Today's Scripture Readings
Acts 3:12-19 (NRSV)
Psalm 4 (BCP, p. 587)
1 John 3:1-7 (NRSV)
Luke 24:36b-48 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
Yesterday, I witnessed what I would describe as a series of Easter moments.
Jason and I are very active in our local Democratic Farmer Labor Party's activities. We were delegates to the Congressional District Convention where we endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison to once again represent us in Congress. Rep. Ellison is under attack from right wing extremists because he is a Muslim. Individuals from all over our Congressional District know Keith to be an outstanding leader and person, because he puts the needs of the least among us before the eyes of those who write and debate our laws.
In the State of Minnesota, we are facing two major ballot initiatives. One that if passed will deny lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons the right and opportunity to marry the person we love. The other, if passed would require all individuals to have a photo I.D. in order to vote. This referendum will seriously hurt minorities, college students, the elderly and many others who might not be able to get a Government issued I.D, and there fore many people would not be able to participate in the election process.
During the Convention, we did walking sub-caucuses to select delegates to go to the Democratic National Convention to renominate Pres. Barack Obama for the 2012 elections. The walking sub-caucuses gather delegates from among the Congressional District Convention into one group. Once we have a total of 20 people in that sub-caucus we can get one delegate to send to the National Convention. Well, the one group I was part of was called Obama: Vote No on the Constitutional Amendments. When we finished our first walk into our sub-causes, the one I was in had a total of 65 delegates, which would give us 3 delegates to go to the National Convention. One group called Obama: Minorities Against the Constitutional Amendments had only 18, which means they did not have enough people to be a viable sub-caucus to get one delegate. So a second walk was done. The majority of the Minorities Caucus, came over to join Obama: vote NO on the Constitutional Amendments, giving us a total of 82 delegates, which meant we now could select 4 delegates. Among the reasons for selecting them was to go to the National Convention so that we can push to get marriage equality put on the national platform.
I felt a real jolt of Spiritual energy, almost like being a witness to the resurrection when I saw minority groups, LGBT and supporters come together to state that we all want equality for all of us as we work to support our leaders. Jesus was recognized, even in a non-direct fashion, because diverse groups of people came together ito be part of change in our State and Nation.
Today's Gospel comes after the story of Jesus walking and talking on the road to Emmaus with the Apostles in Luke 24: 13-35. The disciples found themselves with a 'stranger' who came along to talk with them about what had happened. Jesus spoke to them all of the things the Hebrew Scriptures had prophesied about what Jesus had experienced, yet they did not recognize him. It was only when Jesus broke bread at their evening meal, that they recognized who had been with them. In their excitement to tell the other disciples what happened, Jesus once again comes among them with the words; "Peace be with you." He tells them one more time, of all the Scriptures referring to his crucifixion and resurrection. Yet, it was when Jesus sat down and shared a meal with them, that they understood that it was the Risen Christ was in their company.
The title of this blog entry: "The Risen Stranger in the Breaking of Bread" sounds a bit weird doesn't it? I actually planned it that way.
All of us expect to see and experience the Risen Christ in someone who fits our understand as to what another person should be. White, male, heterosexual and wealthy Christians have dominated the discussion about who Jesus Christ was for so long that we cannot possibly think of him coming among us as black/Latino/Asian/immigrant or Native American, female, homosexual/bisexual/transgender, poor, Jew/Muslim/Atheist. We want the Risen Christ in our company so long as he comes in the image we have made of him. We don't want to open up our tables to those who dress in those funny clothes that are not like ours. We don't want to share our pew with someone who's behavior seems so different. Share marriage with LGBT people, when it has always been only for heterosexual people? Come on now, that just isn't how Caucasian, male, heterosexual, Christians know the Risen Christ. We want that Pandoras' Box shut tight, with no way of opening it up.
The Risen Christ comes among us in the stranger, the poor, the immigrant, the LGBTQ person, the Native American, the physically/emotionally/behaviorally challenged and the woman. Jesus Christ, crucified and now risen from the dead, comes to us in the many Bishops in the Church of England who are supporting marriage equality, while openly defying the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York. As the Church opens it's doors and hearts to welcome those who are not quite like us, the Risen Christ comes to us in the broken bread that is the Eucharist. The Body and Blood of Christ, broken, shed and shared with all humankind, finally becomes a living Sacrament when we welcome the Risen Stranger with hospitality and reconciliation.
Notice that our Gospel narrative does not end with the meal. Just like our service to Christ does not conclude with the final blessing in our worship. Jesus tells his followers to be witnesses of all that God has done on our behalf. We like them, know all that God has accomplished to bring about the hope of salvation. Now, we have been given the commandment and opportunity by the Risen Christ, to be the people God has called to proclaim the message of redemption and the forgiveness of all our sins. We are now part of that "new creation" (see 2 Corinthians 5: 17-18) and are given the ministry of reconciliation, in the Name of God who has reconciled and saved us. We proclaim a message of inclusion and justice for all God's people, not just those who are considered privileged. We also proclaim the establishment of God's reign here and now as we await the reign of God that is yet to come.
Let us all celebrate the glorious resurrection today, by welcoming the Risen Stranger in the breaking of bread. "Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia" (1 Corinthians 5: 8, and BCP, p. 83).
Prayers
Acts 3:12-19 (NRSV)
When Peter saw the astonishment of those who had seen the lame man healed, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out."
Psalm 4 (BCP, p. 587)
1 John 3:1-7 (NRSV)
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Luke 24:36b-48 (NRSV)
While the disciples were telling how they had seen Jesus risen from the dead, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."
Blog Reflection
Yesterday, I witnessed what I would describe as a series of Easter moments.
Jason and I are very active in our local Democratic Farmer Labor Party's activities. We were delegates to the Congressional District Convention where we endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison to once again represent us in Congress. Rep. Ellison is under attack from right wing extremists because he is a Muslim. Individuals from all over our Congressional District know Keith to be an outstanding leader and person, because he puts the needs of the least among us before the eyes of those who write and debate our laws.
In the State of Minnesota, we are facing two major ballot initiatives. One that if passed will deny lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons the right and opportunity to marry the person we love. The other, if passed would require all individuals to have a photo I.D. in order to vote. This referendum will seriously hurt minorities, college students, the elderly and many others who might not be able to get a Government issued I.D, and there fore many people would not be able to participate in the election process.
During the Convention, we did walking sub-caucuses to select delegates to go to the Democratic National Convention to renominate Pres. Barack Obama for the 2012 elections. The walking sub-caucuses gather delegates from among the Congressional District Convention into one group. Once we have a total of 20 people in that sub-caucus we can get one delegate to send to the National Convention. Well, the one group I was part of was called Obama: Vote No on the Constitutional Amendments. When we finished our first walk into our sub-causes, the one I was in had a total of 65 delegates, which would give us 3 delegates to go to the National Convention. One group called Obama: Minorities Against the Constitutional Amendments had only 18, which means they did not have enough people to be a viable sub-caucus to get one delegate. So a second walk was done. The majority of the Minorities Caucus, came over to join Obama: vote NO on the Constitutional Amendments, giving us a total of 82 delegates, which meant we now could select 4 delegates. Among the reasons for selecting them was to go to the National Convention so that we can push to get marriage equality put on the national platform.
I felt a real jolt of Spiritual energy, almost like being a witness to the resurrection when I saw minority groups, LGBT and supporters come together to state that we all want equality for all of us as we work to support our leaders. Jesus was recognized, even in a non-direct fashion, because diverse groups of people came together ito be part of change in our State and Nation.
Today's Gospel comes after the story of Jesus walking and talking on the road to Emmaus with the Apostles in Luke 24: 13-35. The disciples found themselves with a 'stranger' who came along to talk with them about what had happened. Jesus spoke to them all of the things the Hebrew Scriptures had prophesied about what Jesus had experienced, yet they did not recognize him. It was only when Jesus broke bread at their evening meal, that they recognized who had been with them. In their excitement to tell the other disciples what happened, Jesus once again comes among them with the words; "Peace be with you." He tells them one more time, of all the Scriptures referring to his crucifixion and resurrection. Yet, it was when Jesus sat down and shared a meal with them, that they understood that it was the Risen Christ was in their company.
The title of this blog entry: "The Risen Stranger in the Breaking of Bread" sounds a bit weird doesn't it? I actually planned it that way.
All of us expect to see and experience the Risen Christ in someone who fits our understand as to what another person should be. White, male, heterosexual and wealthy Christians have dominated the discussion about who Jesus Christ was for so long that we cannot possibly think of him coming among us as black/Latino/Asian/immigrant or Native American, female, homosexual/bisexual/transgender, poor, Jew/Muslim/Atheist. We want the Risen Christ in our company so long as he comes in the image we have made of him. We don't want to open up our tables to those who dress in those funny clothes that are not like ours. We don't want to share our pew with someone who's behavior seems so different. Share marriage with LGBT people, when it has always been only for heterosexual people? Come on now, that just isn't how Caucasian, male, heterosexual, Christians know the Risen Christ. We want that Pandoras' Box shut tight, with no way of opening it up.
The Risen Christ comes among us in the stranger, the poor, the immigrant, the LGBTQ person, the Native American, the physically/emotionally/behaviorally challenged and the woman. Jesus Christ, crucified and now risen from the dead, comes to us in the many Bishops in the Church of England who are supporting marriage equality, while openly defying the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York. As the Church opens it's doors and hearts to welcome those who are not quite like us, the Risen Christ comes to us in the broken bread that is the Eucharist. The Body and Blood of Christ, broken, shed and shared with all humankind, finally becomes a living Sacrament when we welcome the Risen Stranger with hospitality and reconciliation.
Notice that our Gospel narrative does not end with the meal. Just like our service to Christ does not conclude with the final blessing in our worship. Jesus tells his followers to be witnesses of all that God has done on our behalf. We like them, know all that God has accomplished to bring about the hope of salvation. Now, we have been given the commandment and opportunity by the Risen Christ, to be the people God has called to proclaim the message of redemption and the forgiveness of all our sins. We are now part of that "new creation" (see 2 Corinthians 5: 17-18) and are given the ministry of reconciliation, in the Name of God who has reconciled and saved us. We proclaim a message of inclusion and justice for all God's people, not just those who are considered privileged. We also proclaim the establishment of God's reign here and now as we await the reign of God that is yet to come.
Let us all celebrate the glorious resurrection today, by welcoming the Risen Stranger in the breaking of bread. "Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia" (1 Corinthians 5: 8, and BCP, p. 83).
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 Third Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p. 224, 225).
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, p. 815).
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).
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