Sermons by the Rev’d Terrell D. Heaps
Rector of Saint Catherine’s Parish, Fairbanks, Alaska
Priest-in-Charge of Saint George’s Mission, Juneau, Alaska
 
 
Sermon for 2nd Sunday After Easter 
(Good Shepherd Sunday) April 10, 2005
 
It was past three o’clock Friday morning when I turned off the
television, and headed for bed. Here in Alaska, because of the time
difference, the live broadcast coverage of the funeral of Pope John Paul
began at eleven o’clock, Thursday night. It was a broadcast that was
seen by more people than any broadcast ever. I taped it so I could look
at it later, if I dozed off during the wee hours. But I stayed awake. I
didn’t remain up very long after it was over, just to listen to
journalists on television offer follow-up opinions. I had slept quite a
bit later, than I normally do, when I rose later, Friday morning. With
tape delay broadcasts for this country and for those in other time
zones, the Papal funeral was probably being seen on television, in whole
or in part, all day Friday.
 
With the death of the Pope, the whole world was reminded of
Christianity. With the build-up to the funeral, the newspapers and radio
and television have been full of the events, and Christianity has been
in the forefront of the news. That news coverage of Christianity will
continue, as the Chapter of the cathedral in Rome (the Cardinals) begin
the conclave in some days hence, to discern whom the Holy Spirit has
called to be the next Bishop of Rome and Patriarch of the West.
 
I know whom I would choose to be the next Pope. But my view doesn’t
count! In case anyone is interested, it would be Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger or Cardinal Walter Kaspar. In any event, the Cardinals will be
meeting to ask the help of God-the-Holy Spirit to give them divine grace
and guidance to choose a new Chief Shepherd for the See of Rome. We must
pray for our sister Catholics in the Roman Church. We must pray that God
will send them a new Bishop of Rome.
 
We must pray also for ourselves. In May the Diocese of the Holy Trinity
(which includes Alaska) will convene a Diocesan Synod in Denver, to
discern, with God’s help, whom He is calling to be our new bishop. I
plan to be there to take part. So pray for me, that I will be attentive
to the leadings of the Holy Ghost, in those spiritual deliberations.
Pray that God will give us a new Bishop.
 
For Anglican Catholics, as we recognize the Pope as the Patriarch of the
West, which is one of his titles, this is of importance to us, as well.
Of course, we do not recognize any “jurisdiction” over us by the Pope.
By coincidence of the Kalendar, today, this Second Sunday after Easter
(or Third Sunday in Paschaltide) in known also as “Good Shepherd
Sunday.” Obviously, this comes from the reading for today, from John’s
Gospel, with Jesus telling us:
 
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his
sheep. . . . I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for
the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must
bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one
flock, one shepherd.”
 
One thing that popes in the past have done is to rail about how all
Christians should be under their jurisdiction and authority. That they
should be acknowledged by all Christians as the universal authority in
Christianity.
 
This pope was different. He acted as a universal PASTOR and SHEPHERD to
all Christians. And to non-Christians, as well. He did this by trying to
model himself after the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Can a pastor of souls go far wrong, by modeling his actions after Jesus?
Certainly not! The radiance of the love of Christ that John Paul showed
forth was a pastor’s love--a shepherd’s love--for God’s flock. It is my
hope that all pastors of souls would be as adroit in showing God’s love,
as did John Paul. Let’s face it, however, God calls men of differing
make-ups, and of various talents. Some are comely and handsome. Some are
tall, or are distinguished looking. Some of us are plain looking. It is
a mistake to equate Godliness with handsomeness. Or with any particular
personality trait. For example, compare the physical appearance of Pope
John XXIII to Pope John Paul II. One was tall and distinguished looking.
One was short, plump, and dumpy looking. Both of them radiated the love
of Jesus Christ. Both of them were pastors in the Biblical sense of the
word. They loved the flock, and they cared for the flock, and they fed
the flock, and they protected the flock. Of course, the so-called
“Liberals” (an inappropriate term, as “Liberal” is really a political
term) managed to get in a few barbs, during the television broadcast
coverage of these past several days. They all gave lip service to how
great Pope John Paul was, but of course they had to get a barb in about
women “priests.” And several other items on their agenda.
 
One of the duties of a shepherd/pastor is to protect the sheep. John
Paul took that seriously, too. He rescinded the license to teach (as
Catholic theologians) some whose teaching was contrary to the Church. He
fulfilled his duty as a teacher and bishop of souls. In the book that we
call “The Prayer Book,” we find that in that Rite, “The Form of
Ordaining or Consecrating a Bishop,” the Bishop-Elect is questioned by
the Bishop presiding at the Ordination. These are some of those
questions. “Are you ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and
drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary
to God’s Word; and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage
others to the same?” Another question is “Will you maintain and set
forward, as much as shall lie in you, quietness, love, and peace among
all men and diligently exercise such discipline as by the authority of
God’s Word, and by the order of this Church, is committed to you?” One
other of the many questions is “Will you show yourself gentle, and be
merciful for Christ’s sake to poor and needy people, and to all
strangers destitute of help?” All things considered, I think that John
Paul fulfilled those many attributes, qualities, and duties enumerated
in the Prayer Book. By golly, I think he would have made a pretty darn
good Anglican Catholic Bishop!!! Unfortunately, during his pontifical
tenure as Bishop of Rome, John Paul was never in communion with the
Anglican Catholic Church. Now, of course, in his new place in the
Kingdom of God, he is in communion with the Anglican Catholic Church.
This may or may not have come as a surprise to him! As a pastor and
bishop of souls, now that he enjoys the light of the Kingdom, I would
expect that he is now praying for the Anglican Catholic Church. That is,
now that he fully understands what we are. I would expect that he is
also praying for the Roman Catholic Church, that the rampant excesses
and folly of theological Modernism and liturgical novelty be put to
flight. Let it be said of John Paul, that he was a Pastor and a
Shepherd.
 
Here in Fairbanks, it bothers me that I an not able to get to Juneau to
give you the pastoral care that you deserve. If I were wealthy and could
afford the air fare to cover the 600 and some miles, I would come
monthly to be with you, and to celebrate the Sacrament of our Lord’s
Body and Blood for you. I know that you of St. George’s mission in
Juneau, gathering as you do in Mary Jane’s house on Sunday to pray the
Daily Office of "Morning Prayer" together (and to hear an emailed sermon
from me read to you) are gathering in the knowledge that when one or two
are gathered together in God’s Name, he will be with you. However, it
saddens me that you are bereft of pastoral care. Not completely, for God
the Holy Spirit is continually giving you divine grace. Still, I wish
that I could be a real pastor for you, instead of in name only.
Considering that our State of Alaska is one fifth the size of the entire
Lower-48, the challenge is daunting. When Bishop (later Archbishop)
Lewis gave me his permission to go to Alaska, I had thoughts of Bishop
Grafton going into the wilds of Wisconsin, evangelizing for Jesus
Christ, and winning souls for God’s Kingdom, advancing the Church day by
day, week by week, and year by year. It may seem that we are barely
holding our own. However, the world, the flesh, the devil, and every
minister of the "liberal" denominations, and all the other heterodox
presences has not been able to dislodge us. We are still here!
 
With all the television coverage of Pope John Paul’s death, funeral, and
now the continuing coverage of the process of selecting his replacement,
I think that many who have scarcely given a thought to religion of any
stripe may now find that the Holy Spirit has used the occasion of all
this to awaken an emptiness, a longing, in their souls. As the old Psalm
says, “Like as the hart desireth the water brooks, so longeth my soul
after thee, O God.” (Psalm 42)
 
I can’t bridge the hundreds of miles between us, you and me, in person.
So, you will have to, for the most part, pastor each other. The flock
taking care of the other members of the flock. Perhaps not what the
Church has in mind for “pastoral care,” but certainly the “laical care”
that appertaineth to all the parishioners in the Church. Perhaps even
more so, for you in Juneau. Remember that a closeness to God-the-Father,
through God-the-Son, by God-the Holy Ghost is what your end is. Those
familiar words “love one another has Christ has loved you” are
especially pressing for you Pastor one another, care for one another.
Be a Matthew to each other. Be a Mark to one another. Be a Luke. Be a
John. Be a Paul. And be a John-Paul to each other. Radiate, as John Paul
did, the love of Christ Jesus. Let God-the-Holy Spirit so permeate your
lives, that others, not of your fold (who are not of St. George’s
Anglican Catholic mission, in Juneau) may be attracted to you. Let them
marvel and say, “See how they love each other, and how they love God!”
Invite them to come. And they will!
 
It was not training in acting, and performing (as a youth) in the
theater that made John Paul great. It was not his charming and winsome
personality. It was not his charismatic presence, and not his beaming
smile. What made John Paul great was his dedication to the love of God
and the will of God, and that he implemented both, with a love of souls.
In fact, John Paul would make a pretty good model for an Anglican
Catholic layman, even for one at St. George’s in Juneau, or at St.
Catherine’s in Fairbanks, or at St. Margaret of Scotland’s in Anchorage,
or for that matter for anywhere. Be a lover of God, and be a lover of
souls! “For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25)
 
Now unto God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost be
ascribed, as is most justly due, all might, majesty, dominion, and power
now and forever. Amen.
 

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