Today's Scripture Readings
Isaiah 40: 1-11 (NRSV)
Psalm 85 (Coverdale, Book of Common Prayer)
2 Peter 3: 8-15a (NRSV)
Mark 1: 1-8 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
When ever I read the first verses from today's Hebrew Scriptures: "Comfort, O Comfort my people..." I am brought back to the days when I sang in Eastern Nazarene College's Choral Union for Messiah. The recitative "Comfort, Ye" sung by a qualified tenor soloist echoes a calm yet commanding sense of God wishing comfort on God's people.
The reading from Isaiah 40 is "The first part of Second Isaiah takes the good news that the Exile is at an end as the occasion to contrast Israel and Babylon and their respective gods." (John J. Collins, Collegeville Bible Commentary, Old Testament Volume, page 437). The reading tends to give the impression that the Exile was God's punishment for the sins of the entire community. And now, that "iniquity is pardoned."
What is not conveyed in the reading is that the people are returning to their own land that still lays in ruin. And later Biblical texts tell us that Israel saw their land ravaged again and again. Yet, here is the Prophet suggesting "comfort."
Ask any lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer person that has been rhetorically and/or literally kicked in the chest by people who claim to be devoutly religious, and their response to "Comfort, Ye" might well be something I cannot write in words here. LGBT people are regularly told by many religious individuals/organizations, some well-meaning others very ill-meaning that we cannot be in a personal relationship with God unless they "repent" of our morally neutral sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. Others tell us we can be LGBT, but do not exercise it sexually, remain celibate, then you can enjoy friendship with God.
The prophesy from Isaiah tells everyone from those who are still shaken by what has happened to them, to others still wondering about the security of their future, that God wants us to be comforted by knowing that we are received and loved, just as we are. God's words are not like the grass that withers and becomes faded by our prejudices. God "shows no partiality" (Mt. 22:16). It is part of God's nature to forgive us when we sin or fail to live up to God's will in our lives. God is not a psychopath waiting to destroy or refuse.
The words "make straight in the desert a highway for our God" found in the reading from Hebrew Scriptures and "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths" in the Gospel reading from Mark, troubles me quite a bit. I for one, am not straight. So, does that mean that because I cannot become straight, does that mean I am not preparing for the coming of the Lord?
The answer from Scripture to that question is no. I can be part of preparing the way for God, just as I am.
Preparing the way for God to come into our world and our lives, individually and collectively is not a matter of "being" anything. It is about taking what we have, as it is and making it work to give ourselves and others a vision of God that is unobstructed. That in and of itself is a task that is not simple. Every persons vision of God is different. Our experiences of God are unique. Just as our relationship with God from one person to another is never quite the same.
There is a way of the Lord that can be prepared for. It does not involve changing the essence of who a person is. It does involve how we see our role in our relationship with God and with others so that they may see the loving and merciful God in and through ourselves.
When LGBT people have a healthy view of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression and love people genuinely and sacrificially, God does reveal God's Self through LGBT people. Even when Christianists and anti-LGBT groups think and say otherwise.
To "repent" and receive the Holy Spirit that Jesus brings, is to see ourselves as we are, and placing ourselves at the service of God through others. Repenting for LGBT people, means leaving the anti-self messages that we are given through Christianist individuals and organizations that continue to stigmatize us and live our lives according to the Gospel.
Serving our communities through local HIV/AIDS projects, food shelves, collecting clothing for needy people, working with other church groups and agencies that literally serve every one without distinction, is a way by which we prepare the way of the Lord.
Participation in the cause for marriage equality, working to end bullying for LGBT teens and others perceived as such, and seeking equality in jobs, financial assistance, public assistance etc, is participating in helping the Church and society repent of creating atmospheres of bias and violence.
When we speak out and act to end gender violence towards women and transgender people, working for equality including laws that protect their rights and/or include their rights, we are the voice of John the Baptist in our time, calling for repentance.
We live in a time where individuals because of their religion, ethnic background and/or behavior are targeted for profiling, discrimination and potential loss of their personal freedoms. When we speak out and write our officials for immigration reform, and to leave the Muslims and Jews alone, we are preparing a place for God to be present with all human persons.
The times we live in do not necessarily provide a message of comfort for many individuals who have lost their homes through bad mortgage deals. Jobs lost because jobs have left the shores of our country and gone over seas. Students are graduating from colleges and universities so very in debt, and are unable to find full time work. The middle class continue to see the quality of life going down, while the independently wealthy continue to gain substantially increased wealth.
When Christians of all persuasions, and people of good will every where, speak out and call for a better life for everyone, such as the Occupy Movements are doing, the way for the Lord is being made.
We all have the opportunity to make a way for God to be present in our own lives and in our communities. Even if our highway is anything but straight. The highway that we are impressed upon to pursue is one by which there is inclusion, justice and equality with no exceptions. Each individual has a role to play in making this happen, regardless of who they are, who or if they worship anyone or thing at all, and who we love.
It is past time for the Church of Jesus Christ to be about the work of making a pathway for God, by which anyone and everyone can become a participant.
Prayers
Isaiah 40: 1-11 (NRSV)
Psalm 85 (Coverdale, Book of Common Prayer)
2 Peter 3: 8-15a (NRSV)
Mark 1: 1-8 (NRSV)
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
- "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
- who will prepare your way;
- the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
- `Prepare the way of the Lord,
- make his paths straight,'"
Blog Reflection
When ever I read the first verses from today's Hebrew Scriptures: "Comfort, O Comfort my people..." I am brought back to the days when I sang in Eastern Nazarene College's Choral Union for Messiah. The recitative "Comfort, Ye" sung by a qualified tenor soloist echoes a calm yet commanding sense of God wishing comfort on God's people.
The reading from Isaiah 40 is "The first part of Second Isaiah takes the good news that the Exile is at an end as the occasion to contrast Israel and Babylon and their respective gods." (John J. Collins, Collegeville Bible Commentary, Old Testament Volume, page 437). The reading tends to give the impression that the Exile was God's punishment for the sins of the entire community. And now, that "iniquity is pardoned."
What is not conveyed in the reading is that the people are returning to their own land that still lays in ruin. And later Biblical texts tell us that Israel saw their land ravaged again and again. Yet, here is the Prophet suggesting "comfort."
Ask any lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer person that has been rhetorically and/or literally kicked in the chest by people who claim to be devoutly religious, and their response to "Comfort, Ye" might well be something I cannot write in words here. LGBT people are regularly told by many religious individuals/organizations, some well-meaning others very ill-meaning that we cannot be in a personal relationship with God unless they "repent" of our morally neutral sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. Others tell us we can be LGBT, but do not exercise it sexually, remain celibate, then you can enjoy friendship with God.
The prophesy from Isaiah tells everyone from those who are still shaken by what has happened to them, to others still wondering about the security of their future, that God wants us to be comforted by knowing that we are received and loved, just as we are. God's words are not like the grass that withers and becomes faded by our prejudices. God "shows no partiality" (Mt. 22:16). It is part of God's nature to forgive us when we sin or fail to live up to God's will in our lives. God is not a psychopath waiting to destroy or refuse.
The words "make straight in the desert a highway for our God" found in the reading from Hebrew Scriptures and "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths" in the Gospel reading from Mark, troubles me quite a bit. I for one, am not straight. So, does that mean that because I cannot become straight, does that mean I am not preparing for the coming of the Lord?
The answer from Scripture to that question is no. I can be part of preparing the way for God, just as I am.
Preparing the way for God to come into our world and our lives, individually and collectively is not a matter of "being" anything. It is about taking what we have, as it is and making it work to give ourselves and others a vision of God that is unobstructed. That in and of itself is a task that is not simple. Every persons vision of God is different. Our experiences of God are unique. Just as our relationship with God from one person to another is never quite the same.
There is a way of the Lord that can be prepared for. It does not involve changing the essence of who a person is. It does involve how we see our role in our relationship with God and with others so that they may see the loving and merciful God in and through ourselves.
When LGBT people have a healthy view of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression and love people genuinely and sacrificially, God does reveal God's Self through LGBT people. Even when Christianists and anti-LGBT groups think and say otherwise.
To "repent" and receive the Holy Spirit that Jesus brings, is to see ourselves as we are, and placing ourselves at the service of God through others. Repenting for LGBT people, means leaving the anti-self messages that we are given through Christianist individuals and organizations that continue to stigmatize us and live our lives according to the Gospel.
Serving our communities through local HIV/AIDS projects, food shelves, collecting clothing for needy people, working with other church groups and agencies that literally serve every one without distinction, is a way by which we prepare the way of the Lord.
Participation in the cause for marriage equality, working to end bullying for LGBT teens and others perceived as such, and seeking equality in jobs, financial assistance, public assistance etc, is participating in helping the Church and society repent of creating atmospheres of bias and violence.
When we speak out and act to end gender violence towards women and transgender people, working for equality including laws that protect their rights and/or include their rights, we are the voice of John the Baptist in our time, calling for repentance.
We live in a time where individuals because of their religion, ethnic background and/or behavior are targeted for profiling, discrimination and potential loss of their personal freedoms. When we speak out and write our officials for immigration reform, and to leave the Muslims and Jews alone, we are preparing a place for God to be present with all human persons.
The times we live in do not necessarily provide a message of comfort for many individuals who have lost their homes through bad mortgage deals. Jobs lost because jobs have left the shores of our country and gone over seas. Students are graduating from colleges and universities so very in debt, and are unable to find full time work. The middle class continue to see the quality of life going down, while the independently wealthy continue to gain substantially increased wealth.
When Christians of all persuasions, and people of good will every where, speak out and call for a better life for everyone, such as the Occupy Movements are doing, the way for the Lord is being made.
We all have the opportunity to make a way for God to be present in our own lives and in our communities. Even if our highway is anything but straight. The highway that we are impressed upon to pursue is one by which there is inclusion, justice and equality with no exceptions. Each individual has a role to play in making this happen, regardless of who they are, who or if they worship anyone or thing at all, and who we love.
It is past time for the Church of Jesus Christ to be about the work of making a pathway for God, by which anyone and everyone can become a participant.
Prayers
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).
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).
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. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, page 823),
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