Today's Scripture Reading
Romans 5: 1-5 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
Today is one of those days for me in which the news around us is so discouraging that I want something to come from God to automatically change what is happening. Several evangelistic Pastors have spoken in favor of the Government putting LGBT people to death. We have an election in Wisconsin with money in politics thanks to Citizens United drowning out the voices of those who are affected by politics and wealth so unfairly. There doesn't seem to be much hope for progressive Christians and people of good will.
When we pray the Office of Noonday Prayer, one of the optional verses to read is Romans 5: 5. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." This verse seems so important during this week after Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has come upon us. Just like those first Apostles who faced the rejection from their current surroundings as they wanted to share the message of the saving work of God in Jesus Christ, so do those of us here in the 21st Century. All of that wonderful power that came upon those believers on Pentecost Sunday was not to glorify themselves, but to become messengers and ministers of radical hospitality and reconciliation.
While the news and events around us are difficult to say the very least, they are not the end of the story. Just as what happened to those first followers of Jesus as they faced persecutions, beatings and so forth. They were not without hope or the love of God that was poured out to them by the Holy Spirit. It was because of their hope in God that they were able to strengthen their faith and love one another to continue to work for the kind of change that would strengthen the communities around them. Those of us who know that the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ would do well to also be faithful to what we know is true concerning what being a Christian means.
It means remembering that God's love is unconditional and all inclusive. All of God's children are loved and valued. We too are called to love and value one another.
It means reminding ourselves and other Christians that God does not condone violence, oppression and cruelty as a means to spread the Gospel. Those who share a Gospel of discrimination, so as to encourage violence and financial gain while others are severely injured or killed, are proclaiming a Gospel that is fake and poorly understood. The Gospel that we believe in, by which we were baptized into a relationship with the Holy Trinity and each other, holds us accountable to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being, with God's help" (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305). We take this very seriously, because the last thing we want to do is offend God by mistreating Jesus who is present in another human person.
As we pray for hope and look for that love that the Holy Spirit that was poured into our hearts at Pentecost, we also pray for God to lead God's people forward from this point. We pray that the Holy Spirit will also open the hearts and minds of those who preach a false gospel of violence and prejudice, to work instead for hospitality and true reconciliation for all people. May those of us Christians who pray and believe in our God of extravagant love and uncompromising mercy, become the eyes, mouth, feet and hands of the inclusive and healing Jesus.
Prayers
Romans 5: 1-5 (NRSV)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Blog Reflection
Today is one of those days for me in which the news around us is so discouraging that I want something to come from God to automatically change what is happening. Several evangelistic Pastors have spoken in favor of the Government putting LGBT people to death. We have an election in Wisconsin with money in politics thanks to Citizens United drowning out the voices of those who are affected by politics and wealth so unfairly. There doesn't seem to be much hope for progressive Christians and people of good will.
When we pray the Office of Noonday Prayer, one of the optional verses to read is Romans 5: 5. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." This verse seems so important during this week after Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has come upon us. Just like those first Apostles who faced the rejection from their current surroundings as they wanted to share the message of the saving work of God in Jesus Christ, so do those of us here in the 21st Century. All of that wonderful power that came upon those believers on Pentecost Sunday was not to glorify themselves, but to become messengers and ministers of radical hospitality and reconciliation.
While the news and events around us are difficult to say the very least, they are not the end of the story. Just as what happened to those first followers of Jesus as they faced persecutions, beatings and so forth. They were not without hope or the love of God that was poured out to them by the Holy Spirit. It was because of their hope in God that they were able to strengthen their faith and love one another to continue to work for the kind of change that would strengthen the communities around them. Those of us who know that the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ would do well to also be faithful to what we know is true concerning what being a Christian means.
It means remembering that God's love is unconditional and all inclusive. All of God's children are loved and valued. We too are called to love and value one another.
It means reminding ourselves and other Christians that God does not condone violence, oppression and cruelty as a means to spread the Gospel. Those who share a Gospel of discrimination, so as to encourage violence and financial gain while others are severely injured or killed, are proclaiming a Gospel that is fake and poorly understood. The Gospel that we believe in, by which we were baptized into a relationship with the Holy Trinity and each other, holds us accountable to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being, with God's help" (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305). We take this very seriously, because the last thing we want to do is offend God by mistreating Jesus who is present in another human person.
As we pray for hope and look for that love that the Holy Spirit that was poured into our hearts at Pentecost, we also pray for God to lead God's people forward from this point. We pray that the Holy Spirit will also open the hearts and minds of those who preach a false gospel of violence and prejudice, to work instead for hospitality and true reconciliation for all people. May those of us Christians who pray and believe in our God of extravagant love and uncompromising mercy, become the eyes, mouth, feet and hands of the inclusive and healing Jesus.
Prayers
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful
people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all
things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen. (Collect for the Day of Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).
Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be
peaceably governed by your providence; and that your
Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 3, Book of Common Prayer, p. 229).
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).
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