Today's Scripture Readings
Acts 16:9-15 (NRSV)
Psalm 67 (BCP., 675)
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 (NRSV)
John 14:23-29 (NRSV)
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
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.
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.
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)
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