Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Community and Diversity Are One

Scriptural Basis


Matthew 14:13-21 (NRSV)

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Blog Reflection

As I write this blog reflection today we are all facing our nerves and frustrations with the gridlock in America's Capitol. 

The debt ceiling needs to be raised.

There is also the need for a deficit reduction plan.

As with any legislation, those who face the most obstacles (those being the unemployed, the middle class, Seniors, the disabled and low income folks) are among those who are first to lose even more.

These are dangerous and perilous times. The economy is still weak. Unemployment is over 9% in all of America.  Most middle class and low income people are struggling to figure out how to pay the bills, put food on the table and maintain the necessities of life. Further losses are detrimental to economic recovery.

Yet, with the super wealthy doing remarkably well, and wanting even more power and money and lobbyists fighting with the big bucks in Congress, it appears that those with the most to lose are about to lose even more.

The readings for this weekend are an invitation for everyone to experience and "taste the goodness of God." (See Psalm 34:8).  The hungry, the outcasts, those who are wounded by religious, political and social classification are invited to enjoy God's generous grace and become one with each other.

The reading from Isaiah 55: 1-5 tells of God inviting everyone who thirsts, who are poor, looking for inclusion and the satisfaction of their senses to come and receive the very best God has to give. 

This is such a great comparison to the Eucharist or Holy Communion.

Through the Eucharist and/or Holy Communion, God invites all who are hungry and thirsty to come and receive the very Presence of Jesus Christ and to become one with God and each other.

A oneness by which community and diversity meet together as one people.

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer have all too often been given the exclusion ticket because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.

Individuals who support a woman's right to chose what is best for herself, or marriage equality, the ordination of women have been told that they will be denied admission to the Sacrament of God's Presence.   Such exclusions go against the words of God in Isaiah, and Jesus in today's Gospel narrative.

God, the Eucharist and the Christian religion are not a matter of privilege based on our biases and preferences.  Being a Christian does not give Christians a free pass to dominionism or supercessionism to the total exclusion and oppression of everyone else that do not measure up to our preconceived ideas of God and those different from ourselves.

People who struggle to accept their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression wrestle with their existence and purpose before God and their communities.  Such is referenced in the reading from Genesis 32: 22-31 as Jacob wrestles with the mystery of God, himself and his identity. 

Transgender individuals know that they are born either male or female with the opposite gender existing with in themselves.  They struggle with the depths of who they really are, with all of the social, political and religious obstacles in their way.  When a transgender person finally makes the decision to have their physical bodies transformed to be who they are on the inside, they are often left with the scars associated with their struggles on every level. 

Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals experience a similar situation.  Though we may finally accept ourselves and work to gain marriage equality and finding relationships and communities that embrace and affirm us, the wounds we carry from all the rejection of family, friends and pastors are deep and painful. 

God invites all who are thirsty, including the illegal immigrant, the Native American and the African American still wounded by racism and political exploitation to come and drink of the love that God pours out through the precious blood of God's perfect revelation of God's Self.   God does not require them to convert to a single understanding of the Christian religion, nor leave behind the cultural heritage that have blessed and nourished those affected by racism, in order to find peace within themselves.

God calls the young students who are LGBT and/or questioning who experience bullying in their schools to come to God and be nourished by sharing in God's community that is one with diversity.  God does not call them to attempt reparative therapy or to attend an ex-gay conversion camp, nor be subjected to the spiritual violence and abuse of Christianist individuals and organizations.

To these and many more affected by economic hardships, political, social and religious oppression, God invites us to come to God, and calls on God's ministers to "give them something to eat."

God is able to take the minimum of what we bring, multiply it and share it with all who come to experience the healing goodness of God and a community that embraces and affirms who we are.

God is the one who transforms what is small to us and uses it for the common good of all.

God wants to feed all who are hungry, thirsty, feeling neglected or marginalized with compassion, understanding and inclusion.

Let us remain vigilant in our prayers for our Congress and President.  That people may set aside their gluttony for huge pay outs to advance those who already have more than enough, for the benefit of those who live in poverty and face further isolation and deprivation.

Let us also pray for and challenge the Church including those who lead and minister in Jesus' name to honor God's invitation for all who are thirsty, hungry, poor, LGBT etc to come to receive and celebrate God's Presence, in the community and diversity of God's people.  May the Church learn to allow the Holy Spirit to challenge our preconceived notions of God and those different than us, to make room for all who come to seek God's peace and saving grace.


Prayers

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 232).

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.  (Book of Common Prayer, page 101).

Gracious Father, we pray for your 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 your Son our Savior. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, page 816).

Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth.

Lord, keep this nation under your care.

To all who have executive authority and to all who have administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To those who make our laws give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name. For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 821).

You Give Them Something to Eat

Scriptural Basis


Mark 6: 30- 46 (NRSV)

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat." But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?" And he said to them, "How many loaves have you? Go and see." When they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men. 

Blog Reflection


Although today is the commemoration of the Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I have great appreciation for this day, I feel that there are things happening in our country and world that need more attention.  

I can easily include that among the great things that Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary did was to feed and nurture their daughter so that she might play an important role in God's work of changing the framework of the world's attitude.  The attitude I speak of is that of one person or group of people dominating another that is supposed to be submissive.  


All of this is true.


The Gospel that was to be part of today's Daily Office takes the event of the parents of Mary, but is an event that we are all invited to participate in.


"You give them something to eat." Said Jesus to the disciples.


Jesus did not say, "Alright take them somewhere else.  Make sure they get their food.  Pass on this responsibility to someone else."


Jesus said: "You give them something to eat."


Jesus never said: "Give them something to eat, but first find out if anyone in the crowd is lesbian, gay, bisexual and/and or transgender.  And if you do find that out, don't feed them."  


Jesus also did not say: "Be sure you don't give anything to a woman who has had an abortion, or supported the ordination of women."


Jesus also did not say: "Be sure everyone you give something to, is a Christian, a white person, a fundamentalist, employed, totally healthy, wealthy, speaks and writes in English, etc, etc, etc."


No!  Jesus did not say any of that.


Jesus said: "You give them something to eat."


So it is also inconsistent with our commemoration to assume that Mary was born and nurtured by parents who would have insisted that she only be a submissive slave to some God who must condone a male dominated society where not only women, but the sick, the prostitutes and the illegal immigrant were to be ignored.


God feeds all of God's creation with the goodness that comes from God.  All that God has created and blessed was created good.  


Yes, we all know the story from Genesis of how the earth and humankind were created good, but fell victim to sin.  

Too bad Christianists insist on looking at the sins of people who have the least to worry about, rather than taking care of their own.   Attitudes of dominionism, supercessionism, heterosexism, racism, and sexism and supporting the violence in Norway is hardly evidence of having dealt with sin.  It is in fact, a cooperation with sin, with attitudes and rhetoric like that.


Jesus in this Gospel is not concerned with anything, but feeding those who are hungry.  Jesus wants the disciples to feed the hungry people with the bread of compassion, hospitality and reconciliation.  Such are traits Jesus would have learned from his mother Mary, who would have learned them from her parents.  Here Jesus is calling on his followers to do what Jesus would do. You know the old saying "What would Jesus do?"  Jesus would say: "You give them something to eat."


As good Episcopalians we believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist.  We also believe that it is most important that the presence of Christ in the Eucharist become real in us as the Body of Christ.


As we hear the news that the United States will default if the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2nd, and that such a disaster would affect the most vulnerable such as senior citizens, the unemployed, low income and disabled people the most.  How do we respond as the Body of Christ?


Do we respond by saying "Let others write our legislators and the President to do something now, for the benefit of all?"


When we hear that budget negotiations are at a place where they would suggest cuts to programs like education, higher education, health care, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.  How does the Body of Christ respond?


"Let it happen. Who cares anymore?"

How do Christians who are the Body of Christ follow Jesus' request "You give them something to eat" with Christianist organizations vowing to stop marriage equality in New York, or rolling back the Fair Education Act in California?

How do Christians respond to the violence in Norway that is being blamed on Muslim extremists, when it was done by a "Christian Terrorist".  Why aren't Christians protesting those two words being used in the same sentence?  Same-sex love and marriage is about love and service.  "Christian Terrorist" gives Jesus Christ a bad name, that somehow God condones religious based violence.


Do Christians respond with: "Well, maybe it is God's will that it happen that way?"


All Jesus said today is: "You give them something to eat."  Something that will nourish them with God's goodness and caring concern.  Not destruction and prejudice, justified as religious conviction.


Here Jesus raised by Mary, who was raised by her parents, tells us "Give them something to eat."


It is up to us to speak up on behalf of those marginalized by the Church and society.  It is our duty to feed those who are hungry for justice, equality and inclusion.  It is our business to respond to people losing their health care, or retirement through Social Security with the utmost concern for their welfare as well as our own.


When Jesus says "You give them something to eat" how is the Body of Christ answering Christ's request?



Prayers

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

Almighty God, heavenly Father, we remember in thanksgiving this day the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and we pray that we all may be made one in the heavenly family of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 487).


Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, 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. (Book of Common Prayer, page 823).

St. James the Apostle: The Opportunities and Consequences of Being First

Scriptural Basis

Acts 11:27-12:3 (NRSV)

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.)

Matthew 20:20-28 (NRSV)

The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Blog Reflection

The news today has brought us some horrible reminders of just how far from equality and justice we are. 

Yesterday, hundreds of happy same-sex couples were among the first to joyfully celebrate their marriages in New York. 

Today, those least happy about legalized marriage equality have filed law suits to over turn the law.   The Liberty Council and an organization called New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom have filed a law suit to stop marriage equality in New York. 

New York Senator Ruben Diaz has vowed to have all of the same-sex marriages that have been performed in in the State annulled.

If all of this is indication of anything, it is a clear sign that the tide towards marriage equality has shifted in a most positive direction.  Americans and many Christian, Jewish and other religions have fair minded people who understand that sexual orientation and gender identity/expression are morally neutral.   We are all realizing that the love shared between two people of the same sex is just as holy and life-giving as that of opposite sex couples. 

As the Apostles learned in those early days of the Church, so those first to be married in New York are discovering that being first has it's many opportunities and unfortunate consequences.

St. James the Apostle was the first among them to be killed for exercising his faith. 

St. James was said to be a fierce defender of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

St. James is also said to be the first Bishop of Jerusalem. 

The exchange between James, John, their mother and Jesus in the Gospel reading for today's commemoration leads to a common understanding for Christians.  To follow and to profess faith in Jesus is more than just beautiful words in a prayer book and/or the recitation of a creed.  An Apostle of Jesus is a servant to others. 

The service that Jesus talks about is a total giving of self for the benefit of another.  A giving of self to the point, that we are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice of our lives for the sake of another. 

Marriage either same-sex or opposite sex is one way one person gives of oneself to another.  Marriage is a vocation of the act of total self to one's spouse. One's sexual orientation, gender identity/expression is not an advantage of one, while being total denied to another to the sacred institution of marriage.  

Marriage is not only defined as a means of rearing and raising children.  It is a vocation of service, giving and receiving with and on behalf of the person one is married to.  If a marriage includes children okay.  If not that is okay too. 

Unfortunately the Christian Church has played the dangerous card of supercessionism and presented itself as justified for oppressing and suppressing other religions and philosophies that do not match theirs. 

Church Tradition in our quest for understanding greater truths about Jesus and what the Bible means, has also resulted in so many misunderstandings and misinterpretations disguised as "standing up for Christian conviction." 

Denying the spiritual violence by Christians as a means to the end of promoting those convictions, is dishonest to say the least.  The attempt to sanctify violence into something other than what it was, such is the case with the Roman church's cover up of child sexual abuses all over the world, is irresponsible and hypocritical

To be the last and to serve and give our lives for others, is not a matter of standing up for doctrines, dogmas or even moral codes.  It is a life to be lived in service for and with others who are marginalized, oppressed and victimized by political, religious and social exploitation.    Even to the point of sacrificing our own comforts and very possibly our lives.

The early Church was not so caught up in dogma or creeds.  Unfortunately many of the Biblical accounts in Acts and other narratives suggest that the early Christians were attempting to convert Jewish people to Christianity.  My guess is that was due to the narrow views of those who transcribed the stories we now read.  However, the message of the early Christians was salvation in Jesus, through a life of concern for those most vulnerable, oppressed and marginalized. It was a message of God's mercy for all so that there would be no more domination and subjugation of one group or person over another.

The works of Christianists and many others who are opposed to marriage equality, or Muslims, or Jewish people, African Americans, Native Americans, women etc, are not so in line with the Jesus Christ who called Christians to serve others in his Name."

Jesus Christ called those who follow him to a love of God and neighbor, with a recognition that all are holy by the fact that we are all created, redeemed and sanctified.  As far as Jesus is concerned there are no losers, outcasts or scapegoats.

LGBT and others marginalized by the Church and society are not "lost" in sin and must be converted to radical conservative Christianity to find salvation.   Lesbian and gay people do not need to attend ex-gay groups or receive reparative therapy to "avoid hell" when we die. 

Muslims and Jews do not need to convert to Christianity so that they may be saved. 

The violence of the Norway terrorist is not condoned nor justified by the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the presence of Muslims as Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association suggests.

The poor, the sick, the elderly and disabled are certainly not better served by making benefit cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to raise America's debt ceiling.

Those of us labeled as "liberal Marxist, socialist Christians" are not perverting the Gospel or the Christian religion as may Christianists suggest.

St. James the Apostle was the first to serve and die because he knew, and believed in the life and service that Jesus Christ gave him by the example of his life.  As we commemorate St. James today, we need to pray for all of those first couples married in New York yesterday who face the most vile rhetoric and religious based violence.   The first to celebrate the union of their love, are now the first to experience the effects of spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse by those who are so poorly informed about what the Christian Gospel means.  

Progressive Christians who know that the Gospel calls us to justice and equality have the opportunity to serve those marginalized, scandalized, oppressed and abused with the balm of compassion, hospitality and reconciliation.   Such service will place us not in the front, but behind with those who are wounded and even those who have given up on Christianity because of the spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse of Christianists.

We can take advantages of the opportunities, but we may also have to face the consequences of being the first to stand up for the real meaning of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.

If by chance we find ourselves afraid of what may happen.  Our Lord Jesus has told us 365 times in the Bible: "Be not afraid."


Prayers

O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 242).

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 99).

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. (Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: We are God's Treasures and Pearls Destined for Greatness

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blog Reflection

Today as I write this blog entry something wonderful is happening.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are legally marrying the person they love in the great State of New York.

Wedding bells are ringing.

Niagara Falls has been lit up with the colors of the rainbow.

Couples from all over the country are flocking to New York to marry the person they love with judges, mayors, ministers, priests and so many others blessing and granting the rights, privileges and responsibilities of marriage.

However, in other parts of New York such as through the streets of Manhattan are radical conservative Christianists, Catholic's and many other religions showing brutality via rhetoric and actions that violate the very heart of charity.   The harsh reality of the attitudes of hate and violence disguised as religious zeal and/or conviction once again raise their ugly head.

I think it is quite difficult to miss the obvious display of love, celebration and commitment to fulfilling the Christian vocation in marriage being celebrated by LGBT couples vs the images of bias and narrow mindedness of those opposed. The couples being married are open to possibilities. Those protesting throw the opportunity for God to convert hearts and minds to a greater understanding of God and the world around them, back in God's face.

When Jesus uses the image of the mustard seed in today's Gospel as well as that of the yeast, he is painting a picture of God's work to bring about God's reign.

The work of God in our lives and world seems like a small favor granted or barely enough for us to see becoming much of anything.

Yet once what God has begun, grows and matures with not only Scripture, but also Tradition and Human Reason, the benefits are far reaching and can be experienced and shared by anyone.

Those who continue to use an interpretation of Scripture that is based on a literal translation, without applying critical and reputable scholarship to it's meaning, or Church Tradition without looking at the flaws with in our Tradition as well as our proven accomplishments, or accepting the Reason offered by science, psychology and the actual life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, miss out on God's work in the bigger picture.

When a mustard seed is planted it does not remain a small mustard seed, nor does it become a large tree without water, sunshine and the occasional trimming.

Mustard can be mixed and made in many different ways.  To reflect a difference of cultures and spices for different recipes.  

When making a loaf of bread, one does not just mix flour, water, eggs and yeast, mold the bread and bake in the oven.   The baker needs to give the dough time to rise and be ready to be shaped and molded, so that it can be baked and come out smelling wonderful and ready to eat.

There is no one way to mix, prepare, bake or eat bread.  Bread is different in each country.  Used differently for a variety of sandwiches, soups, side dishes, garnishes and desserts.  Yet, bread is bread where ever you go.

The work of God's reign in our world is very much the same idea.

The Bible, the Church and our understanding of sexuality and social behaviors did not just drop out of the sky by God's decree and become a system of laws, religious beliefs or principles for Government etc by some snap of the finger.  Nor is the Bible, the Church and our understanding of sexuality and social behaviors limited to the Bible, the Church and common understanding.  This kind of thing has created the "traditionalist Christian exceptionalism/privilege" that has ripped societies, church bodies and whole cultures apart.  It continues down to this very day.

Homosexuality does not violate nor does it go against the natural Law.  It is supported by God's Natural Law as it is found in every living species on God's green earth.  The article in Queering the Church has some profound and applicable talking points.

Regardless of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, culture, language, economic status, health status, gender, skin color, religion etc, all of us are God's treasure and pearl.   God has created and redeemed all of us through God's precious, unconditional and all-inclusive love and grace. 

In God's net of God's reign there are fish of all kinds.

The image of the angels dividing the catch and throwing  the evil one's into the fire, is not an image of what God will do to LGBT individuals and families.  Our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are not in and of themselves morally good or bad. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are morally neutral.

What makes or breaks the issue of morality for LGBT people, is the same that applies to anyone else.

Do we use our sexual and/or gender diversity to show love, companionship, compassion and concern for other people?  Or are we just using our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression as an excuse to use or abuse others?   There are just as many if not more cases of straight people using their sexual orientation as a "privileged status" to excuse themselves for inappropriate and/or violent behavior towards others.

White/Caucasian people have used their skin color and cultural basis as a privilege to justify the violence of racism towards African/Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Indians, and Middle Eastern people for centuries.

Men have made use of their gender status to justify sexism towards women.  Male privilege is used to legislate women's health care, reproductive rights, public safety from rape, sexual assault, exploitation and domestic abuse. Often to the benefit of men, while women pay the highest expense.

The wealthy have made use of their status to bully politicians and whole governments to give them huge tax breaks, while middle class and low in come people suffer poverty and deprivation.

These and many others like them classify as the "evil" spoken by the Biblical prophets and Jesus.   At no point in time does Jesus condemn homosexuality.  Jesus does specifically condemn greed, poverty, and apathy towards the marginalized of society and the Church.

Christians for far too long have used literal interpretations of the Bible to justify supercessionism to suggest that Christians are privileged, and all other religions such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, even Athiests should be the subject of endless discrimination and oppression.

The extreme brutal violence in Norway this weekend is a clear example of radical Christianists presuming themselves to be privileged to the point that they can perpetrate such violence, and blame Muslims as the enemy.


All people are God's treasures and pearls.  The entire world and every religion are the work of God that begins small and grows into a greater more glorious wonder.

Let Christians and all people of good will, come together and say "Amen" and "Congratulations" to all the LGBT people who are married in New York and all around the world today.

Let us celebrate and glorify love.

Let us condemn and starve to death the violence, rhetoric and attitudes that give rise to the privileged benefiting at the expense of the underprivileged of the Church and society.

May we all learn to value each other as God's treasure and most precious pearls.

May we all love and respect each other as to be numbered among the good fish in God's reign.

In the Name of our God who is + Creator, Servant and Life-Giver.  Amen.


Prayers

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

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you;
  you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often  you weep over our sins and our pride,  
  tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds,
  in sickness you nurse us and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new life;
  by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
  through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead,
  your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us;
  in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness,
  for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.
(Canticle Q, A Song of Christ's Goodness, Anselm of Canterbury, Enriching our Worship, page 39).

Mary Magdelene: Faith, Assertiveness and Women In Ministry

Scriptural Basis

John 20:11-18 (NRSV)

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Blog Reflection

In 1994 I found myself working in a great congregational church of the United Church of Christ.  It was my final year of college.  I was also an arrogant 25 year old who thought I knew everything.  I had spent six years at Eastern Nazarene College and was considering converting to Roman Catholicism.  I was so interested in becoming a Catholic that I was willing to accept everything they taught without much question or second thought.  Including the Catholic churches rule about not ordaining women as Priests.  

While I was still working there the new administrative assistant who had been a life long Catholic started to talk to me about her disagreement with the Roman churches' rule about not ordaining women.  In her comment she said: "You know, women were some of Jesus' best friends.  Notice it was a woman who was first at the empty tomb of Jesus.  After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared first to a woman."

I struggled with that for many years, even after I became a Catholic.  It was not until Jason and I started attending St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in May of 2009 that my understanding of the importance of ordaining women to be not only Deacons and Priests, but also Bishops began to make sense.

Today the Episcopal Church commemorates that first woman who was the first to see Jesus after he rose from the dead.

Mary Magdelene had such great faith.

Mary Magdelene was an assertive woman.

Mary Magdelene reveals that the role of women in the ministry of the Church is more than "receptivity" and "submission" as many conservatives suggest. 

Rev. Susan Russell makes an interesting remark in her blog for the commemoration of Mary Magdelene.

It occurs to me that the same people who think they know what the Bible says about Mary Magdelene also think they know what the Bible says about Marriage Equality. I'm just sayin' ... 

I would add that the same people who think they know what the Bible says about Mary Magdelene and Marriage Equality, also think they know what the Bible says about the role of women.

In the movie For the Bible Tells Me So, a Jewish Rabbi makes the inescapable connection that the fear of LGBT people is also about the fear of women.

That fear has driven years of ignorance and the ideology that women in the Bible were to be subordinate to men.  Women were considered the "weaker" of the human species.  Many of the conservative's views of women that are also views about homosexuality, are about the idea of a man taking on the sexual role of what they understand the role of a woman to be.  This is a misconception and a misinterpreted.  Even today, humanity and Christianity still have yet to recover from the bad stigma towards women and LGBT people.

Mary Magdelene sought to serve Jesus during his life on earth.  She devoted her life to giving of the very best to Jesus.  Not because she was Jesus' property as women in the Biblical time were known as.  Mary Magdelene was assertive in her service of Jesus to the point that she would have a faith great enough to be the first to witness the resurrected Christ.

Mary Magdelene was assertive enough to follow Jesus' request to go to Jesus' disciples and tell them everything she saw and heard.  She did not allow the lack of faith of the disciples to steer her away from what she knew to be true.  Her devotion and desire was to proclaim Jesus' resurrection through her work and witness of how Christ had transformed her life.

Jesus' ministry to Mary Magdelene overturned the whole "dominant" and "submissive" idea and restored to her a sense of dignity and integrity as a woman of faith and ministry.  Her witness tells us that women and LGBT people have a vital role to play in the Church and society.

God calls each of us to be witnesses of the redeeming grace and love of God by accepting other people as they are.

In Jesus, our sins are forgiven.

Through Christ's sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection all have been restored to God's favor to be a dignified and prophetic people who call out injustice, prejudice and violence for what it is. 

God calls to each of us at the empty tomb and commissions us to rebuild this world, by working to end oppression and inequality.

Christians cannot remain silent or unconcerned about the severe famine in Somolia. 

Those who claim to be witnesses of Christ's resurrection might as well believe that Jesus is still dead if we do not talk about the horrible and violent rhetoric of Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association concerning LGBT people and other religions. 

We also need to talk about the violent and untrue rhetoric of Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council who has said that: "We are not in people's bedrooms.  Gay people have thrust their bedrooms in to the public square."

Followers of Jesus Christ should not allow ourselves to not be concerned about the measure that legislator's have gone this year to restrict or even stop reproductive health care programs for women.  Yet, no one has suggested that our laws should be stronger to protect women from domestic abuse, rape or sexual exploitation.

The equality of women in the work place is constantly up for a vote or part of a political campaign.  Women who speak up and take action are all too quickly silenced and/or ruled against because of male privilege.  Such was the case with the Supreme Court's decision this past June to deny class action law suits against Wal-Mart over equal rights for women.

The faith and assertiveness of Mary Magdelene tells us that the vocation of women is very important. Women have a crucial role to play in the ordained ministry of the Church.  Women live out their vocation in all of society as they remind us to respect each other as equal people.  Women rightfully call out men for our chauvinism.  That same chauvinism is as much connected to the equal rights of LGBT, people of other races, cultures, nations of origin, immigrants, etc as it is about women. 

May the Church and society as a whole continue to be sanctified by our Mother the Holy Spirit, to grow in our respect and appreciation for the role of women. 


Prayers

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 242).


God chose to be our mother in all things
   and so made the foundation of his work,
   most humbly and most pure, in the Virgin's womb.
God, the perfect wisdom of all,
   arrayed himself in this humble place,
Christ came in our poor flesh
   to share a mother's care.
Our mothers bear for us pain and for death;
   our true mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.
Christ carried us within him in love and travail,
   until the full time of his passion.
And when all was completed and he had carried us so for joy,
    still all this world could not satisfy the power of his wonderful love.
All that we owe is redeemed in truly loving God,
    for the love of Christ works in us;
    Christ is the one whom we love.
(Canticle R: A Song of True Motherhood, Enriching Our Worship 1, page 40)

Four Amazing Women Dedicated to Gender and Racial Justice

Scriptural Basis

Wisdom 7:24-28 (NRSV)

For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;

because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things.

For she is a breath of the power of God,

and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty;

therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.

For she 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.

Luke 11:5-10 (NRSV)
 

Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

Blog Reflection

The Episcopal Church commemorates four amazing women today.  Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  Amelia Bloomer.  Sojourner Truth. Harriet Ross Tubman

Each of these women were part of an incredible movement while they faced unspeakable oppression and discrimination.  They each played a role in the movement towards greater equality for women as well as the African American people who were subject to the brutality that came with biases that shame America. 

All of these women were devout Christians with deep devotion to Christ and the Scriptures.  Yet, they were also full of bravery and had incredible fortitude so as to be part of the work towards better days.

The reading from Wisdom appointed for today's commemoration refers to wisdom as "mobile," "pure," and as the "breath of God."   Wisdom which is regarded as a feminine quality of God, "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."

Wisdom can see the truth of what is taking place and is willing to take on some kind of role to do the right thing.

These four women saw the oppression of themselves, other women and African Americans for what it was.  Because of the wisdom that Stanton, Bloomer, Truth, and Tubman had they were able to work through the difficulties of their oppression and use their experiences to better others who were victims of injustice and prejudice.  They were not afraid to face the challenges they had around and before them, to do what was right.

Our commemoration along with the reading from Wisdom and Luke are challenges to all of us to seek out the wisdom of God and to lend a helping hand to better the situation around us for ourselves and for others.  The reflection from all that we are reading and considering today is a profound way to look at our movement for justice, equality and inclusion of all marginalized persons in the Church and society.

Those who are experiencing oppression, discrimination and violence are often the best at seeing things as they are.  They are also really great at finding ways to work our way out of what is happening.

I am encouraged by the news that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has been getting hearings in the United States Senate today.  Those who have been experiencing prejudice because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression by not being able to marry the person we love because of DOMA are given the opportunity make our stories heard.  Our stories and struggles do have the possibility of affecting change for those of us who continue to thrive and strive during very difficult circumstances. 

In these hearings those who have recorded testimony and are giving witness before the Senate are able to relate the real live stories of what is happening to LGBT individuals and families nation wide.  LGBT families of couples in which one partner has alzheimer's disease while all the other partner wants to be able to do is take care of his ill partner without some foolish law standing in their way.

We also continue to see racial injustice through many individuals who just hate the idea that an African American is the President of the United States are determined to see that he fails.  In addition, several GOP House members are objecting to African American Farmers receiving the money they have been legally granted by a court settlement.  Such objections are based on racial injustice masked as "priorities" for others.

Over these many months of political mud slinging the numerous attacks on reproductive health care for women only demonstrates that gender bias is not a dead matter in our society.

The readings from Wisdom and Luke call on all of us to seek out the better part of who God is.  God is not a psycho path that is getting angrier that God might send record breaking floods, earthquakes or tornadoes. 

God is about compassion, justice, love and inclusion.  God confirms the goodness of all individuals whom God has created.  God does not wish injustice, violence or oppression for any person.  God has confirmed all people as being good by sending Jesus to take on our woundedness and sin, to free us and empower us as God's holy people.

As we commemorate these amazing women, let us also see things around us for what they are.  May we all be willing to lend a helping hand and a loving embrace to all who experience oppression and violence.  May we be the answer to someone's prayer for help.  May we be open to those who come to help us as God's answer to our own prayers.  

Most importantly, it is important to realize that none of us are totally there.  We all have work to be done.  We are all in need of someone to listen to, understand us and help us get to the next plateau of life.

Prayers

O God, whose Spirit guides us into all truth and makes us free: Strengthen and sustain us as you did your servants Elizabeth, Amelia, Sojourner, and Harriet. Give us vision and courage to stand against oppression and injustice and all that works against the glorious liberty to which you call all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 477).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, page 827).

The Mission of Hospitality and Reconciliation: Christ's Actual Invitation and Commission

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 11:27-30

Jesus said, "All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Blog Reflection

Wow!

Now don't you wish that every Christian community would make this invitation?

Would the Church be a much more welcoming and healing environment if Christians would abandon all of our arguments about dogma and rules and committees and just repeat Jesus' words "come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest"?

So many in our world today are burdened with poverty, oppression, no place or person to trust.  There is so much violence, mean spirited rhetoric towards women, LGBT, people of different races, classes, cultures, religions, languages, abilities and challenges. 

The founder of the Christian Faith does not call Parish Vestries to come together to argue about the color of the new carpet in the Rector's office.  Or the local Standing Committee to disregard a candidate's sexual orientation as a reason to not ordain her/him.  Nor does Jesus who calls LGBT people who are weary and carrying heavy burdens to a Church only to find Bishops who won't allow them to marry in their dioceses'. See the article in the NY Times today, to understand my reference. 

Jesus invites all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens to come to God in prayer, with all our wounds and burdens, and painful memories to find rest in God's generous grace.  In Jesus there is someone to confide in.  Jesus wants us to come to God with our anger at the fact that our legislators and President cannot come to an agreement about the national debt ceiling, that will affect the poor, disabled and elderly the hardest.   Jesus wants us to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit about all the hateful rhetoric towards African Americans, Muslims, women and LGBT people.   Jesus invites us who are burdened with sorrow for our own sinfulness, hate and desire for command and control, that is willing to corrupt and maneuver around everyone else to get what we want, to come to God and find an opportunity for healing and wholeness.

God's invitation to us does not end with finding rest for our weary and burdened lives.  Jesus invites us to learn from the example of his own life.  Jesus invites us to see that God seeks out those who are marginalized and broken by bias and political corruption.  God calls on us to learn from Jesus and be missionaries of hospitality and reconciliation for others who are weary and heavy burdened, so that they too may find rest. 

Just as God accepts all of us in our weariness and burdens, so we must also be open to others who are wearied and burdened.  As God in Jesus has sought out all of us and received us with God's compassionate and holy embrace and merciful healing.  So we too, need to be open to God's grace working in and through us to heal and embrace those who are experiencing oppression and violence, so that the too can find some peace.

Though I cannot write as much about Macrina as I wish I could, I can say that I do believe that her life was an example of trying to make a better world for others around her.   Her faith was such that she was willing to let go of as much as she could, only to be able to serve others who were truly without the means to care for themselves.   Even if it meant confronting individuals who thought they had their act together.  Marcina was willing to confront even Basil to help him know where he was steering in the wrong direction.  

The Church has existed all these years, with imperfect people guiding it.  Those leading the Church like any other institution, need to be reminded and reminded often that they too are in need of healing, reconciliation and conversion to better understand and carry out the mission Christ has called the Church to do.

May Christians be good examples of Christ's invitation to all who are weary and have heavy burdens.  May we all be open to learning more and more from Christ who has redeemed us for God's plan in our lives and in our world.  May the Holy Spirit guide the Church and all Christians in the work of hospitality and reconciliation for the sake of all who are weary and carry heavy burdens.

Prayers

Merciful God, you called your servant Macrina to reveal in her life and her teaching the riches of your grace and truth: May we, following her example, seek after your wisdom and live according to her way; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 471).

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. (A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: The Weeds Known By the Name Ex-Gay Groups

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 (NRSV)

Jesus put before the crowd another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, `Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' He answered, `An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he replied, `No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!"

Blog Reflection


The subject of ex-gay groups have been all over the news these past two weeks.  

On Friday, July 8th, Truth Wins Out put out a press release about the clinic operated by Marcus Bachmann.  Marcus Bachmann is married to Michele Bachmann who is the representative of Minnesota's 8th Congressional District and also a Presidential Candidate for the 2012 election. 

In the press release Truth Wins Out (TWO) revealed that they had sent John Becker an undercover staff member to receive counseling services from a so-called therapist at Bachmann's clinic. During the session, it became very clear that the counselor was performing reparative and/or ex-gay "therapy" with Becker.  The counselor attempted  to "change" John Becker's sexual orientation.  The "therapists" methods were not based on any scientific fact. The work that the "therapist" did was based on the illogical and harmful work of the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).  During the "therapy" sessions, the counselor referred to his perception of how God creates a man to be attracted to women, not other men. 

Being an ex-gay survivor myself, watching the clips via the news media this past week brought back some memories.  I remember the days of being involved with the Catholic church's ex-gay group Courage, that was started in the 1980's by the Late Cardinal Cook. I remembered the first time the Courage Chaplain told me that God created me as a straight man, but that I have a "problem" known as "same-sex attraction (SSA)."   A problem that was most likely brought about because of my father who was emotionally and psychologically abusive.  There were various reasons mentioned for what my "problem" was. 

As I have listened to the rhetoric this week, including AFA's Brian Fischer remark that the Bachmann's are the "victims of a hate crime, because of their heterosexual orientation," I became very disturbed. Even with the research of the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association of  reparative/ex-gay therapy which is done at Bachmann's clinic.

Reparative/ex-gay therapy is based on ignorance that plays into fear that creates and nurtures  horrible atmosphere around individuals and whole communities based on our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.

In the Gospel today, Jesus tells the parable of the weeds and the wheat. In the explanation of the parable Jesus states that he is the sower of the good seed and that the sower of the wheat is the evil one. He describes the weeds as good only for burning.

What frightening imagery!

What is also fearful about the wheat and weeds imagery is how often it is used by preachers and even ex-gay "therapists" to scare LGBT and questioning individuals from youth to adulthood, into believing that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are "weeds" that are ruining the good seed that God has sowed with in them.  This imagery along with the interpretation and application are all misplaced and incorrect.

As I have written in many blogs, sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are linked to the soul of our being. They are part of how God has created each individual person. From that soul comes a person's ability to love other people. Not only physically and sexually, but also completely whole-heartedly. An individual who is LGBT cannot love another person physical, sexual or platonic as a straight person or as a person who is not transgender. The very soul from which a person loves another person in all facets of her or his being is a product of that "good seed" sown by God with in every individual regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. 

Reparative/ex-gay therapy, along with it's misinterpretation of Scripture, spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse are weeds within the Christian community that are only good for one thing. 

Burning! 

Why?  Because they are harmful to individuals as well as to whole communities of good people.  Good people who are who we are, love as we love and only desire to do so without some reparative/ex-gay guru attempting something that is unnatural and lethal to what God has so freely and lovingly created. 

What should have been included in today's Psalm is 139: 14: "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works, that I know very well."

Fearfully (the word should be lovingly) and wonderfully made are all God's people. Individually and communally. We are all created by the beauty and wonder of God's holy love. We are all created with God's love as our origin and destiny. God knows each of us, before we know ourselves. God the Holy Spirit who took part in our creation has given to each person something unique, powerful, wonderful and designed for  holiness of heart, mind and life. One of those parts of each human person that is unique, powerful, wonderful and designed for holiness of heart, mind and life is our bodies ability to love and be loved by another person and to respond to giving and receiving that love, as if we were never closer to God in any other given moment.

An individuals sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression that is part of every human beings soul, is Sacred Space.  It is a place that no individual, counselor, pope, bishop, priest, deacon, minister, lay person, individual other than God and one's soul mate has any business violating or attempting to alter for their own purpose or pleasure. 

Such is the danger of reparative/ex-gay therapy.  Such an invasion and molestation of one's soul cannot be understood as something holy or Christ commissioned. Reparative/ex-gay therapy is a "weed" that seeks to destroy the goodness of the seed that God has planted in each LGBT person, family and/or couple.  It is the same good seed that exists in heterosexual individuals and/or individuals who are born of one gender and stay that way their entire life.  How a woman or man loves another person, same-sex or opposite-sex is part of that Sacred Space where God dwells and calls each individual by her/his name and is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Progressive Christians and all individuals of good will, need to consider very carefully the news we have heard this week. There is the temptation to make religion as the culprit. As badly as religion is manipulated and abused for the work of reparative/ex-gay therapy, it is just that. A manipulated and abused use of religion to invite fear, prejudice and violence of a very severe nature. It is a capitalistic industry that needs to be starved to death and allowed to die. It does not serve a good purpose. It is destructive. Worst of all, it distorts and disdains the Name and reputation of the God of unconditional and all-inclusive love.

I hope everyone will commit themselves to telling the truth about reparative/ex-gay groups. I also hope that many others will take the information we heard this week seriously enough to give the collective response that this kind of abusive and intrusive "therapy" must be protested and discontinued. 

May God the Holy Spirit with her grace of conversion and healing lead us all to become effective missionaries in this important endeavor.


Prayers

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 11, Book of Common Prayer, page 231).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).

O God 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 you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 819).

Called by Jesus to Justice and Equality. Not Dominionism.

Scriptural Basis


Mark 3: 7- 19a (NRSV)

Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush hi for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

Blog Reflection

In his book: "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism" Bishop John Shelby Spong says of Mark the Evangelist: 

"[Mark]...grasped neither the great philosophical thought processes of his day nor the nuances that lay behind the popular mythology.  He simply accepted the street version of this mythology without question.  He shared without demurrer in the popular conclusions of that time regarding not only demons but also certainty that the earth was flat, the conviction that God dwelt just about the blue canopy of the sky, adn that the sun rose and set as it circled the earth.  The earth, for Mark, was not just the center of the universe, it was also the extent of all that God had made.  To the author Mark there was no reality beyond that which could be seen, and thus no explanations were necessary beyond the supernatural one that explained quite adequately for that time and place what a pre-scientific world could readily observe." (Page 130).

One of the greatest tragedies of Christianity is what Rev. Canon Gray Temple calls "supercessionism" in his book Gay Unions: In Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason.  The idea that all world thought, religions, morality, world governments etc must supercede into how Christianity defines it.  

The problem with this ideology is what version of Christianity gets to define what?


This past week I came across a blog post in Right Wing Watch.  The article is about Texas Governor Rick Perry who is putting together a prayer gathering.   Among the groups with which he is teaming up with is The Southern Poverty Law Center's Designated Anti-Gay Group: The American Family Association and others who have become part of a movement called The Dominionists.

Among the positions of The Dominionists is that "only Christians have the authority and power to govern in the United States." And among the many so called "rights" that Dominionists have is the right to remove even by violence if necessary anyone who does not reflect their understanding of Christianity.

This kind of thing is the problem that results if people read the Bible in particular a Gospel narrative such as the one from Mark for today's Daily Office without doing some research and critical thinking about what is actually happening in that reading..


If we read today's Gospel at face value and with a literal interpretation it may very well sound as if Jesus is organizing the Apostles to carry out the mission of dismissing demons.  Demons as the Christian Church might decide are destroying the Apostles definition of what is right in terms of the family, sexuality, women, governmental organization and so on.   

Quite frankly, this is the approach that the Dominionists who also call themselves "The New Apostles" are taking in an attempt to scare Christians into believing that everything President Barack Obama and all liberal Christians and other religions might be attempting to do in American politics. 


This kind of organizing is very dangerous in and of itself.  


This does not reflect the kind of actions that brought about Jesus' calling and naming the Apostles in today's Gospel.  That is why "The New Apostles" and "The Dominionists" are missing the mark and creating a "brand" of Christianity, that all Christians should be very concerned and skeptical about.


This criticism is no "religious discrimination."  The criticisms I offer in my blog today are coming from the dangerous roads on which Christianists over the years have been taking the Christian religion.


The results are not only creating a faith made of fear and false understandings of the Bible.  They give the Christian religion and Jesus Christ a bad name.  That needs to be a real concern of all who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ as the Name above all Names, who is the compassionate and merciful Savior.


When Jesus calls the Apostles and names them, he is calling them to be a "companion" of the Lord (Philip Van Linden, C. M. Collegeville Bible Commentary, New Testament Volume, page 911).  The term "disciple" according to Van Linden, also means "learner".   "..and to learn from him it is necessary to be with him." 


"A second part of discipleship is located in the meaning of "being named" by Jesus. (page 912).   Van Linden goes on to refer to God's naming of things in Genesis in the creation story.


Part of being with someone is so that we may learn from that person's example.  The Apostles were named so as to reflect their companionship with Jesus who was teaching from his example and commanding them to do likewise.


As we see through out the Gospel narratives Jesus shows forth God's generous and extravagant love as the poor, the sick, the marginalized and those left behind are brought to the center and given their justice and dignity.  The work of Jesus is not based on a popularity contest.  Nor is the mission of Jesus defined on singling out one group of people to be pivoted against another.  It is also not a matter of claiming a domination of one religion over another.  We would understand the whole work of Jesus better and more accurately if we pay careful attention to not only what Jesus is saying, but also on what Jesus is doing.  Jesus is running from the whole idea of domination and submission as fast as he can.  Jesus came to rescue humanity from the idea that one person, group etc dominates while another is subjugated.  


The evil that Jesus calls the Apostles by name to "cast out" is an all out hatred defined by religious, social and political oppression and violence.  At no time during Jesus' ministry did he ever demand that an individual person be "converted" to his own religion.  Jesus did call people to a repentance of heart and life.  A repentance of the desire to subjugate women, LGBT, the sick, the poor, the immigrant, the Native American, the Muslims, the Jews and others based on religious, social and political bias.  


The problem with the philosophies and maneuvering of The Dominionists and the New Apostles is that they want to push individuals through fear, prejudice and violence masked as Evangelism, as a cult.  Making Christianity into an excuse to scapegoat and destroy what they do not agree with.  This is not the mission Jesus is naming the Apostles to in our Gospel today.  This is a proselytizing through coercion, spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse.

I implore all Christians, non-Christians, Atheists and people of good will to work together to call the Dominionists and The New Apostles out for their reckless work of injustice and spiritual violence.   We need to respond to these individuals and groups respectfully and peacefully and take the wind out of their sails here and now.  

Let us write our State, Federal and local Governments to keep in mind that the United States has a separation of Church and State for this very reason.  The United States was not formed to be a theocracy, but a democracy.  Let us state very clearly that we cannot tolerate nor give too much leverage to a group that proposes making America into a country of religious bandits and peace stealing people.  


As Christians, let us all recommit ourselves to the true teachings of our Founder.  Let us pray and ask God the Holy Spirit to guide all of us "into all truth" and to work for peace, justice and equality for all.  Amen.


Prayers

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and may also have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 10, Book of Common Prayer, page 231).

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, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).