Today's Scripture Reading
John 6: 22-29 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
I recently read a blog post in Good As You. In the post there is a video of a Christianist minister suggesting that if the folks in North Carolina vote against a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality for LGBT people, that it is considered "treason in God's court." My own response to such a statement draws me to Canticle number 10 on page 87 in The Book of Common Prayer, using Isaiah 55: 8. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, says the Lord." Then I am immediately drawn to vs. 9 that reads: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
In the Person of Jesus Christ we see an image of God that is not an angry psychopathic judge, but a merciful Savior. God's ways that are so far above ours, are ways of inclusion and unconditional love instead of oppression and bias. In the Paschal Mystery which we celebrate during this Easter Season, Jesus longs to give himself to us, so that we may work for what endures unto everlasting life in the here and now. The eternal life promised to us by Jesus, comes by what we do with what God gives us to do today.
All of us look for signs that God is authentic and believable. We live in a world and time where things are proven to be true, by how quickly they transmit information or power. Whether they are life-giving or not, matters very little. If Christianists can keep LGBT people from gaining marriage equality, then they can continue to rake in billions of dollars in profits to keep the hate machines promoting the dying message of a mean and angry god, who is not only fake, but also a dishonest representation of the real and actual God. Another form of idolatry, disguised as religious zeal.
In the Eucharist, God gives us the true and everlasting Bread of Life that is Jesus Christ. Holy Communion is given to help us work for what endures in this life, for the hope of new and eternal life in the next. What are examples of things that endure? Justice for the oppressed and equality for those experiencing violence and discrimination. Community where every person has the opportunity to become part of the human family, by participating in their chance to live life to the fullest with friends and family who love and cherish them. The power of people coming together to help people who have been devastated by natural disasters and/or the economic hardships of these past few years. All of these things and more can be the result of the Holy Eucharist, if we will allow the Real Presence of Christ to live through us.
As we work for that which endures, let us remember that Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection endures, as does the love of God. Even when we are faced with violence, oppression or bias, the power and hope that comes from God's extravagant love, helps us all to work together for that which endures.
Prayers
John 6: 22-29 (NRSV)
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’
Blog Reflection
I recently read a blog post in Good As You. In the post there is a video of a Christianist minister suggesting that if the folks in North Carolina vote against a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality for LGBT people, that it is considered "treason in God's court." My own response to such a statement draws me to Canticle number 10 on page 87 in The Book of Common Prayer, using Isaiah 55: 8. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, says the Lord." Then I am immediately drawn to vs. 9 that reads: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
In the Person of Jesus Christ we see an image of God that is not an angry psychopathic judge, but a merciful Savior. God's ways that are so far above ours, are ways of inclusion and unconditional love instead of oppression and bias. In the Paschal Mystery which we celebrate during this Easter Season, Jesus longs to give himself to us, so that we may work for what endures unto everlasting life in the here and now. The eternal life promised to us by Jesus, comes by what we do with what God gives us to do today.
All of us look for signs that God is authentic and believable. We live in a world and time where things are proven to be true, by how quickly they transmit information or power. Whether they are life-giving or not, matters very little. If Christianists can keep LGBT people from gaining marriage equality, then they can continue to rake in billions of dollars in profits to keep the hate machines promoting the dying message of a mean and angry god, who is not only fake, but also a dishonest representation of the real and actual God. Another form of idolatry, disguised as religious zeal.
In the Eucharist, God gives us the true and everlasting Bread of Life that is Jesus Christ. Holy Communion is given to help us work for what endures in this life, for the hope of new and eternal life in the next. What are examples of things that endure? Justice for the oppressed and equality for those experiencing violence and discrimination. Community where every person has the opportunity to become part of the human family, by participating in their chance to live life to the fullest with friends and family who love and cherish them. The power of people coming together to help people who have been devastated by natural disasters and/or the economic hardships of these past few years. All of these things and more can be the result of the Holy Eucharist, if we will allow the Real Presence of Christ to live through us.
As we work for that which endures, let us remember that Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection endures, as does the love of God. Even when we are faced with violence, oppression or bias, the power and hope that comes from God's extravagant love, helps us all to work together for that which endures.
Prayers
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p. 224, 225).
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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