Today's Scripture Readings
Genesis 18:1-10a (NRSV)
Psalm 15 (BCP., p.599)
Colossians 1:15-28 (NRSV)
Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
I have been enjoying a great vacation with Jason in Provincetown, MA this week. Tomorrow, we will be flying back to Minnesota to resume our lives in their usual working order. The sight of the beautiful beaches here, the delicious food, meeting so many wonderful people and sharing our stories together, have been part of this sabbath time away from home.
It is interesting that as I prepare to return home tomorrow that I am presented with these readings from the Lectionary. In these readings I get a sense of the theme of listening. Listening is an essential part of Benedictine Spirituality. In praying the Divine Office, Lectio Divina, in the Vows of Obedience, Conversion of Life and Stability, we are told to be "listening and inclining the ear of the heart." (Prologue, Rule of St. Benedict). We are to be listening for God to speak to our hearts in all the various ways in the day and throughout life. One of the great things a vacation does is it helps to clear out the brain a bit, so that one can listen better, differently for a while and find other ways of responding to God.
Another sense I get from the readings today, is that God has awesome things in store for us. God desires the very best God can give us. The question is, are we open to what God has to say or do? This too, is why listening is so important.
It is very important to not look at Martha as some kind of prude. Her work to prepare the meal for her guest is in and of itself a wonderful deed. Looking at what is going on from the human standpoint, Mary is leaving all the work to her sister. Martha is just expressing her feelings. Good for her. Jesus' response to her is also not Jesus being difficult. He is simply suggesting that Martha balance herself a bit, and be sure that she takes time as Mary is doing to spend time listening to God. Jesus is reminding Martha, that she will always have her work to do, but she also needs to take time to listen more closely to what God has for her life.
This past week while I have been on vacation, I have also been listening to the news about the not guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case. Between that acquittal and the Supreme Court destroying a very important part of the Voting Rights Act last month, the issues surrounding the violence of racism have been made very real and destructive. While we celebrate the momentous movements forward for marriage equality for LGBT people. we must not become deaf to the reality that racism is a major issue in our time. I believe that the Scriptures today tell us that God desires a society and a Church where everyone can find a sense of solidarity and community without racism, sexism, heterosexism and others issues being the barriers to peace and friendship that they are. If we take time to listen carefully to God in the Scriptures and see how the history of violent prejudice on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation and/or gender, gender identity/expression, immigration, etc, we can see the destruction of communities, and the message of the Gospel being violated.
I think we need to spend some time being quiet with the Lord in the days and months to come, and search for union with God, by seeing how we can improve our relationships with others around us. In particular, those who are different from us. God will challenge us to face our biases, ideals, and even beliefs, but only to help us become Christians who live what we believe, instead of just talking about it so much. We can give ourselves to whatever work we wish, but if we fail to be part of the work of hospitality and reconciliation, then our Faith becomes too much of an abstraction, and not a way of life.
May all of us listen better to God today, tomorrow into everlasting life.
Amen.
Prayers
Genesis 18:1-10a (NRSV)
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son."
Psalm 15 (BCP., p.599)
Colossians 1:15-28 (NRSV)
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him-- provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)
As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Blog Reflection
I have been enjoying a great vacation with Jason in Provincetown, MA this week. Tomorrow, we will be flying back to Minnesota to resume our lives in their usual working order. The sight of the beautiful beaches here, the delicious food, meeting so many wonderful people and sharing our stories together, have been part of this sabbath time away from home.
It is interesting that as I prepare to return home tomorrow that I am presented with these readings from the Lectionary. In these readings I get a sense of the theme of listening. Listening is an essential part of Benedictine Spirituality. In praying the Divine Office, Lectio Divina, in the Vows of Obedience, Conversion of Life and Stability, we are told to be "listening and inclining the ear of the heart." (Prologue, Rule of St. Benedict). We are to be listening for God to speak to our hearts in all the various ways in the day and throughout life. One of the great things a vacation does is it helps to clear out the brain a bit, so that one can listen better, differently for a while and find other ways of responding to God.
Another sense I get from the readings today, is that God has awesome things in store for us. God desires the very best God can give us. The question is, are we open to what God has to say or do? This too, is why listening is so important.
It is very important to not look at Martha as some kind of prude. Her work to prepare the meal for her guest is in and of itself a wonderful deed. Looking at what is going on from the human standpoint, Mary is leaving all the work to her sister. Martha is just expressing her feelings. Good for her. Jesus' response to her is also not Jesus being difficult. He is simply suggesting that Martha balance herself a bit, and be sure that she takes time as Mary is doing to spend time listening to God. Jesus is reminding Martha, that she will always have her work to do, but she also needs to take time to listen more closely to what God has for her life.
This past week while I have been on vacation, I have also been listening to the news about the not guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case. Between that acquittal and the Supreme Court destroying a very important part of the Voting Rights Act last month, the issues surrounding the violence of racism have been made very real and destructive. While we celebrate the momentous movements forward for marriage equality for LGBT people. we must not become deaf to the reality that racism is a major issue in our time. I believe that the Scriptures today tell us that God desires a society and a Church where everyone can find a sense of solidarity and community without racism, sexism, heterosexism and others issues being the barriers to peace and friendship that they are. If we take time to listen carefully to God in the Scriptures and see how the history of violent prejudice on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation and/or gender, gender identity/expression, immigration, etc, we can see the destruction of communities, and the message of the Gospel being violated.
I think we need to spend some time being quiet with the Lord in the days and months to come, and search for union with God, by seeing how we can improve our relationships with others around us. In particular, those who are different from us. God will challenge us to face our biases, ideals, and even beliefs, but only to help us become Christians who live what we believe, instead of just talking about it so much. We can give ourselves to whatever work we wish, but if we fail to be part of the work of hospitality and reconciliation, then our Faith becomes too much of an abstraction, and not a way of life.
May all of us listen better to God today, tomorrow into everlasting life.
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our
necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have
compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those
things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our
blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 11, Book of Common Prayer, p.230).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).
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