Today's Scripture Readings
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 15:15-20 (NRSV)
Psalm 119:1-8 (BCP., p.763).
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (NRSV)
Matthew 5:21-37 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
How do we know something is authentic and transparent? We know, because it is more than what is on the surface, and what is under the surface gives new life beyond itself.
Last Sunday Jesus told us that He is the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus also told us to be salt that seasons, light that shines and gives glory to God.
This Sunday, Jesus is telling us that love of neighbor as oneself is more than just doing what the Law requires on the surface. It is seeing beyond cultural norms, common prejudices and suspicions. Love of neighbor means living from what is under the surface of the act. It means we see Christ in our neighbor and would not even entertain the notion that doing that which fails to show reverence and respect for the presence of God in one another. Because showing reverence for the consciousness of God, means that to injure that relationship is much too important to us to just ignore our gratitude for God's unconditional love.
The fact of the matter is, if Christians really did have a higher degree of reverence and respect for God's presence in our neighbor, many of the things we entertain concerning women, LGBT people, people of other races, cultures and religions would be the furthest thing from our mind.
In Chapter 4: On the Tools for Good Works in The Rule of St. Benedict, verse 50, he instructs us to: "Dash against the feet of Christ your evil thoughts, as soon as they come into your heart...." (Preferring Christ, by Norvene Vest, p.59). It is amazing how much power our thoughts can have over our heart and our actions if we do not keep Christ as the center of our lives. Not just in our personal prayer, but also in terms of what we think and do to one another. A Christ-centered life goes beyond what we pray, and becomes an authentic and transparent love of neighbor.
Yet, what we witness in our world around us and sadly by the hands and wills of individuals claiming to be Christians, is violence, disregard for the poor and the sick, irresponsible stewardship of the earth, and prejudice of all kinds.
A recent article written in Plain Simple Faith suggests that Christians immerse themselves in the Bible in a way that disregards the need for earth changing social justice in the name of sanctity. The article sings a nice tune about no longer opposing inter-racial marriage, but it no where mentions no longer opposing the freedom to marry for same-gender couples. There again, is that exception for LGBTQ people, that Christians can just continue to disregard their cruel rhetoric and speech with a religious based bias.
We also received the really sad news that the President of Uganda is going to sign the bill that will further criminalize certain citizens in it's own country, because of who they are, and who they love. This kind of thing is bad enough by itself. But, the very reality that there are Christians who support laws like this, is the Christian faith lived only skin deep, with a really big and angry mouth.
On the other hand, this past week when the Kansas House passed a bill that would make discrimination against LGBTQ people legal on the basis of "religious liberty", Two Episcopal Bishops in Kansas spoke out, and shared the Gospel of concern for God and neighbor.
We continue to have problems with laws passed that violate the dignity of women. The right of minorities to exercise the right to vote. The environment continues to be abused by corporate greed, resulting in the fracking of our drinking water, the land, our forests and our air.
In our prayers it is important to open ourselves up to the movement of God's Holy Spirit. The Spirit helps us in our prayers, where our own words and emotions alone cannot move the heart of God. (See Romans 8:26-27, NRSV). Yet, the Spirit also pleads for us to make our relationship with God authentic and transparent. So that the Christian Faith may be real and visible in the hearts and lives of those who profess belief in God by way of the Catholic Creeds, and the Sacraments become the means of grace that bring real life-giving evidence of God's revelation in Christ in our churches, communities and the world around us.
Amen.
Prayers
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 15:15-20 (NRSV)
If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;
his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.
He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin.
Psalm 119:1-8 (BCP., p.763).
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (NRSV)
Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not merely human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building.
Matthew 5:21-37 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not murder'; and `whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, `You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
"You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
"Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be `Yes, Yes' or `No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Blog Reflection
How do we know something is authentic and transparent? We know, because it is more than what is on the surface, and what is under the surface gives new life beyond itself.
Last Sunday Jesus told us that He is the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus also told us to be salt that seasons, light that shines and gives glory to God.
This Sunday, Jesus is telling us that love of neighbor as oneself is more than just doing what the Law requires on the surface. It is seeing beyond cultural norms, common prejudices and suspicions. Love of neighbor means living from what is under the surface of the act. It means we see Christ in our neighbor and would not even entertain the notion that doing that which fails to show reverence and respect for the presence of God in one another. Because showing reverence for the consciousness of God, means that to injure that relationship is much too important to us to just ignore our gratitude for God's unconditional love.
The fact of the matter is, if Christians really did have a higher degree of reverence and respect for God's presence in our neighbor, many of the things we entertain concerning women, LGBT people, people of other races, cultures and religions would be the furthest thing from our mind.
In Chapter 4: On the Tools for Good Works in The Rule of St. Benedict, verse 50, he instructs us to: "Dash against the feet of Christ your evil thoughts, as soon as they come into your heart...." (Preferring Christ, by Norvene Vest, p.59). It is amazing how much power our thoughts can have over our heart and our actions if we do not keep Christ as the center of our lives. Not just in our personal prayer, but also in terms of what we think and do to one another. A Christ-centered life goes beyond what we pray, and becomes an authentic and transparent love of neighbor.
Yet, what we witness in our world around us and sadly by the hands and wills of individuals claiming to be Christians, is violence, disregard for the poor and the sick, irresponsible stewardship of the earth, and prejudice of all kinds.
A recent article written in Plain Simple Faith suggests that Christians immerse themselves in the Bible in a way that disregards the need for earth changing social justice in the name of sanctity. The article sings a nice tune about no longer opposing inter-racial marriage, but it no where mentions no longer opposing the freedom to marry for same-gender couples. There again, is that exception for LGBTQ people, that Christians can just continue to disregard their cruel rhetoric and speech with a religious based bias.
We also received the really sad news that the President of Uganda is going to sign the bill that will further criminalize certain citizens in it's own country, because of who they are, and who they love. This kind of thing is bad enough by itself. But, the very reality that there are Christians who support laws like this, is the Christian faith lived only skin deep, with a really big and angry mouth.
On the other hand, this past week when the Kansas House passed a bill that would make discrimination against LGBTQ people legal on the basis of "religious liberty", Two Episcopal Bishops in Kansas spoke out, and shared the Gospel of concern for God and neighbor.
We continue to have problems with laws passed that violate the dignity of women. The right of minorities to exercise the right to vote. The environment continues to be abused by corporate greed, resulting in the fracking of our drinking water, the land, our forests and our air.
In our prayers it is important to open ourselves up to the movement of God's Holy Spirit. The Spirit helps us in our prayers, where our own words and emotions alone cannot move the heart of God. (See Romans 8:26-27, NRSV). Yet, the Spirit also pleads for us to make our relationship with God authentic and transparent. So that the Christian Faith may be real and visible in the hearts and lives of those who profess belief in God by way of the Catholic Creeds, and the Sacraments become the means of grace that bring real life-giving evidence of God's revelation in Christ in our churches, communities and the world around us.
Amen.
Prayers
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you:
Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness
we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your
grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please
you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).
Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).
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).
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