Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet" '?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
The Gospel for today is chosen to reflect on the idea of Jesus at the right hand of God, as we prepare to celebrate his ascension tomorrow. Today is day 40 since Easter Day. We have walked with Jesus from his rising from the tomb to this point where we prepare to remember the ascension when Jesus took our broken humanity that is embedded within his wounded hands, feet and side and takes them within his risen, glorified body to the right hand of God where he makes intercession for all of God's people until he shall come again in all of his glory.
In Jesus, God sees us as God's adopted daughters and sons. In today's reading from Ephesians 1: 2-10 we read:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
As lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals, couples and families, we have been chosen from the foundation of the world to be among God's adopted children through Jesus Christ according to the good will and pleasure of God's holy will. We are endowed and empowered by God with so many wonderful and gracious gifts in our ability to love our partners, friends, family, church families and community as we continue in our pursuit of justice, equality and full inclusion in society and the Church.
In today's Rogation prayer we are praying to be good stewards of the earth. An amazing prayer considering the disaster of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that is now destroying not only the water, but wild life, the coral ref, the fishing industry for many in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Mexico. Tourism and wild life sanctuaries are being destroyed and the families of the eleven workers who were killed are devastated by death, grief and loss. As American and more of the world becomes dominated by corporations and their greed over their huge profits and political bargaining to keep their money, individuals, wild life and those struggling to maintain their livelihoods wonder how they will live through all that will follow this disaster. The stewardship of the earth includes seeking good ways to find clean energy, deal with the issues of global warming and industrial pollution.
Being good stewards of the earth is not just protecting the environment and doing something about global warming. Being good stewards of the earth means being concerned and responsible in helping to secure and protect the individual human rights of every person. Every individual including the immigrant, Native American, African American, Asian, European, Middle Eastern, Russian, and the like, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individual, all of them are individuals created in the image and likeness of God, and chosen from the foundation of the world to be God's adopted children in Christ. Being good stewards of the earth is the mission and ministry of the Church in so far as we are concerned for the planet and all of it's peoples, nations, sexual orientations, gender, gender identities/expressions, religions and so on and so forth. God's world is an inclusive world.
Being good stewards also means being concerned about the unemployed, the homeless, the poor, those unable to get health insurance, food, clothing, the basic necessities of life. Jesus who was closest to those in need, calls those who follow him to also be willing to do their part to help others too.
As we prepare to celebrate the Ascension of Christ, let us remember that Christ came to love and serve all humankind, as God send him to do. As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost Sunday when we remember that the Holy Spirit came to "renew the face of the earth" that we are among those who are waiting to experience that renewal of God, the Holy Spirit.
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, Book of Common Prayer, Page 225)
O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature. Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Prayer for Rogation Day, Book of Common Prayer, Page 259).
No comments:
Post a Comment