Proverbs 2: 1-9 (NRSV)
- My child, if you accept my words
- and treasure up my commandments within you,
- making your ear attentive to wisdom
- and inclining your heart to understanding;
- if you indeed cry out for insight,
- and raise your voice for understanding;
- if you seek it like silver,
- and search for it as for hidden treasures--
- then you will understand the fear of the LORD
- and find the knowledge of God.
- For the LORD gives wisdom;
- from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
- he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
- he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,
- guarding the paths of justice
- and preserving the way of his faithful ones.
- Then you will understand righteousness and justice
- and equity, every good path;
Luke 14: 27-33 (NRSV)
Jesus said to the crowd, "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."
Blog Reflection
"Actions speak louder than words." That is probably the most common of all phrases used in any number of discussions. Sadly, the point of the phrase is so often neglected as much if not more than it is admired.
St. Benedict's Rule begins with the word: "Listen." Do not just listen with the ears on your head, but St. Benedict in his prologue talks of "listening with the ears of your heart."
I am guessing that St. Benedict most likely got that idea from the writer of Proverbs who wrote: "....making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver, and search for it as hidden treasures--then you will understand the fear (substitute this word for "ways" a much better word) of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2: 2-5). The writer ends with verse 9: "Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path..."
The listening Proverbs and St. Benedict refers to is not a passive kind of conversation, but one that is quite active and willing to participate in the work of God within the context of a community of people living together.
Though St. Benedict's words and ideas were originally meant for monasteries, they are very applicable to living in the communities with which we find ourselves. Whether those communities are our neighborhoods, work places, governments, communities of activists working for justice and inclusion, religious and parish communities. St. Benedict's Rule based on the Scriptures are a great way to inform our tradition and reason so as to be open to the working of the Holy Spirit as She "guides us into all truth." (Jn.16:13).
Christians are really good at praying for an open heart and mind to the Holy Spirit, but we are not terribly good at being ready to go with that change when the Advocate begins that process of change. St. Benedict knew all about that. That is why the two foundational principles of St. Benedict's Spirituality which often gets lost because of over emphasis on prayer and work, are searching for God and prefer nothing whatsoever to the love of Christ.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with States, Cities, church communities and so forth passing laws and ceremonies that allow and celebrate marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. That kind of movement IS a movement of God's Spirit at work in our world.
Christianist and arch-conservative Catholic/Anglican/Episcopal/Lutheran groups reject marriage equality, because it causes them to lose the comfort zones they have developed with thinking they know the mind of God the best. They just cannot reach within themselves and see past their erroneous understandings of Scripture, marriage, homosexuality, and the whole Christian meaning. They also cannot see how their violent rhetoric that encourages homophobia from heterosexism feeds the most reckless and perverse kind of rejection of the very nature of who God is or what God is about.
Bishop Mark Beckwith of New Jersey wrote in his blog entitled For Gates of Hope an entry about "Marriage Equality in New York."
I rejoice with our New York neighbors on the passage of a state law that will make it legal for gay and lesbian couples to marry. I ache for gay and lesbian couples in New Jersey, which came very close two years ago to passing similar legislation. By a close vote New Jersey chose to stick with civil unions -- which is a separate but unequal provision if there ever was one.
What the country is learning, slowly but inexorably, is that marriage for gay and lesbian couples and families strengthens marriage for all couples and families. Relationships marked by fidelity and life-long commitment, and which are protected by law -- as well as blessed by the church, weaves yet another important and necessary thread of support into the social fabric.
Same-gender marriage also exposes the inequity of so-called "traditional" marriage, in which a wedding ceremony was in large measure a contract between two men -- the groom and the father of the bride. When the father of the bride "gave away" his daughter, she surrendered her name, her property and her legal status -- to her husband. With the evolution of marriage -- and particularly with the advent of same-gender marriage, the only surrendering is that of two people giving their love and commitment to each other.
My hope and prayer is that the action in New York will serve as a catalyst for providing the same outcome in New Jersey. Many in the Garden State will redouble their efforts to promote marriage equality. I will join them.
I am reminded by an insight made some sixty years ago by Reinhold Niebuhr, a remarkable theologian who in many ways served as our culture's post-war conscience: the human capacity for justice makes democracy possible; and the human capacity for injustice makes democracy necessary.
I hope and pray for the continued unfolding of democracy, the evolution of marriage -- and the freedom and equality that are the hallmarks of each.
St. Benedict's many contributions to the mission of Christians includes his focus on the ministry of radical hospitality and reconciliation.
Hospitality and reconciliation involves a serious degree of "listening with the ears of the heart." Not just a listening to terrific speeches or reading blog entries. But an actual conversion of heart that moves us from listening to action.
The move from so called "traditional marriage" to marriage equality for all in the Church and society is a move that requires the utmost radical hospitality and reconciliation. The change requires us to face up to the possibility that most of what we have learned about the Scriptures, the Church, human sexuality, gender identity/expression etc has been incorrect. It will obligate all Christians to listen to not only the Scriptures and the many flawed traditions in Church history, but also pay attention to reason that listens and becomes actively involved in the real life experiences of "those people." The Church and society can no longer just brush LGBT people aside and pretend that we are that "other" that can just be picked on and violated with no thought or care with what they have been doing. Hospitality and reconciliation will mean that Christians become welcoming towards LGBT and committing ourselves to healing and strengthening the relationships that have wounded LGBT people and religious, political and social communities for centuries.
In the Rule of St. Benedict chapter 73 he writes: "Let all guests be received as Christ himself." Benedict here calls for a hospitality so radical that there is no guest who is not important. Each guest is seen as Jesus coming to stay. Jesus comes, gets his feet washed and then takes his place with the community to find peace, prayer, as well as food, someone to talk to and to find his/her way back to peach with God and the communities around her/him without being exploited and/or violated.
In the end, this is all LGBT and so many other individuals still marginalized by the Church and society are seeking. That is why the recognition of marriage equality for all people with all the same rights, opportunities, rewards and responsibilities is the right thing to do.
In these difficult times justice, equality and inclusion of LGBT people is as much an example of the ministry of radical hospitality and reconciliation as we could hope for. It is time for Christians to stop taking the position of rejection, hate and violence towards LGBT people and so many more in positions like theirs.
Listening to the Holy Spirit and being attentive to the knowledge of all God teaches us in these things, will lead us to understanding what is right, with justice and equality along every good path. Amen.
Prayers
Almighty and everlasting God, your precepts are the wisdom of a loving Father: Give us grace, following the teaching and example of your servant Benedict, to walk with loving and willing hearts in the school of the Lord's service; let your ears be open to our prayers; and prosper with your blessing the work of our hands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Benedict, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 457).
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).
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).
Holy and Compassionate God,
bless with your abiding presence and sensitive, loving and faithful friends,
those whose loneliness is deep and dark
by virtue of their being misunderstood and rejected.
Knowing that the issue of sexual identity too easily leads
to hasty prejudices of others and sorrowful self-judgment,
in the name and power of your Son Jesus,
who had unusual and unconditional love
for those often ostracized and moved
to the margins of the culture of his time,
bring your refreshing and healing Spirit
to those persons whose souls and hearts
have embraced your saving grace
but find your church and society unkind and demeaning.
And help us to keep reminding them
that they are dearly loved by us and by you. Amen.
(A Prayer for Those Who Find Themselves Lonely and Misunderstood. --Arthur Jones, Editor of NCR).
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