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).
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