Today's Scripture Readings
Jeremiah 23:23-29 (NRSV)
Psalm 82 (BCP., p.705)
Hebrews 11:29-12:2 (NRSV)
Luke 12:49-56 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
Well, Jesus' claim to fame for bringing peace to the Church and world just went out the window. Forget about all that talk of the God of peace or even justice, because, Jesus here is saying that is not why He came. Whatever hope you had for peace through Jesus, I guess it is not going to happen.
Is the problem with Jesus, or is it our understanding of the word peace as Jesus uses it means? What kind of peace is Jesus talking about that appears to be suggesting that we will be in conflict with even our own families because of Him?
My husband Jason and I have many interesting conversations. Just this afternoon on our way home from attending Mass, we got into a conversation about what are some of the most tiny matters of faith that have played their role in the divisions within the Christian Church. We can go back as far as the Book of Acts and see that even then, the Church had disagreements with regards to whether the new Christians should have to live by the tenants of the Jewish law (See Acts 15). Peter and Paul had their disagreements over what was to be the response to faith in Jesus Christ, and the requirement of circumcision to be included in the Church (See Galatians 2). The Church has seen divisions over issues such as whether Peter is the first Pope and left successors. Another example is the centuries old debate between the Western and Eastern Church concerning how the Filioque clause in the Nicene Creed should be worded. The matter of whether the elements of Holy Communion become the actual Body and Blood of Christ by transubstantiation, consubstantiation, are the Real Presence, or they are only symbolic remains a strong point of conflict for Christians. While there has been much heart ache and bloodshed over many of these matters, none has brought nearly as much as the debate over whether the Bible is the "infallible Word of God," the "inerrant Word of God," the "inspired Word of God," or none of the above. The present debates over everything from women's ordination, marriage equality, health care, climate change, the role of the secular government, and even weapons regulation are being argued on the grounds of how each side of those arguments interprets the Sacred Scriptures.
Yet, there is one argument that is missing from them all. A point that is so crucial to what it means to live a Christian life, that it has yet to be brought up, let alone listened to. Let me see if I can make that point while giving some thought to "who said anything about peace?".
There was a man born about the year 480. He was born of a noble family, and had many prestigious opportunities before him. Yet, during his college education, he found the life around his friends and culture so falling apart, that he abandoned everything and fled to a cave in Subiaco, Italy. There he spent 3 years mediating on the Scriptures, and how he should respond to what the Holy Spirit was saying to him, and his life. He was soon found, and many became so interested in what he was doing, that they wanted to follow his way of life. His only close companion at that point, was a Priest named Roman who made sure he had food, water and basic needs. He established a monastery there at Subiaco, and eventually went on to make a new community at Monte Cassino. There, St. Benedict wrote his Rule that was a combination of the works of St. Basil the Great, St. John Cassian and others, and became a document that would last over 1500 years as Rules and other Monastic and Religious orders came and went. Through the influence of communities established under the Rule of Benedict long after his death, through out Europe, came not only monasteries, but school, universities of higher learning, houses, infrastructure and among many things, the Anglican Communion. Yet, for Benedict and those who still live by The Rule in whatever kind of community they observe it in, there remains his one motto: Peace.
What Benedict did, and what Jesus Christ called people to, was a life of searching for union with God through prayer and relationships with one another, to the point, that all people are to be honored as Christ, Himself. What is missing from the many discussions around politics where religion is playing a key role in the debate, is how do we help, treat and meet Jesus Christ in those around us who are different from ourselves? One thing that Jesus never said in all of His many sermons and prayers, was that His followers were to proselytize, to the point of destroying every other religion, sexual orientation, culture, gender, gender identity/expression, government, etc, so that it mirrored the Caucasian, Western European, male, straight, Christian dominionist model. That was not the peace or the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached or practiced.
Jesus said that we know how to read signs in the earth and sky, but we do not read the signs of the times. God's Reign, is about having a peace in our lives, that is prepared to give everything up and follow Jesus Christ in His way of extending hospitality, reconciliation and healing among the lost, oppressed, hopeless and those pushed aside by violence and prejudice. Jesus says that His way will cause conflict, because we will need to be ready to decide if setting aside our own biases to respond to the needs of the poor, sick, needy, friendless to find Jesus Christ there, and serve Him there with complete abandonment to our own will. We are called to serve in loving obedience, by serving God in all people, in all places and in all situations. At times making such decisions will cause us conflicts within our own family and/or circle of friends. It will stretch our comfort zones and those of others as we reach out with compassion and understanding, those whom many would prefer to remain anonymous and helpless. Sometimes that someone will be a member of our own family, other times it will be someone we have never met before.
The decision to come out as someone who is lesbian,gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer is one that is about following the will of God. Many of us who have come out, experienced the loss of relationships with parents, relatives and our closest friends, because we found God's peace in being who we really are, while their understanding of the Bible says that we should be changed. Yet, for many of us, continuing to lie to ourselves and others we love, was no longer an option. As we developed our relationship with God, others and ourselves we discovered that what people understood the Bible to mean about being LGBT, was not only untrue, but it was down right wrong. To lie to ourselves and others, was to do violence to ourselves, our families, but also to others who are experiencing prejudice and cruelty because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.
What are some ways in which Jesus might be calling us to live His meaning of peace?
A couple of suggestions that I would give include being very concerned and raising our voices over the horrendous violence to LGBT people in Russia, Uganda and many countries and States. To pray for and to call for an end to the violence that is killing Christians in Egypt. To pray for, and call for an ending to religious based violence towards women, Muslims, Jews and people of other religions, or those who chose no religion. That we do our part to work for justice for the disabled, the sick, the unemployed, those experience economic hardship because of the sequester, and facing the issues around racism and immigration reform.
As long as these and others live with injustice, oppression and exclusion, who said anything about living in a world of peace? May those who claim to be Christians never be at peace with such oppression, until we have with the help of the Holy Spirit done our part to change the world to truly be God's Reign of peace for all humankind.
Amen.
Prayers
Jeremiah 23:23-29 (NRSV)
Am I a God near by, says the LORD, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed!" How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back-- those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Psalm 82 (BCP., p.705)
Hebrews 11:29-12:2 (NRSV)
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Luke 12:49-56 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
- father against son
- and son against father,
- mother against daughter
- and daughter against mother,
- mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
- and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Blog Reflection
Well, Jesus' claim to fame for bringing peace to the Church and world just went out the window. Forget about all that talk of the God of peace or even justice, because, Jesus here is saying that is not why He came. Whatever hope you had for peace through Jesus, I guess it is not going to happen.
Is the problem with Jesus, or is it our understanding of the word peace as Jesus uses it means? What kind of peace is Jesus talking about that appears to be suggesting that we will be in conflict with even our own families because of Him?
My husband Jason and I have many interesting conversations. Just this afternoon on our way home from attending Mass, we got into a conversation about what are some of the most tiny matters of faith that have played their role in the divisions within the Christian Church. We can go back as far as the Book of Acts and see that even then, the Church had disagreements with regards to whether the new Christians should have to live by the tenants of the Jewish law (See Acts 15). Peter and Paul had their disagreements over what was to be the response to faith in Jesus Christ, and the requirement of circumcision to be included in the Church (See Galatians 2). The Church has seen divisions over issues such as whether Peter is the first Pope and left successors. Another example is the centuries old debate between the Western and Eastern Church concerning how the Filioque clause in the Nicene Creed should be worded. The matter of whether the elements of Holy Communion become the actual Body and Blood of Christ by transubstantiation, consubstantiation, are the Real Presence, or they are only symbolic remains a strong point of conflict for Christians. While there has been much heart ache and bloodshed over many of these matters, none has brought nearly as much as the debate over whether the Bible is the "infallible Word of God," the "inerrant Word of God," the "inspired Word of God," or none of the above. The present debates over everything from women's ordination, marriage equality, health care, climate change, the role of the secular government, and even weapons regulation are being argued on the grounds of how each side of those arguments interprets the Sacred Scriptures.
Yet, there is one argument that is missing from them all. A point that is so crucial to what it means to live a Christian life, that it has yet to be brought up, let alone listened to. Let me see if I can make that point while giving some thought to "who said anything about peace?".
There was a man born about the year 480. He was born of a noble family, and had many prestigious opportunities before him. Yet, during his college education, he found the life around his friends and culture so falling apart, that he abandoned everything and fled to a cave in Subiaco, Italy. There he spent 3 years mediating on the Scriptures, and how he should respond to what the Holy Spirit was saying to him, and his life. He was soon found, and many became so interested in what he was doing, that they wanted to follow his way of life. His only close companion at that point, was a Priest named Roman who made sure he had food, water and basic needs. He established a monastery there at Subiaco, and eventually went on to make a new community at Monte Cassino. There, St. Benedict wrote his Rule that was a combination of the works of St. Basil the Great, St. John Cassian and others, and became a document that would last over 1500 years as Rules and other Monastic and Religious orders came and went. Through the influence of communities established under the Rule of Benedict long after his death, through out Europe, came not only monasteries, but school, universities of higher learning, houses, infrastructure and among many things, the Anglican Communion. Yet, for Benedict and those who still live by The Rule in whatever kind of community they observe it in, there remains his one motto: Peace.
What Benedict did, and what Jesus Christ called people to, was a life of searching for union with God through prayer and relationships with one another, to the point, that all people are to be honored as Christ, Himself. What is missing from the many discussions around politics where religion is playing a key role in the debate, is how do we help, treat and meet Jesus Christ in those around us who are different from ourselves? One thing that Jesus never said in all of His many sermons and prayers, was that His followers were to proselytize, to the point of destroying every other religion, sexual orientation, culture, gender, gender identity/expression, government, etc, so that it mirrored the Caucasian, Western European, male, straight, Christian dominionist model. That was not the peace or the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached or practiced.
Jesus said that we know how to read signs in the earth and sky, but we do not read the signs of the times. God's Reign, is about having a peace in our lives, that is prepared to give everything up and follow Jesus Christ in His way of extending hospitality, reconciliation and healing among the lost, oppressed, hopeless and those pushed aside by violence and prejudice. Jesus says that His way will cause conflict, because we will need to be ready to decide if setting aside our own biases to respond to the needs of the poor, sick, needy, friendless to find Jesus Christ there, and serve Him there with complete abandonment to our own will. We are called to serve in loving obedience, by serving God in all people, in all places and in all situations. At times making such decisions will cause us conflicts within our own family and/or circle of friends. It will stretch our comfort zones and those of others as we reach out with compassion and understanding, those whom many would prefer to remain anonymous and helpless. Sometimes that someone will be a member of our own family, other times it will be someone we have never met before.
The decision to come out as someone who is lesbian,gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer is one that is about following the will of God. Many of us who have come out, experienced the loss of relationships with parents, relatives and our closest friends, because we found God's peace in being who we really are, while their understanding of the Bible says that we should be changed. Yet, for many of us, continuing to lie to ourselves and others we love, was no longer an option. As we developed our relationship with God, others and ourselves we discovered that what people understood the Bible to mean about being LGBT, was not only untrue, but it was down right wrong. To lie to ourselves and others, was to do violence to ourselves, our families, but also to others who are experiencing prejudice and cruelty because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.
What are some ways in which Jesus might be calling us to live His meaning of peace?
A couple of suggestions that I would give include being very concerned and raising our voices over the horrendous violence to LGBT people in Russia, Uganda and many countries and States. To pray for and to call for an end to the violence that is killing Christians in Egypt. To pray for, and call for an ending to religious based violence towards women, Muslims, Jews and people of other religions, or those who chose no religion. That we do our part to work for justice for the disabled, the sick, the unemployed, those experience economic hardship because of the sequester, and facing the issues around racism and immigration reform.
As long as these and others live with injustice, oppression and exclusion, who said anything about living in a world of peace? May those who claim to be Christians never be at peace with such oppression, until we have with the help of the Holy Spirit done our part to change the world to truly be God's Reign of peace for all humankind.
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a
sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us
grace to receive thankfully the fruits of this redeeming work,
and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen. (Proper 15, Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).
Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p.816).
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p.823).
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