Worship in Spirit, Truth and Compassion

John 4:22-26 (NRSV)

You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he the one who is speaking to you.’

Yesterday was a terrible day for our nation. The Supreme Court decision that corporations have the "right" to use unlimited amounts of money to affect national elections was a terrible ruling. It is terrible because it puts businesses and their profits first and people last. Love for our neighbors has been exchanged for love of corporate funds to sway political power. It is a decision that all who believe in democracy and the ability to fight for what is the right thing to do needs to be concerned about.

Following yesterday's decision several different individuals came together and said "let's try to do something about it." Among them Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida. If you click on his name link, you will be taken to a web site of his through which you can sign a petition to help him move forward six pieces of legislation that will help American's through the effects of the Supreme Courts decision yesterday. You can also sign a petition on the web site for People for the American Way . Lastly there is a web site called Move to Amend. All of these web sites will help us to become activists in response to the Supreme Courts decision yesterday.

Why is the subject of the Supreme Courts decision so important to this blog today? Because as I read the Gospels the one reality that I see is that Jesus Christ came to honor what is in people's hearts. The longing to be seen and loved as human beings created in the image and likeness of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and valued to the point of being saved from our sins. We long to go beyond the prejudices and destructive forces that are within this world. But, Lord knows we cannot achieve salvation on our own.

"Christian faith in salvation and liberation is based on a fundamental conviction that nothing in the world is simply fated to be. there is nothing in the universe that simply cannot be helped. No evil is so impregnable as to be absolutely irremediable. Everything is capable of renewal, and the world is destined to realize the utopia of the reign of God." --Leonardo Boff

God longs to redeem this world, and has already done so in Jesus. However, the fullness of salvation has yet to be realized when Jesus Christ returns at the end of time. But God does not leave us alone in our difficulties and struggles that are part of our human condition. In Jesus Christ, God shined God's Light onto all humankind and let us know that God is closest to us in our difficulties and celebrates all victories with us. When we are hurting, when the world is beyond our understanding and control, God is with us to help us embrace God's unconditional love and find a sense of peace in the midst of all conflicts.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are as affected by yesterday's terrible Supreme Court Decision as anyone else, but in many ways more so. Corporations that are against LGBT rights that includes the Catholic Church a "non-profit corporation" and even Evangelical Christians who are against LGBT rights and marriage equality can use their money to influence politicians and elections that do not work in our favor. However, there are other possibilities that could work to the LGBT Communities favor. Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force are also "non-profit corporations". They can also be called upon by those of us who support them to put forth the money they receive and help win elections for the benefit of LGBT people. The point is, LGBT people are again on the spot and we are challenged to rise to the occasion.

In today's Gospel Jesus challenges us to worship God in Spirit and truth. We cannot worship God if we are not true to who we are, and if we do not allow the Holy Spirit to use and move us beyond our Pandoras Box. Apathy and in-activism in this day and age is just not a good choice at this time. Where we are able to use our voices, we must use them. Where we can make a difference, we must make that difference. When and where we can pray and worship God, seeking God's will in the midst of prejudice and corporate abuses of their funds and judges misusing their powers, we must pray and search for God's will and how we can cooperate with God's plan of salvation.

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday After the Epiphany, BCP, Page 215).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, BCP, Page 833).