Today's Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NRSV)
Psalm 126 (BCP,. p. 782)
John 12:24-26 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
Laurence the Deacon was martyred in Rome in 258 under the decree of Emperor Valerian. He decreed that the upper class in the Church be persecuted and all of the buildings and treasures ceased and given to the Emperor to sell and/or obtain for his treasury. Laurence was martyred six days after Sixtus II and his companions were in the same cemetery where Laurence was grilled alive on a gridiron.
Before Laurence was martyred, they ordered him to find all the treasures of the Church and to turn them over to the Emperor. Laurence returned with the poor, the sick and the children with whom he had taken care of through the Church's relief fund. When Laurence returned, he said; 'These are the treasures of the Church."
Who are the treasures of the Church today?
Christians are in a very difficult time. The election is full of corporate cash being used to support the wealthy, such as health insurance company executives. Owners of large oil companies and financial market appear to be spending their legalized unlimited cash to confuse voters about what is really at stake in things like the Ryan budget plan that would turn Medicare into a voucher paid system, leaving millions of elderly and disabled Americans in major financial disarray.
There have been two horrific shootings. One in Aurora, Colorado and the other in Wisconsin. Yet, those "second amendment rights" must be defended. It is much more important to support the right to carry assault weapons, than to seek the safety of the people who die when a mad man goes into the place of worship of another religion other than Christianity, and kill those who don't preach the Christian Gospel.
Of course, we have people like Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, suggesting that the children of same-sex couples should be kidnapped and carried through an "underground railroad." Fischer believes that children being raised by same-sex couples are endangered of being "recruited" as LGBT people.
Rev. Susan Russell wrote an outstanding article in The Huffington Post in response to Fischer. In the article, Susan wrote:
The treasures of the Church are those people whom Jesus draws close to. Those who are marginalized and oppressed, because of discrimination and negative stereotyping, are people that Jesus went out to welcome and bring healing. The Church is called to reach out to God's treasures by being a place of hospitality and reconciliation for all people. We reach out by being open to the movement of God's Holy Spirit, who wants to rip open those Pandora's Boxes, and help us to see God working in the lives of the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised, the LGBT and the women who are attacked for exercising their reproductive rights. We are called to be concerned for those who are sick and cannot afford to go to the doctor because they do not have health insurance. We are called by Jesus to pray for those who are held captive by poverty, corruption and social oppression.
Laurence was martyred, because he knew who the treasures of the Church were. He brought them forward, so that his persecutors and we here in 2012, may remember that we give our lives for Christ, by being open to God's generosity and mercy in those with whom we share our faith and world.
Do we know that we too are treasures of God and the Church?
God loves us all.
God imparts God's grace to all.
We are all treasures of God.
May we all learn to think of ourselves as God's treasures.
May we all learn to see and love each other as treasures of God.
Amen.
Prayers
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NRSV)
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,
"He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
his righteousness endures forever."
Psalm 126 (BCP,. p. 782)
John 12:24-26 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor."
Blog Reflection
Laurence the Deacon was martyred in Rome in 258 under the decree of Emperor Valerian. He decreed that the upper class in the Church be persecuted and all of the buildings and treasures ceased and given to the Emperor to sell and/or obtain for his treasury. Laurence was martyred six days after Sixtus II and his companions were in the same cemetery where Laurence was grilled alive on a gridiron.
Before Laurence was martyred, they ordered him to find all the treasures of the Church and to turn them over to the Emperor. Laurence returned with the poor, the sick and the children with whom he had taken care of through the Church's relief fund. When Laurence returned, he said; 'These are the treasures of the Church."
Who are the treasures of the Church today?
Christians are in a very difficult time. The election is full of corporate cash being used to support the wealthy, such as health insurance company executives. Owners of large oil companies and financial market appear to be spending their legalized unlimited cash to confuse voters about what is really at stake in things like the Ryan budget plan that would turn Medicare into a voucher paid system, leaving millions of elderly and disabled Americans in major financial disarray.
There have been two horrific shootings. One in Aurora, Colorado and the other in Wisconsin. Yet, those "second amendment rights" must be defended. It is much more important to support the right to carry assault weapons, than to seek the safety of the people who die when a mad man goes into the place of worship of another religion other than Christianity, and kill those who don't preach the Christian Gospel.
Of course, we have people like Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, suggesting that the children of same-sex couples should be kidnapped and carried through an "underground railroad." Fischer believes that children being raised by same-sex couples are endangered of being "recruited" as LGBT people.
Rev. Susan Russell wrote an outstanding article in The Huffington Post in response to Fischer. In the article, Susan wrote:
Because here's the deal: There are good people of deep faith who read the same scriptures and come to different conclusions about a whole variety of issues. And then there are dangerous people of deluded faith who have projected their biases onto God and are so convinced that they have sole possession of the absolute truth that facts don't matter, laws don't matter, and the rights of those who disagree with them certainly don't matter.
And it is long past time for the rest of us -- for all the rest of us -- to claim our power by speaking out, standing up, and calling out the toxic rhetoric of the Bryan Fischers of the world for what it is: antithetical to the life, witness, and Gospel of Jesus; contrary to authentic Christian values; and not of God.
It should go without saying that kidnapping is not a traditional Christian value, but given that it apparently does need to be said, if we don't say it, who will?
The treasures of the Church are those people whom Jesus draws close to. Those who are marginalized and oppressed, because of discrimination and negative stereotyping, are people that Jesus went out to welcome and bring healing. The Church is called to reach out to God's treasures by being a place of hospitality and reconciliation for all people. We reach out by being open to the movement of God's Holy Spirit, who wants to rip open those Pandora's Boxes, and help us to see God working in the lives of the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised, the LGBT and the women who are attacked for exercising their reproductive rights. We are called to be concerned for those who are sick and cannot afford to go to the doctor because they do not have health insurance. We are called by Jesus to pray for those who are held captive by poverty, corruption and social oppression.
Laurence was martyred, because he knew who the treasures of the Church were. He brought them forward, so that his persecutors and we here in 2012, may remember that we give our lives for Christ, by being open to God's generosity and mercy in those with whom we share our faith and world.
Do we know that we too are treasures of God and the Church?
God loves us all.
God imparts God's grace to all.
We are all treasures of God.
May we all learn to think of ourselves as God's treasures.
May we all learn to see and love each other as treasures of God.
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty God, you called your deacon Laurence to serve you with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom; Grant that we, following his example, may fulfill your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving you with all our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 519).
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).
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