Trinity Sunday: Lead Us Into All Truth, We Aren't There Yet

Today's Scripture Readings

Proverbs 8: 1-4, 22-31 (NRSV)

Does not wisdom call,

and does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights, beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

"To you, O people, I call,

and my cry is to all that live.

The LORD created me at the beginning of his work,

the first of his acts of long ago.

Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,

before the hills, I was brought forth--

when he had not yet made earth and fields,

or the world's first bits of soil.

When he established the heavens, I was there,

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

when he made firm the skies above,

when he established the fountains of the deep,

when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

then I was beside him, like a master worker;

and I was daily his delight,

rejoicing before him always,

rejoicing in his inhabited world

and delighting in the human race."

Psalm 8 (BCP., p.592)


Romans 5: 1-5 (NRSV)

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.

John 16: 12-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Blog Reflection

On this Trinity Sunday during Year C, we have a view of the mystery of God presented to us in the feminine as opposed to the masculine.   While we traditionally address God the Trinity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God is also known as Mother, Servant and Life-Giver.   God's revelation of Self is not limited to our labels, ideals, theologies, or Creeds.   God's truth is ever teaching us, moving us and calling us beyond where we are into new understandings of God.

The reading from Proverbs tells us of the Wisdom of God.   The Wisdom of God is also referred to as the Word of God.  Christians know the Incarnate Word was and is God's perfect revelation of Self in Jesus Christ.  In that Wisdom is the One through whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made.   The Prologue of John's Gospel 1-18 tells of the Word through whom everything exists, and continues by God's will.  It is by way of the Wisdom of God that everything that holds itself together is what it is, and continues.  The very goodness of all things and people, is by way of God who is Wisdom and the Word made flesh.

It has been suggested by many that Jesus Christ could have been transgender.  He was the Son of God, yes, at least in His outer appearance.  Yet, His character, compassion and tenderness show a very feminine nature.  One that could suggest that He was both male and female.

St. Julian of Norwich wrote A Song of True Motherhood.

God chose to be our mother in all things
  and so made the foundation of his work,
  most humbly and most pure, in the Virgin's womb.
God, the perfect wisdom of all,
  arrayed himself in this humble place.
Christ came in our poor flesh
  to share a mother's care.
Our mothers bear us for pain and for death;
  our true mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.
Christ carried us within him in love and travail,
  until the full time of his passion.
And when all was completed and he had carried us so for joy,
  still all this could not satisfy the power of his wonderful love.
All that we owe is redeemed in truly loving God,
  for the love of Christ works in us;
  Christ is the one whom we love.  (Enriching Our Worship 1, Canticle R, p.40)

The truth of God's revelation continues as the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth.  The reading from John's Gospel is my favorite for this day.  Because, we are hearing Jesus telling His disciples and us, that the work of God revealing truth is not finished.  It also suggests that truth is something that is never abstract or objective only.  Truth is in the Person of Jesus as understood in John 14: 6.   However, even the Truth is understood and grasped only so much by each generation of Christians.   As Christ, Himself was born, grew into knowledge and wisdom, so must Christians.   As the Church that was born on Pentecost which we celebrated last Sunday grew and expanded in the Truth of Christ, so it must continue to mature and become more inclusive today.

Rather than receive this news as a threat to our comfort zones, we should be looking with anticipation of what God is leading us into.   The evolutionary God is always revealing God's Self in new and amazing ways.  God is continually evolving in our midst, and as God does, so must the Church and Christians.  In the Trinity we know of God's love as unified, yet diverse in three separate and distinct Persons.  Each Person exists and loves in union with God, yet one is not the other.   It is a mystery that we cannot totally explain, nor can we understand.   At the same time, the mystery of the God-Head, one in three Persons continues to reveal God in new and awesome ways.  There are no words that can adequately describe God, nor is there art work that completely captures the image of the Trinity for us.   Only be faith and trust can we grasp the Truth, and be open to the Holy Spirit to be lead into all truth.

Among the truths that the Spirit is ever leading us into, is the erroneous interpretations of Scripture with regards to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.  As I have read the blogs written about the Boy Scouts of America voting to allow gay scouts, marriage equality laws being passed, the removal of LGBT families from immigration reforms, the one remark that leaps out in almost every comment line is: "If you embrace homosexuality, you are not a true Christian, because God's word clearly condemns it."  What is happening in a statement like that, is not evangelism.   It is not religious fervor to win souls for Christ.  It also does not suggest an honest relationship with God through the Scriptures.   It is, however, a relationship with an idol in ideology, a lust for power, and an addiction to hate rhetoric.

An actual reading of the Scriptures using the guidance of good scholarship, and careful criticism, one will learn that in the times, traditions, customs and languages in which the Bible was written, they did not have two words called heterosexual and homosexual.   Sexuality in the time of the biblical authors was about dominance and power, by men over women.  Women as property, because they were thought to be inferior.   The idea of a man assuming the sexual position of the presumed "weaker species" was uncustomary and viewed as "unnatural."  Because many other Christian Scholars like the Rev. Gray Temple in his book Gay Unions in Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason details much of what I have written in this paragraph.   The book is so great for Episcopalians on both sides of this important issue.

Over the many centuries the Bible has been used and abused to suggest that it is okay to discriminate against African Americans.  If you have not watched the movie Lincoln, you should.  In that movie, they are trying to pass the thirteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution to abolish slavery.  During the debate in Congress, one of the Representatives says of African Americans then, what Christians say about LGBT people today.   "We should not deem equal, those whom God has deemed as unequal."   This language is being used and has been used to denigrate the poor, those ravaged by tornadoes, storms and floods.  Those words have been used towards Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, Atheists, Buddhists and many others.   Even if the words are not spoken, the intent is all too often there in what is said in it's place.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come to lead us into all truth.  We are definitely not there yet.   All of us have to mature in truth, so that we can better live what is true.  One of those truths the Church and society must grasp is that it is never appropriate to use the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Sacraments, or any other such part of our Faith to commit and/or justify violence, injustice, oppression and bias.  As God, the Holy Trinity loves each of us for who we are, we must also be open to God's grace to love others as Christ loves us.

Amen.


Prayers 

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us
your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to
acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the
power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep
us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to
see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with
the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for Trinity Sunday, Book of Common Prayer, p.228).

Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to
direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all
our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into
all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer from Noonday Prayer, Book of Common Prayer, p.107).

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).

 

Day of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Comes, Speaks and Transforms

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2: 2-11 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104 (BCP., p.736)


Romans 8: 14-17 (NRSV)

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 14: 8-17, 25-27 (NRSV)

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

Blog Reflection

To fully appreciate the awesomeness of this Pentecost, we would do well to understand it's origins in the Jewish Faith.   Pentecost for the Jewish religion is also known as Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks.  The Feast celebrates God giving the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai.  God's commandments to love God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength, and love one's neighbor as oneself.  The Feast commemorates God pouring out God's love for God's people with a call to do justice and live in thanksgiving for all God did for the people of Israel. 

As Christians, we celebrate God pouring out the fullness of God's presence and power by the way of the Holy Spirit.  The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ brings it's best and most powerful grace.  The out pouring of the Holy Spirit to come on those first Apostles gathered in that upper room.  The experience was so life changing that it brought with it the ecstasy of God's presence made real, and faith given reason to give birth to the Church.  The Faith of the Apostolic ministry becomes empowered to speak boldly about God's act of salvation in Jesus Christ, and to advance the arrival of God's Reign.  The arrival of the Holy Spirit unties the bonds of different languages, so that each person listening can hear the message of the Gospel in their own tongue.  The joy of God's love and mercy can be received by everyone, without distinction.

Psalm 104 blesses the Lord with all our souls, as the Holy Spirit is celebrated as God created all things.   All creatures great and small, are the product of God's Spirit that has existed before all time.  On Pentecost the prayer of Psalm 104:31 is answered.  "You send forth your Spirit, and they are created, and so you renew the face of the earth."   The prayer is answered for the Apostles, but continues to be the prayer of Christ on behalf of us.  That God's Holy Spirit will impart Her graces upon us, in this time, to be Christ's answer to how the Spirit renews the face of the earth.

The Gospel for today is so well fitted to what we are reading in Acts, the Psalms, and Paul's letter to the Romans.   Philip asks the question that all of us ask from time to time.  "Jesus, show us the Father."   Philip is blessed with the physical presence of Jesus.  He reminds Philip that he has in fact seen the Father in Christ.  Philips search for God is found in Christ, who is God's perfect revelation of Self.   Jesus' affirmation of Philips faith is not just a matter of personal revelation.   It is to be evident in Philips ability to love God by way of all that Christ has commanded.

The commandments of God in Christ are to be lived by faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit that is given on the Day of Pentecost.  God is present in the Holy Trinity by way of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so as to lead us to God in faith and in action through our daily lives as we love one another as Christ loves us.  It gives evidence to the presence of the Holy Spirit who has come to speak and transform ourselves and others around us.  To transform a world filled with the darkness of violence, poverty, prejudice, oppression, and injustice.  To transform the Church to end the sins committed by a masked religious zeal to marginalize women, LGBTQ people, people of different races, religions, people who are economically, physically/developmentally/emotionally challenged, cultures and abilities. The Church must be open to being continually renewed to become the Community of the Spirit, by extending our hands and arms in radical hospitality and reconciliation.  Ready to kneel down and wash the feet of all who come, looking for hope and a place to rest their souls.

This week, the Holy Spirit moved on the State of Minnesota.  On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota signed into law the freedom to marry bill.  As of August 1, 2013 LGBT people will be able to legally marry the person they love.  Minnesota's Episcopal Bishop, Brian Prior recognizes that within our Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion there is a diversity that must be honored.   This includes respect for those Parishes in our Episcopal Church in Minnesota that may chose not to bless same-sex relationships.  I personally would love to have every Episcopal parish agree to bless same-sex relationships.  I tend to agree with those who would remark that parishes that don't are not being open to the movement of the Spirit.  However, the Spirit moves however She chooses, when She chooses, and on whomever She chooses.  Even on hearts like mine that are so arrogant, opinionated, and often not as open as they should be.  It is so important on this Day of Pentecost to honor the Spirit moving as She does in the hearts of each person, including those we disagree with.  Oh, how I need to better understand that with love and compassion with them, as God does with me.   As with all Christians.

The Holy Spirit has come.  She has come to speak and transform us, our communities, ourselves, our relationships, our prayers. To renew them to be life-giving in diversity, and in common.

As Pentecost officially closes the Easter Season of 2013, may Christians move forward with a renewed commitment to love God, our neighbors, ourselves and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being with God's help.   May the Holy Spirit who came to speak and transform, begin with us and lead us forward in peace and hope.

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).


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 Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).


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).

Seventh Sunday of Easter: From Ascension to Pentecost

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16:16-34

With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

Psalm 97 (BCP., p.726)


Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 (NRSV)

At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words:

"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."

And let everyone who hears say, "Come."

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

John 17:20-26 (NRSV)

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Blog Reflection

I am writing this particular reflection at a fantastic time in the State of Minnesota.   Just this past Thursday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill that will grant the freedom to marry to same-sex couples.  This upcoming Monday, the bill will be voted on and likely pass in the State Senate.  Our Governor Mark Dayton is expected to sign the bill into law on Tuesday.   If all goes in that order, same-gender couples will be able to apply for State marriage licenses on August 1, 2013.   It is an exciting time for those of us who have been working so hard to make this kind of thing happened.  

As Jason and I celebrated Ascension Thursday together at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis, on the very day the House passed the bill, we sang probably my favorite hymn.  And it was the most appropriate for both Ascension Thursday and the events of the day.

When Christ was lifted from the earth,
his arms stretched out above
through every culture, every birth,
to draw an answering love.

Still east and west His love extends
and always, near or far,
He calls and claims us as His friends
and loves us as we are.

Where generation, class or race
divide us to our shame,
He sees not labels but a face,
A person, and a name.

Thus freely loved, though fully known,
may I in Christ be free
to welcome and accept His own
as Christ accepted me. Amen.
Words by Brian A. Wren
Music by Gordon Slater
See Hymnal 1982, #603


Among the many comments that have come since Thursday's historic vote, is the argument by opponents about "religious freedom."  Not to mention their concerns about children and families.  All of these are based on a weak, but very firm belief that anything other than the union between one man and one woman is detrimental if not destructive to the family and children.  They also believe that marriage equality is a threat to "religious freedom."   A great professor at the University of Minnesota by the name of Dale Carpenter wrote a fantastic article answering all of those questions.  You can read that article here.   

Another point about the debate in the MN House on Thursday, was how respectful it was.  There was very emotional and passionate discussions, speeches about the subject of marriage, by both supporters of marriage equality and those who oppose it.  But, one of the other great events we witnessed was how people's hearts and minds are changing in regards to LGBTQ people, couples and families.   Rep. Tim Faust who is also a Lutheran Pastor gave an outstanding speech.   In his talk, he spoke about how his views and understandings have changed on the issue of the freedom of same-gender couples to marry the person they love.  You can watch and read about that speech here.  You won't be sorry.

I am sure many of my blog readers may be asking yourself what does this have to do with Christ's prayer for the disciples, those who believe in Him through their word, and for the Church to be one?   With Christians so divided over everything from the economy, politics, solving the issue of what to do about out of control gun violence, climate change, women's rights, LGBT equality etc, how can Christ's prayer possibly be answered?  When will it be answered?  

To give us some possible answers to consider, I would like to reuse a story quoted by Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB.

Once upon a time, the story begins, some seekers from the city asked the local monastic a question.
"How does one seek union with God?"
And the Wise One said, "The harder you seek, the more distance you create between God and you."
"So what does one do about the distance?"  the seekers asked.
And the elder said simply, "Just understand that it isn't there."
"Does that mean that God and I are one?" the disciples asked.
And the monastic said, "Not one, not two."
"But how is that possible?" the seekers insisted.
And the monastic answered, "Just like the sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and the song.  Not one. But not two."  (Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. p.195).

The grace that Christians must be open to, is to be able to grasp the notion that God and us are not one, but not two.  When we are interacting with another person, we are interacting with Christ present in her/him.  It really doesn't matter whether that person shares our religious convictions, beliefs, practices or not.  What matters most, is to seek God and to love Christ above all else in one another.  It is the most crucial thing to do, but the most challenging.  Despite our advances in technology, science, internet capability, psychological discoveries, etc we have yet to end the divisions that are created by distinctions.   Whether they be by race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, economic status, health, employment, language and so forth, there are more excuses and reasons to be divided to our shame as Christians and a so called "civilized" society. 

I truly believe that among the things Jesus was praying for, is that those to whom the Apostles would reach out to in the Name of Christ, would believe in Him because of what they said and did.  Jesus prays that for us today.  Jesus did not give birth to the Church on that Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on those disciples, to become isolated by distinctions that cannot be reconciled.  This is evident in the fact that after the Holy Spirit came, each person listening to the Apostles speaking to them, heard them speaking in their own language.  Finally, the language of the God of love, through Jesus Christ and the Spirit was so clear, so understandable, that everyone could hear it.   Every person, regardless of their walk of life, was able to hear something about someone they could believe in.   They were driven to know God in Christ as Savior, Redeemer and friend.  By way of the Holy Spirit the distance between God, them and us does not exist.  We are not one with God, but we are not two.  That includes with our sisters and brothers.

As we await the celebration of Pentecost, we are asked today to find our oneness in Christ, not as labels, distinctions.  But as people with names.  People with hearts to love and be loved.  People looking for hope where they see despair and tragedy. People who want to believe without being told that there is no space or place for them.  People who can search for God just as all of us are.  In prayer, singing, reading, meditating and in one another.

Amen.

Prayers

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for the Seventh Sunday in Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p.226).

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).

Ascension Day: Celebration, Displacement and Hope

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 1:1-11 (NRSV)

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Psalm 47 (BCP. p.650)


Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Luke 24:44-53 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "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. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Blog Reflection

The Ascension for me has always been one of bitter sweet.   The bitterness of Jesus leaving us forty days after His Resurrection.  Why couldn't you have stayed with us, Lord Jesus, as we prayed for you to stay?   The sweetness is found in the answer Jesus gave us in John 16: 7-13a.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 

Jesus also goes to the right hand of God the Father, taking our wounded humanity in His crucifixion, perfected in His resurrected body, before the throne of God to intercede for us.  All of our brokenness is before God through the timeless intercession of Jesus Christ our only "mediator and advocate" (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Ascension is a day of celebration, displacement and hope.

We celebrate Christ taking up His throne in heaven. Jesus Christ has completed his mission in the work of salvation. Now He goes to God to send us the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.  Jesus Christ reigns on high with Angels, Cherubim and Seraphim serving Him in worship and adoration in the Holy Trinity.

The disciples however, experienced a great displacement.  A displacement from having Jesus alive and with them.  A displacement that leaves them wondering what comes next. They have heard Jesus' words in John's Gospel, but as we have seen before, they are quick to hear, but slow to understand.  The sense of displacement leaves them confused, lonely and wondering what to do.  The angel in Acts is almost no help.  They stand there gazing in to heaven, because their best friend just left them for a better place.  They want the heavens to open up and Jesus returns right that moment. Who wouldn't want it that way?   However, it is in displacement, that God does God's best work in and through us. That is what is about to happen on Pentecost.  But, for the time being they have to settle for being displaced.

Displacement is a good place for Christians to be.  It is from a place of displacement that we as a Christian Community can learn trust in God, as well as be open to what God does next.

I have been thinking a lot about displacement since I read a terrific chapter on the subject in the book entitled Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life by Henri J.M. Nouwen, Donald P. McNeil and Douglas A. Morrison. 

Many Christians have the disillusion that Community is about a cozy, warm and non-confrontational existence.   No change is necessary.   As long as we have our favorite pew, sing our favorite hymns and we use the most modern forms of worship to make us comfortable, we are creating a Christian Community.   However, the Christian Community of the Church cannot exist in an atmosphere of static, stoic and being abstract.  It must become a living, breathing and ever changing entity.

As the Church continues to move towards equality, inclusion and acceptance of all people, the resistance we are experiencing is due to the displacement many are experiencing with the changes.   If we have been taught to take the Bible literally in terms of homosexuality, then the moves by church groups and States across the Country to legalize the freedom to marry for LGBT people is a major displacement.  It means becoming unsettled for them, and learning to adapt is no easy task.   We must remember our own displacement when we came out, and had to re-establish our own lives around a new understanding of ourselves.  We were displaced.  Just as those who embrace the anti side are experiencing displacement.  The displacement in and of itself is a wonderful thing.  However, moving Christians to acceptance of displacement and seeing it as an opportunity for growth, takes a great deal of doing.  The resistance to displacement is no reason to discontinue educating people about why ending heterosexism, racism, religious based discrimination, violence and oppression is so very important. 

In his Prayer to Christ, St. Anselm of Canterbury prayed: "Most merciful Lord, turn my lukewarmness into a fervent love for you...."  Displacement is one of the ways by which God answers that prayer.  By displacing us from ideas and beliefs we previously had, and allowing God to remake us into more mature followers of Christ.  When we think of ourselves as settled Christians, we become lukewarm by not allowing the Holy Spirit to move us towards conversion and renewal.   Displacement put into the hands of God in prayer, gives God that opportunity to transform displacement into a fervent love of Christ in all people.

In the Ascension we have hope on the other side of displacement.  In Christ is our hope that the Holy Spirit will come and lead us into all truth.  One of the dangers that Christians must avoid and end, is believing that we have God all figured out. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. The moment we become complacent in our spiritual and communal life, we are no longer a growing organism.  We become a withered and useless weed.  The Holy Spirit wants to continually refresh us with the living water that is Jesus Christ, to help us reach out to one another in charity and love. To see in each other the presence of Christ, so as to practice radical hospitality, to foster healing and reconciliation.   The hope we find in Jesus Christ, becomes the hope of all humankind as we become His living Body, the Church.

St. Teresa of Avila wrote in her famous prayer:
Christ has no body now, but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
with compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good.
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
You are His Body.

May the Ascension bring us all celebration, while we embrace displacement and look to Christ as our hope.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, whos blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ
ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things:
Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his
promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end
of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory
everlasting. Amen. (Collect for Ascension Day, Book of Common Prayer, p. 226).


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).

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Peace, Compassion and Community Gospel Style

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16:9-15 (NRSV)

During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.


We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us. 

Psalm 67 (BCP., 675)


Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 (NRSV)

In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day-- and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

 

John 14:23-29 (NRSV)

Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."

Blog Reflection

This past week we witnessed major victories for LGBT couples and families as Rhode Island became the final State in New England to pass marriage equality.  Bills to grant the freedom to marry are now in the Minnesota State Legislature and Delaware.  They are small steps forward, but, important steps.  More and more people are understanding that regardless of one's religious beliefs and/or affiliations, it is not proper to use the Civil Governments of States to deny the freedom to marry for LGBT people.  Yet, as more States move forward and people evolve on this issue, organizations such as the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) continue to use religion and the whole "religious freedom" thing as their weapon of choice as a reason to deny the freedom to marry.  Just after Rhode Island's Governor signed the marriage equality bill into law, NOM made some silly statement that "People of faith are being ghettoized."  

We also saw Jason Collins, the first NBA basketball player come out as a gay.  Following his coming out, Chris Broussard on ESPN gave the standard Christianist response, suggesting that Jason Collins is now living in sin.  A channel that is suppose to be about the competition of professional sports became a vehicle for erroneous Biblical interpretations to be used to justify prejudice.  David Person offered his own commentary in USA Today reminding ESPN that the NBA is not a theocracy, and that Broussard's opinions are just opinions, and not every Christian agrees with Broussard's opinions about LGBT people, including Collins who is also a Christian.

On a completely different front, the Native Americans in the area of the Wounded Knee Massacre where many of those who were slaughtered, are concerned because a land owner is trying to sell their sacred land for a profit.  A people who to this day still have not been granted their full rights, and are oppressed, continue to experience tragedy and horror.   When will it all end? 

All of these events have something in common.  They show Christians making progress, and yet being held back.  There are doors opening for the Church to continue our Apostolic ministry of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through striving for peace and justice among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human person.   Yet, we also see examples of the Gospel being used as an excuse for cruel language and behavior that is so contrary to who Jesus Christ is and was.  There is a real need for a Gospel understanding of peace and compassion to become the means by which we do our ministry.

Every one of us, including myself is attracted to what the word peace means in modern culture.  Peace is that thing we all want.  No more wars, gun violence, street gangs, rape etc.  We want that peace that lets us be safe in the streets of our cities and neighborhoods.   We want a peace that is passive, one that does not disturb us, but lets us lock ourselves up in our own small world with our ideals, decisions and comfort zones.

The peace and compassion that Jesus speaks of in today's Gospel is the kind of peace that calls us to put the love of God, neighbor and self before all else.  It is a peace based on loving one another as Christ loves us, as we heard in last weeks Gospel.  It is a peace that will bring us face to face before the Cross on which Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the world, to carry our own crosses in our daily life, work and relationships.  The peace and compassion that is based on the Gospel is about allowing ourselves to be displaced as Christ was, to the point of living a life of service on behalf of God towards others in need.

The kind of peace and compassion that Jesus offers us, is not based on individualism.  Though it can certainly do a lot for us as individuals.  The peace and compassion offered to us is the kind that is expressed through community.  Community in which there is acceptance of each other, the willingness to struggle together through our opportunities for growth, and a sincere desire to serve one another in humility.  The very humility through which Jesus Christ "though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8 NRSV).

In just a few days we will celebrate the Ascension of Christ.  That moment when Jesus took our wounded humanity to the right hand of the throne of God, where He intercedes on our behalf.   As God accepts our broken humanity through Christ, and continually pours out God's grace and mercy upon all humankind, we need to respond to all of that with the willingness to serve others in God's Name.   It doesn't mean doing everything. It means doing what God calls us to do in our communities where the Holy Spirit is constantly displacing us, and calling us to serve Christ in one another.  It means being open to learning that no discrimination or violence is ever the will of God.   And, responding to prejudice and cruelty with a call to work for the justice, inclusion and equality for all people.

Amen.

Prayers

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good
things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such
love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above
all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we
can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).


Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, "Peace I give to
you; my peace I leave with you:" Regard not our sins,
but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and
unity of that heavenly city, where with the Father and the
Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p.107).


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, BCP p.815)