Last Sunday After Pentecost: Christ the King: An Inclusive Reign

Today's Scripture Readings

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 (NRSV)

As I watched,

thrones were set in place,

and an Ancient One took his throne,

his clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames,

and its wheels were burning fire.

A stream of fire issued

and flowed out from his presence.

A thousand thousands served him,

and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.

The court sat in judgment,

and the books were opened.

As I watched in the night visions,

I saw one like a human being

coming with the clouds of heaven.

And he came to the Ancient One

and was presented before him.

To him was given dominion

and glory and kingship,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

that shall not pass away,

and his kingship is one

that shall never be destroyed.

Psalm 94 (BCP,. p.722)


Revelation 1: 4b-8 (NRSV)

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds;

every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him;

and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.

So it is to be. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

John 18:33-37

Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Blog Reflection

Here we are at the end of another Liturgical Year, celebrating the feast of Christ the King.   Also known and preferred by many as the Reign of Christ.  The triumphant and holy celebration of Jesus Christ as King is only 87 years old.   In 1925 Pope Pius XI added it to the Roman Catholic church calendar as a way of expressing some hope after World War I.  It was a recognition of Christ as having been victorious over sin and death, and had an opportunity to reign in the world's politics after a brutal and deadly conflict.   One does not have to look very long after 1925 to see that not only did Christ not rule in the hearts and lives religious and political leaders then, but we still have a long way to go as we prepare to bid good bye to 2012.

In the book of the Prophet Daniel, the image is that of a glorious reign of the Ancient One who is mighty and coming to bring justice with  his mighty arm.  The Ancient One who brought Israel from Egypt into the promised land, and gave them the commandments through Moses.  Christians have looked back upon the writings from the Hebrew Scriptures to honor the culture and religion of the Jewish people.   And we would like to think that in this Year of 2012, we no longer have antisemitism, but we know very well that there is.  God's people were wanting that mighty sign of God coming in glory to deliver them from captivity and bring them the salvation of their nation.  

Christians can and still do believe that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophesies in Hebrew Scriptures.  Our task in this second decade of the new millennium is to accept what the Scriptures mean for us, while respecting what they mean for others who have followed a different faith journey from ours.  The Reign of God is inclusive. 

Jumping into our Gospel, what might the significance be of Pilate having the conversation with Jesus in the Praetorium?   The Praetorium was the center of political power in the world.   It was from the Praetorium that Pilate governed Jerusalem on behalf of the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar Augustus.  In this account from John, Pilate is questioning the authority of Jesus as a king.  The answers Jesus gives Pilate presents the stark contrast between what Pilate understands a kingdom to be, vs. what is the Kingdom of God that Jesus speaks of.   While Pilate wants to know about the earthly kingdom that Jesus might think he rules, the Kingdom that Jesus speaks of is not found in this world.  If that Kingdom were there, he might not have been in captivity without some kind of fight from of his followers to prevent his imprisonment.  God's reign is not one of political maneuvering, one of war or conquest.   The Reign of God is one of peace, justice, love and mercy.  Qualities that are present in the world, because of God's ownership of what God created.  The Reign of God of which Jesus speaks is already here, but not yet.

Jesus said that he was born for one purpose to testify to the truth and that all who belong to truth, hear his voice.   What "truth" might Jesus be talking about?

Immediately we are tempted to jump back to John 14: 6: "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me."   While this is certainly true for us Christians, it also has the tendency to suggest that our religion is one of supercessionism.  Meaning that all other religions and practices outside of Christianity are in and of themselves null and void, unless they become Christian.   It can also be from here that many Christianists continue their assault on LGBT people, Native Americans, women and many others who define "truth" a bit differently than how John 14:6 might be read.

Michael and Lori Hardin in their internet Commentary on the readings called Preaching Peace had this to say about what truth for some can mean.

The fact is, at the base and center of philosophy (Derrida), religion (Barth) and literature (Girard) lies a victim, an innocent victim. We have been in complete and utter denial about this. We refuse to believe that we would sacrifice innocents. We continue to insist we only bring justice to those who deserve it. We further separate ourselves from scapegoating by turning over this task to the police or the military and the courts and prison systems. We don’t have anything to do with ‘violence.’ Our hands are clean.

As an example we cite American Christian awareness of issues that surround the Holocaust. Because America fought in World War II against Germany, it is conveniently assumed that whatever the German Christians did and thought had nothing to do with Christianity here in America. But it does, for the anti-semitism that found such virulent expression in Nazi Germany had many of its roots in the United States with Henry Ford (click here for an eye-opening paper on Ford.), and they have found expression around the world for the past 1,900 years (with specific reference to anti-Semitism in Christianity, not to mention the ancient world). You cannot follow Jesus and be anti-Semitic at the same time; Jesus was a Jew. But there are those who insist that their ‘theology’ bears little resemblance to that of the German Christians, when in fact, it does. It is all loaded with Post Constantinian and post Augustinian dualism and participation in the victimage mechanism.

So, the question is, if our human ideologies stem from victimage and are masked by lies, how can we then know the truth? It is quite simple: the truth does not retaliate or defend itself. ‘My kingdom is not of this world, if it were my disciples would fight to prevent my arrest.’ They tried, but Jesus prohibited them from using violence on his behalf. Had he done so, it would have destroyed his entire mission to reveal the truth: that God is love and love is non-retributive, non-retaliatory and non-violent.

In other words, if something or someone claims to be truth and has violent presuppositions or acts in a violent (= coercive) manner, then it is not truth. Truth may be attacked but it cannot be harmed. It is not ‘of this world’, that is, structured by negative mimesis. This is precisely how the gospels can speak of truth and why the Fourth Gospel calls Jesus, ‘the true and living way.’

Pilate may have discerned this seeing that John says his fear escalated with each encounter he had with Jesus. But, his job (and his life) was more important than a ragamuffin Jew from Galilee, so eventually the fear of retaliation from his mimetic boss (Caesar) was greater than his fear of a king who would not defend himself.

And so it is with us. We remain silent in the face of victimization because we chose to protect our source of security, our jobs, our incomes, our lifestyles. Perhaps the real question is, in the face of retaliation and retribution are you on the side of Jesus or not?

Finally we observe that inasmuch as today is Christ the King Sunday, please note that it is ‘Christ the King under arrest and being interrogated Sunday.’ It is Christ the King being held hostage Sunday. It is Christ the royal political prisoner Sunday. It is Christ the King soon to be beaten and crucified Sunday. It is Christ the innocent King/Victim Sunday. It is not Christ the powerful King Sunday. It is not Christ the mighty warrior Sunday. It is not Christ the King as Lawgiver and dispenser of punishment Sunday. It is Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world, the King Sunday.

As we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, Jesus is once again in danger or being killed just for being LGBT in the African country of Uganda.   They are again considering their monstrous and destructive bill to imprison LGBT people or possibly put them to death by hanging.  The sad truth still remains that people using the Name of Jesus Christ from America have some responsibility for what is happening there.  The Gospel is again being hijacked to suggest that marginalization, oppression and death is the answer to dealing with prejudice and the refusal to honor Christ in others who are different from themselves.   They cannot envision that the Reign of Christ is inclusive.

Rev. Susan Russell wrote:

"Christ the King has been co-opted by those who understand the Reign of Christ to be not about the Lordship of Love but about obedience to orthodoxy. The king whose throne was a cross and whose dying words were “My God, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” has been replaced with a judge whose message is “My God will not forgive you unless you are doing it my way.” It is time for us to find our voices and reclaim the historic faith we have inherited: to pro-claim the Good News of the Gospel of Grace whenever and wherever we can; to challenge those who preach the Jesus of Judgment by our serving instead the King of Love."

One of the things we as Benedictines understand is that obedience to Christ is not so much about fear and judgement.   Though at times it may appear as much in the Rule, especially when you read things like this.

"This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord." (Prologue, v. 3.  RB 1980, p.157).

Obedience for Benedictines is about responding in love to what Christ calls us to do through the Superior.  This model is there to remind us that Christ is the loving and compassionate Savior who desires nothing more than to lead us to that Kingdom that is here, but not yet.  A Reign where we are open to Christ as he is present in every person.  Especially those who are oppressed by injustice and inequality.  St. Benedict brings this to mind as he says in Chapter 4 on the Tools of Good Works: "Go to help the troubled and console the sorrowing" (vs. 18,19, RB 1980,  p. 183).   Obedience to truth is more than Jesus, it is honoring him present in others and being willing to serve him there.

As we prepare to celebrate Advent and the new Liturgical Year one week from today, we would do well to ask ourselves what the Reign of Christ looks like for us?   How do we understand the Reign of Christ as an inclusive Kingdom?   How is that Reign present to us in the here and now?   How are we responding to Christ the King coming to us in our neighbor?

These questions are not a matter of just what is objectively true.  They are a matter of our faith and trust in God. To believe that God challenges us to let go of our self-security a bit. So that Christ will make the Kingdom a much greater reality for us and in us. So that it will become clearer to us and others, that Christ is our King. 

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all
things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of
lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided
and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together
under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).


Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).


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).

Praying with Compassion for Those Most Like Us

Today's Scripture Reading

James 2: 14-26 (NRSV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. 

Blog Reflection

I have been reading With Open Hands by Henri J.M. Nouwen.   It is a book about prayer.  Nouwen draws the reader into a serious self-examination of what prayer means.  

Praying...demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched. (p.19)

Nouwen invites us to take a good deeper look into our relationship to God through prayer.

Are we hanging on to things from God with "clenched fists"? (Chapter 1).

There are many points that have been very moving for me while reading this book.  However, the most recent chapter 4: Prayer and Compassion struck me.  What is written in that chapter appeared to be making a new connection for me to today's New Testament Reading from James for use with the Daily Office.

To the point about prayer and compassion I want to use the following from Nouwen's book.

Compassion goes beyond distance and exclusiveness.

Compassion grows with the inner recognition that your neighbor shares your humanity with you.  This partnership cuts through all walls which might have kept you separate.  Across all barriers of land and language, wealth and poverty, knowledge and ignorance, we are one, created form teh same dust, subject to the same laws, and destined for the same end.   With this compassion you can say, "In the face of the oppressed I recognize my own face and in the hands of the oppressor I recognize my own hands.   Their flesh is my flesh; their blood is my blood; their pain is my pain; their smile is my smile.  Their ability to torture is in me too; their capacity to forgive I find also in myself.   There is nothing in them that does not belong to me, too.  In my heart, I know their yearning for love and down to my entrails, I can feel their cruelty.  In another's eyes, I see my plea for forgiveness and in a hardened frown, I see my refusal.  When someone murders, I know that I too could have murdered, and when someone gives birth, I know that I am capable of birth as well.  In the depths of my being, I meet my fellow humans with whom I share love and hate, life and death (p.92,93).

After I read this, my mind drifted to all of the times I read something from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) or the Family Research Council (FRC) for example, and just burn with rage at what they said.  I have at times allowed what they've written to drive me to near depression.   I am at the point where I no longer read those things regularly, because of how much they drive me down.

What Nouwen wrote here and what I believe James may be challenging us to do, is to align our faith with our work.  Earlier in James 1:22-25, we read about the idea of being doers of the word and not hearers only is like looking in a mirror.  What we do with what we pray and read, is a reflection of who we really are and what we are really doing.  A mirror large enough, not only shows you a reflection of yourself, but also everything you do while glancing into that mirror.

If all we do is read or listen to what those who say the most horrific things about women, liberals, LGBT people etc and react only, then, sad to say, we are no better than they are.  What they say and think, is some thing many of us said or thought before we came out of our own closets and accepted ourselves.   Before many of us came out, we said horrific things about people who are LGBT.  If we were part of a conservative Christian tradition, we probably quoted Leviticus 20:13 erroneously, and/or maliciously.   Many of us closeted gay men, struggled what to do about that crush we had on a classmate in school, while telling ourselves we would go to hell if we ever did anything physical about it.

While we must not "make peace with oppression" and just hear things like these passively, we can do some work from our faith in these moments.   We can pray with compassion for those who speak as we once spoke.   We can receive them into our prayers with compassion from a point of hospitality to seek healing and reconciliation for them and ourselves.    We can identify with their weaknesses and look carefully at our own attitudes of prejudice towards others for whom we may still harbor some kind of bias that we would rather ignore.  Through our prayers for them with compassion, we can experience the compassion of our God coming to touch those places in our lives that need to be mended and made holy.

If we will only take some time to make use of this exercise, we will find even our anger and depression, giving way to love for Christ above all else, and honoring God in even our adversaries.   We are all on the same journey, even if we are approaching them from very different directions.   God is as much their destiny as God is ours.

Who are we willing to pray for with compassion today?


Prayer

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for our Enemies, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know
you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend
us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that
we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of
any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Prayer for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 99).

Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost:We Must Use Our Time Wisely

Today's Scripture Readings

Daniel 12: 1-3 (NRSV)

The Lord spoke to Daniel in a vision and said, "At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

Psalm 16 (BCP., p.599-600)


Hebrews 10: 11-25 (NRSV)

Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. [And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

"This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds,"

he also adds,

"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.]

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mark 13: 1-8 (NRSV)

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs."

Blog Reflection

The reading from Daniel records what was taking place during the period when the Hellenization by the Jews in Palestine.  They were enduring oppression of not only their land and culture, but also the practice of their religion.   The Seleucid kings dominated the Jews by not allowing them to worship in their temples or synagogues as the Lord, their God had commanded them.  It was believed that the Archangel Michael would come to their rescue them by striking down those who were oppressing them, so that they would regain what they had lost.  The victory to be gained was not only a restoration of justice for all who lived, but the promise of new life for those who already died. 

There are a couple things we must be very careful of when applying this to the society and Church of our time.

1. We should not look upon the Jews as deserving of the treatment they got.  No religion or group of people brings upon themselves the destruction of their land or religion because God punishes them.   Therefore, it is inappropriate to take an attitude of antisemitism, Islamophobia, or look down upon Atheists or Pagans. 

2. We should also not use this as a means to uphold our own self-righteousness to promote only our religious or social point of view. 

What we can take from this that is very applicable to us, is an opportunity of faith.   Evil, oppression, violence, abuse etc, is something that God cares very much about.  Though it may appear to us that God is not concerned with what is going on in the world, God is very much interacting withe progression of human history.  God is "not standing afar off and hidden your face from us" as we pray in Psalm 10.  When things are happening in our own communities, churches, families and around the world that we become aware of, that awareness is God speaking to our hearts.  God is calling on us to be in prayer for those experiencing injustice, poverty and sickness, and moving on our hearts to take an interest in the welfare of others.  The message of the Gospel is for us, yes.  But, it's impact does not, nor should it stop with us.  The work of living and sharing our faith through interceding and working on behalf of others, is how God works to end inequality and exploitation. 

As for us Christians, the hope of redemption was accomplished because of Jesus Christ.  Through our common Baptism, we have shared in the death and resurrection of Christ (see Romans 6).   The Paschal Mystery happened so that Christians could look to Jesus as our Savior, who destroyed our slavery to sin.   We no longer have to accept religious based discrimination, when Christians use the Bible to promote and act on bias.  Christ changed our world by being God's perfect revelation and showing us how to reach out and become an inclusive community for God.  God's saving work through Christ our Redeemer, found a way to include us in the Body of Christ.  We should be accepting others so that God can also incorporate them among God's beloved people. 

The Gospel reading is one that gets so abused by preachers trying to scare people to prepare for the second coming of Christ.  Yet, two weeks from today it will already be Advent, the season to prepare for the coming of the Reign of Christ, as we move towards celebrating Christmas.  What is the significance of this Gospel on the second coming?

On one hand, this reading is not about the second coming.  Jesus is predicting the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE by the Roman General Silva.   It is believed that the writer of Mark would have been in Syria between 60-70 CE and would have recorded events as they were told to the author.  The destruction of Jerusalem would have appeared like a second coming to the early Christians, and to the Jews of that time it would have been very apocalyptic.  It is quite possible that these are not the words of Jesus as they were said, but, recorded as such for their dramatic emphasis as to what Christians need to be doing.

On the other hand, this Gospel should certainly help us to think about what our priorities are as disciples of Christ.  If our priorities are waiting around for every war or rumor of war to start so we can scare the whole world into thinking Christ is coming, to convert everyone, we are wasted precious time and missing valuable opportunities. 

I remember back in 1991 when the first Gulf War began.  I was a student at Eastern Nazarene College studying Church Music and organ.  The days and weeks following the initial attack of the United States on Bagdad, Iraq, I found myself staring at more books in the student book shop about Iraq being the location of former Babylon and the possibility that it was the last war on earth before Christ returned.   In those books there were countless claims that everything from abortion, to homosexuality and the secularization of our culture was why the war was started.   I also heard some claim that the war was the punishment of God upon a country where Islam was the religion of that nation.  

The days and weeks after September 11, 2001 we heard of a few preachers say that the attacks happened because of the wide acceptance of women as ordained clergy in certain denominations, abortions and homosexuality.   Because there was a take over of the secularization of our culture from what was a "Christian nation" God punished America with the terrorist attacks that killed over 3,000 Americans.

Both of these are examples of what I call, Christians wasting their time on nonsense and useless fear tactics, while the real work of the Gospel remains unfinished.

What Jesus is calling those who follow him to do, is to use the time we have to establish God's Reign.   We are to work to end injustice, oppression, violence and care for those less fortunate than ourselves, because God is present in all human beings.  Especially those who suffer and are in need of a better today.   An improved life today, so that they may have some kind of future where their human dignity is recognized and defended.   To end the exploitation of people for the benefit of the powerful and wealthy.   A place where working for  peace with and for everyone is more important than making peace with oppression.  Where we address issues like the bullying of LGBT youth and single mothers. 

Today, while we have so much going on around us that suggests discrimination and attitudes of self-righteousness, Jesus calls us in humility to recognize who God is, and who we are not.  We are not God, but we are redeemed by God in Christ.  In thanksgiving and good stewardship, we have the privilege and responsibility to use what God has given us to benefit not only ourselves, but others who remain vulnerable and helpless on their own.  

May our week of Thanksgiving bring us closer to recognizing Christ in one another, and doing all we can to honor Christ in those who are in need of love, compassion and our generosity.

Amen.


Prayers

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for
our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever
hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have
given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 28, Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).

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).

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).

 

 

Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Give Thanks with Our Whole Being and Heart

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Kings 17:8-16 (NRSV)

The word of the LORD came to Elijah, saying, "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth." She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

Psalm 146 (BCP., p.803)


Hebrews 9:24-28 (NRSV)

Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Mark 12: 38-44 (NRSV)

Teaching in the temple, Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Blog Reflection

If we are to get the whole picture of what is going on in our lectionary of readings today, we must have a momentary refresher course on the place of a widow in the times that both of these narratives were written about. 

A widow was more or less understood to be on her own.  Not only was she without her husband due to death, but she was also left to fend for herself.  Women in the Bible were already second class citizens for the most part.  They were portrayed as the "weaker" side of the human race.  Before marriage a woman is considered the property of her father.  After marriage she was the property of her husband.  A woman who would have been married and now widowed, would have been property once owned, now abandoned.   They were among the poorest socially and economically.

What we see happening in our readings today, is God reaching out the lowest of society and giving them hope and purpose within the Reign of God and their communities.   Elijah asks the widow to feed him with what little she has and through her giving of what she had, she is given more than enough for her and her son. Her being a widow is not an opportunity for the Prophet to exploit or further demean her, but invites her to participate in the helping of another, and so receive from God all that she needs to sustain her life.

In the Gospel reading, we see almost the opposite.  While those in the highest of political and religious stature seek public recognition for their outward piety, it is the poor widow who gives of all she has out of humility and thanksgiving to God.  Not because she wishes to be noticed.  The widow fulfills the first of the beatitudes in Matthew 5: 3.  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God."   The one who gives of themselves out of thanksgiving; while recognizing that God is the one who ultimately gives us all that we need, witnesses to a holy and unselfish love.  A love that seeks union with God out of heartfelt desire and a total giving of self, forsaking prestige or power.

It is a dangerous thing to interpret this Gospel too literally.  We are not being told here to empty all our bank accounts and dump all of our possessions, and if we don't, we are not living a life of commitment to God.  Ee are being challenged to detach ourselves from all that keeps us from being thankful to God as the one who gives us all that we need  All that we are fortunate enough to have is given to us by the Holy One, without whom, we would not even have the breath of air in our lungs.  As God gives all things for our use and good stewardship, so God asks of us to give of ourselves for the sake of God and others around us, the very best of ourselves for the establishment of God's Reign in this world and the next.

As lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people, who we are and those whom we love are not our sole property.  Nor are they given to us for the purpose of wasting them, or letting them so rule our being that we do not use them out of love for God, neighbor and ourselves.   While our sexuality has something to do with our identity and how we love others, it is not for the express purpose of doing what we please, with whomever we please.  We still have to honor God, others and ourselves with a sense of self respect and a total willingness to give of ourselves for the good of others.  Whether that be through our relationships with our spouses/partners, those in our own communities, work places and as best as we can, our own families.  That healing and reconciliation can take place through our activism as we celebrate the many victories of this past week's election, by which marriage equality passed in three states, and a constitutional amendment in Minnesota was defeated.   It can also happen as we try to reach across the isle even to those who continue to reject us and cause us much grief, to help us find a common group from which we can begin to heal our communities and families.

We will not be able to accomplish many of these things without time spent in prayer, seeking God's help.  We will not be able to do miracles, per say, nor will we change people's minds over night.  Nor does God expect us to.   What we can do, is offer our whole selves to God out of thanksgiving for the tremendous gift we have, because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression and from that point offer ourselves to the service of others who are different from ourselves.  We can reach out to the poor and destitute, to share our time and resources to help bring about a better tomorrow for all of us.  We can care about what is happening to not only LGBT people, but also immigrants, people of other races, economic conditions, health conditions, in other religions and so forth, to find some kind of path towards being a more inclusive society and Church.

Let us all pray for each other, that we may look for ways that we can give thanks to God with our whole heart and being.   May we search for those opportunities to help bring about the Reign of God by  looking to bring healing and reconciliation through our prayers, our concern and work on behalf of those who are marginalized and oppressed.  God's Reign is one that welcomes everyone to give of themselves in some measure, and no one is rejected or excluded.  This means us.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might
destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God
and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may
purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again
with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his
eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 27, Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).

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).


Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).

All Saints Sunday: Saints of All Kinds Search for Union with God

Today's Scripture Readings

Wisdom of Solomon 3: 1-9 (NRSV)

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

and no torment will ever touch them.

In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,

and their departure was thought to be a disaster,

and their going from us to be their destruction;

but they are at peace.

For though in the sight of others they were punished,

their hope is full of immortality.

Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,

because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;

like gold in the furnace he tried them,

and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.

In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,

and will run like sparks through the stubble.

They will govern nations and rule over peoples,

and the Lord will reign over them forever.

Those who trust in him will understand truth,

and the faithful will abide with him in love,

because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,

and he watches over his elect.

Psalm 24 (BCP., p. 613)


Revelation 21: 1-6a (NRSV)

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

"See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them as their God;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away."

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end."

John 11: 32-44 (NRSV)

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"


Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Blog Reflection

Every person born and living has the potential to be a saint.  Those of us who celebrate our Christian Faith by the Sacrament of Baptism with in the Anglican Tradition know that we believe in the world wide Communion of Saints that include those presently living and who have gone before us.   We also believe that sainthood can be found in others who do not share in our faith.   The world is a better place because of individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lamas and many other holy people. 

Sainthood may not even be a matter of faith at all.  Many who would call themselves atheists, often live a life of service to others in various ways that put many Creed praying Christians to shame.  

For those of us who do celebrate our Faith as Christians, we have the opportunity to live as saints by our acknowledgement of God, and God's saving work in Jesus Christ and presence by way of the Holy Spirit.  The Scriptures challenge us to consider the possibility that salvation is not only a matter of faith by itself, but it expresses itself in prayer and work on behalf of those who are poor, oppressed, displaced and hurting so that they can experience some kind of healing and reconciliation.  

St. Benedict in the Prologue to his Rule challenges those who who come to Listen with the ears of their heart, and to run (not walk) with a sense of urgency while we have the light of life, so that the darkness may not overtake us (John 12:35).  As we are told who will dwell on God's holy mountain, we are also told "What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his grace."  The Christian has an understanding that what it takes to be a saint in the here and now, is because God has placed a desire for God with in our hearts, and it is our responsibility and privilege to respond to that desire.

In the Christian Tradition, by way of Reason, those who follow the Christian model of sainthood are those who with Christ bring new life, hope and purpose such as he did in today's Gospel.  The raising of Lazarus tells us that Christ gave new life and hope even to those who are dead.  In Christ, even the dead have a face and a name.  They are not forgotten by God, even if we do not necessarily remember them.  So, I think All Saints Sunday is a great day to ask ourselves the question: If Jesus saw the dignity of Lazarus while he was dead and in the grave, exactly what business do Christians have to "strive for peace and justice for all people, and uphold the dignity of every human being?"   There is a reason why our reply to that question in the Baptismal Covenant is "We will, with God's help." 

All of us because of our immaturity by way of sin, need the grace of God to grow up to know that we can seek union with God in whatever capacity we live in.  Whether we are LGBT or straight and of a single gender in body and mind at birth, of another race, religion, health status, wealth status or just taking things one day or one moment at a time, we all  have the opportunity to encounter God in our own lives and through the lives of others.  It is with God's help that we will find God and love God, and serve God in others.  

At times our problem is that we think we know how God should come to and/or respond to us.   We want to determine God's image in our own minds and hearts, including by the way of our own prejudices and behaviors.  God comes by way of God's will, calling us to conform to God's image of God, ourselves and others.  That is why God can and is present in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. God blesses their union with each other in their romantic, emotional and physical relationships.   When anyone of any sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression seeks to love God in another person, with unselfish love and compassion, God is there loving and being loved.   Placing anti-marriage amendments on ballots to suppress that love because of our selfish attitudes towards others or arrogance as to think that we know God better than LGBT people or anyone else does, is nothing more than idolatry of ourselves and our own understandings.  

Maybe as we go forward this week, we might ask for God's help for us to be open to who and where God will search us out.  To see in every person, including ourselves the potential for sainthood.   To pray and receive the Holy Spirit so that we too may be a person that is life-giving where there is darkness, destruction, death and discrimination.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one
communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son
Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those
ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for All Saints, Book of Common Prayer, p. 245).

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your
faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant
that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly
promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.  (Proper 26, Book of Common Prayer, p. 235).

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).