December 30, 2016 – Christmas + 5
John Wycliffe, Priest

“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.” Mark 9:2-8

On this day, December 30, 1384 John Wycliffe was dying from a stroke, and so many clerics, even those who were his enemies gathered around his death bed to hear one last word – possibly he might recant. But there would be no recanting – he could not speak as a result of his stroke. But even if he could speak, it is doubtful that he would recant. Here is a brief synopsis of his life:

“John Wycliffe was the most famous priest of his day. His learning was immense. He had been a leading scholar at Oxford and a chaplain to the King of England. More to the point, he spoke out boldly against the errors of the popes, the organizational hierarchy of the Roman Church, and the corruption of the clergy in his day. He criticized not only the organization of the medieval church but its theology as well and argued for a return to the Scriptures. Pastors should live lives of simplicity and holiness, he taught, shepherding their flocks (people)–not plundering them.

If the people in England were to know the truth, Wycliffe reasoned that they must have the Word of God in their own language. Under his direction, the Bible was translated into English for the first time, although the job was not completed by his associates until 1395, eleven years after his death. Repeatedly condemned and burned by church authorities, copies of Wycliffe’s Bible continued in use for over a century, until printed Bibles took their place. This work greatly influenced William Tyndale who made the first printed translation of the New Testament in English.

We can still puzzle out the meaning of John Wycliffe’s words. Here is how he describes the transfiguration:

“And aftir sixe dayes Jhesus took Petre, and James, and John and ledith [led] hem [them] by hem selve aloone in to an high hil ; and he is transfigurid before hem. And his clothis ben maad [were made] schynynge [shining] and white ful moche [much] as snow, and which maner clothis a fullere [cloth worker], or walkere [worker] of cloth, may not make white on erthe. And Helye [Elijah] with Myses apperide [appeared] to hem, and thei weren [were] spekynge [speaking] with Jhesu.” (John Wycliffe on His Death Bed Diana Severance, Ph.D., Christianity.com)

John Wycliffe produced the first hand-written English language bible manuscripts in the 14th century. With the help of assistants, Wycliffe produced dozens of these English language manuscripts of the bible. They were translated out of the Latin Vulgate (a late fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible that became the Catholic Church’s official Latin version of the Bible) which is the only source text he had. The Pope was so infuriated by his translation of the Bible into English, that 44 years after Wycliffe had died, he ordered the bones to be dug-up, crushed, and scattered in the river! Even in death people may hold us in contempt for our faith – but even in death, Christ has won the victory for all believers.

Pastor Dave

December 29, 2016 – Christmas + 4
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.” John 11:45-53

On this date in 1170, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II; he is subsequently martyred. Thomas Becket was a commoner who made good being appointed as Archbishop by King Henry II. The events of his assassination are: after having an argument about Church privileges with the king, four knights who took the king at his words ‘Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?’ did just that – rid the king of the troublesome priest. He was Canonized by Pope Alexander III, and the king made public penance at Canterbury Cathedral.

Thomas Beckett was trying to maintain church protocol, especially when it came to the coronation of the king. And because several Bishops were upset that they could not break with tradition and were also excommunicated by Beckett, when word of the excommunications reached King Henry II, he uttered words similar to “how can the king be treated with such contempt by a low-born cleric”. These were words which several knights determined to be a death sentence for Beckett. And all he was doing was attempting to maintain the legitimacy of the process – something we often hear people lament in the church today. The question is, are we willing to die for our faith? Are we willing to die for our faith?

Because we live in a country where there is freedom of religion, we do not have to face the life or death decision to live or die for our faith. But, it is a question we should ponder, and pray about. Why? Because even in America, the day may come where we might have to make such a decision. And if we do not consider it now, we may disappoint ourselves when that time comes.

Pastor Dave