Today's Scripture Readings
Exodus 33:12-23 (NRSV)
Psalm 99 (BCP., p.728)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NRSV)
Matthew 22:15-22 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
Another week has passed us with some amazing history being made before our eyes. Alaska, Arizona, Idaho and Wyoming have been added to the number of States where the freedom to marry for same-gender couples is legalized. The news that came to our attention this week about the remarkable, albeit small progress in the Extraordinary Synod on the Family in Rome, concerning language about LGBT people, divorced Catholics, couples cohabitation and birth control; was no small pill for the more conservative Bishops to take. The continuing developments at General Theological Seminary. Last, but certainly not least the Ebola crisis. For all of these intentions and many more let us pray, Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. Amen.
Here we are, with these Bible passages to challenge us in our relationship with God and one another.
Among the many things to be learned from those who are contemplative, is that God is closer to us through what is going on in our daily lives than we think. Contemplative prayer is not about seeing things as if there is some great mystery to be solved. It isn't based on whether or not the mechanical details of how to do it can be understood let alone learned. Contemplative prayer happens because of God's movement in the human heart, through the every day things that happen in our lives. In contemplative prayer we are given a vision of the things of this world from God's perspective. As we listen more and more for the Holy Spirit speaking and moving through those things and places that seem far removed from anything having do to anything about God; we discover God speaking to us in a way that the heart can receive only through faith.
Jesus was being challenged by those who are curious and looking for a way to stump Him. They saw things going on around Him, and they had an issue with His popularity. Their case for where Jesus' authority came from was met with a parable about who really is obedient? The one's who say no, but follows through with doing what is right, or the one who said yes, but did nothing. Some might interpret the parable of the wedding feast as Jesus trying to get His opponents to think a bit more carefully about what their motives are. In the challenge to Jesus in this Gospel Reading, Jesus' opponents are trying to make Him trip up using something that could make those who are following Him closely, reject Him as someone who threw them under the bus when the chips were down. Jesus' answer winds up disappointing everyone. The issue isn't what you should do, but whose is it in the first place?
This Gospel Reading has a special meaning in the arena of social justice politics. A few years ago, a group of social and theological conservatives penned the Manhattan Declaration. Those who wrote it and signed it said that they would go so far as to break the law to make abortion illegal and/or marriage equality from becoming legal. They cited this Gospel passage saying that marriage and the life of the unborn are "God's" and not "Caesar's" as in the governments to affect by their civil authority. Since that time, we now have 32 States with legalized marriage equality. One couple of two lesbians have been together 72 years, and they were finally able to be legally married in their home state. There are countless stories of couples who are weeping with joy, because they can finally marry the person they love with rights, privileges and responsibilities that protect and provide for their future. While those who want to take those newly legalized rights away in the name of their understanding of what the Bible "says" about homosexuality; those things that are God's to give to these women and men are healing wounds. They are opening many eyes that could not see the beauty of God's love expressed through a life of commitment and self-sacrifice between two people of the same gender in a life-long marriage.
In Psalm 115 we can sing "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your Name give glory; because of your love and because of your faithfulness."
Christians have the invaluable opportunity to use all the good things God has given us to do immeasurably more good in this world. We can make an impact that can make the Gospel a transparent and authentic reality through the radical work of hospitality, healing and reconciliation. The grace of God has placed so much into our hands that we can use to honor and glorify God in all things. Perhaps this came through a new relationship, a new job or a different place to live. Our perspective may be limited because of what we cannot see. Yet, through those things that elude our senses, faith can become the light that shows us a new path, through which we can know God more completely in new and fresh ways. Our response to the call of God on our life to give back what is God's is the first step we can take that will help those who are looking for evidence of the presence of God in our lives, find God there.
Let us all pray for one another. May all of us be thankful for what God has given to us, and respond with the desire to give it back to God. May an important part of our response to God's graciousness be to give those who have no voice, a voice in which to speak up for justice, equality and peace for all people. May we all give God the glory for all that God does in and through what belongs to God in the first place.
Amen.
Prayers
Exodus 33:12-23 (NRSV)
Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, `Bring up this people'; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, `I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth."
The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." Moses said, "Show me your glory, I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."
Psalm 99 (BCP., p.728)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NRSV)
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Matthew 22:15-22 (NRSV)
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Blog Reflection
Another week has passed us with some amazing history being made before our eyes. Alaska, Arizona, Idaho and Wyoming have been added to the number of States where the freedom to marry for same-gender couples is legalized. The news that came to our attention this week about the remarkable, albeit small progress in the Extraordinary Synod on the Family in Rome, concerning language about LGBT people, divorced Catholics, couples cohabitation and birth control; was no small pill for the more conservative Bishops to take. The continuing developments at General Theological Seminary. Last, but certainly not least the Ebola crisis. For all of these intentions and many more let us pray, Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. Amen.
Here we are, with these Bible passages to challenge us in our relationship with God and one another.
Among the many things to be learned from those who are contemplative, is that God is closer to us through what is going on in our daily lives than we think. Contemplative prayer is not about seeing things as if there is some great mystery to be solved. It isn't based on whether or not the mechanical details of how to do it can be understood let alone learned. Contemplative prayer happens because of God's movement in the human heart, through the every day things that happen in our lives. In contemplative prayer we are given a vision of the things of this world from God's perspective. As we listen more and more for the Holy Spirit speaking and moving through those things and places that seem far removed from anything having do to anything about God; we discover God speaking to us in a way that the heart can receive only through faith.
Jesus was being challenged by those who are curious and looking for a way to stump Him. They saw things going on around Him, and they had an issue with His popularity. Their case for where Jesus' authority came from was met with a parable about who really is obedient? The one's who say no, but follows through with doing what is right, or the one who said yes, but did nothing. Some might interpret the parable of the wedding feast as Jesus trying to get His opponents to think a bit more carefully about what their motives are. In the challenge to Jesus in this Gospel Reading, Jesus' opponents are trying to make Him trip up using something that could make those who are following Him closely, reject Him as someone who threw them under the bus when the chips were down. Jesus' answer winds up disappointing everyone. The issue isn't what you should do, but whose is it in the first place?
This Gospel Reading has a special meaning in the arena of social justice politics. A few years ago, a group of social and theological conservatives penned the Manhattan Declaration. Those who wrote it and signed it said that they would go so far as to break the law to make abortion illegal and/or marriage equality from becoming legal. They cited this Gospel passage saying that marriage and the life of the unborn are "God's" and not "Caesar's" as in the governments to affect by their civil authority. Since that time, we now have 32 States with legalized marriage equality. One couple of two lesbians have been together 72 years, and they were finally able to be legally married in their home state. There are countless stories of couples who are weeping with joy, because they can finally marry the person they love with rights, privileges and responsibilities that protect and provide for their future. While those who want to take those newly legalized rights away in the name of their understanding of what the Bible "says" about homosexuality; those things that are God's to give to these women and men are healing wounds. They are opening many eyes that could not see the beauty of God's love expressed through a life of commitment and self-sacrifice between two people of the same gender in a life-long marriage.
In Psalm 115 we can sing "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your Name give glory; because of your love and because of your faithfulness."
Christians have the invaluable opportunity to use all the good things God has given us to do immeasurably more good in this world. We can make an impact that can make the Gospel a transparent and authentic reality through the radical work of hospitality, healing and reconciliation. The grace of God has placed so much into our hands that we can use to honor and glorify God in all things. Perhaps this came through a new relationship, a new job or a different place to live. Our perspective may be limited because of what we cannot see. Yet, through those things that elude our senses, faith can become the light that shows us a new path, through which we can know God more completely in new and fresh ways. Our response to the call of God on our life to give back what is God's is the first step we can take that will help those who are looking for evidence of the presence of God in our lives, find God there.
Let us all pray for one another. May all of us be thankful for what God has given to us, and respond with the desire to give it back to God. May an important part of our response to God's graciousness be to give those who have no voice, a voice in which to speak up for justice, equality and peace for all people. May we all give God the glory for all that God does in and through what belongs to God in the first place.
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed
your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your
mercy, that your Church throughout the world may
persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen. (Proper 24: The Book of Common Prayer. p. 235).
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected. The Book of Common Prayer. p.826).
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