Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 21: Remember Your Good Things and Others Without

Luke 16:19-31 NRSV

Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Blog Reflection 

The words that catch my attention in this Gospel reading are: "Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things" (Luke 16:25).

This parable is one of those that is somewhere between making no sense, to one of the scariest Jesus told thus far.  It paints a picture through words of what heaven and hell might be like.  Or are we over interpreting Jesus and not seeing what He is telling us is in front of us in the here and now?

Abraham reminds the wealthy man of the good things he was given during his lifetime.  The wealthy man's situation in Hades is now opposite of Lazarus: and Lazarus is on the other side from the now miserable former rich man.  This story sounds a lot like those amazing words found in the Magnificat.  "[God] has cast the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty" (Book of Common Prayer, p.119).

I think that Jesus is suggesting that we remember the good things all of us are given in the here and now: while not forgetting those who barely have the necessities of life.  In our day and age of economical inequality of those with wealth and power affecting the rest of us; whether we are middle class or at the bottom of the food chain of life.  This does not only apply to the matter of economics and poverty; it also applies to how we view ourselves in light of our relationship with God, vs others who may not share our views or opinions.  

 

Sister Joan Chittister in her book Illumination: Monastic Wisdom for Seekers of Light wrote,

 

Life is not perfect and people are not perfect. Only understanding and compassion--the ability to bear life with the rest of humanity, whatever burdens the bearing brings--perfect us.  When that concept gets lost in the name of religion, gets forgotten in the name of goodness, religion has gone awry and virtue has lost its meaning.  God is compassionate and gives us what we need.  No one can possibly be truly contemplative, truly in touch with the God-Life, truly infused by the spirit of God, who does nothing less for the sake of the other.

 

Contemplation is the mirror through which we come to touch the greatness of God, yes, but contemplation is also the filter through which we discern that scope of our smallness and the potential of our greatness.  The contemplative looks for perfection in nowhere but God.  The contemplative understands brokenness.  And, most of all, the contemplative realizes that it is precisely at the point of personal need that God comes to fill up the emptiness that is us.

 

If we are going to see clearly who God is, we must remember that we live in community with others.  Our relationship with God finds its holiness of life in our relationships with others; including and especially with those who are different from ourselves.  

 

I believe that Jesus is telling us this parable so that we may know that there is just as much heaven and hell for those who are poor as well as those who are rich.  What places us in heaven or hell is what we are doing with the good things we are given in the here and now.   When we remember the good things we are given, we need to remember those who are without such things and share from our abundance.

 

We are called to share the freedom of our lands with the immigrants who come to live here from their oppressive governments.  

 

We are called so seek the safety of every person who everyday face the threat of gun and racial violence.

 

We are called and empowered to give to LGBTQ people that piece of equality shared by those who are heterosexual, cis-gender and know who they are.

 

We are called to share our religious freedom with those who are in the prison of marginalization because they are Muslim, Jewish, Buddhism, Hindu and/or even atheist.  

 

How is God calling you to remember the good things you have, and how you can help others who are not so fortunate?

 

 

Prayers

 

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 21, The Book of Common Prayer, p.234).

 

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, The Book of Common Prayer, p.826

Sixth Sunday of Easter: The Love and Peace of The Risen Christ

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16: 9-15 (NRSV)

During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.

Psalm 67 (BCP, p.675)


Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 (NRSV)

In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day-- and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

John 14:23-29 (NRSV)

Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."

Blog Reflection

I think all of us can pray Psalm 67 with some sincere pleading.  We need God to bless us with saving health for all nations.  The election campaigns, the anti-transgender bathroom bills, the racism, the experiences of those who rely on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid hearing politicians and business executives wanting to privatize them; tell us a lot about what is a priority these days.

Jesus is telling us to not let our hearts be troubled.  He also tells us to love Him and keep His word so that God can make a home in us.  Jesus promises the Holy Spirit who will remind us of what Jesus told us, and He offers us peace to be left with us.  So many tidbits, but a lot to meditate on.

Philip Heinze in Living the Lectionary wrote,

the peace that precedes the “do not let…” is not put on a happy face and the whole world smiles with you because the sun will come up tomorrow bet your bottom dollar solution to real life strife. In the same way, “believe in me” does not mean just get over it. Nor does it minimize trouble because it could be worse even if it clearly could be. That would be worldly peace. The peace of the world is temporary and illusionary as it denies sorrow, medicates pain with costly pleasure, or seeks solace by seeing to it that other hearts are equally troubled. The peace that Jesus gives embraces suffering and dies to destroy the power of death. Called to cling to the cross by which Jesus overcomes the world, and all the trouble in it, the people of Jesus’ peace believe that trouble is temporary while peace is eternal. 

It is difficult not to notice that at the very top of the Medal of Saint Benedict is the word Pax.  In case I have readers who have never read or heard that word, it is Latin for peace.  At the entrances of many Benedictine Monasteries in Europe are the words "Pax intrantibus", meaning "Peace be with all who enter here."  It is the same peace that Jesus offers.  A peace that embraces us in any and all situations of our lives, and draws us closer to God and each other.  It is that "peace which is beyond all understanding" that we can only lose if we give it over to something or someone willingly that brings us temporary pleasure in our false-sense of self; but deprives us of the Holy Spirit who longs to united us with our true selves.

Keeping the word of Jesus is not limited to Jesus alone.  It is the love of God that is not limited to human labels, our brokenness we inflict on each other and ourselves.  It is a love and a peace that invite us to listen to what Jesus is saying to us as we receive Him in the guest, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring us healing and reconciliation with those who are different from ourselves.    

I am having a very difficult year with many losses.  More than I can write about in greater detail.  I am experiencing emotions that are all over the place.  My Asperger's and many of my other personal challenges can make things pretty intense.  In the middle of all this, God has placed in my life two amazing individuals who understand me, and are helping me to just feel everything with no judgments or expectations.  They are loving me as I am, and making room for me be very kind and gentle with myself and provide a safe place for me in my grief.  They are determined to help me love God as others love me with that same love, and to search for peace at a time when it can be very difficult to feel let alone find.

I believe that what I have just described above is a great example of the love and peace the Risen Christ gives us through our Advocate, the Holy Spirit.  It is the love and peace we share with each other when life is cruel and harsh on ourselves and others beyond us.  Our Baptismal Vows call us to strive for this peace with justice and to uphold the dignity of every human person; regardless of who they are or what condition their lives are in.  In so doing God makes a home with us, and our home is made with God in this life and in the life to come.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good
things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such
love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above
all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we
can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgements, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 123).

  

 

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 21: It Is The Little Things We Do

Today's Scripture Readings

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 (NRSV)

The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the LORD became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,' to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, 'Give us meat to eat!' I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once--if I have found favor in your sight--and do not let me see my misery."

So the LORD said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you."

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, stop them!" But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!"

Psalm 19 (BCP., p.606-607)


James 5:13-20 (NRSV)

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Mark 9:38-50 (NRSV)

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

"For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Blog Reflection

Saint Theresa of Avila was quoted as saying, "The smallest thing when done for the love of God is priceless."  This is not the same meaning of priceless that followed every MasterCard commercial once upon a time.  This is priceless in the sense that God does not count what we do for the love of God by how well, how big, how much or how expensive.  God accepts what we do out of love, because as far as God is concerned, there is no price to be paid.  Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection took care of that.

As much as we profess to celebrate all that God does for us, it is easy for us to get all wound up in what we do not have.  I think this was the case with the People of Israel in our reading from Numbers.  Their complaint is not entirely invalid.  Yet, that which they are craving from their time in slavery, was where they were also oppressed.  At times, even when God has delivered us; our eyes are in our past and not being attentive to the here and now.  Moses recognizes that he is only one person.  He can only do so much.  So God gathers others to help Moses in the guidance of the community.

The ministry and mission of the Church can be summed up very well in our reading from James.  The Church is called to be the healing presence of God through prayer, word and sacrament.  Yet, that call is meant for something larger.  Namely, the whole community.  This means that Christians are entrusted by God with the work of healing and reconciliation.  It begins in part, by the Church being interested and responding to the needs of the sick, the suffering and the lonely.  The prayers and work of the Church is very powerful when exercised by trusted stewards of God's gifts.  James is admonishing the community in which he writes, to make use of that ministry to cast out the evils of their time.

I labeled this blog post as "It Is The Little Things We Do" because of what we read about in today's Gospel.  The disciples saw someone doing a similar thing that they did.  They were just in another community observing and following Jesus.  In their haste, they tell Jesus what they did.  Jesus' response is something that Christians need to hear today.  All Christians (and all people for that matter) can serve the Name of Jesus from where ever they are, and still make an impact on those around them.  All Christians are part of the same ministry, even as they perform that ministry in different ways and in different company.   It is not a matter of being liberal, conservative, Anglo-Catholic, moderate ofr evangelical.  It is a question of what are we doing with the opportunities that God presents us with at the point of where we are.  Someone who just sharpens pencils for a meeting is still serving God in great ways; as does the Parish Formation Director.  The one who shows up to help rearrange the chairs for choir rehearsal is still part of the song being sung by the choir.  Whether or not they sing every note perfectly.

The Church finds ourselves at an interesting crossroads.  We are blessed with our Baptism with it's covenant through which we commit ourselves.  We commit ourselves to the work of ministry and mission, while living into our vows by opening ourselves up to the presence of God including in those who are different from ourselves.  The last thing we want to do, is make anyone feel that they are less important to the life and ministry of the Church so as to scandalize them about who Jesus Christ is.

Jesus Christ is seeking deeper relationships through those who are seeking union with God.  Each individual searches for that union according to who they are and where they are.  We must be most attentive to our own search for God, so that we may love and desire God wherever God is found.  God is most likely sought and found where we have not looked for God, desired God and committed ourselves to love God from where we are at.  Whether we are individuals of diverse races, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions and such, each of us is in a place, where God wants to love us.

There are opportunities in front of us to not only tell our own stories of what God is doing in and through our lives; but also listen to what God is doing through others.  If we will spend some time to "listen" while "inclining the ears of our hearts", we will encounter God in ways the draws us deeper in to the mystery of who God is.

Fellow Christians, let us all work together at what God has before us, wherever and who ever we are.  God has so many wonderful things God wants to do with, for and around us.  Let's get to it.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 21.  The Book of Common Prayer.  p.234).

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 Unity of The Church.  The Book of Common Prayer. p. 818).

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 13: Jesus, the Bread of Life

Today's Scriptures

Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 (NRSV)

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not."

Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, `Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.'" And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. The LORD spoke to Moses and said, "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, `At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"

In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."

Psalm 78:23-29 (BCP., p.696)


Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV)

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said,

"When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;

he gave gifts to his people."

(When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

John 6:24-35 (NRSV)

The next day, when the people who remained after the feeding of the five thousand saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Blog Reflection

Our meditations on Jesus as the Bread of Life continue.  Last Sunday, we looked at Jesus feeding the five thousand, and the hunger we all experience.  This Sunday, we begin to hear Jesus proclaim Himself as the Bread of Life.  Jesus tells us that He is the One whom if we come to, we will not be hungry or thirsty.

I think we have to confront our problem with this Scripture.  So many of us Christians believe in Jesus as the Bread of Life in one way or another.  Whether it is Sacramental in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, or symbolically through out the various signs of life.  Christians can see in Jesus, One who feeds and fulfills.  Yet, we all remain hungry and thirsty.  Each of us experiences loneliness.  We all experience rejection through which we hunger for companionship.  We long for that special friend who will lead us into a sense of self value to be among others.  Aside from this, there are Christians all over the world who physically hunger and thirst for an experience of God that is beyond a mere emotional lift.  They long to be part of Christ through His Body the Church.  Instead they find division and value judgments on those different from ourselves.

Jesus Christ comes to all of us in this Gospel, and in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  He comes to us regardless of who we are, and where we come from.  Jesus comes to all that is broken and hurting.  Jesus approaches us in Word and Sacrament to mend, feed, nourish and offer solace.  Though each of us will disagree with each other about something, Jesus offers Himself to us in the form of Bread and Wine to invite His Real Presence to become real in those of us who receive Him.  Jesus does not come to us and ask who is for or against abortion, same-gender marriage, a democrat or a republican.   He comes to unite us one to another, in all our differences to experience God's unconditional and all-inclusive love.

We are often suspicious to believe in this experience of Jesus as the Bread of Life because of all the injustice and oppression in the world.  Jesus comes among us as the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation to empower us to be the change we want to see in the world.  Where individuals become scapegoats for political and social campaigns, Jesus gives us the grace of God to embrace one another as part of that One Body.  We are given the grace to recognize in each other a Eucharistic vessel worth handling with great care, and wanting to preserve in the spaces within our hearts.

Jesus comes to us in the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, and asks us to discern how God the Holy Spirit may be calling each of us.  We are invited to commit ourselves again to Christ in prayer, so that the Spirit can call us to feed the hungry among us and to become the wine that turns sadness into joy.  As Christ is known to us in the breaking of the bread, so we are called to bread bread with one another.  As we break and share the bread, we listen to each others stories and enter into the life of Christ with each other.  We enter into the greatest gift of hospitality as we meet Jesus in them through that Bread that gives life and that Cup salvation. 

Perhaps Reginald Herber said it best in Hymn # 301 in The Hymnal 1982.

Bread of the world, in mercy broken.
Wine of the soul, in mercy shed,
by whom the words of life were spoken,
and in whose death our sins are dead:
look on the heart by sorrow broken,
look on the tears of sinners shed;
and be thy feast to us the token
that by thy grace our souls are fed.

Amen.


Prayers

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your
Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without
your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 13, The 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, The Book of Common Prayer, p.816).

 

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: The Link of Prayer to Our Communal Responsibilities

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Kings 3:5-12 (NRSV)

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you."

Psalm 119: 129-136 (BCP., p.774)


Romans 8:26-39 (NRSV)

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all day long;

we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (NRSV)

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." 

Blog Reflection

When I read the story of King Solomon from 1 Kings, I get the impression that I am reading another fairy tale.  A King that gracious and wonderful seems like something this world just couldn't realize from our imaginations.   The story of Saul and then David leading up to Solomon is full of all kinds of battles, killings, relationships and endless conversations.  When we get to King Solomon it appears as if everything has culminated in this one amazing man who ruled with his riches, but never forgot the poor or oppressed.   The land he ruled was blessed beyond just peace and harmony, but the presence of God in all aspects of their lives. 

Stories such as this should awaken in us the importance of praying for the world's leaders.   It seems from a distant viewpoint that whether a society is governed by a so called democracy or a monarchy, the gap between justice for some people and all people is all that much wider.  There is a lot of talk about working towards equal rights for all, but actually getting down to the work of making it happen is stalled because of some kind of prejudice, political maneuvering and back room money deals.   It is up to Christians and other people of various religions and philosophies to speak up and be part of the movement towards a more inclusive Church and society by which justice is for all people.  

The continuing violence between Israel and Gaza is something we must pray about and call for a cease fire.  The centuries long debates about who owns what land, and whether or not there is enough room for everyone there seems to collide with catastrophic military actions that destroy property and kill unnumbered people.   It is not appropriate for any leader of the world, or person of a religious (or no religious) persuasion to turn our eyes as if we are burying our heads in the sand of complacency.  

Today's Reading from Romans is one of my very favorite epistles.   We are reminded that our prayers offered are not of our own initiative.   Our prayers begin from the heart of God who places within us a burning desire for a relationship with God in constant communion.  Our response to God is the work of the Holy Spirit within us who makes intercession with God the Father on our behalf with a longing so deep that human words cannot utter them.  The heart of God moves with love and desire that all of us will know how much we are loved to the point that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Our life of prayer is linked to our responsibilities to each other in the community of humankind.   It comes from a radical response to God's loving desire on our part and becomes the food, water and nourishment through which we become God's loving presence to others.  It comes from a reverence for God that sees in each person the stamp of God's abiding presence that cherishes that person to such a degree, that withholding their dignity, peace or freedom enslaved to our own wills just cannot be conceived let alone executed by our actions.   

In our Gospel today, Jesus calls on us to see ourselves as the mustard seed that sprouts into the largest of trees.   We are God's treasure in the field, the pearl and that important fish in the net that Angels are called to gather us from among the catch.   Jesus' message for us today is to know that relationship in our own hearts, so that we in turn love one another as God's treasure, pearl and the fish that must never be lost because of prejudice or carelessness.

The best news in this parable told by Jesus, is that even if we have not been so faithful to God and our responsibilities to one another, God's mercy is always calling us back for the forgiveness of our sins and restoration as divine daughters and sons of God. 

St. Irenaeus of Lyons teaching about sin and grace was that sin is a state of immaturity and grace restores us to our Divine relationship with God.   This concept is written about at great length in Patrick S. Cheng's book From Sin to Amazing Grace: Discovering the Queer Christ.  In 2 Peter 1:3,4 we read:

 "[God's] divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature."

I believe that Jesus in today's parable is calling us to a mature relationship with God by which we understand that our prayer and our communal responsibilities to one another are linked together.   This is such wonderful news.   It means that our relationship with God is not isolated to a weekly appointment with our favorite pew, all the beautiful music and liturgy that makes our hearts sing.  The relationship with God should overflow out the doors of our cathedrals and churches and into the heart of our daily lives with one another in mutual trust and love of God, neighbor and ourselves.   Jesus' message to us in today's Gospel is that this is possible in this world..  In Jesus the Christ, the Word made Flesh, He showed us the we can move toward God with faith and trust in God's will for our lives.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom
nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon
us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so
pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 12, Book of Common Prayer, p. 231).

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).

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p.815). 

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Contemplative Prayer, Oneness in Christ and Justice

Today's Scripture Readings

 1 Kings 19: 1-15 (NRSV)

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus."

Psalm 42 (BCP., p.643)


Galatians 3:23-29 (NRSV)

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Luke 8:26-39 (NRSV)

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Blog Reflection

Thus far, my studies during my Novitiate have me doing Lectio Divina using Preferring Christ: A Devotional Commentary on The Rule of St. Benedict by Norvene Vest.   The text of The Rule that she uses is a version by Fr. Luke Dysinger, OSB, of St. Andrew's Abbey in Valyermo, California.   We are given a portion of the Prologue, a Chapter to use for an entire week, so that the words of The Rule can sink deep into our hearts and God can speak to us there and help us grow closer to God.    At current, we are still in the Prologue.   The words that have been jumping out at me over these last 3 weeks have been about listening.   "Listen."  "Incline the ear of the heart."  "To you therefore, my words are now addressed."  "Let us at last arise, since the Scripture stirs us."  "let us hear with wondering ears what the Divine Voice admonishes us, daily crying out: Today if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."  "And again, You who have ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says...." (Preferring Christ, pages 2-5).

All this brings me to the essential element in contemplative prayer.  Listening.  Contemplative prayer requires us to listen, and "incline the ear of the heart" in order to hear God speaking to us.   This is why St. Benedict places such emphasis on silence.  Silence is not just about the absence of noise, such as no TV, phones, internet, music, etc.   It is about silencing the noise within us.  The noise of our anxieties over the plans we are making, what our next meal will be, getting together with a friend, those things that just work us up.  To be able to hold a close conversation with God in contemplative prayer, it is essential that we practice a silence that could easily pierce everything that distracts us. In contemplative prayer, we are not seeking to get something we want.   We are seeking union with God, to the point of seeing things from God's perspective.

The narrative from the Hebrew Scriptures for this weekend is about a life in peril.  Yes.  However, it is also about knowing where and how God speaks to our heart and soul.   It is not through violence, the mighty fire, and the earthquake.  It is through the stillness of our interior selves, by way of the voice of the Holy Spirit calling to us, to seek union with God. Elijah did not just learn this, he experienced it.  God wants us to experience that union with God as well.  God wants to grow closer to each of us from the point of where we are.  All God asks of us, is to quiet our interior selves long enough to be able to listen to what God is saying within us.  If we will do that, we will discover that God is so full of love, so full of compassion and a desire for us, that we will wonder why we did not take time to meet God in this way before. 

The Psalmist opens with such the appropriate response to what we have heard from the Hebrew Scriptures.

As the deer longs for the water-brooks,
  so longs my soul for you, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God;
  when shall I come to appear before the presence of God.  (Psalm 42: 1-2, BCP., p.643).

Our hearts and souls long to be nourished by God, by helping us to experience God's abiding presence in the midst of our troubled hearts.  God wants us to pour out our hearts to God, and so allow ourselves to be renewed in grace to live holy lives.

The work of Christ's redemption is not merely a legalistic penal code.   It is a way of living to the point, that the love of God, neighbor and self becomes the manner by which we exist.   All are one in Christ as St. Paul tells us in the reading from Galatians, because of Christ's work of redemption on our behalf.   We are all part of Christ, regardless of who we are in terms of gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, employment, language, physical/psychological or developmental challenge.   In Christ Jesus, we are all one in His Body, the Church.  Each of us come with our peculiar characteristics, behaviors, opinions, and understandings.  Some of us are not that well educated, others are very well educated. The point is, none of those things tear us away from being one in Christ.  We are one by our common Baptism, and our need of God's grace through Christ. We are united to Christ and one another because of the Holy Eucharist.   In our Post Communion Prayer in Rite II we pray:

Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.365).

Now we come to probably one of the most intense Gospel narratives.   There are so many messages to be listened to.  How do we discern what is really important?   By examining some important points.

Mental illness then (and even today), was not handled very well.  People who had mental illness issues, often had them as a result of the horrible oppression they lived under at that point in history.   They were outcast from the communities.   They often were left among the graves, as they were considered good as dead.

When the man in this narrative, who is possessed by an evil spirit says that his name is "Legion" what might he be saying?   He is speaking out of the reality of the horror he most likely witnessed when legions of Roman soldiers plundered people, and whole communities right in front of him.  He probably saw them all happen when he was very young, and lived with the horror of the great evils that possessed him ever since.  Fear. Anxiety. Unconsoled grief.  Perhaps even shame.

The swine on the country side are symbolic of what is going on in this narrative.  The pigs represent a change in the country in which Jesus was in.  He was no longer in no pork eating Israel.  He was in a Gentile place.  People in that country were so scared of the man, that the pigs on the hill country were more important than the life of the man who lived among the tombs.   When Legion asks to be sent into the swine and not the abyss, they are trying to tell us something.  The abyss from which they came, is a place where their power over the man came from They begged not to go back for fear of what awaited them should the Son of God send them there.  When Jesus finally commands them to go into the heard of swine that runs down the hill into the water to be drowned, it is not animal cruelty as some suggest.   It means that the life of the man who was tormented all those years was so important, that if it meant sacrificing the swine to make him well, that is what Jesus was willing to do.   It meant that that which had plagued the country at that time was cast out in shame and disgrace, and the man was set free.   Once again, Jesus is interested in the dignity of this tormented man.  Giving him the freedom of living as one redeemed by God was the most important thing He could do for him.  And, Jesus did it.

After Jesus frees the man, he wants to go with Jesus.  Jesus tells him and all of us to take care of what we have at home.  It might be nice to go off and see miracles, and hear great sermons.  But, what God has given us, that which is right in front of us, is what God wants us to pay attention to.  

What evils in our time do we settle for, because we want to hang onto other things that are least important?

How about our consistent inattention to the issue of mental illness in our time?

How about uncontrolled wealth at the expense of those who are poor?

How about male-privilege at the expense of the dignity of women, such as the anti-abortion bill passed by the US House this past week?   Yet, funding for job training, education, health care programs that benefit women, men and children are continually on the chopping block.  How is a woman who is economically challenged suppose to be able to support a child, when she can barely support herself?

How about the looming danger of student loans rates about to go higher than they already are, because some bankers want to make some money off those who already live in poverty?

How about companies polluting rivers, the Gulf of Mexico, the air and out atmosphere in the name of their billion dollar profits and CEO salaries, at the expense of the beauty of the earth and the sacredness of God's creation?

This past week, we have witnessed an incredible event.  Alan Chambers, the President of Exodus International, an ex-gay "ministry" is closing it's doors.   Chambers has issued a formal apology for how he and the organization have hurt so many people, many of them who unfortunately took their lives because of the misinformation of the organization.   He himself has been on an incredible journey by which he appears to be experiencing a great conversion within himself, and those who manage Exodus.   While he himself has not had a complete change of opinion about homosexuality, and is unclear about where he should stand on marriage equality at this point in time, he is at least willing to say that his opinions one way or the other, do not mean he has the right to control the laws of the country, or keep them out of houses of worship where they are affirmed and accepted.  In fact, he wants to see the Church become a more welcoming place for all.  Including those who understand differently than he does.   We have yet to see what becomes of all this, but, this beginning is a great sign of progress.  It is right that we celebrate it that way.

Could this be a sign of Jesus freeing us from a great evil in our time, so that souls who are still imprisoned in self-internalized  homophobia can begin to see that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are blessings from God?  Not barriers to living holy lives, or loving others with purity of heart. 

When Chambers read his apology to a group of ex-gay survivors, many of them told him of their concern about his continued use of language that hurts LGBT people.   You can watch the video here.

Our Gospel today, does not have a terribly happy ending.  Jesus is asked to leave that area, because the people there recognize who Jesus is, and what He can do.   As Jesus often comes to change us from the inside out, to make us a more inclusive Church and society, it is so easy to push Him out in those who are different from ourselves.   We make Jesus the new "other" that we must control, manipulate and oppress because of our personal biases.  Whatever we might want Jesus to do for us, the last thing we want because of our personal selfishness, is to allow Him to change us.

We are invited this Sunday to sit quietly with God in contemplative prayer, find our oneness in Jesus Christ, and to see Christ's work of mercy among us, as God's justice.   All of these have opportunities for us to allow the Holy Spirit to displace us a bit, so that we can grow closer to God, and reverence God's presence in others.  The hardest step to take is the first one.  It begins with our willingness to listen to God from within ourselves.  It continues by our viewing others from God's point of view and not just our own.  Spiritual and personal growth manifests God's presence as we are open to what God has to say to us, as we seek union with God in working for justice, equality and true peace for all people.

Amen.


Prayers

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your
holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom
you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 7, 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).

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). 

Seventh Sunday of Easter: From Ascension to Pentecost

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16:16-34

With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

Psalm 97 (BCP., p.726)


Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 (NRSV)

At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words:

"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."

And let everyone who hears say, "Come."

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

John 17:20-26 (NRSV)

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Blog Reflection

I am writing this particular reflection at a fantastic time in the State of Minnesota.   Just this past Thursday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill that will grant the freedom to marry to same-sex couples.  This upcoming Monday, the bill will be voted on and likely pass in the State Senate.  Our Governor Mark Dayton is expected to sign the bill into law on Tuesday.   If all goes in that order, same-gender couples will be able to apply for State marriage licenses on August 1, 2013.   It is an exciting time for those of us who have been working so hard to make this kind of thing happened.  

As Jason and I celebrated Ascension Thursday together at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis, on the very day the House passed the bill, we sang probably my favorite hymn.  And it was the most appropriate for both Ascension Thursday and the events of the day.

When Christ was lifted from the earth,
his arms stretched out above
through every culture, every birth,
to draw an answering love.

Still east and west His love extends
and always, near or far,
He calls and claims us as His friends
and loves us as we are.

Where generation, class or race
divide us to our shame,
He sees not labels but a face,
A person, and a name.

Thus freely loved, though fully known,
may I in Christ be free
to welcome and accept His own
as Christ accepted me. Amen.
Words by Brian A. Wren
Music by Gordon Slater
See Hymnal 1982, #603


Among the many comments that have come since Thursday's historic vote, is the argument by opponents about "religious freedom."  Not to mention their concerns about children and families.  All of these are based on a weak, but very firm belief that anything other than the union between one man and one woman is detrimental if not destructive to the family and children.  They also believe that marriage equality is a threat to "religious freedom."   A great professor at the University of Minnesota by the name of Dale Carpenter wrote a fantastic article answering all of those questions.  You can read that article here.   

Another point about the debate in the MN House on Thursday, was how respectful it was.  There was very emotional and passionate discussions, speeches about the subject of marriage, by both supporters of marriage equality and those who oppose it.  But, one of the other great events we witnessed was how people's hearts and minds are changing in regards to LGBTQ people, couples and families.   Rep. Tim Faust who is also a Lutheran Pastor gave an outstanding speech.   In his talk, he spoke about how his views and understandings have changed on the issue of the freedom of same-gender couples to marry the person they love.  You can watch and read about that speech here.  You won't be sorry.

I am sure many of my blog readers may be asking yourself what does this have to do with Christ's prayer for the disciples, those who believe in Him through their word, and for the Church to be one?   With Christians so divided over everything from the economy, politics, solving the issue of what to do about out of control gun violence, climate change, women's rights, LGBT equality etc, how can Christ's prayer possibly be answered?  When will it be answered?  

To give us some possible answers to consider, I would like to reuse a story quoted by Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB.

Once upon a time, the story begins, some seekers from the city asked the local monastic a question.
"How does one seek union with God?"
And the Wise One said, "The harder you seek, the more distance you create between God and you."
"So what does one do about the distance?"  the seekers asked.
And the elder said simply, "Just understand that it isn't there."
"Does that mean that God and I are one?" the disciples asked.
And the monastic said, "Not one, not two."
"But how is that possible?" the seekers insisted.
And the monastic answered, "Just like the sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and the song.  Not one. But not two."  (Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. p.195).

The grace that Christians must be open to, is to be able to grasp the notion that God and us are not one, but not two.  When we are interacting with another person, we are interacting with Christ present in her/him.  It really doesn't matter whether that person shares our religious convictions, beliefs, practices or not.  What matters most, is to seek God and to love Christ above all else in one another.  It is the most crucial thing to do, but the most challenging.  Despite our advances in technology, science, internet capability, psychological discoveries, etc we have yet to end the divisions that are created by distinctions.   Whether they be by race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, economic status, health, employment, language and so forth, there are more excuses and reasons to be divided to our shame as Christians and a so called "civilized" society. 

I truly believe that among the things Jesus was praying for, is that those to whom the Apostles would reach out to in the Name of Christ, would believe in Him because of what they said and did.  Jesus prays that for us today.  Jesus did not give birth to the Church on that Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on those disciples, to become isolated by distinctions that cannot be reconciled.  This is evident in the fact that after the Holy Spirit came, each person listening to the Apostles speaking to them, heard them speaking in their own language.  Finally, the language of the God of love, through Jesus Christ and the Spirit was so clear, so understandable, that everyone could hear it.   Every person, regardless of their walk of life, was able to hear something about someone they could believe in.   They were driven to know God in Christ as Savior, Redeemer and friend.  By way of the Holy Spirit the distance between God, them and us does not exist.  We are not one with God, but we are not two.  That includes with our sisters and brothers.

As we await the celebration of Pentecost, we are asked today to find our oneness in Christ, not as labels, distinctions.  But as people with names.  People with hearts to love and be loved.  People looking for hope where they see despair and tragedy. People who want to believe without being told that there is no space or place for them.  People who can search for God just as all of us are.  In prayer, singing, reading, meditating and in one another.

Amen.

Prayers

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for the Seventh Sunday in Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p.226).

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 Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

Wulfstan: All of Us Are Connected to Each Other: Let's Make the Best of It.

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 26: 26-31 (NRSV)

Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, ‘Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?’ They said, ‘We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’ So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 

John 15: 5-8, 14-16 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

"You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name."

Blog Reflection

As an Episcopalian and an Oblate of St. Benedict, I am delighted to be commemorating today one our Benedictine Monks who went on to be an outstanding Bishop.  


Wulfstan was educated in the Benedictine Abbeys of Evesham and Peterborough.  He spent most of his life in the Cathedral Monastery of Worcester as monk, prior and then as Bishop of the see from 1062 until his death on January 18, 1095.  (See Holy Women,  Holy Men; p. 176).

The times that Wulfstan lived in the time of the Norman Conquest of Berkhamstead, and though he was sympathetic to King Harold of Wessex, he submitted to the wishes of William the Conqueror.   He was one of the few Anglo-Saxon bishops to keep his see as the Conquest of the Normans in England over threw the typical way of life in 1066.


It must have been very difficult for Wulfstan to submit to those who had caused his country and the Church so much pain.  However, Wulfstan did what the Rule of St. Benedict and the Gospel asked of him.  He avoided the "self-seeking" attitudes that can be very problematic during such a period of time.

This commemoration and the Scripture Readings that accompany it are both wonderful and challenging.   

In the Reading from Hebrew Scripture we see a very rare event.  Individuals who are suspicious of each other sitting down and learning about the other and coming to a place of friendship and peace.  


How wonderful it would be if Governments, churches, and groups with opposing views could sit down together; peacefully and with interest in each other to learn about one another.  

Do you think if that those who target Muslims suspecting all of them as terrorists would actually let go of their suspicions long enough to sit down and learn about the goods of the Islamic faith and stop all their violent language?   

Do you think people who insist on taking away a woman's rights to chose what reproductive health care is best for them, could sit down with people who are faced with their "choices" without using the extreme language of "killing" and "murder" long enough to hear about the tragedies of women who have been raped and/or sexually assaulted?   Do you think those of us who do support a woman's right to chose would actually be able to talk about how damaging the loss of health care, education funding, job creation programs, funding for day care centers are to women who want to chose to give birth to a child?

Can those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) sit down with those who want to take away our rights for job discrimination, marriage equality and the like and actually feel like we have accomplished something?

If your answer to these questions includes: "Yes, I would love to, but the other side just won't listen" that is my response too.  LOL


The only way we will be able to constructively converse with our opponents is for us to tell our stories through how we live as well as through whatever means help us to tell that story best.  We will not be able to tell our stories if we respond to violent rhetoric with returned violence.  Call them out for what they say and suggest doing, but do so in a way that we respect both them and ourselves; and we will "heap coals on the devil's forehead."


Our Gospel reading; one of my favorites; reminds us that those of us who call ourselves Christians are held together by a Person who's Name is Jesus Christ.  Jesus is our connection to God and the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation, all of us are connected to each other.   By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; which we participate in through our Baptism; we become one with Christ and each other as we join Christ on the Cross and meet him at the empty tomb.   In participating in Holy Communion we continue to be nourished by the Presence of God and recommit ourselves to reverencing God's Presence in others as well as ourselves.  


Jesus in this Gospel is reminding us that he is the one by which we are bound to each other and that includes those that we struggle with in our relationships.  Jesus tells us that we cannot accomplish living out the Gospel and loving one another in a holy and life-giving way, unless we root ourselves in him. 

It is most interesting that in addition to commemorating Wulfstan, that today's reading from the Rule of St. Benedict is the following.

Your way of acting should be different form the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else.  You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge.  Rid your heart of all deceit.  Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away from someone who needs your love.  Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false, but speak the truth with heart and tongue.


Do not repay one bad turn with another (1 Thess 5: 15; 1 Pet 3:9).  Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently.  Love your enemies (Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27).  If people curse  you, do not curse back but bless them instead.  Endure persecution for the sake of justice (Matt 5: 10). (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4. Tools of Good Works, verses 20-33).

 "A peacemaker's paragraph," writes Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, "this is one who confronts us with the Gospel stripped and unadorned.  Nonviolence, it says is the center of the monastic life.  It doesn't talk about conflict resolution; it says don't begin the conflict. It doesn't talk about communication barriers; it says, stay gentle even with those who are not gentle with you.  It doesn't talk about winning; it talks about loving" (The Rule of Benedict, p. 58).


You must not be proud, nor be given to wine (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3).  Refrain from too much eating or sleeping and from laziness (Rom 12:11).  Do not grumble or speak ill of others. (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4, The Tools for Good Works, v 34-40).


"Benedict reminds us, too, that physical control and spiritual perspective are linked: pride and gluttony and laziness are of a piece.  We expect too much, we consume too much, and we contribute too little.  We give ourselves over to ourselves.  We become engorged with ourselves and, as a result, there is no room left for the stripped-down, stark, and simple furniture of the soul" (Sr. Joan Chittester, The Rule of Benedict, p. 60.61).

I am going to add the next verse which is not part of today's reading.  "Place your hope in God."  (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4, The Tools for Good Works, vs 41).


As soon as I read all of this I realize I stink at what God and St. Benedict are asking me to do.  When I read about some Christianist who suggests that I am really a pedophile for wanting to marry my husband, I want to and sometimes do say every nasty word I can think of.  I eat too much. I get tired of people treating me as a door mat.  I get confused and discouraged.


Wait a minute!  St. Benedict tells me to "Place my hope in God."

Jesus calls me; a guy who messes up time and again, Jesus' friend.  Jesus wants me to be grafted into him so he can keep me connected to God in all of my disconnectedness.  God invites me to a death of myself so that I can live in God.  By giving up my life and my will, I live new life.  I have to struggle to do this time and time again.  Whether I succeed or fail; God still loves me.  God loves me as a gay man and as someone who struggles even more with social communications because of Asperger's Syndrome. 


God is not asking of us to get it perfect.  Salvation is not a matter of doing everything for the purpose of gaining something.  It is a matter of trusting and faithfully putting one foot in front of the other, doing the best we can, and letting God do the rest.  Should we trip up and fall, God asks that we get up and begin again.  In Christ, God is with us when we fail and start a new.


The point is all of us are connected to each other. Whether we like it or not

St. Benedict's Rule reminds us as does the Gospel that all of us; regardless of where we are in our faith journey are all beginners; and are told to never give up on God who never gives up on us.


Prayers

Almighty God, your only-begotten Son led captivity captive and gave gifts to your people: Multiply among us faithful pastors, who, like your holy bishop Wulfstan, will give courage to those who are oppressed and held in bondage: and bring us all, we pray, into the true freedom of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 177)

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, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the
world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among
them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they
may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen. (Prayer for Peace Among the Nations, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Our Enemies, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).