Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Living Our Faith from the Heart

Today's Scripture Readings

Exodus 17:1-7 (NRSV)

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"

Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 (BCP., p.694)


Philippians 2:1-13 (NRSV)

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death--

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Matthew 21:23-32 (NRSV)

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, `Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, `I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."

Blog Reflection

I am going to be blunt in this blog post.  We Christians can be among the most selfish of all the worlds religions.   It is easy to dismiss how much Christians think only of ourselves with ISIS murdering individuals of various faiths, in particular Christians who in fact are martyrs.  Christian Church history is full of real martyrs and self made martyrs.  Christians in the here and now, can make martyrs of ourselves, whether or not there is a persecution of Christians.  A great example of such is the whole "Religious Liberty" argument to stop marriage equality.  When we stop listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit within ourselves and in others, that we become so self absorbed, that we cannot see what is really happening.

God showed the people of Israel how powerful God was in delivering them out of the slavery in Egypt, and crossing the Red Sea on dry ground.   God supplied them with manna from heaven so they would not starve.  Now they are thirsty.   Just like they did before they went through the Red Sea, and finally got the manna, they grumbled against Moses because they had no water.   In both situations, they pleaded for the life they had in Egypt.   A life of oppression, forced labor and the killing of all the male children which were thrown into the Nile River.   In the end, God grants them what they wanted.

There are many things that St. Benedict shows his dislike for in The Rule. The one that he expressly forbade, was murmuring or grumbling.   His reason for that, was that murmuring or grumbling has the power to disrupt the life of the community.  When a member begins to grumble, the focus of the community is taken away from silence, prayer and searching for union with God.   Instead, the focus is the grumbling member.   On one hand, St. Benedict had the flexibility in The Rule so that such grumbling can be avoided.  On the other, if a member is endlessly murmuring, it is difficult for the member to pay attention to God in the heart.  In addition, she/he can distract others.    The best way to keep the focus on our prayerful vocation, is to eliminate as many distractions as possible.   St. Benedict wants the members of his communities, to focus on what God is doing in the life of the community.  To seek union with God through a continuous life of prayer and work.

The reading from Paul's Epistle to the Philippians and the Gospel of Matthew ask the reader to take our Faith to our hearts and live it from there.  Those who were challenging Jesus wanted to know where He got the authority to do what He was doing.  As Jesus challenges them with the question about John the Baptist, they are missing the point.  John the Baptist and Jesus are doing the work of God, because people who were thought to be on the margins of society are coming forward and experiencing a deep conversion that awakens in them, a heart felt living faith in God.   How far does that go?   The conversion experience means that people are feeling the call of God to be obedient from the heart, even after they have said no, like the first son in the parable.    The other son may have said yes, but in his heart, his faith was dead.  

This past week, many of us in the Twin Cities area received the distressing news that Archbishop John Neinstedt of the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, requested the resignation of a music director.   He was asked to resign, not because he is gay.   He was asked to resign because he married his same-gender partner.  Jamie Moore has held the job for 17 years.   Those who have worked with him all these years were aware that he is gay, and has a partner.  So long as he lived as a second class citizen without the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a married man, his job was safe.   As soon as he married his partner, his job as a lay employee was considered a matter that could "confuse Catholics about the teachings of the Church."  That is a paraphrase.   As if the blatant hypocrisy was not enough, a Priest who has been accused of inappropriate sexual contact with children, has been promoted to the Archdiocesan marriage annulment panel.   

Things like what I just wrote about above are why the Christian Religion in all of it's various denominations, including the Anglicans gets a bad name.   When people who are wondering whether or not God really exists, or if Jesus Christ really is the loving Savior read about things like this; they just find our Faith so difficult to believe in.   The same conclusion might be reached by people who just cannot understand why the faculty at General Theological Seminary in New York is on strike.   There is an impasse that cannot be over come between the faculty, the Dean, President, and Board of Trustees in an Episcopal Seminary?   Disagreements are one thing.   This kind of thing is a disgrace.

As I began this blog post, Christians can be very selfish.   We would like to believe that we own all the religions in the world, along with all the governments and provinces.  The fact is, we do not.  As Episcopalians, our Baptismal Covenant asks us to answer "We will, with God's help" to "Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human person" (The Book of Common Prayer, p.305).   When we make these promises with a sincere desire to be open to how the Holy Spirit leads us to live into that vow, and do our work even though we may say no with our voices, our Faith is lived from the heart.   When and if we do otherwise, our yes is lip service only.  

That is why the Epistle from Paul is so important for this Sunday's lectionary.   Jesus Christ did more than pay lip service to God and humankind.  Jesus made becoming a servant to humankind so important, that not even equality with God was something He exploited.  If doing so meant that he had to die the horrible death on the Cross, that's what He did.   Because of that, the Name of Jesus Christ is exalted and glorified.   How much more exalted and glorified is the Name of Jesus Christ, when Christians work for equality and justice to end oppression due to the sin of prejudice?  Is there any greater evidence of how real living the Christian Faith from the heart can be?

How are you being called to live the Christian Faith from the heart?

In what ways do you say no and do what you must do to live your Faith from the heart?

In what ways do you say yes to living your Faith from the heart, but do not do it?

This weekend, Jesus is calling on us to see the work of God's redemption in our lives, and to live from the heart the Faith we proclaim.    Now is a good time to respond to that call.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 21, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Human Family, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice, The Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

St. Luke the Evangelist: May Christians Be More About Healing and Reconciliation

 Today's Scripture Readings

Ecclesiasticus 38: 1-4, 6-10, 12-14 (NRSV)

Honor physicians for their services,

for the Lord created them;

for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,

and they are rewarded by the king.

The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,

and in the presence of the great they are admired.

The Lord created medicines out of the earth,

and the sensible will not despise them.

And he gave skill to human beings

that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.

By them the physician heals and takes away pain;

the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.

God's works will never be finished;

and from him health spreads over all the earth.

My child, when you are ill, do not delay,

but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.

Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,

and cleanse your heart from all sin.

Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;

do not let him leave you, for you need him.

There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,

for they too pray to the Lord

that he grant them success in diagnosis

and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

Psalm 147 (BCP., p. 804)


2 Timothy 4: 5-13 (NRSV)

As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

Luke 4: 14-21 (NRSV)

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Blog Reflection

Today is one of those days through which there are so many messages going back and forth in the news, politics and the Church.  There is confusion, pain, the struggle for justice and equality, a fatigue from all of the campaigning, and a fair amount of anger.   Every one is experiencing the urgency of the moment to seeing what can be done to get on the path towards securing some kind of certainty for the future.  Yet, there is still great hope, with a sense of cautious optimism.

We commemorate a special holy day on this feast of St. Luke, the evangelist and physician.  He is considered the patron of the sick, doctors and hospitals.  He is also the patron of the Companions of St. Luke/Order of St. Benedict.   St. Luke is recognized for the focus of the Gospel attributed to him, by which the focus of Jesus is the ministry of healing and reconciliation.  We can certainly derive that from the Gospel reading chosen for today's feast.   Jesus proclaims the reading from the Prophet Isaiah "fulfilled in your hearing" after he reads it aloud from the scroll in his local synagogue.   Jesus views as his mission and purpose to bring good news to the poor, release the captives, give sight to those who are blind and to allow the oppressed to go free.  What Jesus read and accepted as his mission, is the work of all baptized Christians.   As we are incorporated into the Body of Christ, which is the Church, we vow in our Baptismal Covenant to "seek and serve in Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself" and "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being" with God's help (see The Book of Common Prayer, p.305).

The care of the sick in St. Benedict's monasteries was so important to him, that he devoted Chapter 36 to the sick in The Rule.  Benedict instructs that: "Care of the sick must rank above and before all else so that they may be served as Christ who said: "I was sick and you visited me" (Matt 25:36) and, "What you did for these the least of my people you did for me" (Matt 25:40)."

What role of healing and reconciliation, might Jesus be calling us to today?

The Episcopal Church is experiencing a time of great difficulty, because we have taken a position with the Holy Spirit with regards to the reception of LGBT people for ordination as Bishops, Priests and Deacons, creating marriage rites for same-sex couples, non-discrimination policies for transgender individuals, and the ordination of women.   Recently, the Board of Discipline along with the Presiding Bishop have written a Certificate of Abandonment for the Bishop and Diocese of South Carolina.   

Earlier today, the Second Circuit Court ruled the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional.  

What direction for healing and reconciliation might God be calling the Episcopal Church to, with regards to the inclusion of LGBT people, and those who do not agree?   What role might God be calling on LGBT and allied Christians to help the Diocese of South Carolina and it's Bishop recognize their role in healing and reconciliation?

The issues at hand are not without their challenges.  The challenges are as much with the pros as they are with the cons.  The individuals on both sides of the debate are just as passionate about their call to serve Jesus Christ and the Church.  How can everyone remain at the table and talk, allowing the Holy Spirit to do her work of healing and reconciliation?

Christians have an unfortunate history of using the Name of Jesus Christ, the Holy Bible, the Sacraments to drive wedges between people of diverse opinions and ways of living.   Just recently the Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis told the mother of a gay son, that she could go to hell if she does not embrace the teaching of the Catholic church with regards to marriage equality.   Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings and Herbert Chilstrom, a former Presiding Bishop in the ELCA have responded to the Roman Archbishop's statements and push to pass an amendment that would limit the freedom of same-sex couples to marry the person she/he loves.

I think the Gospel attributed to St. Luke gives us an image of Jesus as allowing to go free those who are oppressed.  As part of the ministry of God, through Jesus for healing and reconciliation, we have a picture of a compassionate Holy One, who through grace comes to those who are sick with despair and a feeling of separation and isolation.  Jesus welcomes each with the love of our Creator to graft all of us into the vine that is Christ, so that we who can do nothing without him, may experience the healing and reconciliation that can only come from God.  Jesus does not use the Name of God to exclude, to act in violence or prejudice.  He comes as the perfect revelation of God, to welcome, receive, soothe and restore all who are oppressed and experiencing injustice to their right place as one created, redeemed and loved by God.  To call each of us to play our part in the ministry of hospitality, healing and reconciliation, by seeing in each person, Christ present: coming to us, sick, wounded, lonely, excluded and in need of God's mercy.  As Jesus has made us part of the Body of Christ, he empowers us by the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the Church, to help graft others onto the Body of Christ so that God's ministry can gain more people and become the greatest vehicle of diversity and compassion, that the world could ever see and know.

Is Jesus calling us to use his Name to be more about the work of healing and reconciliation?

How are we answering that call?


Prayers

Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician
to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your
Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power
to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Luke, Book of Common Prayer, p. 244).

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and
follow us, that we may continually be given to good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 23, Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

Gracious Father, we pray for they 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, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).     

The Rejected Become Lights of Hope: Good News for All the Marginalized

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 56: 1-8 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:
   Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
   and my deliverance be revealed.

Happy is the mortal who does this,
   the one who holds it fast,
who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it,
   and refrains from doing any evil.

Do not let the foreigner joined to the Lord say,
   ‘The Lord will surely separate me from his people’;
and do not let the eunuch say,
   ‘I am just a dry tree.’
For thus says the Lord:
To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
   who choose the things that please me
   and hold fast my covenant,
I will give, in my house and within my walls,
   a monument and a name
   better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
   that shall not be cut off.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
   to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
   and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
   and hold fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
   and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices
   will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
   for all peoples.
Thus says the Lord God,
   who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
   besides those already gathered.

John 5: 33-36 (NRSV)

You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. 

Blog Reflection

One week from today will be two days before Christmas Day.  The Advent Season will be behind us for another year and we will celebrate the arrival of God's perfect revelation of Self in the Person of Jesus Christ.  

A week before we are there, we are at this point with Jesus in his conversation in the Gospel of John.  As was the case yesterday,  Jesus continues to praise the work of John the Baptist.   Jesus says of John the Baptist: "He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light."  

This is like being outside in the cold weather for a while, only to find some warmth coming from a heater vent near by.  We want to stay by that heater vent and feel the warmth changing the cold temperature of our bodies that are out in the elements of ice cold weather.  Imagine what it would be like if that was the only warmth you can find for an entire day, because you have no home to go to and stay warm for the night.

Here is Jesus, even more rejected than John the Baptist. The message of hope that Jesus brings is greater, because of his intimate relationship with God.  A message of the desire to heal broken relationships.  That there is forgiveness of our sins through Jesus.  The world was changed because God entered into the human experience in Jesus and taught us that the marginalized do have a place in God's heart.  A place where thinking that God hates us, just is not true.

In the reading from Isaiah we read that the eunuch (the gay men of Biblical times) thought of himself as "just a dry tree."   Yet, God through the Prophet Isaiah is saying that the eunuch will be a monument and have a name that will never be cut off.  Those thought to have no place in God's house are honored as being models of hope and generosity.

In today's Morning Prayer, Psalm 40: 13 the Psalmist says: "For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see;  they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me."  

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people experience the kind of grief of the Psalmist.   When we hear of the Catholic Archbishop's prayer to be used at masses to end the hope of marriage equality in Minnesota, many of us feel like we have innumerable troubles. Our justifiable anger, becomes too much and we give into hate for one who is so prejudiced towards us.  Our Christian Faith tells us that being angry at evil is a good thing.  Becoming evil through justifiable anger by giving in to a new hate does not serve the cause of equality or the hope of salvation.   It is very difficult for me not to go there when the hurt and feeling of betrayal is so great.

The Psalms are not only a place where we lament our sins and recognize our need for salvation.  In the Psalms we also find reason to rejoice in the hope that "Though I am poor and afflicted, the Lord will have regard for me.  You are my helper and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God." (Psalm 41: 18-19, BCP page 641).

I believe that central to the message of Advent  we are now in and the Christmas Season that will be upon us in one week, is that God comes to us, to all of us. God comes in a special way to those marginalized and branded as troublesome and worthless by society and the Church so that they can have hope in God's incarnation in Christ.  In Jesus we see that there is no person or situation that is so detestably gross that God will not go there and be our companion and hope for salvation.  God comes to us as we are, rejected and pushed aside and looks to heal our brokenness that we may become "wounded healers" (by Henri J.M. Nouwen). 

As LGBT people and others marginalized by the Church and society, we can become burning and shining lamps. We can  take the message and example of Jesus Christ that comes from God, and be part of changing both the Church and society for the better of all people.  For Jesus has made us monuments and given us names that God will not cut off.  Many others who are foreigners in a strange land will find their way to God and keep God's name sacred by knowing that we were all included as being among the "least of those who were members of [God's] family." (See Isaiah 53: 5,6 and Matthew 25: 40).

These are the seasons of good news for all who are rejected and marginalized.  We have our place in God's house, where everyone is welcome.  We are the lights of hope because of God's marvelous grace through Jesus who is the Word made flesh.


Prayers

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (Third Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 212).

O God, you led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in every
place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word
and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the
extension of your kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd
and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen. (Ember Day Prayer, Book of Common Prayer, page 246).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

 


 

Finding the Greatest Among the Rejected: Thoughts About The Archbishops Prayerful Abuse of LGBT People

Today's Scripture Reading

Isaiah 54: 1-10 (NRSV)

Sing, O barren one who did not bear;
   burst into song and shout,
   you who have not been in labour!
For the children of the desolate woman will be more
   than the children of her that is married, says the Lord.
Enlarge the site of your tent,
   and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
   and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left,
   and your descendants will possess the nations
   and will settle the desolate towns.

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
   do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
   and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband,
   the Lord of hosts is his name;
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
   the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the Lord has called you
   like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off,
   says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you,
   but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing wrath for a moment
   I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
   says the Lord, your Redeemer.

This is like the days of Noah to me:
   Just as I swore that the waters of Noah
   would never again go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
   and will not rebuke you.
For the mountains may depart
   and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
   and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
   says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Luke 7: 24-30 (NRSV)

When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way before you.”

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ (And all the people who heard this, including the tax-collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves.) 

Blog Reflection

I am writing this blog post after having literally been shot in the heart by some news I have just read.  The local Catholic Archbishop has published a prayer to be used at Masses and other parish church functions that the Holy Spirit will help Minnesota pass a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality for LGBT people on November 6, 2012.  The betrayal that I am experiencing is very deep as a result of the use of public prayer as a means of promoting religious and spiritually based violence on myself and others who seek to have our relationships recognized by the civil Government.

In my anger and sadness, I decided it was time to write my blog today.  So, I turned to the Lectionary for Thursday in the Third Week of Advent and I find this Gospel about Jesus praising the person and work of John the Baptist.  The reading from the Hebrew Scriptures from Isaiah also had something positive to say to me in the midst of my emotional response to the spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse of the Catholic Archbishop's prayer.

John the Baptist was not what we would call the usual and typical guy.  He lived outside of what was considered to be "normal".   He wore the clothing of camel's hair and ate bugs and honey.  He probably was not a very clean man.  Yet, the words of this unusual man and his call to repentance of a people who were experiencing political, social and religious oppression was so great that many people went to him to be Baptized.

Jesus is challenging those who are listening to him to look at their motives when going to see this John the Baptist that was so different.  They did not find someone who could both talk eloquently and look like the drop dead gorgeous guy that looks clean and wears a $300.00 suit and a $95.00 tie.  Perhaps they were looking for someone to say "your religious and political leaders are doing such noble and holy work.  Trust in God and be polite to them.  Everything will work out just fine."  But, that is not what they found.

Instead they found someone who was preparing the way for God to come to them, by calling everyone from the person in the highest political and religious position to those looking for a reason to hold on another day, to repent of their sins and recreate a place where everyone can find hope in God.  Not only in their communities, but in their hearts.

Jesus said: "I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’  Jesus recognized the power of God in one who was so different, and the greatness of God's work through someone who was so rejected.

I think that Jesus would say the same about women and men who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer (LGBTQ) today.

The LGBT people who served in secret in the United States Military while Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the law, and now can serve openly since the law's repeal are the greatest among those rejected.  It was assumed that if they are open about their sexuality that they were not qualified to serve and defend our freedoms.  Because they and other LGBT and allied Americans would not accept that answer, we worked together to repeal the law.  And thank God for all our women and men in uniform, including our LGBT soldiers. Even with Rick Perry's shameful ad suggesting that there is something wrong in America with gays being allowed to serve openly, while falsely stating that children in school cannot pray or celebrate Christmas.  Please see my blog post with Bishop Gene Robinson's articulate response to Rick Perry from this past Monday.  It is a response that is both just and holy.

Many of us LGBT people often feel like we are among those that God abandoned for a brief time like in Isaiah 54: 7, because of religious based bigotry and oppression.  Regardless of what religious tradition we come from, or even if we are not religious at all.  It can seem like Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics/Episcopalians/Anglicans/Orthodox/Lutherans etc are given God's authority to continue pastoral and religious based violence towards LGBT people.   No wonder so many LGBT people just can't be part of any kind of organized religion.  Many good hearted LGBT people prefer to be considered as spiritual, but not religious.  Many say they are Christian, but just won't attend a church service or listen to a preacher for fear of what they might hear or experience.  They may say like Bishop Robinson only with different words.  If this is Christianity count me out.

Let us confront two major problems in light of the person of Jesus and John the Baptist.

For Christians, we feel that the verses in Isaiah 53 have something to say about the suffering and death of Jesus.   "He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hid their faces...." (Isaiah 53:3).   Jesus was a man who experience rejection.  The rejection came from those who held religious authority & political authority in his time.  Yet, his rejection and even his horrible death on the Cross brought about the redemption of those who respond to God through the Christian message of salvation.  

Just as John the Baptist, Jesus is an example of someone who was rejected, yet was the greatest among people.  Rather than accept his rejection, but use it to feel sorry for himself and just isolated and inactive in the lives of others who were rejected, Jesus chose to do just the opposite.  Jesus identified with others who were marginalized and rejected.  Jesus healed the sick, saw the beauty and holiness of the eunuchs (the gay men of his time) and affirmed God's creative and redemptive possibilities for everyone. Jesus even put a face on the dead and gave them new hope for eternal life.

I have written before and will continue to write that if Jesus had harsh words for anyone, it was said to those who felt that God owed them something. Just because they were in a place of high prestige and were so deserving of God's graciousness for being so damned wonderful.  Jesus' harsh reminder of who they were not, was probably what got him in so much trouble.  But, that did not stop Jesus from doing God's will in bringing the hope of salvation to all who sought God's grace through him.

The message of the Christian Faith and the Gospel is not meant to be the weapon of mass destruction in a prayer by Archbishop Neinstedt or a political attack ad by Gov. Rick Perry.  They do not speak for all Christians, nor do their words and behaviors represent the best of what Christianity is or is to be.

The Christianity that I chose to be part of asks of people being to be Baptized: "Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself ?"   They also ask: "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being ?"  To both questions, the response is: "I will, with God's help."  Not only does the Episcopal Church ask that of those preparing for Baptism, but also those who are already Baptized to recommit ourselves to those vows.

The response of Bishop Brian Prior of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota is as follows:

From its very origins, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota has always stood with the marginalized. Race, ethnicity, gender, gender orientation or immigrant we have embraced both the Gospel mandate of love of neighbor and the Baptismal Covenant imperative to respect the dignity of every human being. Any actions, whether sacred or secular — such as the proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit our LGBT brothers and sisters from the rights and privileges that the rest of Minnesotans enjoy - are considered to be marginalizing and contrary to the Gospel, the Baptismal Covenant and our history.

The Rt. Rev. Brian N. Prior
IX Bishop, Episcopal Church of Minnesota

The Statement by the Episcopal Church of Minnesota concerning the Minnesota Marriage Amendment vote is as follows:

Resolved, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota opposes the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Minnesota banning same-sex marriage. Furthermore the Church will join other denominations and non-profit organizations in signing the “Resolution against the Constitutional Amendment to Ban Marriage for Same-Sex Couples” as prepared and presented by Minnesotans United for All Families:

‘We oppose the amendment to the Minnesota Constitution banning same-sex marriage. Minnesotans United for All Families may use my organization’s name in opposition to the constitutional amendment banning the legal recognition of same-sex couples.’

I believe that the Sacred Heart of Jesus that was wounded by our sins, is even more grieved when someone who claims to represent Jesus in an authoritative position misuses his place to promote spiritual and pastoral violence towards LGBT people who would like the opportunity to be married in the State of Minnesota.

In our anger and grief, God in Jesus by the Holy Spirit draws ever closer to us to console us.  (See 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7).  God tells us that we have every right and cause to be angry, feel sadness and rejection. and to mourn what we feel.  God comes to help us to tell God how angry and sad we are.  But God comes like a mother in the Holy Spirit to say that God does not reject us because we are LGBT.  God comes as our Savior in Jesus to identify with our experience of rejection, to offer healing and inspire us to be part of sharing the inclusive and loving message the God rejects no one. 

Then we can say with the Psalmist: "I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up and have not let my enemies triumph over me.  O Lord my God, I cried to you, and you restored me to health." (Psalm 30, Book of Common Prayer, page 621).

May we know that God finds the greatest among those who have been rejected.


Prayers

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, page 212).

Gracious Father, we pray for they 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.(Book of Common Prayer, page 816)

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and
keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home
and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP. Page 823).