Wednesday, November 23, 2011

St. Clement of Rome

Today the Church remembers one of the early Bishops of Rome, Clement. He is the third bishop of Rome, and his predecessors were Linus and Cletus (or Anacletus, or Anencletus), about whom almost nothing is known. They are simply names on a list.

James Kiefer tells us that Clement is a little more than a name on a list because he wrote a letter to the Corinthians, which was highly valued by the early church, and has been preserved to the present day. The letter itself does not carry his name, but is merely addressed from the congregation at Rome to the congregation at Corinth. However, a letter from Corinth to Rome a few decades later refers to “the letter we received from your bishop Clement, which we still read regularly.” Other early writers are unanimous in attributing the letter to Clement. One story about Clement is that he was put to death by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. Accordingly, he is often depicted with an anchor, and many churches in port towns intended to minister chiefly to mariners are named for him.

Here are the opening lines of Clement’s letter to the Corinthians, and from the 16th chapter of the letter Clement’s discussion of Christ’s humility:

The Church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth, to those who are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied. …

For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. … He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, and acquainted with the endurance of grief: for His countenance was turned away; He was despised, and not esteemed. He bears our iniquities, and is in sorrow for our sakes; yet we supposed that [on His own account] He was exposed to labor, and stripes, and affliction. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; [every] man has wandered in his own way; and the Lord has delivered Him up for our sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings opens not His mouth. He was brought as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away; who shall declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people was He brought down to death.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who chose your servant Clement of Rome to recall the Church in Corinth to obedience and stability: Grant that your Church may be grounded and settled in your truth by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and may evermore be kept blameless in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Advent begins next Sunday. The liturgical color changes to purple and we will use Rite I.


This Sunday we will bless the marriage of Nikki and Luke Blount.


Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially for all of those who are traveling this week, for Nikki and Luke who will have their marriage blessed this Sunday, for those seeking work, for the ill, for those who are recovering from surgery, especially Duane, for the poor, the hungry and those of who have no one to pray for them, and in thanksgiving for all of God's blessings.

“Who can describe the bond of God's love? Who is able to explain the majesty of its beauty? The height to which love leads is indescribable. … In love the master received us, Jesus Christ our Lord, in accordance with God’s will gave his blood for us, and his flesh for our flesh, and his life for our lives.” —St. Clement of Rome (c. 96)

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

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