs.” It’s hard to defend yourself against someone who has longer reach, superior speed, and greater mobility. Make cuffing your friend, so that if you can’t hit them, you can at least hit their arms and wrists. It works. Get there. Want more? Check our our free self-defense distance learning program.
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Fitness. Are you looking to get fit, or looking to get lean? Fitness is about capabilities. Getting lean is about looking good with your shirt off. So, which is it you’re looking for? Some of the greatest fighters (Chuck Liddell, Royce Gracie, Ali) and athletes of all time (Charles Barkley, Babe Ruth) weren’t underwear models. Make up your mind and come up with a plan. Need help developing and sticking with a fitness program? Interested in learning outdoor skills? We’ve got both! Check our our free distance learning programs.
Mind-Body-Spirit Combo! Watch the video on the left, in which I explain some important concepts that are at the intersection of fitness, self-defense, and spirituality. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Heritage Arts at WEMCA Spring Celebration
On Saturday 5/21/22, Heritage Arts promoted its programs by attending WEMCA's first annual Spring Celebration from 11 AM to 3 PM. Heritage Arts has been affiliated with WEMCA (West End Manor Civic Association) since it began meeting on the WEMCA property in 2009.
Representing Heritage Arts were CEO and head instructor Robert “Mitch” Mitchell and student Cameron Boddie. Mitch and Cameron demonstrated martial arts techniques, answered questions, handed out flyers, and encouraged the community to take advantage of its programs.
“If you haven’t come out, you can’t use expense as an excuse because Heritage Arts is a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit, and our programs are 100% free,” Mitch said. “What are they Cameron?”
“100% free,” Cameron replied.
WEMCA, after over 20 years of dormancy, surged back to life in 2019 after residents engaged with Dan Schmitt, Brookland District Supervisor for Henrico County. Supervisor Schmitt partnered with the residents of West End Manor and enlisted revitalization funding and assistance from the county. Three years later, WEMCA is back on its feet.
WEMCA volunteers, with assistance from the county, have restored the building inside and out and have cleaned up and beautified the grounds. Thanks to everyone involved, the community can once again be proud of its public space.
Heritage Arts was an early and outspoken advocate for WEMCA, one of many West End Manor stakeholders who appeared at Henrico County meetings to petition for help cleaning up the grounds and getting the association back on track. “Heritage Arts is proud to have been a part of the revitalization efforts,” Mitch said. “We’ve been here from the beginning, working to preserve WEMCA for the benefit of the community. And we don’t plan on stopping any time soon.”
Holy Communion 5/22/22: Sixth Sunday of Easter
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, 5/22/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29, Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8, Rev 21:10-14, 22-23, Jn 14:23-29
Revelation 21:10-14 American Standard Version
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal: 12 having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
John 14:23-29 American Standard Version
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you. 26 But the [a]Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. 28 Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe.
Brothers and sisters, human beings love to argue, quibble, and fuss over the rules. This is why every sport we play has umpires and referees, and also why, in most sports, the punishment for fighting with an ump is ejection from the game. We all understand that individuals who fight with umps and refs, if allowed to stay and continue, will quickly be joined by others who agree or disagree. Eventually the benches will be emptied, and after that the bleachers, followed by the disintegration of the entire game. We all know this to be true. If there are no rules, there is no game.
Human beings are so argumentative that we can become completely obsessed with the rules themselves and entirely forget the point of the game. We’ve had to devise rules for arguing about the rules, which we call parliamentary procedure. The Commonwealth countries – the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and so on – use the Westminster model, but here in the United States we seem to prefer Robert’s Rules of Order.
We’re so prone to fighting that we even have to appoint special law enforcement officers to administer the laws governing the laws. We’ve had to appoint bailiffs to maintain order in the courtroom. And we’re so awful that we flee to avoid lawful punishment. So we also have sheriffs to go and arrest the people who break the laws for breaking the laws.
Christians are little better than the rest of the culture. We love to argue over the rules, from the big stuff right down to the minutia. We started with one holy, apostolic, church for all believers and argued ourselves into over 45,000 different denominations. Imagine that -- 45,000! And while we argue over doctrinal matters both great and small, Christianity continues its Western decline, especially in Britain and the United States. 43 of the 49 countries evaluated by the World Values Study in 2017 showed a decline in religion. The old religions are dying, to be replaced by the religion of hedonism and the church of entertainment.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will guide us, and that if we only love him, we will keep his word. Let me suggest, brothers and sisters, that the proof is in the pudding, as the saying goes. Clearly we have not been listening to the Holy Spirit. If we had, we would not be fragmented into 45,000 denominations. If we had, we would still be one church.
We have failed. And, given our fallen nature, that’s not such a great surprise, now is it? But we can see in today’s reading from Revelation the promise that lies in our future: a New Holy City of Jerusalem, in which our various tribes are united as one, joined by the apostles and the heavenly host, shining like a precious, jasper stone, clear as crystal. Everybody, listen: jasper is a cloudy green or red stone resembling jade. It is never as clear as crystal. This passage is telling us that when Jesus returns, that cloudiness will be made clear, the impossible will be made possible.
Can we get to the New Jerusalem ourselves? Of course not. But we can certainly do better than we have done these last 2,000 years. Now, today, we must get back to the work with which we were tasked by Jesus Christ. We must heed the Holy Spirit, love Jesus Christ, hear his word, and rejoin our divided communions. We must begin the work of rejoining into one our broken church, lying in 45,000 fragments.
Warhol: Mettle Maker #306
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Warhol: Mettle Maker #306
Self-defense: Work on your kicks. It’s surprisingly hard to turn your foot into a sword. Watch the video on the left and resolve to do at least 100 kicks a day on the go-forward. Get there. Want something more specific in terms of martial arts coaching? Check our our free distance learning program.
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Fitness. The first two steps are to admit where you are and where you want to go. Watch this hilarious video from my buddy Mike. Mike used to be shredded, and he’s still a beast (how about 12+ reps of 220 at Bench Press?). Like Mike, face reality. Be frank with yourself and others about where you want to go. It’s very empowering. Need help developing and sticking with a fitness program? Interested in learning outdoor skills? We’ve got both! Check our our free distance learning programs.
Spirit: I have an interesting take on Andy Warhol that I’m convinced you will benefit from hearing. Watch the video on the left and let me know your thoughts. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
On the Road: Mettle Maker, Holy Communion, etc.
Hey everyone, Archdeacon Mitch here! From Friday 5/6 through Sunday 5/15 I’ll be on the road. So there will be no Holy Communion video tomorrow or next Sunday. And this week’s mettle maker, as well as next week’s, will be “blast from the past” re-posts.
Follow my trip on YouTube and Twitter. I’ll be posting regularly all week long!
Where am I going? My first stop is a visit to my friend and coach the immortal Mark Hatmaker in Knoxville, TN. From there I head out to Springfield, MO to see my spiritual mentor Bishop Erik Weaver and worship with him. I’ll be assisting him in the presentation of Mass for our church, during which he’ll be consecrating an altar stone for St. Barachiel chapel.
From there I go to St. Louis to visit my friend James, the first person to graduate from the Heritage Self-Defense Distance Learning Program. And my final stop will Chicago to see my friend Arman, the second person to graduate from the HSD Distance Learning program.
Stay tuned and see you all soon!
Yours in Christ,
Archdeacon Mitch
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The Galahad Maneuver: Mettle Maker #206
(Originally posted May 2, 2020)
Martial Arts: Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, or light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF. Then do a “Martial Arts Mix and Match.” Put in 4 rounds of action (beginner/intermediate 2:00 each, advanced 3:00) for a total of 8 to 12 minutes. Take as few 12-second breaks as you need. Do one round each of Lunges, Clocks, Low Crawl, Sled Pulls/Yanks. See video, left. Did you know we offer a free martial arts distance learning program? Click here to sign up.
Fitness: Do this month’s constitutional. See photo on the right. Need help developing and sticking with a fitness program? Interested in learning outdoor skills? We’ve got both! Check our our free distance learning programs.
Wildwood: Wind direction study. When you choose or make shelter, or just set up your camp, need to do so with cognizance of wind direction. You don’t want the wind blowing smoke and/or freezing air into your winter shelter, for example. Go for a walk and practice studying the terrain. Look at trees, from trunk to top. Examine the soil around them. Look at exposed ground, sand, and so forth. If you’re in town, or in the suburbs, look to see where debris and trash are accumulating. With just a little regular practice, you get really good at determining the prevailing wind direction. Interested in learning outdoor skills? We’ve got both! Check our our free distance learning programs.
Practice the Galahad Maneuver. Pick something you know isn’t good for you and make a substitution — a food or beverage, a form of entertainment, or even a person who’s a negative influence. Just 5 minutes of serious thought will reveal a list of stuff you know you shouldn’t be eating, watching, doing or associating with. Start with one of the easy ones and substitute a better choice. This is the trail-head that leads to the mountaintop of sacrifice. Keep going and perhaps one day you’ll come to see the world the way that Sir Galahad saw it when he said, “If I lose myself I save myself.” He gave away his wants and needs until there was only one thing left to relinquish — his ego. Remember, Galahad was the only Knight of the Round Table who saw the Grail. You are not your tastes, your needs, your wants, your favorites, or hobbies, or any of that. You are something much more than that. But you have to strip some things away to begin to see it. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Holy Communion 5/1/22: Third Sunday of Easter
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Third Sunday of Easter, 5/1/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
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If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homily Third Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41, Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13, Rev 5:11-14, Jn 21:1-19
As a young man and an aspiring author, I used to be a huge fan of Mickey Spillane. Spillane was one of the most prolific and successful authors in history. Hardly anybody remembers him nowadays. But those who do remember two things: he created a fictional private eye named Mike Hammer and he appeared in Miller Lite beer commercials in the 1980’s.
One of his most famous books was the result of a bet. Spillane said the climax of a book should be pushed to the absolute end, to the final paragraph if possible. His publisher said it couldn’t be done. Spillane bet his publisher that he could, in fact, push the climax of a book to the very final word. Spillane won. I’ve read the book, and wow – when you read that last word – bang! All of the clues make sense. Every confusing dead end, every red herring, every mystery is solved. Now, I think Spillane got this idea from the Bible. He was a Jehovah’s Witness, and the book of Revelation is very important to Jehovah’s Witnesses. I think Spillane saw how powerful it was that the apocalyptic climax of the Bible is at the very end, and I think he imitated that pattern. My proof? Revelation depicts Christ’s return and final judgment, and the book that Spillane’s wrote is called Vengeance is Mine.
The way that the ending of God’s great story reveals the beginning, which Spillane imitated, can be found in all our readings today. Look, and you will find it.
In our first reading, Peter and the apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin and told to stop preaching in Christ’s name. The rabbis and elders understand the implications of Christ’s resurrection. The apostles’ message is going to send waves of change through the Jewish community. All of their prophecies and predictions, teachings and interpretations, all of their codes and customs, will need to be reevaluated by the light of this new revelation. They don’t want their entire community and religion turned upside down, so they try to stop it.
In the reading from the book of Revelation, we see the risen Lamb of God revealing himself. And “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe” cries out, “blessing and honor, glory and might” to God the Father and to his Son, the Lamb of God, forever and ever. This is near the beginning of Revelation. Afterward follow seventeen chapters of turmoil, plague, famine, war, trial, and tribulation as existence itself is re-arranged by the news of the resurrection.
And finally, in our reading from the Gospel of John, the risen Christ appears to the apostles. In three steps he recapitulates the apostles’ story. First he leads them through a new version of the miraculous catch of fish –the start of the apostles’ journey. Second, he presents to them a eucharist of fish and bread. Then, lastly, Christ gives Peter a chance to promise three times to love and shepherd the church as a way to undo his three-times denial of Jesus.
At that time, everything looks different to Peter. And that’s how it is with everyone who finds Jesus Christ. When a person accepts the fact of the resurrection, everything is called into question. Nothing’s ever be the same. Many of the things your past triumphs now look like failures. You question your line of work, your choice of friends, and your entertainment. Take me – I no longer like reading violent action books like the ones by Mickey Spillane I used to enjoy, and I no longer aspire to being a popular novelist. When you accept the fact of the resurrection, you talk differently, behave differently, think, act, and believe differently. Those ripples pass out into the world, even out into the cosmos.
Brothers and sisters, the Easter miracle’s transformation of creation never ends. It is. It was. It shall ever be. Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe and of time itself, holds the keys to how reality unfolds itself for both individuals and for the world.
Stance: Mettle Maker #305
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Stance: Mettle Maker #305
Self-defense: Work on your stance. It’s surprisingly hard to alter your stance once you’ve habituated it. Take it from someone who spent decades in kickboxing stance and had to change to Rough ‘n’ Tumble stance! Slow down, pay attention, get into RNT stance, and stay there. Interested in a taking a martial arts course? Check our our free martial arts distance learning program!
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Fitness/Wildwood Combo: Just like last week, I’m asking: Are you gym fit, or real-world fit? Last week I suggested you take the 50-vault challenge. If you missed last week, you really should try to finish 50 Safety Vaults so that, if you ever had to clear an obstacle in real life, you might have to do it tired. This week, I’m challenging you to put on your backpack, go for a hike, stop at the turn around, do some movement drills, and then hike back. When was the last time you hiked under load? By the way, this rucking craze? Good grief. I’ve been “rucking” since the 70’s, and I never heard of “rucking” until a few years ago. We always called it “backpacking.” Call it what you want, it’s one of the best forms of exercise there ever was or ever will be, and it’s fun too! Need help developing and sticking with a fitness program? Interested in learning outdoor skills? We’ve got both! Check our our free distance learning programs.
Spirit: Where do you stand on the question of God? Whether you’re an atheist or an agnostic, you should consider your position carefully and thoughtfully, because there really isn’t a more serious and important question. If you’re an atheist, you should know that there are a number of fantastic proofs for the existence of God that are very hard to refute. And if you’re a Christian who’s struggling with the reality of Jesus — our if you don’t know how to answer to people who say you’re delusional! — you should get stronger in your belief and in your apologetics. Here’s a YouTube playlist for those who doubt Christianity. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Holy Communion 4/24/22: Second Sunday of Easter
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the second Sunday of Easter, 4/24/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homily Second Sunday of Easter – Sunday of Divine Mercy
Readings: Acts 5:12-16, Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24, Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19, Jn 20:19-31
John 20:19-31 (American Standard Version)
19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: 23 whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called [a]Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, [b]thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.
Doubts are good. Doubts keep us from falling for con-men, getting drawn in by liars, and falling for scams. They keep us from being gullible. But it's easy get tricked. In 1983, magician David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear on live TV. Everyone gathered on the dais and looked out at Lady Liberty. The curtain went up. Loud music played, fireworks went off, and when the curtain fell, she was gone. A helicopter hovered over the empty platform. The secret to the trick? The observers were seated on a rotating platform that turned them in another direction. The lights surrounding the monument were switched off and switched on around a mock platform. Lady Liberty was still there, off to the left, hidden in the dark, and nobody noticed. Copperfield said the message of his trick was that liberty could be taken away at any moment. He was wrong though. We’re giving it away.
You see, we are beset on all sides by the tricks of the culture and we’re buying them. Almost every song, movie, and book carries a message about pursuing passion, possessions, power, and prestige. This is the age of the selfie -- self-gratification, self-empowerment, self-promotion. Our TV villains are pedophile priests, rapist pastors, hypocritical believers, and nuns possessed by demons. The heroes are brave atheists, heroic skeptics, and valiant scientists, or perhaps drug dealers and mob bosses. The culture says that Christians don’t believe in science, Christians hate gays, and Christians are transphobic.
How is a person desperate for meaning supposed to find God amidst the fog of lies? How is a believing person to hold onto his or her faith in an environment where facts like these are hidden in the dark, far out of view?
· The largest charity in the US is Lutheran Services of America, and the Catholic Church is the largest non-governmental provider of education and medical services in the world.
· Priests are 1/100th as likely to abuse minors as public-school teachers.
· A humble friar named Roger Bacon pioneered the scientific method, a Belgian priest named Father George Lemaître was the originator of the Big Bang Theory, Father Gregor Mendel was the world’s first geneticist, and Francis Collins, former director of the Human Genome Project and director of the NIH wrote a best-selling book called The Language of God relating his journey from atheism to Christian belief.
· In 1688 – 177 years before the Emancipation Proclamation – the first organization in the Western world to publicly denounce slavery was the Society of Friends, the Quakers. And the most distinguished civil rights leader in history was a Christian pastor named Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. [i]
Jesus knew there was only one way he could be heard over the noise of the Roman Empire. There was only one thing he could do that would forever make his message stand above all the rest. There was only one act that would prove, once and for all, to all people, in all places and in all times, that he is God incarnate. The only way he could cut through the fog of lies was to do something no spiritual teacher could ever do. He had to defeat death.
Rest assured my friends, that there is no way that the Christian message could’ve possibly reached our ears if Jesus of Nazareth had not risen from grave.
[i] To see the references for these facts and more, visit https://wp.me/ppc1y-1Rc
Breakdown: Mettle Maker #304
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Breakdown: Mettle Maker #304
Self-defense: A Consistency Challenge. There’s a time to push, to test your limits and find “your line” like we do during Mettlecraft Month every November. But mostly martial arts are about consistency. If you can’t do it at any time, and under any circumstances, then you can’t do it. Your fancy technique’s no good if you can only perform it when you’re all warmed up and ready. Can you fall safely on asphalt, or only on 2” mats? Encourage yourself to train consistently by creating a challenge for yourself. Set a goal 30-day goal. Don’t aim for something extreme — this is in the exact opposite spirit. Aim to perform all your forms daily, to complete 100 kicks a day, or just try to train every weekday for the month. Check our our free martial arts distance learning program!
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Fitness: Are you gym fit, or real-world fit? Try the 50-vault challenge. The other night, at the end of my training session, I decided to finish up by doing 50 Safety Vaults. If you ever had to clear an obstacle in real life, you might have to do it tired. I could only make it to 30 by the way. I was so gassed that I was worried about hurting myself and I had to stop. Pick a fence, large boulder, or other obstacle, and see if you can get to 50. Stop when you get shaky. The most important rule is, “Don’t get hurt!” Need help developing and sticking with a fitness program? Check our our free distance learning program.
Wildwood: Do you wish you could go camping more often? Well, start breaking down the barriers. I love to go camping. But for years a part of me dreaded the ordeal of climbing up into the attic, getting down all the gear, loading it into the truck, and then putting it all back afterward. And then there was the problem of taking time off. So I removed the barriers. I built an adventure trailer so that all I had to do was hitch up and go. And I started booking my days off well in well in advance. Whatever your barriers are, start breaking them down, and get out of town. You need to spend more time in the woods practicing your outdoor skills. Want a structured program to help you along? Click here to sign up for the totally-free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program.
Spirit: Where do you find God? At the end of your rope. (Dallas Willard). Things go wrong. You get betrayed, sick, unemployed, abandoned, and depressed. Perhaps worse still, you realize, maybe for the first time in your life, that you are wholly or partially responsible for your undoing — you got yourself addicted to something, you got yourself fired from your job, you wrecked a relationship, etc. When these things happen, and your life starts to break down, often you will go to your father figure for advice (or to your mother, if you have no father). But what if your parents have passed? Or what if they just aren’t reliable sources of advice and support? Fear not. Rest assured, there is a Father you can rely on to give perfect advice and unconditional love. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Holy Communion 4/17/22: Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of the Lord
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for Easter Sunday 4/17/22, the Resurrection of the Lord. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homily for Easter Sunday 4/17/22
For this Easter Sunday, I would like to present the Paschal homily of St. John Chrysostom which was originally delivered around the year 400 AD. In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches it is read aloud at sunrise service on Easter Sunday.
“Are there any who are devout lovers of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Are there any who are grateful servants? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay. For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends. Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day! You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness! Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. He destroyed Hell when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below." Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked. It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!”
Rise: Mettle Maker #303
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Rise: Mettle Maker #303
Self-defense and Fitness Combo: Whether you’re into martial fitness or just general fitness, this one’s for you. Here are your four exercises: RCL, RSQ, PSM, JKF. For those new to our abbreviations, that translates to Rope Climbs, Russian Squats, Push-ups Smearing (hands overlapping), and Jackknifes. Intermediate and advanced folks looking for a stand-alone, high-impact training session should aim for 12 rope climbs, and 25 reps of the others. Beginners or those looking for a low-impact training adjunct, complete 4 sets of 1 RCL, 4 RSQ, 4 PSM, and 4 JKF. Subs: No rope? You should get one. For now, sub out Chin-ups. If you can’t climb the rope, hang until failure and call that 1 rep. Same goes for Chin-ups. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “Do what you can, where you are, with what you’ve got!” No excuses — modify, adapt, overcome. Looking for a martial arts or fitness program but short on cash? Check our our free distance learning programs.
Wildwood: Consider reading Bradford Angier’s classic How to Stay Alive in the Woods. Originally published in 1969, this little paperback contains a wealth of knowledge, and I just love the 60’s era illustrations. Many, many of the techniques that are now considered standard, must-have skills were first put into print by Angiers in this book. Wanna know another way you could learn outdoor skills? Click here to sign up for the totally-free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program.
Spirit: Don’t forget that tomorrow’s Easter Sunday. Times are tough, people are busy, and just about nothing in our modern world points toward what’s eternal or transcendent. Try to spend just one day putting aside the temporary — your needs, wants, and desires, your goals, your happiness, and so on. Try not to fantasize about the future or dwell on the past. Rather, spend the day rejoicing in the gift of being. Slow down. Put your phone aside. Turn off the TV. Take a moment to contemplate how crucially important it is that the Creator of the Universe entered into this world for the express purpose of saving you, and “whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.“ (Matt 16:25). And by all means, tune in tomorrow and view the Holy Communion service for Easter Sunday. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Holy Communion 4/10/22: Palm Sunday
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for Palm Sunday 4/10/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homily for Palm Sunday 4/10/22
Readings: Lk 19:28-40, Is 50:4-7, Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24., Phil 2:6-11, Lk 22:14—23:56
CLICK HERE for today’s Gospel Reading
The same religious and political story has unfolded for all of human history. For over 3,000 years, Egyptian emperors known as pharaohs ruled as God-kings. On the other side of the globe, for the 3,000 years from 1,500 BC to 1,500 AD, the emperors of the Incas ruled in a similar way. The Greek Emperor Alexander the Great was a God-king. The emperor of Japan was a god until 1945, the emperor of China was considered divine until 1911, and Nepal’s king was considered so until 2008.
There were many Roman cults in Jesus’ day, each dedicated to one of the many gods – Jupiter, Isis, Dionysus, and so on – but the Roman imperial cult was the most popular. The Roman emperor was a God. During private and state religious functions, offerings of wine called libations were poured onto the ground as a sacrifice to the various gods, including the emperor.
And when the emperor returned to Rome after another successful mission to conquer a foreign land, he donned his purple cloak and crown, climbed aboard a chariot drawn by four proud horses, and led a great procession into the city. He and his army put their swords aside and entered unarmed. Behind him came his army, his slaves and captives, the gold and other spoils of war.
Jesus enters the holy city of Jerusalem at the peak of Roman power, authority, and influence known as the Pax Romana, Latin for Roman Peace. But it was only peaceful insofar as there were no internal revolts or external challenges to Rome. At that time, as ever, there was no reason to believe that the ancient, eternal story should be challenged. The eternal story, best summed up by the popular mythologist Joseph Campbell in his groundbreaking 1949 book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, is as follows:
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”
This is the hero’s journey, the so-called monomyth, the story of the man who achieves great success, eventually becoming a god. Hercules, Perseus, Romulus and Remus – the founders of Rome – great generals and leaders from time immemorial, kings and emperors, regularly achieved godhood. This was the story believed by every culture the world has ever known, as far back as history and archeology have been able to uncover. And many is the mythologist to puts Jesus in the same category. After all, isn’t he just another man who went on a great adventure, did some miraculous things, brought home some sacred knowledge, and became a god?
No, brothers and sisters, Jesus shatters the monomyth and breaks the mold! He is not a man who becomes a god, but God become man. He is not a man who thinks his achievements will make him immortal, but God himself come to earth to help man reach immortality in the world to come. He is not a man who exalts himself and is exalted by other men, but the Son of God who humbles himself before men and is exalted by God the Father!
When the Roman emperor enters the city in triumph, he puts his sword aside and enters the city unarmed. But this is a token disarmament. Everyone knows the worldly power that emperor wields. Jesus enters the city humbly, not on a chariot drawn by four stallions but on a colt. Strangely though, he is not disarmed and neither are his soldiers. They bring with them a very special sword – the Sword of Truth – the sword of discernment, the Holy Spirit, which separates fact from fiction, right from wrong, and good from evil!
The emperor of Rome brought peace by force at the point of a sword; but Jesus brings with him a sword whose point brings voluntary peace from within – the peace that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Watchfulness: Mettle Maker #302
What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
Watchfulness: Mettle Maker #302
Self-defense: Heavy bag endurance rounds. I’m a huge of fan of training for speed and power for self-defense. After all, most self-defense situations last just a minute or two. That said, I also advocate that you train all six of dimensions of body mechanics: speed, accuracy, form, endurance, mobility, and power (SAFE MP©). Try putting in some endurance rounds for a change. Set a timer for 9 x 3:00/1:00. Hit with as much speed, accuracy, form, mobility, and power as you can without extending your breaks beyond the 1:00 intervals. Looking for a martial arts program but short on cash? Consider training with us either in person here in Richmond, VA or via our free distance learning program.
Fitness : Do some Thrusters. Hard to beat for a whole-body exercise that really wrings out your washrag. I’m a big fan. For beginners new to the exercise, start with a light weight (maybe even bar only), focus on form, and do 3 x 12. Intermediate and advanced players, try Dan John’s 4:00 Tabata Thruster Workout. Set timer for 8 x :20/:10 (Tabata rounds). Use dumbbells, kettlebells, or a barbell. Unless you’re Captain America, use about half the weight you think you should use (yes, it’s really that hard!). Complete as many Thrusters as you can in 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, repeat. Or, just fold Thrusters into your training plan. If you don’t have a training plan, check out our completely free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?
Wildwood: Treat yourself as well as you’d treat a rescued animal from the wild. Most everyone, at one time or other, has rescued an injured bird, a baby turtle or squirrel, etc. If you really cared about the animal, your goal was to get it healthy and back into its environment as quickly as possible — to prevent it from becoming domesticated. If you didn’t know how to do it, you found out who did, and you dropped the lil’ critter off. Look at yourself. Could you find water? Food? Find shelter until you could make shelter? What do you need to learn in order to be capable of surviving in your native habitat? Interested in a free earn at home program that will encourage you to practice, keep you on track, and reward you with rank bandanas? Click here to sign up for the totally-free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program.
Spirit: Watch the video on the right and give it some thought. And if you’d like to learn the four classical spiritual disciplines — contemplation, meditation, prayer, and sacred reading — send me an email at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and let’s get you started. In the meantime, CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.
Holy Communion 4/3/22: Why Did Jesus Weep?
Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the fifth Sunday of Lent, 4/3/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.
If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.
Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent -- Sunday 4/3/22
Readings: Ez 37:12-14, Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, Rom 8:8-11, Jn 11:1-45
John 11: 1-45 American Standard Version
11 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he abode at that time two days in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he saith to the disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 The disciples say unto him, Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him. 11 These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 The disciples therefore said unto him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will [a]recover. 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16 Thomas therefore, who is called [b]Didymus, said unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house. 21 Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world. 28 And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary [c]her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is here, and calleth thee. 29 And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him. 30 (Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.) 31 The Jews then who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to [d]weep there. 32 Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her [e]weeping, and the Jews also [f]weeping who came with her, he [g]groaned in the spirit, and [h]was troubled, 34 and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him! 37 But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die? 38 Jesus therefore again [i]groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay [j]against it. 39 Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time [k]the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me. 43 And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with [l]grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Brothers and sisters, we say we believe. We come to church, we say our prayers, we profess with our mouths and wear our crosses, and all of that – but do we really believe? And how do you think God reacts when our faith is weak? These are the questions embedded in the story of Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus.
We read that as soon as Jesus found out that Lazarus was ill, he told his disciples that Lazarus’ illness was not going to end in death because he intended to raise him from the dead. He tells them he’s going to go back to Judea, but they warn him against it because on their most recent stay there, they were looking to stone him. Jesus tells them a parable about faith and reminds them that they have to go because Lazarus has fallen asleep and he intends to awaken him. They think Jesus is talking about literal sleep.
And when they arrive, Martha greets him and says, “if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Jesus consoles her. He tells her Lazarus will rise again. But she’s as dense as the apostles. She thinks he’s talking about rising on the last day. Jesus has to repeat himself – again! Mary shows up and says the exact same thing Martha said. “If you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” They just don’t get it. Nobody has any faith in him at all. The Greek word for how Jesus’ emotion is embrimaomai (em-BRIM-ah-OH-mahee) “to snort like an angry horse.” Make no mistake – the New Living Translation of the Bible reads, “a deep anger welled up within him.” He’s beside himself. He says simply, “Where have you laid him?”
And then, in one of the most poignant moments in the entire gospel, Jesus weeps.
Why does he weep? Because nobody believes. He’s standing right there with them. Are they singing hymns? No. Are they rejoicing because Jesus has arrived? No. Are they filled with anticipation to see the promised miracle? They know what’s going to do, don’t they? He’s been telling them, in no uncertain terms, for over four days! But no, no, no. Instead of being filled with faith, they’re milling around the tomb of Lazarus grumbling, saying, “He healed the man born blind, didn’t he? Well, why didn’t he prevent this man from dying?”
And at that, Jesus groans with anger again. The gospel uses the same Greek word. Maybe he goes, “Ugh” or “Aargh!” – we just don’t know. But at any rate, he’s had enough. He tells them to roll back the stone. Martha says, “Are you sure? It’s been four days, by now he’s starting to decay and stink.” Picture this now – he hasn’t gotten through to a single person. Jesus says, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” Finally he calls out to Lazarus, who is resurrected and emerges from the tomb still wrapped in burial cloths.
And then the gospel says many believe, which implies that many others still do not. Brothers and sisters, Jesus wept because he loves us so much. He wept because it’s tragic how maddeningly dense human beings can be. And he’s still weeping. Because today, just as we did in at the tomb of Lazarus, people continue to struggle with the problem of evil. If God is good, why do bad things happen? Just like the people outside the tomb of Lazarus, we want God to prevent sickness and death. We are materialists. Like Martha, the stench of death is always in our nose. “If Jesus was real,” the atheists cry out, “why didn’t he just bring antibiotics? A modern first aid book have have done more good than a Bible.” I’ve actually heard that said.
And meanwhile, Jesus weeps. He weeps even now. Brothers and sisters, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.