An Excerpt from a Trinity VIII Sermon (1998) by
The Most Rev. John T. Cahoon, Jr., Metropolitan, Anglican Catholic Church, and Rector of St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
Today's Gospel comes from the Sermon on the Mount, and in it Jesus answers two related questions. The first is, "How can you tell false prophets from true prophets?" and the second is the more personal question, "How does God evaluate me?" The basic answer to both questions is in the old cliche: "Actions speak louder than words."
In the sense Jesus uses the word here, a prophet is a person who claims to speak for God. I, quite obviously, claim to be a prophet -- I dare to tell you that I am speaking to you, "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
A priest or a minister or any other sort of religious teacher lays claim to being a prophet when he tells you he has a direct insight into what God wants. In language reminiscent of the story of Little Red Riding Hood, Jesus warns that false prophets present themselves to us dressed up like sheep, when really they are ravenously hungry wolves.
He means that false prophets are deceptive -- they appear to be sweet and gentle and reasonable, but that is all just a pose. They are, in fact, out to destroy and to thwart God's purposes. Jesus says the best way to tell a false prophet from a true prophet is by their fruits -- by what results from what they teach and from how they act.
We all use this standard to one degree or another when we decide what religion to profess and which church to attend. When St. Paul warns the Corinthians against teachers who claim to be Christian but are not, he says, "Satan himself can be transformed into an angel of light -- so it is no surprise if Satan's ministers can present themselves as ministers of righteousness." Appearances can be deceiving.
One of the most memorable stories in the Old Testament comes when God tells the prophet Samuel that he needs to find a replacement for King Saul. God had picked Saul to be Israel's first king for a number of reasons, but prominent among them was that Saul was tall and handsome. He was what the Bible calls "a choice young man and a goodly."
After Saul disobeys God, God sends Samuel to the house of a man named Jesse, telling Samuel that the new king would come from among Jesse's several sons. When Samuel meets Jesse's first son, he figures he must be the one -- perhaps because he is tall and handsome.
God, somewhat intemperately, rebukes Samuel, saying, "Don't look at his face or think about how tall he is. I don't want him. I don't look at things the way you do. Men look at the outward appearance, but I look on the heart."
So again we are presented with the idea that appearances can be deceiving. We don't have quite the same ability that God has to look at another person's heart, but we do have the test of the fruits. Actions speak louder than words.
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee
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Services & Events
This Saturday, July 25, Saint James, 12 noon service
Sunday, 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services, for online participation go to
https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams
Nursery during both services
Sunday School, on recess for the summer, returns in September
Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing, for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams
Wednesday, 7:30 to 9:00 PM in the church undercroft, Fr. Bragg will offer a relaxed, informal course of Wednesday evening classes on the Hymnal that will run through August 26. Each meeting will be a stand-alone session on specific hymns, focusing on the circumstances of their writing as well as their theological and devotional content. Every hymn has a story behind it, and many of them are fascinating. (Online participation possible by using links above.)
Thursday, August 6, The Transfiguration of Christ, 12 noon service
Monday, August 24, Saint Bartholomew, 12 noon & 7:00 PM Services
Saturday, August 29, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. in the undercroft. Women's brunch honoring the MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Enjoy some end-of-summer fun and fellowship while helping local women and their babies. Please bring an item from MaRiH Center's critical needs list. Brunch is potluck; please consider bringing a dish to share. RSVP to margot.anderson@proton.me.
Save the date, Sunday, Sept 20, Annual Parish Picnic, following combined 10:00 AM service. More information to follow as the date draws near and plan to invite family and friends.
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Critical Needs
& More
Below are 2 updated lists: the critical needs list and the needs list. The all volunteer staff of the MaRiH Center are very thankful for the support that our parish provides.
Critical Needs:
Diapers, sizes 5 and 6
Spring/Summer clothing (Boys & Girls), size 0-3 months, size 2T
Baby Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Car seat: infant
Other needs:
Diapers, newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Spring/Summer Clothing, 3-6 month, 9-12 month, 18-24 month,
Bibs, infant
Maternity clothes (Spring/Summer)
Wash cloths
Hooded towels
Diaper rash ointment, Baby Shampoo
Baby bottles
Baby formula: All other Similac & Enfamil types. Also accept Alimentum & Nutramigen. No other brands are accepted. Please make sure dates have not expired.
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs:
Option 1
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.
The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774
Option 2
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRIH Center.
Food Bank Needs
The food bank continues to need our assistance to feed the hungry. Summer often means less food donations are available to the Food Bank..
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.
Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
tuna (cans or foil packages)
peanut butter. jelly
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso, chicken noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom. tomato
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625