Today's Scripture Readings
Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18 (NRSV)
Psalm 34 (BCP, p. 628)
Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)
John 6:56-69 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
One of the joys of being a musician is the ability to read notes on a piece of music and turn them into a magnificent melody with the harmony. To someone who does not read music, the notes and staffs, sharps and flats all look like ink blots on paper. It takes a skilled musician to read the music and give it life so that it goes beyond just a beautiful piece played or sung. It becomes a living medium that moves the heart and stirs the soul.
Over the past 20 years or so, Gregorian Chant has made a huge come back. When the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos recorded their first Chant CD, they gave new life to something that was considered by many to be dead. They breathed new life into the lives of many people, with those simple chanted melodies and phrases that moved people to cherish a tradition that is long removed from our own time. Yet, somehow, it is all still with us. It is because of the Bread of Life, that brings the words of everlasting life, to all who will take time to praise God in what ever time and situation we may find ourselves.
I do love the Holy Eucharist. The day that I was finally convinced for myself that Jesus is really present in the consecrated Bread and Wine, was a moment of conversion for me. I fell in love with the idea and practice of receiving Christ in Holy Communion and seeking God's grace to be nourished and strengthened by the Sacrament. However, every day, I am challenged in my heart, mind and actions about how I make the real presence of Jesus real in my relationships with Jason and others. That is why the Eucharist is so important to my own life. Without it, I would not be able to keep my faith in Christ amidst the violence and prejudice I have experienced as a gay man, and/or as a gay man who is a Christian.
In today's Gospel, Jesus again tells us that he is the bread of life. He invites us to feast on himself so that God may abide in us, and we abide in God. There are followers in his audience who just find this too much to take. So they leave. Jesus asks those who remain if they too want to leave. Peter answers: "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life."
What so many in our time are looking for, is for Christians to be an authentic example of the real presence of Christ. To give life and meaning to the Holy Communion we receive and the Word we listen to. Unless Christians are ready and willing to surrender ourselves to the will of God, by accepting who we are, and agreeing to love others with openness and inclusiveness, Holy Communion is just a potluck supper, and the Word who is Jesus, is just another old world legend. How can we call others to believe and love, what we ourselves do not practice in our daily lives?
Over these past two weeks we have seen the Christian Faith once again used as an excuse for violence and prejudice. When an individual running for the US Senate suggests that when women are raped, their bodies are able to not get pregnant, and therefore laws should be made that affects a woman's ability to make the choice that is best for her, the Christian Faith becomes an offensive means of brutality. When whole political parties, claiming to be following the Gospel are prepared to take health care away from seniors and the disabled because of the greed of Wall Street executives, the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion, becomes Sunday morning snack. It was good to share it, but it really doesn't mean much. When money and greed is more important than helping immigrants find a home where there is no racial profiling or degradation, the Gospel is just a story book, by which it's main character is dead.
Jesus, the Bread and Word of Life, calls us to authenticate the one whom we receive, by being who we are, the Body of Christ. We are commanded by Jesus, to love one another as he loves us. To give of ourselves, our time, resources and even sometimes just holding up in prayer, the marginalized and oppressed among us. This means that we open ourselves to opposing harmful amendments that ban marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The Bread and Word of Life, does not condone, nor bless the work of ex-gay ministries or therapies that attempt to change a persons sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, because of violence and prejudice towards LGBT and Questioning people. Jesus, does not laugh when young women and men attending middle, high school or college are bullied because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. Whether actual or perceived.
When women, LGBT people, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, people of different races, cultures, classes and health are targeted and attacked socially and politically, Jesus weeps, because his message of salvation becomes moot and no longer lives and breaths among God's precious children. No wonder people are losing interest.
The good news for us in 2012, is that Christians can still give meaning and authenticity to the message of the Gospel. We can speak up on behalf of those stigmatized by radical religious and political groups. We can act on the fact that voters are being suppressed all over the country with voter ID laws, by letting our governments know that we do not approve and we are prepared to do something to restore the right to vote.
Jesus invites us to receive him in the Eucharist, and to remain with him, who has the words of eternal life, by seeking God at all times, and preferring nothing whatsoever to the love of Christ. Hence, the two foundational pieces of the spirituality of St. Benedict. We are asked today, to give life and meaning to our Baptismal Covenant, by working for peace and justice, and respecting the dignity of every human person, by standing up against violence and prejudice. We can be people of radical hospitality and reconciliation, as we extend our hands in friendship and our hearts ready to receive and love others as Christ.
Let us all pray for one another to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, and ask for her leadership so that we can receive and live the Bread and Word of Life.
Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. May we be authentic examples of what we pray and receive in our lives.
Amen.
Prayers
Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18 (NRSV)
Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
"Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
Psalm 34 (BCP, p. 628)
Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
John 6:56-69 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Blog Reflection
One of the joys of being a musician is the ability to read notes on a piece of music and turn them into a magnificent melody with the harmony. To someone who does not read music, the notes and staffs, sharps and flats all look like ink blots on paper. It takes a skilled musician to read the music and give it life so that it goes beyond just a beautiful piece played or sung. It becomes a living medium that moves the heart and stirs the soul.
Over the past 20 years or so, Gregorian Chant has made a huge come back. When the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos recorded their first Chant CD, they gave new life to something that was considered by many to be dead. They breathed new life into the lives of many people, with those simple chanted melodies and phrases that moved people to cherish a tradition that is long removed from our own time. Yet, somehow, it is all still with us. It is because of the Bread of Life, that brings the words of everlasting life, to all who will take time to praise God in what ever time and situation we may find ourselves.
I do love the Holy Eucharist. The day that I was finally convinced for myself that Jesus is really present in the consecrated Bread and Wine, was a moment of conversion for me. I fell in love with the idea and practice of receiving Christ in Holy Communion and seeking God's grace to be nourished and strengthened by the Sacrament. However, every day, I am challenged in my heart, mind and actions about how I make the real presence of Jesus real in my relationships with Jason and others. That is why the Eucharist is so important to my own life. Without it, I would not be able to keep my faith in Christ amidst the violence and prejudice I have experienced as a gay man, and/or as a gay man who is a Christian.
In today's Gospel, Jesus again tells us that he is the bread of life. He invites us to feast on himself so that God may abide in us, and we abide in God. There are followers in his audience who just find this too much to take. So they leave. Jesus asks those who remain if they too want to leave. Peter answers: "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life."
What so many in our time are looking for, is for Christians to be an authentic example of the real presence of Christ. To give life and meaning to the Holy Communion we receive and the Word we listen to. Unless Christians are ready and willing to surrender ourselves to the will of God, by accepting who we are, and agreeing to love others with openness and inclusiveness, Holy Communion is just a potluck supper, and the Word who is Jesus, is just another old world legend. How can we call others to believe and love, what we ourselves do not practice in our daily lives?
Over these past two weeks we have seen the Christian Faith once again used as an excuse for violence and prejudice. When an individual running for the US Senate suggests that when women are raped, their bodies are able to not get pregnant, and therefore laws should be made that affects a woman's ability to make the choice that is best for her, the Christian Faith becomes an offensive means of brutality. When whole political parties, claiming to be following the Gospel are prepared to take health care away from seniors and the disabled because of the greed of Wall Street executives, the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion, becomes Sunday morning snack. It was good to share it, but it really doesn't mean much. When money and greed is more important than helping immigrants find a home where there is no racial profiling or degradation, the Gospel is just a story book, by which it's main character is dead.
Jesus, the Bread and Word of Life, calls us to authenticate the one whom we receive, by being who we are, the Body of Christ. We are commanded by Jesus, to love one another as he loves us. To give of ourselves, our time, resources and even sometimes just holding up in prayer, the marginalized and oppressed among us. This means that we open ourselves to opposing harmful amendments that ban marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The Bread and Word of Life, does not condone, nor bless the work of ex-gay ministries or therapies that attempt to change a persons sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, because of violence and prejudice towards LGBT and Questioning people. Jesus, does not laugh when young women and men attending middle, high school or college are bullied because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. Whether actual or perceived.
When women, LGBT people, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, people of different races, cultures, classes and health are targeted and attacked socially and politically, Jesus weeps, because his message of salvation becomes moot and no longer lives and breaths among God's precious children. No wonder people are losing interest.
The good news for us in 2012, is that Christians can still give meaning and authenticity to the message of the Gospel. We can speak up on behalf of those stigmatized by radical religious and political groups. We can act on the fact that voters are being suppressed all over the country with voter ID laws, by letting our governments know that we do not approve and we are prepared to do something to restore the right to vote.
Jesus invites us to receive him in the Eucharist, and to remain with him, who has the words of eternal life, by seeking God at all times, and preferring nothing whatsoever to the love of Christ. Hence, the two foundational pieces of the spirituality of St. Benedict. We are asked today, to give life and meaning to our Baptismal Covenant, by working for peace and justice, and respecting the dignity of every human person, by standing up against violence and prejudice. We can be people of radical hospitality and reconciliation, as we extend our hands in friendship and our hearts ready to receive and love others as Christ.
Let us all pray for one another to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, and ask for her leadership so that we can receive and live the Bread and Word of Life.
Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. May we be authentic examples of what we pray and receive in our lives.
Amen.
Prayers
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 16, Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).
Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).
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