Today's Scripture Readings
Luke 12:35-37,42-44 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
Let me say at the beginning of this entry that I do love orthodox theology. I really do. The rich theology that has brought us the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the Liturgy is a true delight of mine. In a conversation in which orthodoxy is being unfairly ridiculed, I tend to side with orthodoxy. On the other hand, when orthodoxy is being used as an excuse for exclusivity and that Christianity is celebrated as a religion of "triumphalism" and "supersessionism" I am still very orthodox when I respectfully disagree.
St. Ambrose of Milan was a great philosopher and theologian in the time of the great Arian controversy. As an Oblate of St. Benedict, many of the great hymns that support belief in the Trinity that are used in Morning and Evening Prayer were composed by St. Ambrose. One of the great Advent hymns found in the Hymnal 1982, number 55 was written by Ambrose between 340 and 397 and translated by Charles P. Price who was born in 1920.
I will not write anything here that would suggest that Ambrose defense of all that is Christian is anything less than. Yet, even the greatest Saints in Church history had their faults. "If anti-Semitism were not a Christian virtue, Ambrose of Milan would not be a Christian Saint" (Gray Temple, Gay Unions In the Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason, page107). Anti-Semetism as well as any notion that Christians, men, heterosexual people, Caucasian individuals are exceptional and therefore privileged is anything but a Christian virtue.
This is why I do enjoy Episcopal theologians such as Bishop John Shelby Spong who are not afraid to turn orthodoxy on its back, pick it apart and put it back together again with a renewed understanding.
Jesus calls on those who follow him to "Be dressed for actions and keep your lights lit... so there may be an open door for when the master returns." This is a call for Christians to prepare that way for Jesus, by keeping our minds and hearts open for Christ to come and convert ourselves, our culture, the Church and society. As many affirming Christians work for the inclusion of LGBT people and challenge our LGBT communities that not all Christians are anti-LGBT, it is a call and opportunity for orthodoxy to keep its lamps lit and welcome the Master in new and wonderful ways.
I find it a very poor use of orthodoxy and even the word "traditionalists" when they are used to suggest that Christianist imperialism is somehow a good thing for the Church and the world.
Yesterday, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton gave an outstanding speech about the United States doctrine of LGBT rights on a world wide global scale. It was a reflection of the wishes of the Obama Administration to call for universal equality for LGBT people all over the world. It was a welcome and timely message.
Already today Christianist individuals such as Pat Robertson of the 700 Club and Peter Spriggs of the Family Research Council along with Matt Barber and Tony Perkins have been slamming Obama. Peter Spriggs outright accused Obama of "fanatical cultural imperialism."
While the United States is not completely innocent of spreading our own imperialism, calling for a world that is more accepting of LGBT people is an effort to move away from the imperialism of heterosexism.
The orthodoxy that makes the Christian religion is exactly why we must work for a more inclusive world and Church that seeks equality and justice for all marginalized persons. Our faith is not about encouraging oppression, violence and prejudice. The Christian Faith is a relationship that sets the prisoner free and gives sight to those who cannot see. The Christian Faith and all that is terrific about it with it's prayers, creeds and sacraments, is an invitation that makes us uncomfortable in our Pandoras boxes and calls us to reach out beyond ourselves.
Being LGBT and chosing to exercise all that is great about diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions has at it's core what being an orthodox Christian is all about. The Christian Tradition of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, and giving a vision of God that is anything but status quo, is exactly what the orthodox Christian is all about. It gives a vision of a God we cannot see, touch or find, suddenly very close, personal and able to be as close to us as a living cell.
Finding room for the outcast and those thought to be unlovable is all that orthodox Christianity is about. St. Ambrose may not have said that or written that in his time, but it is the ideal of what his work was suppose to produce.
May we as Christians be found faithful in all that we believe, by making our Faith live in our work towards equality, inclusion and justice for all marginalized persons. Including, but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.
Prayers
Luke 12:35-37,42-44 (NRSV)
Jesus said to his disciples, "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.
And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions."
Blog Reflection
Let me say at the beginning of this entry that I do love orthodox theology. I really do. The rich theology that has brought us the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the Liturgy is a true delight of mine. In a conversation in which orthodoxy is being unfairly ridiculed, I tend to side with orthodoxy. On the other hand, when orthodoxy is being used as an excuse for exclusivity and that Christianity is celebrated as a religion of "triumphalism" and "supersessionism" I am still very orthodox when I respectfully disagree.
St. Ambrose of Milan was a great philosopher and theologian in the time of the great Arian controversy. As an Oblate of St. Benedict, many of the great hymns that support belief in the Trinity that are used in Morning and Evening Prayer were composed by St. Ambrose. One of the great Advent hymns found in the Hymnal 1982, number 55 was written by Ambrose between 340 and 397 and translated by Charles P. Price who was born in 1920.
"A meditation attributed to him [Ambrose] includes these words: "Lord Jesus Christ, you are for me medicine when I am sick; you are my strength when I need help; you are life itself when I fear death; you are the way when I long for heaven; you are light when all is dark; you are my food when I need nourishment." (HWHM page 106).
I will not write anything here that would suggest that Ambrose defense of all that is Christian is anything less than. Yet, even the greatest Saints in Church history had their faults. "If anti-Semitism were not a Christian virtue, Ambrose of Milan would not be a Christian Saint" (Gray Temple, Gay Unions In the Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason, page107). Anti-Semetism as well as any notion that Christians, men, heterosexual people, Caucasian individuals are exceptional and therefore privileged is anything but a Christian virtue.
This is why I do enjoy Episcopal theologians such as Bishop John Shelby Spong who are not afraid to turn orthodoxy on its back, pick it apart and put it back together again with a renewed understanding.
Jesus calls on those who follow him to "Be dressed for actions and keep your lights lit... so there may be an open door for when the master returns." This is a call for Christians to prepare that way for Jesus, by keeping our minds and hearts open for Christ to come and convert ourselves, our culture, the Church and society. As many affirming Christians work for the inclusion of LGBT people and challenge our LGBT communities that not all Christians are anti-LGBT, it is a call and opportunity for orthodoxy to keep its lamps lit and welcome the Master in new and wonderful ways.
I find it a very poor use of orthodoxy and even the word "traditionalists" when they are used to suggest that Christianist imperialism is somehow a good thing for the Church and the world.
Yesterday, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton gave an outstanding speech about the United States doctrine of LGBT rights on a world wide global scale. It was a reflection of the wishes of the Obama Administration to call for universal equality for LGBT people all over the world. It was a welcome and timely message.
Already today Christianist individuals such as Pat Robertson of the 700 Club and Peter Spriggs of the Family Research Council along with Matt Barber and Tony Perkins have been slamming Obama. Peter Spriggs outright accused Obama of "fanatical cultural imperialism."
While the United States is not completely innocent of spreading our own imperialism, calling for a world that is more accepting of LGBT people is an effort to move away from the imperialism of heterosexism.
The orthodoxy that makes the Christian religion is exactly why we must work for a more inclusive world and Church that seeks equality and justice for all marginalized persons. Our faith is not about encouraging oppression, violence and prejudice. The Christian Faith is a relationship that sets the prisoner free and gives sight to those who cannot see. The Christian Faith and all that is terrific about it with it's prayers, creeds and sacraments, is an invitation that makes us uncomfortable in our Pandoras boxes and calls us to reach out beyond ourselves.
Being LGBT and chosing to exercise all that is great about diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions has at it's core what being an orthodox Christian is all about. The Christian Tradition of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, and giving a vision of God that is anything but status quo, is exactly what the orthodox Christian is all about. It gives a vision of a God we cannot see, touch or find, suddenly very close, personal and able to be as close to us as a living cell.
Finding room for the outcast and those thought to be unlovable is all that orthodox Christianity is about. St. Ambrose may not have said that or written that in his time, but it is the ideal of what his work was suppose to produce.
May we as Christians be found faithful in all that we believe, by making our Faith live in our work towards equality, inclusion and justice for all marginalized persons. Including, but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.
Prayers
O God, you gave your servant Ambrose grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 107).
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. (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).
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