Scriptural Basis
Wisdom 7:24-28 (NRSV)
Luke 11:5-10 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
The Episcopal Church commemorates four amazing women today. Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Amelia Bloomer. Sojourner Truth. Harriet Ross Tubman
Each of these women were part of an incredible movement while they faced unspeakable oppression and discrimination. They each played a role in the movement towards greater equality for women as well as the African American people who were subject to the brutality that came with biases that shame America.
All of these women were devout Christians with deep devotion to Christ and the Scriptures. Yet, they were also full of bravery and had incredible fortitude so as to be part of the work towards better days.
The reading from Wisdom appointed for today's commemoration refers to wisdom as "mobile," "pure," and as the "breath of God." Wisdom which is regarded as a feminine quality of God, "she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom."
Wisdom can see the truth of what is taking place and is willing to take on some kind of role to do the right thing.
These four women saw the oppression of themselves, other women and African Americans for what it was. Because of the wisdom that Stanton, Bloomer, Truth, and Tubman had they were able to work through the difficulties of their oppression and use their experiences to better others who were victims of injustice and prejudice. They were not afraid to face the challenges they had around and before them, to do what was right.
Our commemoration along with the reading from Wisdom and Luke are challenges to all of us to seek out the wisdom of God and to lend a helping hand to better the situation around us for ourselves and for others. The reflection from all that we are reading and considering today is a profound way to look at our movement for justice, equality and inclusion of all marginalized persons in the Church and society.
Those who are experiencing oppression, discrimination and violence are often the best at seeing things as they are. They are also really great at finding ways to work our way out of what is happening.
I am encouraged by the news that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has been getting hearings in the United States Senate today. Those who have been experiencing prejudice because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression by not being able to marry the person we love because of DOMA are given the opportunity make our stories heard. Our stories and struggles do have the possibility of affecting change for those of us who continue to thrive and strive during very difficult circumstances.
In these hearings those who have recorded testimony and are giving witness before the Senate are able to relate the real live stories of what is happening to LGBT individuals and families nation wide. LGBT families of couples in which one partner has alzheimer's disease while all the other partner wants to be able to do is take care of his ill partner without some foolish law standing in their way.
We also continue to see racial injustice through many individuals who just hate the idea that an African American is the President of the United States are determined to see that he fails. In addition, several GOP House members are objecting to African American Farmers receiving the money they have been legally granted by a court settlement. Such objections are based on racial injustice masked as "priorities" for others.
Over these many months of political mud slinging the numerous attacks on reproductive health care for women only demonstrates that gender bias is not a dead matter in our society.
The readings from Wisdom and Luke call on all of us to seek out the better part of who God is. God is not a psycho path that is getting angrier that God might send record breaking floods, earthquakes or tornadoes.
God is about compassion, justice, love and inclusion. God confirms the goodness of all individuals whom God has created. God does not wish injustice, violence or oppression for any person. God has confirmed all people as being good by sending Jesus to take on our woundedness and sin, to free us and empower us as God's holy people.
As we commemorate these amazing women, let us also see things around us for what they are. May we all be willing to lend a helping hand and a loving embrace to all who experience oppression and violence. May we be the answer to someone's prayer for help. May we be open to those who come to help us as God's answer to our own prayers.
Most importantly, it is important to realize that none of us are totally there. We all have work to be done. We are all in need of someone to listen to, understand us and help us get to the next plateau of life.
Prayers
Wisdom 7:24-28 (NRSV)
- For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;
- because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.
- For she is a breath of the power of God,
- and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;
- therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.
- For she is a reflection of eternal light,
- a spotless mirror of the working of God,
- and an image of his goodness.
- Although she is but one, she can do all things,
- and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
- in every generation she passes into holy souls
- and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
- for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
Luke 11:5-10 (NRSV)
Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Blog Reflection
The Episcopal Church commemorates four amazing women today. Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Amelia Bloomer. Sojourner Truth. Harriet Ross Tubman
Each of these women were part of an incredible movement while they faced unspeakable oppression and discrimination. They each played a role in the movement towards greater equality for women as well as the African American people who were subject to the brutality that came with biases that shame America.
All of these women were devout Christians with deep devotion to Christ and the Scriptures. Yet, they were also full of bravery and had incredible fortitude so as to be part of the work towards better days.
The reading from Wisdom appointed for today's commemoration refers to wisdom as "mobile," "pure," and as the "breath of God." Wisdom which is regarded as a feminine quality of God, "she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom."
Wisdom can see the truth of what is taking place and is willing to take on some kind of role to do the right thing.
These four women saw the oppression of themselves, other women and African Americans for what it was. Because of the wisdom that Stanton, Bloomer, Truth, and Tubman had they were able to work through the difficulties of their oppression and use their experiences to better others who were victims of injustice and prejudice. They were not afraid to face the challenges they had around and before them, to do what was right.
Our commemoration along with the reading from Wisdom and Luke are challenges to all of us to seek out the wisdom of God and to lend a helping hand to better the situation around us for ourselves and for others. The reflection from all that we are reading and considering today is a profound way to look at our movement for justice, equality and inclusion of all marginalized persons in the Church and society.
Those who are experiencing oppression, discrimination and violence are often the best at seeing things as they are. They are also really great at finding ways to work our way out of what is happening.
I am encouraged by the news that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has been getting hearings in the United States Senate today. Those who have been experiencing prejudice because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression by not being able to marry the person we love because of DOMA are given the opportunity make our stories heard. Our stories and struggles do have the possibility of affecting change for those of us who continue to thrive and strive during very difficult circumstances.
In these hearings those who have recorded testimony and are giving witness before the Senate are able to relate the real live stories of what is happening to LGBT individuals and families nation wide. LGBT families of couples in which one partner has alzheimer's disease while all the other partner wants to be able to do is take care of his ill partner without some foolish law standing in their way.
We also continue to see racial injustice through many individuals who just hate the idea that an African American is the President of the United States are determined to see that he fails. In addition, several GOP House members are objecting to African American Farmers receiving the money they have been legally granted by a court settlement. Such objections are based on racial injustice masked as "priorities" for others.
Over these many months of political mud slinging the numerous attacks on reproductive health care for women only demonstrates that gender bias is not a dead matter in our society.
The readings from Wisdom and Luke call on all of us to seek out the better part of who God is. God is not a psycho path that is getting angrier that God might send record breaking floods, earthquakes or tornadoes.
God is about compassion, justice, love and inclusion. God confirms the goodness of all individuals whom God has created. God does not wish injustice, violence or oppression for any person. God has confirmed all people as being good by sending Jesus to take on our woundedness and sin, to free us and empower us as God's holy people.
As we commemorate these amazing women, let us also see things around us for what they are. May we all be willing to lend a helping hand and a loving embrace to all who experience oppression and violence. May we be the answer to someone's prayer for help. May we be open to those who come to help us as God's answer to our own prayers.
Most importantly, it is important to realize that none of us are totally there. We all have work to be done. We are all in need of someone to listen to, understand us and help us get to the next plateau of life.
Prayers
O God, whose Spirit guides us into all truth and makes us free: Strengthen and sustain us as you did your servants Elizabeth, Amelia, Sojourner, and Harriet. Give us vision and courage to stand against oppression and injustice and all that works against the glorious liberty to which you call all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 477).
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, page 827).
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