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

Twenty Fourth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 27: Who Should Be Giving It All?

Today's Gospel Lesson


Mark 12:28-44 (NRSV)

Teaching in the temple, Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Blog Reflection


Last Sunday, for All Saints Day, I had the privilege to be present for the Installation of the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter & St. Paul (The National Cathedral) in Washington, D.C.  Among the many things The Most Rev. Michael Curry said during his excellent sermon he talked about the Jesus Movement.  A movement that continues the Gospel story of Jesus "turning the world upside down and right side up."  Jesus now turns that world upside down through Christians who devote themselves to the work of Jesus to end oppression, feed the hungry, set free those imprisoned by systems that are corrupted by power controlled by greed, discrimination and the privileged out numbering the underprivileged.

This Gospel narrative for today shows us another picture of that same oppression and the Jesus Movement at work.  In a system where women are dominated by men, injustice controls the outcome for those who live under oppression; we see those systems doing their dirty work in the life of the widow.   The widow put all she had into the Temple treasury.  Jesus recognizes her and the sacrifice she made.  But, as the Rev. Jered Weber-Johnson said during his sermon at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church this morning; was Jesus commending the woman, or was He issuing a warning about the system to which she donated?  

The Church in all it's wisdom to preach the Gospel and perform it's work of ministry; sometimes forgets who our ministry is for and about.  Is our ministry as Christians about letting the Holy Spirit guide us to tearing down the many walls that divide us; or are we about building up new ones as soon as the former ones crumble?  The Church now finds itself in an amazing crossroads.  To continue down the road of heterosexism, sexism, religious discrimination, while ignoring the weak, the sick and the stranger, or to really invest ourselves in the work of bringing the Reign of God.  Those who already have only so much to give, are giving it all.  While so many of us who have an abundance are giving only such a small amount.  We have food while many are hungry.  We have friends and family, while so many are lonely and isolated.  We have opportunities where so many have very few options.

As we contemplate this Gospel today and pray to God from this point of where we are; may all of us take time to listen to what God is saying within the depths of our hearts.  May we all be open to where God is calling, and how God is calling us to "turn the world upside down, which is right side up."  All of the Saints in the past and the present are showing us the way forward.  It is Jesus' way, the way that leads to peace and hope for all persons.   It is what our Baptismal Covenant is all about.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might
destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God
and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may
purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again
with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his
eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 27: The Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).

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).

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, The Book of Common Prayer, p.823)

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 23: Leaving Behind, Moving Forward

Today's Scripture Reading

Mark 10:17-31 (NRSV)

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Blog Reflection

I do beg the pardon of my readers today.  I have been away from our home for a couple days, so I am writing this blog reflection at this very last moment.  As that is the case, I am choosing only one reading and that is the Gospel.  I pray that this reflection will be meaningful and inspiriting.

How do we leave behind all that is dear and important to us?  It is a question that many have had to answer.  When a member of the military has to leave her/his family to go on duty, she/he leaves everything else behind.  Spouse, parents, children, friends, etc.  Every holiday season, there are those moments on the news of members of the military wishing their relatives a happy holiday season, often with tears in their eyes.  A person who works a career of business that makes them travel a lot, have to say good bye for the time being, to any number of people on a regular basis.

The point that Jesus is making here is not so much the leaving of one's family in the literal sense.  It is the leaving of our false sense of self that is so tied to the things around us, that we never leave them behind to follow God's will in our hearts and lives.  We always carry those relationships deep with in us.  We can also carry them around in a way that we focus on those relationships for the sake of themselves.  Somewhere in all of those relationships is our God talking through them to us, and we to them.  God calls us through others, including those possessions we use, to remember that they all came to us because of God's graciousness initiative.

St. Benedict taught that "All utensils and goods of the Monastery are be regarded as the sacred vessels of the altar." (RB:1980: The Rule of St. Benedict in English, Chapter 31, p.55).  Handling anything in the mind of St. Benedict was about remembering our responsibility of stewardship for the things we handle, and the people we live in relationship with.  The challenge the Jesus gives to the wealthy person, is that riches in and of themselves are not bad, however, when we live as though it is all ours with no concern about anyone other than ourselves, we worship the thing rather than God.

We are not only attached to "things", we also tend to hold on to other things such as attitudes towards others who are different from ourselves.  We can hold wealth as if no one else should have a little of what we may have in abundance.  Those who exercise their wealth well, are those who may have a lot, but share it with those who do not.  The bottom line here is, we can hold onto our privileges at the expense of the underprivileged.  When we do that, everyone suffers.

Holding attitudes of sexism, racism, homophobia and heterosexism, religious discrimination and more, there are those losing as we gain benefits.  When we hold religious freedom for example, to applying to only one religious group, with a complete disregard to others, no persons belief system is really safeguarded.   When we safeguard those of us who are Caucasian too tightly, those who are of any other race can never find a place of equality for them, because they are the second class citizens.  When people hold too tightly to their guns, even while innocent people are being killed every second by a gun, no one is really safe in their neighborhoods, schools or homes. 

What is it that we need to leave behind?

What things are we holding so tightly to, that no one else can share in our happiness?

Where is God in our lives, also in the things we handle and the people we relate to?

May all Christians remember that all that God gives to us, is never really our own, but on loan by a loving God.  This includes our mortal bodies and those of others.  It is only by letting go, that we discover God's holiness in all that is around us.  May we all take time today, to look for, touch and listen to God in all things and people.

Amen.


Prayers

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and
follow us, that we may continually be given to good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Proper 23: The Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

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).

Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 22: It Is About Relationships

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 2:18-24 (NRSV)

The LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

"This at last is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

this one shall be called Woman,

for out of Man this one was taken."

Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Psalm 8 (BCP, p. 592)


Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 (NRSV)

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere,

"What are human beings that you are mindful of them,

or mortals, that you care for them?

You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned them with glory and honor,

subjecting all things under their feet."

Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,

"I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you."

Mark 10:2-16 (NRSV)

Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Blog Reflection

This weekend, we are presented with some of those Scripture readings that are commonly used to defend "the traditional meaning of marriage."  We have heard a lot about marriage over these many years.  As lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender have been gaining the civil rights to marry the person they love, and in many religious organizations; the talk about marriage remains a divisive issue.  People are very passionate about what marriage means.  Whether people are on the side of marriage equality or not, the over riding theme is that marriage matters.  And well, it should.

I can still make the case, that trying to state what marriage means in light of the Bible is one of those things that has not just one, but many interpretations.  Much of this depends on whether the reader interprets what they read in the Bible as literal and the only fact of life.  Others, like myself who are Episcopalians and/or Anglicans use our three legged stool of Scripture, Tradition and Reason.   The Episcopal Church is not now, nor will it be a "sola scriptura" tradition meaning the Bible alone.   Therefore, we tend to view what we read in Scripture to have a meaning that goes beyond the written texts, to the heart of God and listening more deeply to the Holy Spirit.

The reading from Genesis is not a word for word description of how God created all human beings, nor marriage for that matter.  We must remind ourselves that marriage in the times in which these texts would have been produced, marriage was really not about procreation.  They are, however, a glimpse as to how the culture of that term viewed the genders of male and female.  Sexuality and marriage in the original context in which these texts were written, are about the male species dominating and subjugating females.  The mystery of procreation is certainly there, but, it is hidden beneath the historical and cultural context in which they were addressed.

Jesus in our reading from Mark's Gospel is confronting the same problem.  Marriage in his time was about a civil contract by which the woman as property of her father, was transferred to her husband.   Therefore, the context of adultery and bills of divorce are a reflection on how it worked.  Jesus' response while sadly depicted as Him sticking to the property idea; is actually saying something much deeper.   Marriage, regardless of gender or whether the people in the marriage can procreate or not, is about our relationship with one another in love, respect and upholding the dignity of the human person.   Marriage is a vision of the Christian Faith as those who are married (legally or as a matter of a Sacrament, or even symbolically), is a vision of how much God is so madly in love with us, that God gives us the duty and challenge of respecting the dignity of every human person.  It is about seeing in our spouse and every human being for that matter, as living in relationship with God and one another in such a way, that harming that other person at our will, is simply unthinkable.

These truths of our Christian Faith go beyond marriage and family.  They reflect the relationships we engage in (on whatever level), as valuing one another, because we are all a masterpiece of God's creation, redeemed through Jesus Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus, the Incarnate Word shares with each of us, the beauty of God in the human flesh.  "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14. NRSV).  the glory of God came to us in Christ and embodied our flesh so that we may share in the relationship of the Divine God among our common humanity.  In this relationship, we are one with God and each other from the point of God's condescending love which unites us with the relationship of the God-Head in the Most Holy Trinity.

If we really want to support marriage and family, instead of focusing on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, etc.; we would do well to work on things like the equality of women in the work place.  Domestic violence is a far more serious danger to marriage and family than committed same-gender relationships.  Imagine how much better all family life would be, if we helped families and children of low income families get food assistance, better housing and employment opportunities and adequate health care.   Last, but, certainly not least, we desperately need to address this epidemic of gun violence that claims the lives of women, men and children crushing families and communities everywhere. 

In conclusion, let Christians remember that by our common baptism, we are all part of the Family of God.  We all have a responsibility to seek the common good for every person.  Every human being is in need of love, companionship, compassion and a sense of community.  What a different world it would be, if Christians saw relationships of all kinds, as opportunities for a deeper awareness of God's presence in all people, so we work for the ministry of healing and reconciliation. 

Thus freely loved, though fully known,
May I in Christ be free to welcome and accept his own
As Christ accepted me.  (Hymnal 1982 #603).

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 22.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 833).

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 19: Our Identity, Our Response and The Cross

Today's Scripture Readings

Wisdom 7:26-8:1 (NRSV)

For wisdom is a reflection of eternal light,

a spotless mirror of the working of God,

and an image of his goodness.

Although she is but one, she can do all things,

and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;

in every generation she passes into holy souls

and makes them friends of God, and prophets;

for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.

She is more beautiful than the sun,

and excels every constellation of the stars.

Compared with the light she is found to be superior,

for it is succeeded by the night,

but against wisdom evil does not prevail.

She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,

and she orders all things well.

Psalm 19 (BCP., p.606)


James 3:1-12 (NRSV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Mark 8:27-38 (NRSV)

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Blog Reflection

It must have been a very interesting show with Jesus, the Disciples and in particular Peter.  Jesus: "Who do you say that I am?"  Peter, " I say you are the Messiah."   Jesus, "I am going to Jerusalem and there I will be put to death and rise again."  Peter, "No do not do that.'  Jesus, "Get behind me, Satan."   Jesus, "If you want to be my Disciples, deny yourselves, take up your Cross and follow after me."

The scene may suggest that in the heat of the moment Peter's faith shined like the sun, then his own head might have gotten a bit big.  Jesus humbled Peter, by telling the devil in him to get behind Jesus and do not tempt Jesus.  Then, tells every one what they must do to follow Him." 

What would our response have been?

Would our response be anything like Peter's?

Can we really understand and take up our Cross and follow Jesus?

In claiming Jesus to be the Messiah, Peter took risked a lot.  It would mean that Peter and the other Disciples now see Jesus as something that those to whom they were meeting and healing and so forth, would have to be very careful with.  To say who Jesus is according to Peter, was to essentially change everything around them and become like the social outcasts that Jesus was delivering right in front of them.   As Peter learns, this proclamation on his part cost him big.  It was a change of identity, that required a particular response that would ultimately lead him and those who agreed with what he said to the Cross that Christ was to carry.

Jesus asks each of us today to identify who He is for each of us.  Jesus asks us to identify ourselves in relationship to who we know Jesus to be for us.  Jesus tells us to put aside who and how we think of what Jesus should and should not do.  Jesus then tells us to pick up what is ours to carry, and to lose ourselves in service to God for the glory of God's Reign.  Those are pretty tall orders.

Among the many points in this weekends readings, we find an opportunity for us to make decisions and to make them count for something very important.  It is no longer just about ourselves.  It is now about something much bigger with the potential to gain something wonderful by giving up what we think is important to us.  It is about serving the community of faith, in faith and seeking union with God through our relationships with one another.  It is there that we will know our essence and find ours infused with the Holy Essence of God that leads us into a life of fulfillment and purpose.  This fulfillment and purpose cannot be found in this world based on things such as wealth, fame, power, control and a determination to benefit at the expense of others who are already underprivileged beyond their capacity.

As issues of race, trying to curb the gun violence that threatens every one of us in one way or another, sexism, heterosexism, immigration, refugees and more; the question for Christians is to know the identity of Jesus, our own identity in Jesus, and to allow the loving mercy of God to shape us so that our faith becomes that living reality that so many long to see, touch and hear.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

Who are you in relationship to Jesus?

What will your cross be like as you pick it up and follow Jesus?

The good news for this Sunday is, you do not have to do it correctly the first time, and you are never alone no matter how you answer those questions.  Each of us has God's love and grace, and we have the investment of the community of faith to nurture, help and sustain us. This is a Christian Faith that lives beyond the death of the grave, and is among us because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  All we have to do is answer the questions and live by that new life that Jesus gives to all of us and by faith, put one foot in front of the other, and God will do the rest.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Proper 19.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted
high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to
himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery
of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and
follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for The Holy Cross Day.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 244).

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 101).

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 5: Time for A Refreashing New Course

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 3:8-15 (NRSV)

The man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate." The LORD God said to the serpent,

"Because you have done this,

cursed are you among all animals

and among all wild creatures;

upon your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will strike your head,

and you will strike his heel."

Psalm 130 (BCP., p.784)


2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 (NRSV)

Just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture-- "I believed, and so I spoke" -- we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Mark 3:20-35 (Common English Bible CEB)

Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat.  When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!”

The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, “He’s possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons.”

When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out?  A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse.  And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse.  If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for.  No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized.  I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind.  But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him.  A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.”

He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”  Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers.  Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”

Blog Reflection

This past January when the Rt. Rev. Libby Lane was ordained as the first woman Bishop in the Church of England, an article appeared in The Huffington Post.  The title of the article was Sexism: The Original Sin of the Church.  The article was inspired by a podcast on All Together, a talk program.  The women who were invited to comment were, The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts, Schori, the current Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church,  Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB,  the Rev. Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, and the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones.   As is always the case, Sr. Joan made a most revealing comment about the reading we have today from Genesis 3:8-15. "Let us remember that there were two sets of teeth marks in that apple."

There are two historical interpretations of this chapter from Genesis.  The Catholic tradition, interprets this story to imply that Mary is the new Eve, and in her Immaculate Conception and the birth of Christ, the "enmity between you and the woman" was undone.  The more Protestant interpretation was that Eve started the whole thing by listening to the serpent, eating the fruit and passing it on to Adam.  Thus from this notion came the response so often used in prosecuting criminals, "The devil made me do it."   In either case, the original sin of sexism is blatant, not implied. 

I tend to agree with the current interpretations that the woman was framed.  It was all too easy for a male dominated group of scribes to write this passage of Scripture and point to the woman, and let Adam off the hook much too easily.  This reading is only one among many that have been used to justify the subjugation of women as the second class citizens, between two commonly held genders.  The masculine is understood to be a dominate species, while the feminine is portrayed as the the weaker and submissive.  The man is the commonly accepted "giver" while women are unfairly stereotyped as the helpless "receiver".  

The creation and fall narrative in Genesis were not written and passed on to be the explanation of all scientific mysteries to be solved so that any mention of evolution is deemed as untrue or unacceptable.   This is a faith story written as an allegory of what really happened.  As human beings regardless of our supposedly assigned genders, we were created to love God and one another perfectly and without distinction.  In the original plan of God, we were already made as a masterpiece of God's design.   When we turn that around and make it all about us and satisfy our own arrogance and lust for godlike, we destroy what is good, and it affects everything and everyone else around us.  Including, but not limited to our relationships with those who are different from ourselves.  And so sexism, racism, heterosexism and other means of prejudice and oppression become our means of subjugating others while we benefit from their expense.  Indeed it has been and remains a plague of humankind.  Only by God's grace and our cooperation with it will we really eradicate this sickness out of the Church and society.

Now we turn to our Gospel reading.

Let us not be too hard on those who are suspicious of what Jesus has been doing.  After all, they were taught and became convinced that all religious and theological truth made them the center of the universe.  So long as they kept those they marginalized set aside and ignored them and their dignity, they were safe and secure in themselves.  None of us ever go there, I am sure.  LOL.

Here comes Jesus.  A young man from Nazareth who has been healing the sick, raising the dead, bringing to the center those conveniently set aside and chasing the evil spirits from those who were considered unlovable, helpless and hopeless.  Jesus is able to do things and say things to build an inclusive community around them, and preaching about the love of God being for everyone.  Those who felt they were in the center had to be disturbed.  Their best answer for what they were witnessing was that Jesus must be possessed by the same evil spirits the He has been casting out.  Their desire to keep their power and popularity was being shaken to its roots.  All this was happening at a time when all Israel was oppressed by a power that dehumanized everyone under a dictatorship kind of law.  

What they do not see, however, is exactly their problem.  Jesus is commanding "Satan to cast out Satan" by the power of God that is in Jesus.  Jesus is casting out the one who continues to keep the blind from seeing, and those in despair from finding hope in God's mercy.  Indeed, they were calling the work of God in Jesus evil, and this is what Jesus responds so sternly to.

Theologians and Biblical scholars of all kinds have and are still wrestling even today with this idea of an "unpardonable sin."  Yet a new possibility is emerging.  What if we see the "unpardonable sin" as not allowing the Holy Spirit to help us see God doing marvelous things before our eyes and hearts, and not letting go of our suspicions about the call to conversion and renewal?   If we are not allowing the Spirit to lead us into a deeper relationship of love with God and one another that changes our attitudes and behaviors; it becomes "unpardonable" not in the sense that we are eternally condemned, but that we are closing ourselves off to the wondrous possibilities of God's work among us.  In other words, we cannot be redeemed in this world and the next one that is being established as God's Reign, until we let go and in faith and trust give it all over to God and follow God's will. 

An interpretation such as that deeply disturbs and displaces us.  Especially when we read in the next paragraph that Jesus expands His family relationships beyond what is a merely biological.  Jesus makes everyone who is obedient out of love for God to Christ as members of His family without distinction.  Everyone is related to Jesus and one another by our common Baptism and our response to God's grace.

This is the answer to what happened in Genesis.  As we read in Galatians 3:28, "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."

In conclusion, Jesus seems to be calling all of us to make room for things like marriage equality, the equalization of women, African Americans, Native Americans, etc. As well as those who are unemployed, suffering from mental illness, developmental disabilities, sick, lonely and discouraged.   He calls us to embrace the oppressed and the marginalized to celebrate together God's redemption and restoration as members of an inclusive Church and society.  

Now, it is up to us as Christians to stop using the Bible and traditional theologies and foolish reasoning to become partners in Christ to build the Reign of God's love through radical hospitality and reconciliation.  Just imagine what people might actually believe and be drawn to; if all Christians committed ourselves to such a possibility.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your
inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by
your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 5.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.229).

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and
obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.255).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.260).

Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday. The Languages of The Spirit Guiding Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' 

Psalm 104:25-35, 37 (BCP., p.736)


Romans 8:22-27 (NRSV)

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise 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.

John 15: 26-27, 16:4b-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Blog Reflection

This past January a professor from Luther Seminary in St. Paul by the name of Eric D. Barreto gave a very informative lecture.  It was part of a series on racism and our response to it as Christians.  Professor Barreto spoke about those languages that the first Apostles were speaking on Pentecost.  As we read the account in Acts, The Holy Spirit impacted the Church so that the message of the Gospel was heard in the languages of everyone within hearing distance.  Professor Barreto then asked his audience this question.  Is the Church of today speaking the various languages of those who are listening to what Christians have to say?

As Christians who are Caucasian, well educated, wealthy, living without much persecution, straight and male dominated; we have become so comfortable with thinking we know it all.  Many of the English settlers who came to the shores of the United States felt that they had the answers to improve the lives of the Native Americans who were already settled.  Long before that, there was the assumption that those who lived in Africa just couldn't make anything of their lives because of the color of their skin, their living conditions and their religious practices.  What contribution did white Christian men make to improve such societies?   Slavery, the demolition of those cultures and documents such as the Doctrine of Discovery.   Others included offering "inspiring" Christian worship that left many illiterate and without the means of communication and/or interpreting in a language they understood.  Much of this came about, because Christians assumed they had the whole truth about Christ and the Church based on what they understood to be truth.

On this Pentecost Sunday, Jesus invites us to the experience of those first Apostles to open ourselves to being led into a fuller understanding of truth.  A truth that is never complete and always evolving and open to being led into all truth by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus knew that those first Disciples were limited by their culture and surrounding environment that they could not possibly understand the fullness of truth.  He knows how limited we are now as we learn to confront the racism, sexism, heterosexism and the neglect of the poor and immigrants we are facing today.  Jesus does not leave us in our present state of mind to just "take it as it is" and leave it.  Jesus sends the Holy Spirit here and now to lead us into a deeper truth of God and one another, so that the Church may grow and evolve.  The Church needs to let go of the dark and horrible images of God that continue to tell our children to be afraid for their lives.  If they were to wake up one day and realize that they are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, or political position on climate change or health care; Lord only knows what their parents or grandparents might say. 

The Holy Spirit prays for the Church now more than ever.  We face a time in which the Church continues to be divided by the languages of prejudice, elitism, and legislating things like "religious freedom" to allow discrimination on the sole basis of religion.  Not just any religion, but only the conservative branch of Christianity that breeds fear, hate and misunderstanding in the Name of Christ.  The kind that labels marriage equality as a threat to the family; even as thousands of LGBT families and couples nurture homes for adopted children that are happy and healthy.  The type of Christianity that calls immigration reform "amnesty" as if everyone who is Latino or Eurpean, etc. only seeks a better life for crime.  The same Christianity that blames women for being raped yet opposes abortion, health care, and job training for all women.

The Holy Spirit prays that the Church will be guided into the truth that Jesus is about compassion, love, inclusion, justice and hope for all people.  The Holy Spirit longs for a Church that is about all of us being Baptized into a covenant relationship with God and one another that seeks peace and justice for all persons, and works to respect the dignity of every human person.  If Christians will only listen for the Holy Spirit's call within their hearts individually and collectively, the Church will truly be a house of prayer for all people.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Pentecost.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).

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).  

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Say Those Words Again Jesus! Christians! Listen Up!

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:44-48 (NRSV)

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Psalm 98 (BCP., p.727)

1 John 5:1-6 (NRSV)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

John 15:9-17 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. 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. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

Blog Reflection

In all of the Gospel readings we could have, is there one that is more profound and more direct than this one?  Jesus is calling those who follow Him to do more than lip service.  Jesus is telling us in this Gospel passage to do more than gather councils and proclaim doctrines, creeds and legislate morality.  Jesus is telling us that all that He has spoken and done will only do wonders for the world if we love one another as He has loved us.

The love that Jesus calls us to this Sunday, is a love that is ready to give up all of our self interest for the sake of the other.  Jesus is calling us to purity of heart.  To seek to love God through loving one another to give evidence of who Jesus is and what Jesus did.  All the preaching, story telling, labors for social justice and equality for the sake of themselves will lead us to mission accomplished; but for the sake of what?  Even that (whatever it is) is limited so long as we do not heed these words of Jesus.  "Love one another as I have loved you."

Our problem is that we think that because we walk around and call ourselves Christians, it means we are exceptional human beings. We have no accountability to anyone for what we do, say, think and how we respond to others as if we are the only ones who matter.  In these words spoken by Jesus who gave up everything out of love for us all, and taught us how to love our neighbor as ourselves in and through the Paschal Mystery; we have our assignment.  As Christians, we need to not only think, but pray in earnest that all of us will regard each other and those who are not Christians with dignity and respect.  No amount of racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, Islamophobia, etc. has any place to be protected and encouraged.  The love that Jesus commands of us, has no exceptions.  It is about helping Jesus to maintain His good Name as the One who came to serve and not be served. 

Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB wrote the following,

Among the ancients there is a story told that confirms this insight to this day:
"What action shall I perform to attain God?"  the disciple asked the elder.
"If you wish to attain God, " the elder said, "there are two things you must know.  The first is that all efforts to attain God are of no avail."
"And the second?" the disciple insisted.
"The second is that you must act as if you did not know the first," the elder said.
(The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century, p.21-22).

The spiritual life of the Christian is not attained by spiritual athletics.  It is lived into as we embrace one another, care about each other and respond to the Presence of Christ in each other.  In our individualistic society that rewards those who continue to threaten our environment with dangerous chemicals with wealth and security, or leaves the poor without the basic necessities of life while those who have double their amount; the message of love one another is only a myth.  Jesus commands us in this Gospel, to make the myth into a living reality.  It is about our relationship to Jesus and each other.  This is a commandment that is worth every effort and spiritual grace to keep on trying to do.  The reputation of the Name of Jesus Christ and the Church needs this now, more than ever before.

Help us, Lord Jesus to love one another as you have loved us.

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. (Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and
obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 255).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).

Fifth Sunday of Easter: Jesus. Help Us Bear Good Fruit

Acts 8:24-30 (NRSV)

An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,

and like a lamb silent before its shearer,

so he does not open his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him.

Who can describe his generation?

For his life is taken away from the earth."

The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Psalm 22:24-30 (BCP, p.612)


1 John 4:7-21 (NRSV)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

John 15:1-8 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 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."

Blog Reflection

Our Gospel reading for today is a real gem.  It speaks of Jesus and the community of those who are grafted onto Him to serve the presence of Christ in others.

Our society is so individualistic.  "It is all about me."  As Christians, we too have been part of being religious for the sake of itself in statements such as "The authority of the Word of God" to arm twist non-Christians to our way of thinking out of fear.  We too have the "our way or the highway" expressions and ideas.  So long as Christians preach an exclusive Gospel, we might as well be the branches of a philosophy or political position and not to Jesus Christ.

Jesus invites us today to remember that without Him, we can do nothing.  

We as Christians cannot speak up about the institutional racism in schools, police departments, churches and public places if we do not remain in the love of God in the Risen Christ.   It is so easy to say that we are not racist just because we have non-Caucasian friends and still not understand what Black America has been feeling this past week.   Julia Blount wrote a great article about how they are feeling as we struggle to understand the riots in Baltimore.  You can read that article here.   While the news media focuses on the violent side of the riots, Christians are being called to cling to our Vine who is Christ, and to listen to the stories of what black Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans experience every day.  The experiences they are having, are often done while so many of us white Christians pat ourselves on the back, believing the famous "things are so improved, they don't need any more" lies.  

As Christians, we are baptized to proclaim what 1 John 4:7-11 says that God is love to every human person.  The Holy Spirit wants so much to empower us to live those words by letting go of our self-centered prejudices and stereotypes that keep us from reaching out to the marginalized of the Church and society.  If Christians cannot live into our vocation that God is love by loving our neighbor as ourselves, why should people believe in the Jesus that we celebrate?  We are the Body of Christ.  If we do not do our part, the Body becomes an abstract image.

The arguments about the freedom to marry heard by the Supreme Court this past Tuesday, tell us that there is much more work to be done.  States all over the country continue to be lobbied to pass license to discriminate bills on the basis of "religious freedom."   It is wonderful that LGBTQ people can marry in our Civil governments and many of our church communities.  However, we still have the tragedy of transgender individuals being denigrated by so called "bathroom bills' when it is about recognizing (or failing to acknowledge) their dignity as individuals.  When we can create and pass legislation to "allow" discrimination against one group of people, it means that no person is truly safe from religious based prejudice.  The Vine gets a bad reputation while the branches become fruitless. 

Let each of us pray for each other that Jesus will help us to bear good fruit, because we become dependent on the Vine, and cooperate with the other branches.  May we recognize the diversity of the branches around us, and respect their dignity so that everyone has the chance to bear fruit that will nourish the hungry souls of this world.  When and where there is violence and oppression in the Name of the Risen Christ, our task as His branches is to represent the truth of the Vine.  Each of us are welcomed and empowered with opportunities to bring healing and reconciliation, so that the fruit of the Vine is the love of God that has no exceptions or limitations.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant
us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way,
the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his
steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.225).

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Fourth Sunday in Lent: The Greatest Challenge of Christian Relationships

 
Today's Scripture Readings

Numbers 21:4-9 (NRSV)

From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 (BCP., p.746)


Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

John 3:14-21 (NRSV)

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

Blog Reflection

This Sunday, we are brought face to face with the greatest challenge in Christian relationships.  How are we to be a good reflection of those relationships in a world where the very word Christian brings a whole array of meanings?  Some are conclusive while others are elusive.

If you say the word Christian to a person who is of a particular group of people who have experienced that word as being hurtful, their response could be very negative.  It could also be very neutral.  One might hear similar to what Mahatma Gandhi said.  "I like your Jesus, but I do not like your Christians."  I remember a woman once sing out loud over a microphone, "Jesus, save us from your followers."  What in the world is wrong with the word Christian?  Why does it bring such responses?  I am not the only one asking these questions this weekend.  The Rev. Barbara Mraz the Writer in Residence at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in St. Paul, MN is also asking this question.  You can read her blog post here. 

I have been writing a lot this Lent about words such as The Holy Essence of God, and facing the best and worst of ourselves and others.  These words are a special part of my own personal journey with God, because the more I have studied about the word Christian and asked the question of what is wrong with that word; I have realized that there are so many things in my own life that are a contradiction to that word.  One of the things a Benedictine Novice such as myself learns very quickly is that I am not the nicest guy on earth.  I think way too much about myself as opposed to my neighbor.  I struggle every day with my own ego and brush up against my false-sense of self that gets all wrapped up in words and labels.  In as much as I write about the issues of injustice and prejudice, I know that I too hold attitudes within myself that are part of the problem, not the solution.

As I read through the readings for this Sunday's Liturgy, I am drawn to the stark reality that Jesus is telling us that the word Christian is not a word of privilege.  It is not a term that means that I get to impose what I think or believe on anyone else.  I can share it, write about it and do it.  I can also if I am not careful enough, determine that the word Christian stops with myself and has no bearing on my relationship with God and others around me.  It can be so easy for me to think that I am someone really special, just because I use that word Christian to define myself in word only, and excuse myself from acting on what the word means.

The message of these Scripture readings is that God did not stop at loving the world just because we were lost in our sins.  God loved the world so much, that Jesus came as God's perfect revelation in the human form to save the world and not just Christians.  God sent the Son into the world to save it without condemnation, so that we could live into a relationship with God within the context of our relationships.  Such is the work of our faith, and the faith that makes our work worthwhile.  The world in which God sent Jesus includes those who disagree with each other, those who even dislike one another and those who wonder why in the world God still puts up with us.  When we look at the violence expressed in human suffering all over the world over things like religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression/identity, the powerful vs the weak, the sick, the lonely, the dying etc., what is it about all of us that keeps God's loving graciousness fixed on us as the apple of God's eyes?

The answer for the Christian (as difficult of a word as it is), is a cross on a hill, far away on which Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NRSV).   God loves each of us so extravagantly that "God did not withhold his own son, but gave him up for all of us." (Romans 8:32).  In Jesus' sacrifice, He willingly handed over His relationship to His Father, only saving His faith that God would raise Him up.   Jesus made Himself as vulnerable as any man alive, and paid the ultimate price of His life out of love, humility and obedience to God's will.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of Christian relationships is that to live them means to set aside even the pride of that name to make ourselves as vulnerable as Jesus made Himself.  It is much too risky say for a lesbian and/or gay person who has experienced rejection, violence and oppression in the Name of Jesus, because she/he will have to risk the possibility of healing to the point of forgiving and reconciling her/himself with those who continue to harm her/him just because.  It is much too risky for an evangelical pastor who has always preached against homosexuality and/or abortion to admit she/he has misinterpreted the scriptures all these years and to change her/his position.  It could not only mean the loss of her/his pastoral ministry in her/his church, but also the esteem of her/his colleagues and friends.  A Christian who stands up against racism or for greater gun control, could face a lot more than her/his reputation going down the drain.  All because the word Christian means certain things for some, and different things to others.

The name Christian often means many other things, but please don't tell us that it means that we have to love others who are different than ourselves beyond our church doors, or outside of our beliefs.  That requires way too much.  Such is too much of a slippery slope that could mean that the Jesus who is an abstract idea held captive in the name of Christian actually becomes a real, breathing and life-giving Savior.  It would mean that Jesus means so much more than watching The Passion of Christ or Jesus of Nazareth.  The name Christian would be who we are because our relationships as challenging as they are, are no longer an acceptable excuse for us to avoid.  Including if it means that I must sacrifice even myself for the benefit of the other person.

O God, make speed to save us.  O Lord, make haste to help us.  May our journey of Lent bring us closer to being what the word Christian is about in the great challenges of our relationships.

Amen.


Prayers

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down
from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:
Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in
him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 219).

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Ash Wednesday.  The Book of Common Prayer. p.217).
 
Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).