1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16 (NRSV)
On David's return from killing Goliath, the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.
The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.
Psalm 133 (BCP., p.787)
2 Corinthians :1-13 (NRSV)
As we work together with Christ, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
- "At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
- and on a day of salvation I have helped you."
We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return-- I speak as to children-- open wide your hearts also.
Mark 4:25-41 (NRSV)
When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Blog Reflection
This afternoon I was present for and witnessed the ordination of 33 individuals to the transitional and vocational Diaconate and the Priesthood. The Rt. Rev. Brian Prior, Bishop of Minnesota and a large group of worshiping people became participants as these 33 women and men from various backgrounds, ages, races, sexual orientations, health statuses, languages and more received the prayers and blessings to serve Christ's Church in ordained ministry. It was exciting and uplifting.
Bishop Prior shared with us in his sermon that what the 33 people did was living out their calling as Baptized members of the Church. He also said that all of us, lay or ordained as Bishops, Priests and Deacons are given the mission of living into our Baptismal Vows. All of us as Christians, need to hear that message today.
Our Scripture readings this Sunday tell us of God's deepest desire for each of us to know that we are loved, we are sought after, and looked after.
God's great gift of sexual orientation and desire leads us to know of God's amazing love through the tender love of another person. The gender of those persons is not at issue with God. The relationship of David and Jonathon was obviously a lot more than friendship or just good buddies. David and Jonathan made a covenant to declare their mutual love with each other. As we read in the account from First Samuel both of them "loved each other more than themselves." They were bound in soul and body. Their relationship was a life of self-sacrifice of one for the other. A love that is so dedicated one to the other, that it is quite likely that Saul was jealous of their bond.
As we await the decision of the Supreme Court to decide the issue of marriage equality on a civil level, we also await to see what will happen as The Episcopal Church gathers for General Convention to debate the matter of changing the Canons in The Book of Common Prayer, so that same-gender couples who are blessed in TEC, are married and/or in matrimony. These are two big challenges before society and the Church. These are difficult times for the Church and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Yet, we are united with what our Baptismal Covenant as Episcopalians is about. Loving God, our neighbor and ourselves, and respecting and upholding the dignity of every human person. We are called upon as God's people in the here and now which is the day of salvation, to proclaim and live into who we are. As God does not discriminate against two individuals of the same-gender in loving and committed covenants with each other, to live in self-sacrifice; then neither should we.
When I read our Gospel Reading from Mark, I thought that it speaks eloquently to what we are all experiencing since the tragic shooting in Charleston, South Carolina this week. The storm clouds and winds of racism and out of control gun violence have once again pierced our hearts and terrified us. Our boats of personal security are being tossed by the waves of media storms full of speculation and commentary designed to inflame our suspicions and sensations. Yet, there are a few things that we are not hearing.
First, both the gunner and those who were shot are individuals of sacred worth. Whether black or white skinned, they like all of us are God's children. They have been created and redeemed to fulfill God's purpose in their lives. It is so very sad that the gunner did not have enough respect and regard for his own life, and therefore could not see the dignity of those he shot without their race being part of the equation.
Second, the issue of race and gun violence remain out of control. I know we have a 2nd Amendment to our Constitution. I know there are those convinced that the Government is coming after their guns and their right to defend themselves from an "oppressive" Government. However, we apparently live in a time in which those who have high magazine guns do not know or see the difference between weapons that help us defend ourselves, and weapons used to get someone they do not agree with out of the way.
Third, we have a serious problem when African American teens/youth are gunned down just for walking the side walk, with their Caucasian killers who cannot be fairly prosecuted. Meanwhile we have a situation in which a young white male entered a church in Charleston, South Carolina and opened fire killing and wounding people worshiping there. Then we hear of Christians claiming to speak on behalf of all Christians, suggesting that the shooting was an attack against Christians and not racially motivated.
Fourth, we continue to have a poorly made assertion that all gun violence is somehow linked to mental illness or individuals with a mental illness. Such a stereotype is egregious. The issue of gun violence needs to be addressed, as does a better health care system for those who live with mental illness. I continue to hold the opinion that addressing the issue of gun violence without doing more to help people with mental illness gain better services so they are better cared for, could not be more morally wrong. Negatively stereotyping individuals with mental illness as violent or doing violence and therefore must be further marginalized is also morally wrong. Such attitudes are additional examples of how far we have to go in terms of living into our Baptismal Covenant.
Finally, as Jesus was there in the boat with those disciples who were scared and their faith weakened by the storm, so Jesus is here with all of us during our tempests. We are not left to struggle with these issues alone and isolated. We are nourished by the Presence of Christ in The Holy Eucharist to be the Body of Christ in our hurting world. Jesus gets up with us, walks with us and strengthens our faith to pray and work together. Jesus empowers us by the Holy Spirit with gifts to be used so that God's Reign of peace and justice for all God's people may be a living reality.
May each of us answer God's call on our lives and walk in love together as Christ's Body.
Amen.
Prayers
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your
holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom
you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 7. The Book of Common Prayer, p.230).
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).
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).
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