Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

 Lectionary: 316

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

Periodically a new religion springs up. It might call itself Christian but its premise -- its business plan and selling point -- is a new and unexpected revelation. WooHoo!

Many people are agog with these wunderkinds because they also suffer the belief that history began around the time they were born. Or perhaps more recently. It all began with the Atomic Age, the Computer Age, or the Social Media Age. Or, more remotely, the Enlightenment, American Century, or World War II. Nothing before that miraculous moment matters any more. 

Christians believe that Jesus entered once for all into the heavenly sanctuary of God's presence. That "once for all" includes all time from the remote past to the distant future. In that Eternal Temple he obtains, at the price of his own body and blood, eternal redemption. His merciful kingdom spans the universe; it includes even the creatures who might exist on unimaginably distant exoplanets. 

Call it hubris if you like, but that's our belief. And its based on the solid foundation of knowing the Lord, his life, death, and resurrection. 

New religions spring up because some people see Christianity as old and tired. It's hoary old cathedrals and shrines, occupied by hunched old people with walkers and wheelchairs, and murmuring their prayers, fail to entertain the children of this brave new age. Their new revelations come with power and authority, and those who buy into them -- and they do cost money -- expect to have the upper hand in future dealings. 

But eventually the more successful New Age religions (e.g., Mormons) settle down, abandon their implausible revelations, and become old fashioned Protestants with traditional values.

The faithful are renewed by returning frequently to the source. It is an inexhaustible life-giving spring. Searching for another source cannot satisfy, especially when there is none. As we recite the New Testament canticles during the Evening Prayer (Vespers) of the Church I am often impressed by the insight and assurance of these earliest disciples of Jesus. They believed in Jesus's universal mission. 

In his Ephesian song, Saint Paul wrote: 

In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

And in his Letter to the Colossians he insisted that Jesus...

...is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation.

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;

all things were created through him and for him.

He is before all things,

and in him all things hold together.

Those who hear these songs about the Lord and take their words to heart are completely satisfied and feel utterly fulfilled. They cannot be distracted even by an angel from heaven.