Australian Church of Antioch

Editor’s Note: The Living Wisdom of the Christed Lord

It is a sacred privilege to present this compilation of liturgical readings, curated with apostolic heart and esoteric depth by the Primate Emeritus, Archbishop Frank Bugge, D.D. These pages are more than a collection of texts; they are a map for spiritual ascension and a vessel for deepening one’s mystical union with Christ during the Holy Eucharist.

The Wisdom Readings: A Bridge for the Seeking

For nearly forty years, Archbishop Frank Bugge has served as the foundational heart of the Australian Church of Antioch (ACOA). During these four decades, he has laboured to build a city of refuge, a sanctuary for the "returning Christian," the lapsed Anglo-Catholic, and the wanderer in the wilderness of "non-religion." Many come to us bearing the scars of spiritual trauma, seeking a way to experience the Divine without the walls of rigid dogma.

It is for this very reason that Archbishop Frank compiled these Wisdom Readings. As a mystic who has poured his life’s devotion into the Christed Lord since the foundation of the ACOA, he recognized that for those disenfranchised by tradition, the standard "letter of the law" often felt cold. He understood that to rekindle the spark of Christ within a wounded soul, one must sometimes speak the universal language of the Heart, the Sage, and the Ancient Mystery.

These readings were born from his creativity and his down-to-earth brilliance. By weaving the wisdom of the ages into the fabric of the Eucharist, he created a liturgical space where the disenfranchised Christian and Post-dogmatic Christians find a Gospel that is truly "Good News" again, and the esoteric student finds the Christed Lord hidden within the depths of universal lore. As our first hierarch, he has willingly fathered many who had given up on Christianity, proving that the presence of Christ can be experienced through the Eucharist without prejudice.

The Lineage and the Umbrella

The ACOA serves as an umbrella church, sheltering diverse communities and jurisdictions, each bringing a unique tradition and spiritual journey. We consider the esoteric and the traditional as the "two vital limbs" of our church. These Wisdom Readings are the practical tool that allows our clergy to meet people exactly where they are.

The Antiochian Mass itself finds its roots in the Liberal Rite, promulgated by Bishop C.W. Leadbeater and Bishop J.I. Wedgwood. Their work was an inspired evolution of the Tridentine Latin Mass, designed to focus on the radiation of spiritual force rather than "miserable sinner" theology. While some of our communities utilizes the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), this volume offers a thematic alternative, organized by Archbishop Frank to harmonize with the specific energetic "intent" of each Sunday and Feast.

The Terminology of the Eternal Gospel

In traditional circles, "Epistle" and "Gospel" refer strictly to apostolic letters and the four synoptic accounts. However, in the esoteric and metaphysical field, we understand the Gospel as the "Good News" in its eternal sense. This is the news that the Christed Lord has triumphed over limitation, and it encompasses the many spiritual teachings that offer us ways to overcome that limitation ourselves.

As the scriptures suggest in Colossians 1:16–17, all things were created through Him and in Him all things hold together. Because He is the very essence of existence, any message of hope or victory is truly "Good News." Whether a text originates from a Sage, a Chief, or a Saint, if it vibrates with the frequency of the Spirit, it is of Christ. As we often say: Christ is not a Christian. He is the Lord of all Creation, the living pulse behind every path to the Source.

Using this Lectionary

The ACOA Constitution reminds us that we are "open to all humanity without question of sexism (gender), race, colour, creed, or sexuality." To that end, these readings are offered as a tool for flexibility.

Please note that this is not a compulsory text. While optional, it is a highly recommended resource. I have been personally enriched by this compilation for the past 13 years; it has not only expanded my theological understanding but has enlightened my scriptural readings and my own pursuit of spiritual ascension.

• The Collects: Used during the Divine Service to set the spiritual vibration.
• The Readings: May replace or supplement the RCL Epistle and Gospel, depending on the needs of the congregation.
• The Intent: Each week includes a focus on colour, candles, and mental discipline.

The Spirit is not bound by the letter, yet we use these letters to bridge the gap between the mind and the Infinite Consciousness. Our goal is the obliteration of boundaries until only Divinity remains. May the Christed Lord envelop you in the infinite realization that awaits us all.

Introduction by Primate Emeritus

In this book, the Collects, Epistles and Gospels, are taken from sources other than the standard scripture. Many think there is no other fount of wisdom apart from the Scriptures, but there are hundreds of inspirational writings and quotations from some of the wisest and greatest names in history.

The Bible does NOT have a monopoly on wisdom or knowledge, and this book has taken inspiration from many sources, ignoring the facts of race, religion or any other thing, but simply absorbing the enlightenment of any and all origins that we can find.

I have been accused of being un-Christian because of this collection, but I stand by my belief that Jesus did NOT hesitate to quote parables (from non-Christian sources) to get his point across, and therefore I see no reason why I cannot follow his example.