Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Hospitality, Peace and St. Benedict

Today's Scripture Readings


Isaiah 66:10-14 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:

"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy,

all you who mourn over her--

that you may nurse and be satisfied

from her consoling breast;

that you may drink deeply with delight

from her glorious bosom.

For thus says the LORD:

I will extend prosperity to her like a river,

and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;

and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm,

and dandled on her knees.

As a mother comforts her child,

so I will comfort you;

you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;

your bodies shall flourish like the grass;

and it shall be known that the hand of the LORD is with his servants,

and his indignation is against his enemies. "

Psalm 66 (BCP., p.673)


Galatians 6:1-16 (NRSV)

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.
Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised-- only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule-- peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 (NRSV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'

"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Blog Reflection 

One of the meanings of the name: Jerusalem is "City of Peace."  One would never know that by all of the things that happened to Jerusalem in the Bible, and even to this day.  No city in the world is more popular than Jerusalem for various reasons, not the least of which is religion. Three of the world's best known religions have their heritage in Jerusalem.  Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  If religion itself is not the cause of much of Jerusalem's troubles, politics and who actually gets to claim ownership to it never quite seems to be an answered question.

Despite all her troubles, God is never absent from Jerusalem.  The affection God feels towards the people of Israel is always present in one way or another.  Time and again, God has sent prophetic witnesses and others to bring comfort to her, so that others may receive consolation from this historic city.  God gives those who come to find solace in Jerusalem will experience God claiming them as God's own, whom God will care for.  They will not grow hungry, nor will they be without healing.  God will always extend welcome and give hope.

We are all living through times when things are changing so rapidly wherever we are.  The economy continues to be sluggish.  Jobs are not all that numerous, and the problems of poverty, prejudice and violence continue to fill the airwaves of radio, television and the internet.  God is calling all of us to become part of the ministry of hospitality, peace and reconciliation.  God encourages us to embrace one another as we face the challenges of daily life, and find consolation in the Holy Spirit.  The most visible form of God's compassion for all people, is when those who know God in their personal lives reach out to others who are hurting to offer them support and friendship.  We don't have to have answers to their problems.  All that is often needed is someone to listen, and give them a sense that there are those who care about what is happening in their lives.  

In today's Gospel, Jesus sends out the seventy without purse or anything to lean on.  Anything that they might have clung to for their personal security was to be given over so that they may find their needs met by God reaching out to them through others, so that they could be part of the ministry of hospitality and peace.   They are told to go where they are welcomed.  Notice here, that Jesus tells them about those who will not receive them in hospitality.  Sodom and Gomorrah that was destroyed for their lack of hospitality and not homosexuality, is judged to be better off than a city who will not welcome His followers.   What kind of peace then, might Jesus be asking the seventy to share?

The disciples are to share a peace (Latin word: pax) that is not just a matter of the absence of conflict.  The people of that time were living in an era of constant violence and economic oppression.  The peace that Jesus tells them to offer is that peace that comes with the ability to trust oneself into the care of God, so that even if one has to give up everything for the sake of the other, they are at peace within themselves to do so.  Hospitality is not about airplanes, hotels and fancy restaurants.  I know they call that the "hospitality industry."  That is hospitality by way of what one is willing to pay for the convenience of being pampered.  Hospitality in this sense, and also what St. Benedict mentioned in his Rule is to receive another as Christ, Himself and to show reverence for God within the other person.  This kind of hospitality is not about convenience for the one extending a welcome, it is for the benefit of the one(s) receiving the hospitality and peace.  It is not based on our preconceived notions and negative stereotypes.   It is based on the understanding that God creates and redeems everyone through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And that, we too are called to share in the work of redemption by giving of ourselves for the benefit of others.

I would suggest that one of the points that needs to be made in favor of marriage equality for LGBT people, is that to give them the opportunity for the rights and responsibilities that come with marriage is a great work of hospitality.  To allow LGBT people to strengthen what marriage means by demonstrating that it is about love, commitment and responsibility so that everyone in society benefits from this holy institution.   Bishop Gene Robinson makes an outstanding case for such an understanding in his book: God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage.

Far from undermining marriage, gay and lesbian couples seeking marriage for themselves are perhaps the institution's best friends.  At a time when marriage is seen as less desirable and less necessary for straight couples, gay and lesbian people are lining up at town halls and church doors to participate in this traditional and long-standing institution.

Gay Marriage not only doesn't undermine the institution of marriage; it actually lends credence and support to marriage at a time when it is threatened and undermined by a wide range of circumstances.  Champions of marriage should be delighted at the prospect of gay men and lesbians seeking to join in the tradition and practice of marriage (p. 136).

The matter of hospitality and peace should be our encouragement to work towards effective and comprehensive immigration reform.  

As Americans we should be appalled by any law that would restrict the rights of any woman or man from exercising their right to vote due to race or any other reason.  

Hospitality as understood by the Gospel means we give up our comfort zones and allow others to share in that which we so often take for granted.   It means that we commit ourselves to taking better care of the environment, because we are not the only ones who benefit from what we enjoy now.  Nor are we the only ones who suffer the consequences of what we fail to do to take better care of God's earth than we are now.  

Hospitality also means we take better care for people who are affected by mental illness, and regulate dangerous weapons. 

Hospitality means that we care about the health care rights and opportunities for women, and seek a greater accountability from men who exploit women by gender discrimination exemplified in our present politics.   

As we continue to celebrate our Independence Day Weekend, may we take seriously our responsibility to be a welcoming people, who give peace to those who still long for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments
by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your
Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole
heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 9, Book of Common Prayer, p.230).


Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the
earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace:
Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the
strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in
accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Prayer for the Nation, Book of Common Prayer, p.258).


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).