Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany: Authority, Evil, Salvation

Today's Scripture Readings

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (NRSV)

Moses said, The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." Then the LORD replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak-- that prophet shall die."

Psalm 111 (BCP., p.754)


1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (NRSV)

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-- as in fact there are many gods and many lords-- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV)

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Blog Reflection

My husband Jason loves the Muppets.  In the movie Muppet Treasure Island, Captain Abraham Smallet (played by Kermit the Frog), approaches in a stage coach that throws the streets in England in a chaos.  The First Mate, Samuel Arrow (played by Sam the Eagle) says that the Captain is so badly tempered that he has demons.  Gonzo, the odd one in the bunch replies, "He's got demons?  Cool!!"

Today's Gospel narrative depicts Jesus addressing an evil spirit in a man.  In His conversation with the evil spirit, the spirit knows that Jesus is the Holy One of God, and fears Him terribly.  Because Jesus is the Holy One of God, even the evil spirit obeys His voice.  Those around Jesus are amazed at the authority by which He is able to free this individual from the evil force that raged within him. 

The Biblical depiction if individuals with "unclean spirits"  is quite unfair.  Among the classic interpretations of individuals with unclean spirits is that it refers to individuals of that time with severe mental illness.  Such an interpretation has been responsible for individuals with mental illnesses to be marginalized and stigmatized.

At the center of this Sunday's Liturgy of the Word is are the themes of authority, evil and salvation.

As an individual who has experienced the abuses that can come from those who use "the authority of Scripture," I personally have an issue with those words.  I agree with Bishop Gene Robinson who wrote in his book, In the Eye of the Storm: Pushed to the Center by God,

"let's not forget that the real "Word" of God is Jesus himself. ...To elevate the words of scripture to a place higher than the revealed Word of God in Jesus Christ is an act of idolatry" ( Page 22).   

The authority figure here is Jesus, God's perfect Self revelation.  In this Season after the Epiphany, we are reflecting on the manifestation of God to all humankind through the Person of Jesus.  If the authority of Jesus is only limited to those of us who are classified as "normal" (whatever that means), then God is limited to a particular definition of persons.  As such, Jesus shows that by His authority as God's Son, He is able to address evil by name and call it out, and that He is the salvation for all those who feel that they have no hope.

Individuals who have been stigmatized due to the erroneous use of the Bible are set free by the redemption that Jesus brings; as He calls out the evil of prejudice, injustice and oppression by name.   The evil that Jesus addresses is an individual being so full of the evils brought on to him by the cultural notions and stereotypes; that the individual is deemed helpless to the powers that have seduced and reduced him.  The fear of others around him, also makes him susceptible to those powers of evil that bind him mercilessly.   Jesus came to him, called out the evil by name and set this person free.  He did not chastise the individual, assign him to an institution or declare him an invalid.  In fact, what Jesus did for that young man, was set him free to become part of the larger community as a person made whole by the grace of God.

Women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people, individuals of other races, cultures, religions, languages, disabilities etc., continue to be among those whom society and the Church make into "others" to be set aside.   Just this past week, the Anglican Communion witnessed the wonderful occasion of the Rt. Rev. Libby Lane ordained as the first female bishop in the Church of England.  The reaction from not too few Christians in various denominations and sects to the role of women in the Church, has been just terrible.  There is a wonderful podcast led by  Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, in the program All Together.  The podcast is entitled, "Sexism: The Original Sin of the Church."  I strongly encourage my readers to click here and listen to the program.  It is outstanding. 

The only way that the Church is going to address the evils within itself, is for Christians to call that which is contrary to our Baptismal Covenant out, and become individuals empowered by God for the work healing and reconciliation.  The greater acceptance of LGBT people, women and many others mentioned is so critical to the ministry and mission of the Church.  More importantly however, is for Christians themselves (as in ourselves) to acknowledge such evils within ourselves, let them go into the hands of the living God and find salvation in Jesus Christ as truly liberated and saved people.

Let the work of the Holy Spirit also lead us to be responsible and respectful people, to see that we do our part to care for the lonely, the sick, the poor, those who live in war torn areas of the world, and those right within our own communities.

May Jesus by His authority "save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.  For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are God's forever and ever.  Amen."


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in
heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of
your people, and in our time grant us your peace; 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 Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

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.  (Prayer for Social Justice, The Book of Common Prayer, p.260).

Third Sunday After The Epiphany: Jesus Calls and Loves Us Where We Are

Today's Scripture Readings

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (NRSV)

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do.

Psalm 62 (BCP., p.669)


1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NRSV)

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Mark 1:14-20 (NRSV)

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Blog Reflection

I often wonder what score those first disciples would have gotten on their General Ordination Exams (GOE).  Who would their facilitators been?  Even more so, who would have been on their discernment committees?   Who would their Formation Masters have been?  If a church body were able to determine their suitability for ministry, what kind of criteria would be used?  What might the Church look like today if a Vocation's Director decided that Peter or John were not qualified to be Apostles?

The readings for today are all about God calling us.  God called Jonah to go to the people of Nineveh.  Paul tells us to go on our way as if we have nothing.  Jesus calls those first disciples from where they are.  In Mark's Gospel, this narrative does not go one with the endless names.  It just gives a few names and says they left what they had in hand and followed Jesus.  It sounds to me like Mark doesn't want to waste any time.

God calls us where we are, because God loves us where we are in Jesus.  Jesus was God's prefect revelation in the human person.  All of our human limitations, potential and promise came to us infused by the Divine Presence in God's Anointed One.  "All the fullness of God's Divinity was pleased to dwell" (see Colossians 1:19) in our humanity in Jesus who came to love us where we are, and call us to do God's work in obedience to God's will in the here and now.  The obstacles we face in our lives including the labels others place upon us, along with whatever our history may say about us; prevent God from bringing us where God wants us, only if we put ourselves in God's way.

Though I am a Monk in training, there are so many ways in which I fail to be obedient, or agree to conversion of my manners, and evade God through instability.  God does not ask me (or anyone) to always succeed.  All God asks of us is to be faithful in responding to Jesus who loves us and calls us from where we are.  The way to holiness of heart and life is through allowing God to love us in the midst of our pain, disobedience and confusion and bring about God's healing and reconciliation in our lives and those around us.  In The Rule of St. Benedict at the end of Chapter 4 On the Tools of Good Works, he writes: "never despair of God's mercy." 

God calls us without discriminating against our gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, health condition, disability, language or for any other reason.  It is we who discriminate against ourselves and/or one another.  Each of us are called and loved by Jesus to do in this moment, in this vocation and doing this work what the Holy Spirit empowers us to do.  Whether that vocation is ordained ministry, parents, spouses, manual labor, religious life, lay people, teaching, social justice work and/or administration.  This list is hardly comprehensive.  I have left out a vocation that someone is being called to right now.

Are we listening for God to call us right here and now?

What are we ready to set aside to follow the God who loves us and calls us "by name"?  (See Isaiah 43:1b).

What do we hear God calling us to in the depths of our hearts?

Jesus is calling each of us to let Him love us here where we are.   The sky is the limit with the possibilities that are before us if we accept the love and call of Jesus.  

What will your answer be?

O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,
the fount of life and our true light,
we seek the peace your love imparts,
and stand rejoicing in your sight.
(Hymnal 1980 #649).

Prayers

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Third Sunday After the Epiphany.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole
body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:
Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before
you for all members of your holy Church, that in their
vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (Prayer for Mission, The Book of Common Prayer, p.100).

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and
obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, The Book of Common Prayer, p.255).

Second Sunday After the Epiphany: Listen and Follow

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NRSV)

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Psalm 139: 1-5, 12-17 (BCP., p.794).


1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NRSV)

 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food," and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, "The two shall be one flesh." But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

John 1:43-51 (NRSV)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Blog Reflection

A good contemplative loves the story of Samuel and his experience of hearing God's voice.  He is awoken by a voice calling his name.  He thinks Eli called him, but, it was not Eli.  Eli told him what to do the next time Samuel heard a voice calling him.  When God calls on Samuel, he answers with, "Speak for your servant is listening."

These words of Samuel, are among a good set of words to say as we begin the prayerful reading of Scripture (also known as Lectio Divina).   When we say such words as we enter into a prayerful conversation with the Word, we are able to redirect ourselves away from our inner noise and listen more intentionally to God.

Just in the first three weeks of 2015 we have heard about violence in various corners of the world.  The horrific episode in France along with the equally awful responses with rhetoric that stirs up more violence towards Muslims and/or Atheists.   Is there anyone who is willing to listen to God?

This past Friday, the Supreme Court announced that they will hear and decide freedom to marry cases for the States of Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.  On a building in another state was written the words: "No gay marriage, kill them all."  Oh, so charitable.  Is there anyone who is willing to listen to God?

In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus calls His first Apostles.  Nathanael is skeptical of Jesus because of where He comes from.  It is only when Jesus tells Nathanael that He has known him on a deeper level, that Nathanael acknowledges who Jesus is.  This exchange of conversation suggests to me that knowing who Jesus is, is intimately personal and communal.  God is seeking a closer union with the Christian through a relationship with Jesus Christ that is known in the depth of one's heart; while being expressed in the love of our neighbor as ourselves.

Why is it so much easier to live into a personal relationship with Jesus within ourselves, than to also live it in community?   Because each of us (myself including) thinks either too highly of ourselves; or, has such a low self-esteem that we try to cover up our inferiority complex by putting others unlike ourselves down.   We identify ourselves and our relationship with God because of how much we pray, what we know, our age, education level, Church vocation, psychologically nice vibes in prayer, etc. 

I have begun to read Thomas Keating's book, Open Minds, Open Hearts.  I am reading the book as part of my formation.  The book is about centering prayer.  Keating suggests that among the reasons that we drift away from God within ourselves and in our relationships with others, is because of how we identify ourselves.  Our thoughts, feelings, labels, images, ideas, etc which are good by themselves; but, when we begin to identify ourselves and our relationships with God through them, we lose touch with God as our personal center.  When we lose our touch with God in our own center, we can so easily begin to become tone deaf to God's presence in others around us.  We place obstacles in our relationships, and we become too self-centered.

Jesus is calling each of us into a deeper relationship with Himself, through our relationship with that spouse who is struggling with addiction issues.  God calls us to follow Jesus in that job that frustrates us to no end.  We are being called by the Holy Spirit to respond to the call of Jesus through the house project that seems to never get done.   If we respond to God calling us in that individual who is poor, sick, labeled beyond second class citizenship, disabled, lonely and without the bare necessities that we take for granted; we need to respond to God with reverence, respect and humility.  A humility that knows we make mistakes, but are willing to learn how to trust God through them to make things right.   What we are unable to do ourselves, we can always ask God for help, and/or for the assistance of others who can better help than we can.

Jesus calls us to listen and follow Him.

What will your response be?


Prayers

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word
and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's
glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the
ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Second Sunday After The Epiphany.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.215).

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

The First Sunday After The Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV)

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Psalm 29 (BCP., p.620).


Acts 19:1-7 (NRSV)

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied-- altogether there were about twelve of them.

Mark 1:4-11 (NRSV)

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Blog Reflection

Of this Feast of The Baptism of the Lord, St. Maximus of Turin wrote:

For when the Savior is washed all water for our baptism is made clean, purified at its source for the dispensing of baptismal grace to the people of future ages.  Christ is the first to be baptized, the, so that Christians will follow after him with confidence. (The Liturgy of the Hours: Volume 1, Advent and Christmas Seasons, p.613).

Today, we celebrate how Jesus gave us this wonderful Sacrament of Baptism.  Episcopalians and Anglicans take our Baptism very seriously.  We renew our Baptismal Vows at various times of the year.   Today's Feast, Easter, Pentecost, All Saints and at any service where we celebrate Baptism, Confirmation, the Reception of New Members and we even have a Rite for the Reaffirmation of our Baptismal Vows.  These services can be found in The Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 415 through page 419.

We continue to worship in a Church and live in a society that is divided by titles and labels.  Many titles and labels do carry some truth.  In the case of the Church, we have the four orders of ministry.  Bishops.  Priests.  Deacons.  Laity.  I am a Religious and a Monk in training.  There is a vocation and an identity within those titles and labels.  However, our identity does not begin or end there.  A vocation within the Church and outside of the Church is a path by which God empowers us to walk in the way God marks out for each of us.  A vocation is a means God uses to remake us into the person that God wants us to be; but our end is not in this world.  This is why sometimes it just bothers me to pieces when Church leaders are so eager to push their "authority" claiming it to be a matter of "ministry" or "protection" as a "shepherd."  Human authority even in the Church can make mistakes. Human authority can injure and be destructive to a person's faith if that authority is used carelessly and recklessly.  A clerical mistake in the Name of Christ, is still a mistake.  A mistake in which there should be more accountability by both the Church, its many leaders and its laity.  A Church that refuses to grow out of error, is a Church that stops letting the Holy Spirit lead us into all truth.

When a Christian of any vocation uses the Bible as a means of "authority" on an unsuspecting soul, especially a confused LGBT teen, or questioning adult, the fall out is disastrous to put it kindly. 

In our society at large, we have issues of racism, sexism, heterosexism, gender discrimination, prejudice towards people who are mentally, physically and/or psychologically challenged, the unemployed, the sick, the immigrant, senior citizens, etc.  All of this happens, because we use these labels to determine who benefits at the others expense.  The rich get richer and more powerful; while the middle class becomes poorer.  Those who are sick cannot get adequate health care or Social Security, because the really well off and the powerful control those in political power.  Even Christians sense that we are privileged to the point that we can determine that Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists, Wiccan's and more, just should not be able to have their own opinions or practices apart from ours.  In so doing, we render the Gospel of Jesus Christ powerless, by our asserting our own control.  God, the Holy Spirit is beyond all human control and certainty.  God is greater than our smallness and isolation.  God is God and we are not.

As we celebrate The Baptism of the Lord, we can rejoice as that God has identified us.  When Jesus came up from the River Jordan, God did not say: "You are my Beloved Jew (Christian, etc) with whom I am well pleased."   God also did not say: "You are my Beloved white man."   Nor did God say: "You are my lesbian daughter, and you have no right to love who you love."   No.  In Jesus, God identifies each of us as God's Beloved; with whom God is well-pleased.  Jesus is God's prefect revelation in the Word made Flesh.  Jesus is God's human perfected in our imperfection, uplifted, made Divine and redeemed in Christ.  All of us are also God's Beloved in Christ; and with us God is well-pleased.

Perhaps this week, we can all take some time to meditate, pray and act on that thought.  It just may be the sweetest and most wonderful thing that happens in this New Year of 2015.

Amen.


Prayers

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River
Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him
with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his
Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly
confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for the First Sunday After the Epiphany/The Baptism of the Lord.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.214).

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer.  p.816).

The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ: The Astrologers Got It Right

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 60:1-6, 9 (NRSV)

Arise, shine; for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

For darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you,

and his glory will appear over you.

Nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around;

they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from far away,

and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.

Then you shall see and be radiant;

your heart shall thrill and rejoice,

because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

A multitude of camels shall cover you,

the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

Psalm 72 (BCP., p.685)


Ephesians 3:1-12 (NRSV)

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

`And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Blog Reflection

This past Sunday, Jason and I took a small day trip to visit the historic Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour in Faribault, Minnesota.  It is historic in that it was the original Episcopal Cathedral of Minnesota  in which the cornerstone was laid by The Rt. Rev. Henry Benjamin Whipple in 1858.  It was also the first Cathedral in The Episcopal Church.  We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed ourselves immensely. 

The Very Rev. Justin Chapman, the new Dean told us all in his sermon some incredible things.  Among them, is that we Christians have often gotten the Christmas story all wrong.  The inn that had no room for Mary and Joseph was not like a Days Inn.  It was an inn with a family space and a guest house.  The reason there was no room is because the guest house was already occupied and the family room also had one guest.  The Manger would not have been a wooden cradle with hay.  It was a cave where straw and food for the animals would have been.  Therefore, the Child Jesus would not have been in the cold, He was laid in a very warm place.  Fr. Chapman also gave me a bit of an education about the Magi.  Notice that no where in the Gospel of Matthew do we read the word "kings."  Instead we read about the "wise men" and we do not see the word "three" in there.  How many men (or possibly women) were there?  Additionally, the Magi would have been the outcasts of the outcasts of their day.  They were astrologers who read the stars.  Some very good insights indeed.

On this celebration of The Epiphany, the center of our worship today is the manifestation of God in Christ.  Another word for Epiphany is "revelation."  Jesus Christ was the perfected revelation of God's Self in The Word Incarnate.  The visit of the Magi and the offering their gifts to the Christ Child turns the page on the Christmas story.  The twelve days of Christmas are over.  Now a new chapter begins.  The Lord shows forth God's glory by not limiting God's Self to only one people with one way of thinking and/or believing.  Jesus Christ is the revelation of how God seeks the healing and reconciliation of all people with God, even those who are not the most included or accepted.  On the contrary, in Jesus, God manifests the presence and grace of God upon the lowly and poor.  For "He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and dear shall their blood be in his sight" (Psalm 72:14).  "He shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, and the oppressed who has no helper" (Psalm 72:12). 

As the Church continues to struggle to be more inclusive and to share the Good News of Jesus in a world full of oppression, poverty and prejudice; the greatest challenge we have is facing the ways in which we have failed in our mission.  The Church too has our history of keeping the outcasts out because of our biases that we have in many cases nurtured.  Each time we discover something that we Christians have been getting it wrong, we begin a journey towards the Christ Child with the Magi to learning the truth about our faith in a new way. 

Maybe our journey will be guided by the astrologers who study the stars and their meaning again. 

Maybe heterosexual couples will learn how to better understand the value of their own relationships as the freedom to marry for same-gender couples becomes better known and accepted.

Maybe we will develop a greater understanding of how to eliminate gender bias, by learning to embrace and love transgender people. 

Perhaps if we allow our hearts to be punctured by the excessive racism that we saw in 2014, we just might do something about it in 2015.  

If all of us are really sick of our communities and schools threatened by gun violence; we might do more than just talk about reducing the violence, but actually become responsible and act to protect our children citizens and law enforcement.

Maybe we just might become better stewards of the earth and its many resources, and address the issue of climate change.

If the astrologers as in the Magi got it right about who Jesus was (and is), then so can we.  If the Magi can change the story about Jesus in a way that makes Him the Savior of those marginalized by society and the Church, so can we.  The Light of Christ is our guide to finding Jesus present in our sisters and brothers who cry out for justice, equality and peace.  If we follow the example of the Holy Family and the Magi, we can and most likely will make an impact on humankind that will be told in the here and now, and eventually into eternity.  

Wouldn't that be just wonderful?

Amen.


Prayers

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son
to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by
faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to
face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for The Epiphany.  The Book of Common Prayer., p.214).

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer., p.816).    

Second Sunday after Christmas: The Holy Immigrant Family

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 31:7-14 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD:

Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,

and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;

proclaim, give praise, and say,

"Save, O LORD, your people,

the remnant of Israel."

See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,

and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,

among them the blind and the lame, those with child and

those in labor, together;

a great company, they shall return here.

With weeping they shall come,

and with consolations I will lead them back,

I will let them walk by brooks of water,

in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;

for I have become a father to Israel,

and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,

and declare it in the coastlands far away;

say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him,

and will keep him as a shepherd a flock."

For the LORD has ransomed Jacob,

and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,

and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD,

over the grain, the wine, and the oil,

and over the young of the flock and the herd;

their life shall become like a watered garden,

and they shall never languish again.

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,

and the young men and the old shall be merry.

I will turn their mourning into joy,

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

I will give the priests their fill of fatness,

and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,

says the LORD.

Psalm 84 (BCP., p.707)


Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a (NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

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.

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 (NRSV)

Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Blog Reflection

I love paintings, windows and objects that depict what the Bible reads.  I especially love Nativity scenes this time of the year.  The image above in this blog post is lovely as it shows us an image of Jesus, Mary and Joseph fleeing into Egypt.  Giving us a visual idea of what took place in our Gospel Reading from Matthew.

However, there is one thing that is disturbing about all of these images.  Despite their artistic beauty and spiritual inspiration, they give us a false image.  The Holy Family was not from a Caucasian, Christian or wealthy family.  They were of a middle eastern, poor and Jewish family.  They did not set sail form England to look for the new world that the first Pilgrims found.  They journeyed from Bethlehem to Egypt to escape Herod's slaughter of the Holy Innocents.  The Holy Family was an immigrant family that visited Egypt.

In this Christmastide, we have been celebrating the coming of Christ in the Word made Flesh.  Jesus was born into our world of injustice and separation.  Our God who made everything, needed the help of his human family to escape a coming massacre.  Was God still there, or did God choose the easy way out?

One thing that I get from this Gospel story, is that regardless of our place of origin; all of us are visitors who are just passing through.  God came to us in the Word through whom everything that was made.  In Jesus, was God's very thoughts about who each of us is; perfectly made and spoken into existence.  The Church has proclaimed this Word on every continent, nation and corner of the Earth.  As God's Incarnate Word is not limited to any place or time in God's Divinity, so God is always present in every person created in the image of the Holy Trinity.  In our poverty of spirit and understanding of ourselves and others, God fills us with the awesome vision of God's Self embedded in the diversity of all persons with dignity and full of possibility.

We Christians must recommit ourselves to ending the racism, sexism, heterosexism, gender, religious and social oppression that seeks to make anyone who is different from us, a second class citizen.  In Christ, each of us are the apple of God's eyes, and held deep in the heart of the Incarnate Word.  Enough with the heartless and misguided cries that those coming to America as "illegals" come because they just want "amnesty".  Enough with allowing the wealthy to control our government, immigrations policies, the laws about equality for women, LGBT people, African Americans, Native Americans and more.  Enough with Christians using the Bible and the Holy Name of Jesus Christ as an excuse to ignore what the Gospel is really about; justifying actions and attitudes that are non-existent in the Person of Christ, who is The Word.

As we walk from this Second Sunday after Christmas, to the Manifestation of God in Christ on Tuesday, may we be ready to greet and welcome every person.  May we do our part to help make the Church and society a place where there is inclusive justice and equality in which Jesus will be received, healed and reconciled without exception or excuse.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully
restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may
share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share
our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Second Sunday after Christmas.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.214).

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the
earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those
who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people
everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the
nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh;
and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Mission.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.100).