Today's Scripture Readings
Ezekiel 37: 21-28 (NRSV)
John 11: 45-53 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
The scene in today's Gospel is incomplete without a look at what happened before the meeting of the chief priests and Pharisees. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead. For many who were questioning the legitimacy of Jesus up to that point, were now confronted with an inescapable event in front of their eyes, and now believed in Jesus. As for those who did not, who felt that this Jesus was too much of a trouble maker, the time had come to form a political action committee to plot to take him out.
This picture here is not unlike what has been happening around President Obama. A man dedicated to doing what he can for the middle class. Obama worked hard to pass health care reform. He has also been an advocate for the rights of women over the issue of contraception. He crafted a policy that benefits both religious institutions who do not wish to pay for contraception, and those individuals who would still like to obtain it. Yet, in the eyes of many who hate the President, not so much for being a liberal, but because they just cannot accept that a black man holds the office of Chief and Commander, something must be done to take him out. Even threaten his life. Those campaigning against him, will do or say anything, even things that are not even relevant to the facts, to be sure they can take him out.
As information about the Trayvon Martin case continues to become available, it becomes ever more clear of how much racism is a part of the debate. The defense of the so called "stand your ground law" is the cover for what is really the reason why this young man was murdered. The hatred for one black seventeen year old, walking down the street, wearing a hoodie, who was stalked and gunned down, by a man who can claim self defense, without any facts to back him up. Just because Trayvon's picture appears on some web site, with his middle finger in the air, the very middle finger many so called Christianists have used towards President Obama and other minorities, or wears a tattoo, is no excuse for justifying the killing of this incredible young man.
Maggie Gallagher, the founder and former President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is "unapologetic" for trying to divide minority groups and the LGBT communities, in the effort to suppress our right to marry. As long as they can prevent LGBT people from marrying the person they love, because of their own heterosexism, if they invoke racism as a means of doing so, it really doesn't matter, right? The ends, justifies the means in this instance? Or is this an example of "moral relativism" working for those willing to "break the law" to be sure what "belongs to God is not taken over by Ceasar" we can even violate simple Christian Charity to do so? In other words, it is okay to sell Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver again.
As we stop on this Friday of the Fifth Week in Lent, before we begin Holy Week, we would do well to remember the words that Jesus actually said: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25: 40). When we can use religious zeal, no matter how good we think our intentions might be, to scapegoat one person, to target them, we can use it for just about any one person after. There are days when I think that Christianists and others who support what they do, have learned from the example of the wrong characters in the Gospels. Rather than look to the model of generosity, hospitality, inclusion and reconciliation of Jesus, they have looked to those who targeted one who loved and lived differently to stamp them out of existence.
Among the ways we can keep our faith alive in these days when politically and socially evil plots thicken, is to let faith be our guide to understanding and doing what is good and holy. We can see African Americans as good and holy people, as well as Native Americans, Immigrants, LGBT people, and women, as those whom Christ came to seek out, to welcome them into the company of God's holy people. We can refuse to allow the prejudices of Christianists to influence how we worship God, what we believe about people different than ourselves, and how we act on their behalf. We can see through the plot of the political corruption that wishes to take health care away from our senior citizens, retired, and disabled individuals. We can agree that we should remind those in our government that they have a role to play in protecting the civil rights, and work towards the equality of the dignity of all human beings. We can do these things, because this is what our Baptismal Covenant has called us to do, as our way of living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Our peace and integrity is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection. By whom we are saved and delivered." (By Gregory Norbert, Oregon Catholic Press - www.ocp.org, also found on the album: Listen: Song of Presence, by the Monks of Weston Priory, 1973, 1994).
Prayers
Ezekiel 37: 21-28 (NRSV)
then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from every quarter, and bring them to their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all. Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms. They shall never again defile themselves with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all the apostasies into which they have fallen, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my statutes. They shall live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your ancestors lived; they and their children and their children’s children shall live there for ever; and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will bless them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them for evermore. My dwelling-place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Then the nations shall know that I the Lord sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is among them for evermore.
John 11: 45-53 (NRSV)
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, ‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.
Blog Reflection
The scene in today's Gospel is incomplete without a look at what happened before the meeting of the chief priests and Pharisees. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead. For many who were questioning the legitimacy of Jesus up to that point, were now confronted with an inescapable event in front of their eyes, and now believed in Jesus. As for those who did not, who felt that this Jesus was too much of a trouble maker, the time had come to form a political action committee to plot to take him out.
This picture here is not unlike what has been happening around President Obama. A man dedicated to doing what he can for the middle class. Obama worked hard to pass health care reform. He has also been an advocate for the rights of women over the issue of contraception. He crafted a policy that benefits both religious institutions who do not wish to pay for contraception, and those individuals who would still like to obtain it. Yet, in the eyes of many who hate the President, not so much for being a liberal, but because they just cannot accept that a black man holds the office of Chief and Commander, something must be done to take him out. Even threaten his life. Those campaigning against him, will do or say anything, even things that are not even relevant to the facts, to be sure they can take him out.
As information about the Trayvon Martin case continues to become available, it becomes ever more clear of how much racism is a part of the debate. The defense of the so called "stand your ground law" is the cover for what is really the reason why this young man was murdered. The hatred for one black seventeen year old, walking down the street, wearing a hoodie, who was stalked and gunned down, by a man who can claim self defense, without any facts to back him up. Just because Trayvon's picture appears on some web site, with his middle finger in the air, the very middle finger many so called Christianists have used towards President Obama and other minorities, or wears a tattoo, is no excuse for justifying the killing of this incredible young man.
Maggie Gallagher, the founder and former President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is "unapologetic" for trying to divide minority groups and the LGBT communities, in the effort to suppress our right to marry. As long as they can prevent LGBT people from marrying the person they love, because of their own heterosexism, if they invoke racism as a means of doing so, it really doesn't matter, right? The ends, justifies the means in this instance? Or is this an example of "moral relativism" working for those willing to "break the law" to be sure what "belongs to God is not taken over by Ceasar" we can even violate simple Christian Charity to do so? In other words, it is okay to sell Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver again.
As we stop on this Friday of the Fifth Week in Lent, before we begin Holy Week, we would do well to remember the words that Jesus actually said: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25: 40). When we can use religious zeal, no matter how good we think our intentions might be, to scapegoat one person, to target them, we can use it for just about any one person after. There are days when I think that Christianists and others who support what they do, have learned from the example of the wrong characters in the Gospels. Rather than look to the model of generosity, hospitality, inclusion and reconciliation of Jesus, they have looked to those who targeted one who loved and lived differently to stamp them out of existence.
Among the ways we can keep our faith alive in these days when politically and socially evil plots thicken, is to let faith be our guide to understanding and doing what is good and holy. We can see African Americans as good and holy people, as well as Native Americans, Immigrants, LGBT people, and women, as those whom Christ came to seek out, to welcome them into the company of God's holy people. We can refuse to allow the prejudices of Christianists to influence how we worship God, what we believe about people different than ourselves, and how we act on their behalf. We can see through the plot of the political corruption that wishes to take health care away from our senior citizens, retired, and disabled individuals. We can agree that we should remind those in our government that they have a role to play in protecting the civil rights, and work towards the equality of the dignity of all human beings. We can do these things, because this is what our Baptismal Covenant has called us to do, as our way of living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Our peace and integrity is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection. By whom we are saved and delivered." (By Gregory Norbert, Oregon Catholic Press - www.ocp.org, also found on the album: Listen: Song of Presence, by the Monks of Weston Priory, 1973, 1994).
Prayers
O Lord, you relieve our necessity out of the abundance of your great riches: Grant that we may accept with joy the salvation you bestow, and manifest it to all the world by the quality of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives avd reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Friday of the Fifth Week in Lent. Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 64).
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for Ash Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer, p. 217).
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but
first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he
was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way
of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and
peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Fridays, Book of Common Prayer, p. 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. (Prayer attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, p. 833).
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