Today's Scripture Readings
1 Kings 17:17-24 (NRSV)
Psalm 30 (BCP., p.621)
Galatians 1:11-24 (NRSV)
Luke 7:11-17 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
This is one of those times when the reading from Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospel are in sync with each other. This Sunday's readings remind us of what we celebrated only eleven weeks ago. Indeed, what Christians celebrate every Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus is the compassionate and life-giving Savior. The events in the Bible are full of symbolism. Symbols that help us to meditate on what a great God we are so privileged to know. Symbols that help us see past what we pray in the Creeds, to experience the transforming grace of God as living and working in our daily lives.
The significance of both narratives is that of the widows and their deceased sons. In the society of the times in which these events took place, men were considered the powerhouse of family life. Men owned women as property. Marriage was not understood then (nor is it now) about procreation as some think. It was about a contract, ownership and the ongoing life of the tribal communities. When a woman lost her husband through death, she was pretty much financially destitute. If she was fortunate enough to have a son, he could take on the farming and help the widow survive the economic hardship. If she did not have a son, she was left to fend for herself.
At this point in my blog post, I would like to reflect for a moment on how our church and society looks after those who are alone and in economic hardship.
There are many punishments in this world. Many that are unwarranted and unjust. There are very few that can be as gruesome as isolation and loneliness. Being cut off from some sense of community is by far the worst of unintended social diseases. Having to go through life alone. Whether sick or healthy, being alone, with no one to help or take interest can crush a human spirit. It is estimated that there are more suicides during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons by people who have no one to share the holidays with. The happiness of the seasons with all the magic and celebrations, are just too much while they live in situations that they neither brought on themselves, nor wanted. Many of them are so because of a death or illness. Others are a result of their orneriness that they just can't control because of their life situation. Irregardless, no one, is so horrible, that they should live or be left to live in total isolation from community. Our individualized society, built by instant gratification and technological advances can help many. But, when someone is cut off from any kind of community, the pain is quite excruciating.
In our Gospel today, Jesus "had compassion for her" as the procession with her dead sons body made it's way to the cemetery. The compassion that Jesus experienced is the compassion of God in human form. Jesus is God's perfect revelation of Self. He comes to help us know that God walks with us through life's ups and downs. We are never completely alone. Henri J.M. Nouwen, Donald P. McNeill and Douglas A. Morrison in their book entitled Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life wrote the following.
They go on to point out that the Greek for the phrase "to be moved with compassion" is splangchnizomai. The splangchna are the entrails of the body, as in the guts (p.14). In Jesus, God is experiencing human compassion in his Divinity, right in the gut. It is from there, that Jesus sees the human emotion of the grieving widow, who is already financially ruined, now facing the worst of the worst in her son's death. When Jesus resuscitates her son and restores his life, He not only shows that he is the Savior who brings about resurrection, but out of God's compassion restores the widows confidence in God as well. Jesus doesn't leave the widow to the worst of the worst. He gives her hope and an important means for her survival. He does this, because He knows that a life full of faith and trust in God, is also connected in our temporal life and taking care of the here and now.
Who are the abandoned and suffering of our times? Who are we leaving to fend for themselves, with no public or private support? Where is the compassion in the Church and society to reach out and witness to our life-giving Savior?
The sequester is responsible for the loss of jobs, education opportunities and many other important public services. Middle class and low income people all across our country are suffering needlessly, because those we elected to office are too busy heaping scandals on each other, and trying to win the next election. What are we doing to call them to accountability? What are we doing to be held accountable to ourselves and others around us?
Our Christian faith calls each of us to prefer Christ present in all persons. Okay, the words "prefer Christ" come from the Rule of St. Benedict. You didn't think I would forget that now, did you? The words from the Rule, are also the call of the Gospel to each of us. Whether we are part of a Christian and/or Religious Community or not. As Christians, we are all consecrated by our Baptismal Vows to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself." Our Vows don't stop there. We also Vow to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." We respond to these: "We will, with God's help." We recognize that that which we Vow is not possible without God's help. We need God's compassion in Christ to move to our guts so that we are moved to help one another.
God's compassion must also move us to stop using the Bible erroneously to condemn people, who were created as they are by God and loved to the point of redemption in Christ. Immigrants, Native Americans, African Americans, Women, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning people, the physically/emotionally and mentally challenged, the unemployed, etc. Every person is created by the design of God's creative and redemptive design. Each of us are given the great commission to share the Gospel that God's salvation is available to all people, and that no one is to be excluded or addressed as unlovable. The compassion of God for those experiencing oppression and violence is felt in the guts of Christ, as He intercedes before His Father. The Holy Spirit is moving upon the Church to open our doors and hearts to all God's people, with compassion, respect and life-giving transformation by way of God's grace.
Are we ready to respond in loving obedience to God's call in our lives and those of others?
Amen.
Prayers
1 Kings 17:17-24 (NRSV)
The son of the woman, the mistress of the house at Zarephath, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" But he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again." The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." So the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."
Psalm 30 (BCP., p.621)
Galatians 1:11-24 (NRSV)
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.
Luke 7:11-17 (NRSV)
Soon after healing the centurion's slave, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Blog Reflection
This is one of those times when the reading from Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospel are in sync with each other. This Sunday's readings remind us of what we celebrated only eleven weeks ago. Indeed, what Christians celebrate every Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus is the compassionate and life-giving Savior. The events in the Bible are full of symbolism. Symbols that help us to meditate on what a great God we are so privileged to know. Symbols that help us see past what we pray in the Creeds, to experience the transforming grace of God as living and working in our daily lives.
The significance of both narratives is that of the widows and their deceased sons. In the society of the times in which these events took place, men were considered the powerhouse of family life. Men owned women as property. Marriage was not understood then (nor is it now) about procreation as some think. It was about a contract, ownership and the ongoing life of the tribal communities. When a woman lost her husband through death, she was pretty much financially destitute. If she was fortunate enough to have a son, he could take on the farming and help the widow survive the economic hardship. If she did not have a son, she was left to fend for herself.
At this point in my blog post, I would like to reflect for a moment on how our church and society looks after those who are alone and in economic hardship.
There are many punishments in this world. Many that are unwarranted and unjust. There are very few that can be as gruesome as isolation and loneliness. Being cut off from some sense of community is by far the worst of unintended social diseases. Having to go through life alone. Whether sick or healthy, being alone, with no one to help or take interest can crush a human spirit. It is estimated that there are more suicides during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons by people who have no one to share the holidays with. The happiness of the seasons with all the magic and celebrations, are just too much while they live in situations that they neither brought on themselves, nor wanted. Many of them are so because of a death or illness. Others are a result of their orneriness that they just can't control because of their life situation. Irregardless, no one, is so horrible, that they should live or be left to live in total isolation from community. Our individualized society, built by instant gratification and technological advances can help many. But, when someone is cut off from any kind of community, the pain is quite excruciating.
In our Gospel today, Jesus "had compassion for her" as the procession with her dead sons body made it's way to the cemetery. The compassion that Jesus experienced is the compassion of God in human form. Jesus is God's perfect revelation of Self. He comes to help us know that God walks with us through life's ups and downs. We are never completely alone. Henri J.M. Nouwen, Donald P. McNeill and Douglas A. Morrison in their book entitled Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life wrote the following.
As soon as we call God, "God-with-us," we enter into a new relationship of intimacy. By calling God Immanuel, we recognize God's commitment to live in solidarity with us, to share our joys and pains, to defend and protect us, and to suffer all of life with us. the God-with-us is a close God, a God whome we call our refute, our stronghold, our wisdom and even, more intimately, our healper, oru shepherd, our love. We will never really know God as a compassionate God if we do not understand with our heart and mind that 'the Word became flesh and lived among us" (Jn 1:14 NRSV).
Often we say to each other in a bitter tone: "You do not know what you are talking about because you did not march in protest, participate in the strike, or experience the hatred of the bystanders, because you were never hungry, never knew cold, or never felt real isolation." When we say such things, we express the deep conviction that we are willing to listen to consoling words only when they are born out of solidarity with the condition that was or is ours. God wants to know our condition fully and does not want to take away any pain which God has not fully tasted. God's compassion is anchored in the most intimate solidarity, a solidarity that allows us to say with the psalmist, "This is our God, and we are the people he pastures, the flock he guides" (Ps. 95:7) (p. 13).
They go on to point out that the Greek for the phrase "to be moved with compassion" is splangchnizomai. The splangchna are the entrails of the body, as in the guts (p.14). In Jesus, God is experiencing human compassion in his Divinity, right in the gut. It is from there, that Jesus sees the human emotion of the grieving widow, who is already financially ruined, now facing the worst of the worst in her son's death. When Jesus resuscitates her son and restores his life, He not only shows that he is the Savior who brings about resurrection, but out of God's compassion restores the widows confidence in God as well. Jesus doesn't leave the widow to the worst of the worst. He gives her hope and an important means for her survival. He does this, because He knows that a life full of faith and trust in God, is also connected in our temporal life and taking care of the here and now.
Who are the abandoned and suffering of our times? Who are we leaving to fend for themselves, with no public or private support? Where is the compassion in the Church and society to reach out and witness to our life-giving Savior?
The sequester is responsible for the loss of jobs, education opportunities and many other important public services. Middle class and low income people all across our country are suffering needlessly, because those we elected to office are too busy heaping scandals on each other, and trying to win the next election. What are we doing to call them to accountability? What are we doing to be held accountable to ourselves and others around us?
Our Christian faith calls each of us to prefer Christ present in all persons. Okay, the words "prefer Christ" come from the Rule of St. Benedict. You didn't think I would forget that now, did you? The words from the Rule, are also the call of the Gospel to each of us. Whether we are part of a Christian and/or Religious Community or not. As Christians, we are all consecrated by our Baptismal Vows to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself." Our Vows don't stop there. We also Vow to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." We respond to these: "We will, with God's help." We recognize that that which we Vow is not possible without God's help. We need God's compassion in Christ to move to our guts so that we are moved to help one another.
God's compassion must also move us to stop using the Bible erroneously to condemn people, who were created as they are by God and loved to the point of redemption in Christ. Immigrants, Native Americans, African Americans, Women, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning people, the physically/emotionally and mentally challenged, the unemployed, etc. Every person is created by the design of God's creative and redemptive design. Each of us are given the great commission to share the Gospel that God's salvation is available to all people, and that no one is to be excluded or addressed as unlovable. The compassion of God for those experiencing oppression and violence is felt in the guts of Christ, as He intercedes before His Father. The Holy Spirit is moving upon the Church to open our doors and hearts to all God's people, with compassion, respect and life-giving transformation by way of God's grace.
Are we ready to respond in loving obedience to God's call in our lives and those of others?
Amen.
Prayers
O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your
inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by
your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 5, Book of Common Prayer, p.229).
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Prayer for the Mission of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p.818).
Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head:
Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their
solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find
fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those Who Live Alone, Book of Common Prayer, p.829).
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