A Year of Compassion on Sinners New Year’s Message 2014 A Scandal of A King

St. John Climacus "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" (Step 25)  “Repentance raises the fallen, mourning knocks at the gate of Heaven, and holy humility opens it.”

Me Or others?!!!

If It is not Me  5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” 2 Sam 12 :5,6

If it is me!!!  7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!  Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” 2 Sam 12:7,13

Will he remain a King?

 Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 2 sam 12:!3

The Scandal How many Did the same sin and more in David’s time?

The Scandal  The Title of Ps 51  For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Will He Teach Again?

Are you going to Teach?  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Ps 51:12- 14

St. John Climacus The Ladder of Divine Ascent  "Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honour your patience.”

Will He Lead Again?

Will he lead Again?  29 So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. 30 David took the crown from their king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. It weighed a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones. David took a great quantity of plunder from the city. 2 Sam 12:29-30

Gloaters  Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Mic 7:8

Revenage

Who Is this Man?  12 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. Ps 55

The man  23 Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice. 2 sam 16:23

Ahithophel the Grandfather !!  The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 2 Sam 11:3  …. Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 2 Sam 23:34

The End  When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb. 2 sam 17:23

The conclusion of Every Hour  Christ our God, the good, the long suffering, the abundant in mercy, and the great in compassion, who loves the righteous and has mercy on the sinners of whom I am chief; who does not wish the death of the sinner but rather that he returns and lives,

Your mercies O my God  Your mercies O my God, are countless, and exceedingly plenteous, are Your compassion.  How much more are, the sins of my soul, manifest before You, O my Lord.  And me too, the sinner, teach me O my Master, to offer repentance.

Liturgy of St Basil  Priest: The holies for the holy. Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; sanctification is by the Holy Spirit. Amen.  People: One is the all-holy Father, one is the all-holy Son, one is the all-holy Spirit. Amen.

St Justin Martyr  No one may share the Eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ.