Sixth Sunday of Easter: Say Those Words Again Jesus! Christians! Listen Up!

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:44-48 (NRSV)

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Psalm 98 (BCP., p.727)

1 John 5:1-6 (NRSV)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

John 15:9-17 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

Blog Reflection

In all of the Gospel readings we could have, is there one that is more profound and more direct than this one?  Jesus is calling those who follow Him to do more than lip service.  Jesus is telling us in this Gospel passage to do more than gather councils and proclaim doctrines, creeds and legislate morality.  Jesus is telling us that all that He has spoken and done will only do wonders for the world if we love one another as He has loved us.

The love that Jesus calls us to this Sunday, is a love that is ready to give up all of our self interest for the sake of the other.  Jesus is calling us to purity of heart.  To seek to love God through loving one another to give evidence of who Jesus is and what Jesus did.  All the preaching, story telling, labors for social justice and equality for the sake of themselves will lead us to mission accomplished; but for the sake of what?  Even that (whatever it is) is limited so long as we do not heed these words of Jesus.  "Love one another as I have loved you."

Our problem is that we think that because we walk around and call ourselves Christians, it means we are exceptional human beings. We have no accountability to anyone for what we do, say, think and how we respond to others as if we are the only ones who matter.  In these words spoken by Jesus who gave up everything out of love for us all, and taught us how to love our neighbor as ourselves in and through the Paschal Mystery; we have our assignment.  As Christians, we need to not only think, but pray in earnest that all of us will regard each other and those who are not Christians with dignity and respect.  No amount of racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, Islamophobia, etc. has any place to be protected and encouraged.  The love that Jesus commands of us, has no exceptions.  It is about helping Jesus to maintain His good Name as the One who came to serve and not be served. 

Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB wrote the following,

Among the ancients there is a story told that confirms this insight to this day:
"What action shall I perform to attain God?"  the disciple asked the elder.
"If you wish to attain God, " the elder said, "there are two things you must know.  The first is that all efforts to attain God are of no avail."
"And the second?" the disciple insisted.
"The second is that you must act as if you did not know the first," the elder said.
(The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century, p.21-22).

The spiritual life of the Christian is not attained by spiritual athletics.  It is lived into as we embrace one another, care about each other and respond to the Presence of Christ in each other.  In our individualistic society that rewards those who continue to threaten our environment with dangerous chemicals with wealth and security, or leaves the poor without the basic necessities of life while those who have double their amount; the message of love one another is only a myth.  Jesus commands us in this Gospel, to make the myth into a living reality.  It is about our relationship to Jesus and each other.  This is a commandment that is worth every effort and spiritual grace to keep on trying to do.  The reputation of the Name of Jesus Christ and the Church needs this now, more than ever before.

Help us, Lord Jesus to love one another as you have loved us.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good
things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such
love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above
all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we
can desire; 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 Sixth Sunday of Easter. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

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

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Forgiveness is Authentic Freedom

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 50:15-21 (NRSV)

Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?" So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, `Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves." But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

Psalm 103 (BCP. p.733)


Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV)

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,

"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall give praise to God."

So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)

Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, `Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Blog Reflection

The life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis was full of ups and downs like all of us.  Sold as a slave, yet, he had the ability to interpret dreams.  His abilities gave him a unique relationship with Pharaoh, to the point that after Pharaoh's death, Joseph rose to the throne.  The conversation between Joseph and his brothers in today's reading is enough for us to believe that reconciliation is possible.   All reconciliation needs is the humility to come to terms with what we have done and what we are willing to do to fix it.

Among the things that so many of us who are Caucasian cannot figure out is why African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and so forth are so weary of trust that Americans are really prepared to end racism.  Even well passed the time of President Abraham Lincoln when the thirteenth Amendment was passed and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. America continues to hold that white people are superior.  The shooting and death of Trayvon Martin and now Michael Brown, along with the various slanderous statements made to and about President Barack Obama, show how racist Americans remain.   The many gains of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their equal rights protections are a cause for celebration.   Yet, the tragic losses in terms of no actual immigration reform, equal rights for Native Americans who still cannot vote, African Americans and women fly in the face of what we are all about.   Joseph was able to forgive his brothers, because they were able to see the error of their ways.  If we are to see a better relationship with other races among us, we will have to recognize and seek reconciliation for the many ways in which we continue to deny equal rights to individuals because of their race.  Check out this article about 10 ways in which white people can fight racism. 

It is very interesting that the reading from Genesis, as well as the other optional reading from Exodus that have a connection to the subject of slavery.  It is interesting that these readings are included with the Gospel reading from Matthew.   These readings have two themes moving through them.  Interwoven within them is life has so many challenges that remain out of our hands.  Though we cannot control many of them, we can affect change in and through how we address them.  We can choose how much we allow what happens through the ignorance and/or full knowledge of others to affect our interior relationship between ourselves and our God.  We can also choose how much we allow what others do or do not do, to make a determination on how we will respond either in this moment or as we move forward.

Tomorrow, the Church will celebrate the transferred feast of The Holy Cross.  The death of Jesus Christ on the Cross granted us forgiveness of all our sins.  God in God's infinite love and mercy gave all of us the opportunity to be redeemed from all that keeps us from embracing our true vocation of divine daughters and sons.  We are also sisters and brothers in Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.  The parable in Matthew's Gospel reminds us that no matter how grave our sins and faults may be, God in Christ has forgiven us.   We are asked to respond with gratitude for that forgiveness, by seeking by the same grace through which we have been forgiven, to forgive others.   God is not unsympathetic to the struggles we have in forgiving others who have hurt us so deeply.  God is willing by God's mercy to aid us towards an authentic and transparent experience of that amazing grace that helped us to see, when we were blind. 

Forgive us, Lord as we forgive.  We have heard these words, sung them, and prayed them in the Lord's Prayer. We repeat them, because we are human. Today's Gospel reading tells us that authentic freedom comes because we forgive, and forgive, and forgive again.  May we never stop praying those words.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Proper 19.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted
high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to
himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery
of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and
follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for Holy Cross Day. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 244).

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Our Enemies.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

 

Third Day of Christmas: St. John the Evangelist and Apostle

Today's Scripture Readings

Exodus 33:18-23 (NRSV)

Moses said to God, "Show me your glory, I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

Psalm 92 (BCP., 720)


1 John 1:1-9 (NRSV)

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 21:19b-24 (NRSV)

Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me."

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"

This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.

Blog Reflection

From the tractates on the first letter of John by Saint Augustine.

Now this Word, whose flesh was so real that he could be touched by human hands, began to be flesh in the Virgin Mary's womb; but he did not begin to exist at that moment.  We know this from what John says: What existed from the beginning.  Notice how John's letter bears witness to his Gospel, which you just heard a moment ago: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.

Someone might interpret the phrase the Word of life to mean a word about Christ, rather than Christ's body itself which was touched by human hands.  But consider what comes next: and life was revealed. Christ therefore is himself the Word of life. (Liturgy of the Hours, Volume I, Advent Season, Christmas Season, p. 1267).

John and Augustine give us a very special picture of Jesus.  Jesus is not just someone who existed in history.  Jesus is so much more than a story told.  Jesus is God made visible and tangible to humankind in the Word made Flesh.  That tangibility requires faith to be guided to seeing and touching Christ in the various ways by which Jesus is made known.

John knows that what he proclaims about Christ is and was from the beginning, and even now exists, and will forever be.  This much we pray every time we pray Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.   It is more than a prayer of Faith as in what we believe, it is by this prayer that the Psalms and Canticles become the prayers of Christ himself. 

All of this may seem like theological stuff, but it is in fact more than that.  St. John the Evangelist wrote in both the Gospel attributed to him, and the three letters also said to be from him, the important place of love within the Christian life.  The Love for Christ, from Christ to us, and from us to Christ in others.   St. John makes it very clear that the worship of God in Christ finds it's meaning and tangibility when love is the reason and purpose of all we do, in the Name of Christ.

We can spend all of our time talking about restoring the world to a place of justice, equality with freedom from oppression and prejudice.  But, until we see that it is for the love of Christ that Christians must take their place and work towards these, the work of the Gospel will remain unfinished.  The Nativity of Christ of which we are still celebrating is just a really fancy bed time story.  It really is only meant for one time of the year.  As for the rest of the year, we are all on our own.  We left Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds etc at the manger in Bethlehem, but forgot to join Jesus as he walked with the Cross weighing him down and draining him of all life, because it just made us too uncomfortable.

St. John the Evangelist wrote about how real God was to him.   Today, Jesus invites all of us to make God real in our lives.   We are given the opportunity to make God tangible through Christ by our prayers and work to help the marginalized of society and the Church, including and not limited to LGBT people.   We include ending racism, sexism, the constant ignorance of the poor, the disenfranchised, the sick and so on.   As Christ was born amidst the mess of humankind, so God finds all of us and walks with us through our confusion and disarray.  God reaches out to touch us, so that we too can proclaim what we have seen and heard.

What ways might God be calling us to make the presence of Christ tangible?

If there were one thing you could do that shows God being authentic in your life, what would that be?

How might we respond to that tangible presence of Christ in those places and people where God is not so simple to find?

Let's take one idea from St. John the Evangelist.   Let love be one of those ways.

Amen


Prayers

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light,
that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and
evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that
at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for St. John the Evangelist, Book of Common Prayer, p. 238).


Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 101).

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Bread and Word of Life: Not Violence or Prejudice

Today's Scripture Readings

Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18 (NRSV)

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:

"Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

Psalm 34 (BCP, p. 628)


Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

John 6:56-69 (NRSV)
 

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Blog Reflection

One of the joys of being a musician is the ability to read notes on a piece of music and turn them into a magnificent melody with the harmony.   To someone who does not read music, the notes and staffs, sharps and flats all look like ink blots on paper.  It takes a skilled musician to read the music and give it life so that it goes beyond just a beautiful piece played or sung.  It becomes a living medium that moves the heart and stirs the soul.

Over the past 20 years or so, Gregorian Chant has made a huge come back.  When the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos recorded their first Chant CD, they gave new life to something that was considered by many to be dead.   They breathed new life into the lives of many people, with those simple chanted melodies and phrases that moved people to cherish a tradition that is long removed from our own time.  Yet, somehow, it is all still with us.  It is because of the Bread of Life, that brings the words of everlasting life, to all who will take time to praise God in what ever time and situation we may find ourselves.

I do love the Holy Eucharist.  The day that I was finally convinced for myself that Jesus is really present in the consecrated Bread and Wine, was a moment of conversion for me.  I fell in love with the idea and practice of receiving Christ in Holy Communion and seeking God's grace to be nourished and strengthened by the Sacrament.  However, every day, I am challenged in my heart, mind and actions about how I make the real presence of Jesus real in my relationships with Jason and others.   That is why the Eucharist is so important to my own life.  Without it, I would not be able to keep my faith in Christ amidst the violence and prejudice I have experienced as a gay man, and/or as a gay man who is a Christian. 

In today's Gospel, Jesus again tells us that he is the bread of life.  He invites us to feast on himself so that God may abide in us, and we abide in God.   There are followers in his audience who just find this too much to take.   So they leave.  Jesus asks those who remain if they too want to leave.  Peter answers: "Lord, to whom can we go?  You have the words of eternal life."

What so many in our time are looking for, is for Christians to be an authentic example of the real presence of Christ. To give life and meaning to the Holy Communion we receive and the Word we listen to.  Unless Christians are ready and willing to surrender ourselves to the will of God, by accepting who we are, and agreeing to love others with openness and inclusiveness, Holy Communion is just a potluck supper, and the Word who is Jesus, is just another old world legend.   How can we call others to believe and love, what we ourselves do not practice in our daily lives?

Over these past two weeks we have seen the Christian Faith once again used as an excuse for violence and prejudice.  When an individual running for the US Senate suggests that when women are raped, their bodies are able to not get pregnant, and therefore laws should be made that affects a woman's ability to make the choice that is best for her, the Christian Faith becomes an offensive means of brutality.  When whole political parties, claiming to be following the Gospel are prepared to take health care away from seniors and the disabled because of the greed of Wall Street executives, the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion, becomes Sunday morning snack.  It was good to share it, but it really doesn't mean much.  When money and greed is more important than helping immigrants find a home where there is no racial profiling or degradation, the Gospel is just a story book, by which it's main character is dead.

Jesus, the Bread and Word of Life, calls us to authenticate the one whom we receive, by being who we are, the Body of Christ.  We are commanded by Jesus, to love one another as he loves us.   To give of ourselves, our time, resources and even sometimes just holding up in prayer, the marginalized and oppressed among us.   This means that we open ourselves to opposing harmful amendments that ban marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.  The Bread and Word of Life, does not condone, nor bless the work of ex-gay ministries or therapies that attempt to change a persons sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, because of violence and prejudice towards LGBT and Questioning people.  Jesus, does not laugh when young women and men attending middle, high school or college are bullied because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.  Whether actual or perceived. 

When women, LGBT people, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, people of different races, cultures, classes and health are targeted and attacked socially and politically, Jesus weeps, because his message of salvation becomes moot and no longer lives and breaths among God's precious children.   No wonder people are losing interest.

The good news for us in 2012, is that Christians can still give meaning and authenticity to the message of the Gospel.  We can speak up on behalf of those stigmatized by radical religious and political groups.  We can act on the fact that voters are being suppressed all over the country with voter ID laws, by letting our governments know that we do not approve and we are prepared to do something to restore the right to vote. 

Jesus invites us to receive him in the Eucharist, and to remain with him, who has the words of eternal life, by seeking God at all times, and preferring nothing whatsoever to the love of Christ.  Hence, the two foundational pieces of the spirituality of St. Benedict.  We are asked today, to give life and meaning to our Baptismal Covenant, by working for peace and justice, and respecting the dignity of every human person, by standing up against violence and prejudice.  We can be people of radical hospitality and reconciliation, as we extend our hands in friendship and our hearts ready to receive and love others as Christ.

Let us all pray for one another to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, and ask for her leadership so that we can receive and live the Bread and Word of Life.  

Lord, to whom can we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  May we be authentic examples of what we pray and receive in our lives.

Amen.


Prayers

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 16, Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).

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).

You Feed Them

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 14:13-21 (NRSV)

Now when Jesus heard (that John the Baptist had been killed), he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."  Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Blog Reflection

The current economy is having a terrible toll on the rise of poverty.   More and more children are going to bed hungry in America. Families are finding it more difficult to pay for rent, medical care and food.  The gap between the richest people in America and the poorest continues to get even wider. 

People are not just hungry to feed their bodies.  People are hungry for hope.  People want more than just eat and be satisfied. People need to know love in their hearts and that God is never far from them.

It must have been difficult for Jesus to hear about the death of John the Baptist.  Jesus was trying very hard to get away and spend some time in solitude. As soon as people heard that Jesus was near by, everyone went to seek him out.  The people were hungry to be close to God. Close to God is exactly where Jesus was trying to go. 

In Jesus' wisdom, he reveals God to those who came to experience God's healing and transforming power.  But, there is something more that they need.  The people need to be fed. Jesus challenges the disciples to feed them, not send them away.  When the followers of Jesus brought to him all they had, the Goodness of God was shared with everyone who came to partake of all that God had. The hungry were fed.

Jesus whom Christians believe is God's perfect revelation of Self, showed God's love to be unconditional and all inclusive.  There was no one there who was not invited to share in the hospitality of God's generous grace.  People seeking just a glimpse of God's Goodness so that they may know that there is hope in an oppressive and painful world, found what they were looking for.

Episcopalians believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in Holy Communion.  When we gather to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord, we are fed with the Goodness of God that the five thousand experienced.  Everyone is invited to sup and receive the merciful and healing Presence of God.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people come seeking meaning and hope in their lives.  LGBTQ people experience a Church and society that is rejecting us on the basis of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.  We come with the same hungry hearts.  We come because we know that God has created us as we are, and God wants to commune with us so that we may know God's love.  We come with our spouses, relationships, wounds from discrimination and violence.  We come to find God's transforming power to heal us from Biblical literalists and over reaching Church authoritarians. 

What a joy it is that The Episcopal Church has been opening it's doors and altars so that LGBTQ people can approach and receive the Presence of God in Holy Communion.

In addition, The Episcopal Church has recognized that LGBTQ people are among those living out the meaning of our Baptism to be a vital part of the Body of Christ.  To deny access to the Church and the Sacraments to LGBTQ people, is to fail to live up to the meaning of our Baptismal Covenant.

Jesus continues to call the Church through the Holy Spirit to become a more inclusive community so that every person can find room in God's family.   

As we seek God's will in our lives, we come to Jesus and ask: "What would you have us do?"   Jesus replies: "You feed them."


Prayers

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 26, Book of Common Prayer, page 235).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, 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, page 823).

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Authenticity in Leadership Means Nurturing Not Domination

Scriptural Basis

Micah 3: 5-12 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets

who lead my people astray,

who cry "Peace"

when they have something to eat,

but declare war against those

who put nothing into their mouths.

Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,

and darkness to you, without revelation.

The sun shall go down upon the prophets,

and the day shall be black over them;

the seers shall be disgraced,

and the diviners put to shame;

they shall all cover their lips,

for there is no answer from God.

But as for me, I am filled with power,

with the spirit of the LORD,

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his transgression

and to Israel his sin.

Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob

and chiefs of the house of Israel,

who abhor justice

and pervert all equity,

who build Zion with blood

and Jerusalem with wrong!

Its rulers give judgment for a bribe,

its priests teach for a price,

its prophets give oracles for money;

yet they lean upon the LORD and say,

"Surely the LORD is with us!

No harm shall come upon us."

Therefore because of you

Zion shall be plowed as a field;

Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,

and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

Matthew 23: 1-12

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Blog Reflection

Today's reading from the Prophet Micah is timely.  During the past month and more we have seen the Occupy movements calling for economic equality and justice.  The CEO's of Wall Street and the largest banks in America have seen their profits rise. At the same time so many people have lost their jobs, homes, opportunities for higher education, some kind of future struggle just to survive. 

In an age bombarded with messengers that claim to speak for God, how do we discern messages that are truly life-giving?  With the ancient psalmist and the prophet in Micah 3:5-12, we cry out against the self-interest, greed and fear which corrupt leaders’ motives and rob social relationships of authentic justice. (Out in Scripture).

In America, a land full of technological advances, brilliant doctors, lawyers, financial institutions and more poverty is on the rise.  More individuals are not able to afford health care when they are sick.  The young people who are graduating from college are so in debt because of student loans with very little hope of finding meaningful and gainful employment.  People age 50 and older are losing their jobs that they worked years for their retirement, only to find that their retirement pensions have been eaten up by Wall Street. 

Yet, those who claim to be "speaking for God" in the Christianist organizations for America are on the side of the wealthy and those who discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. 

What we fail to understand is that when the poor and middle class in any given nation suffers at the hands of those who are not just wealthy, but also greedy for more money and power, entire civilizations and communities including the religious groups collapse. 

Such is what Micah is saying.

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul is calling people to remember the labor of those who are proclaiming a Christian Faith do not seek "power through domination" but desire to lead through the nurturing of communities of peace, justice and equality.

Many who lead our Christian Faith whether as denominational leaders or sit on individual church councils, eventually fall into the trappings of using their positions to exercise power at the expense of ministry.   Though many gain positions of leadership because of the good work they do, it is sadly not uncommon for them to be elected to leadership because of who they know.   Popularity of name and association at the expense of religious devotion and a desire to work towards authentic change.

The ministry of the Church is one that seeks to break down the walls of division and malice.  The demand for respect for leadership as a Bishop or Priest becomes first, while those who need to be fed or receive good council from the wounds they have endured continue to be ignored. 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people who continue to experience the marginalization of who they are and the relationships they create are expected to embrace full monogamy no matter what.  However, the Christian Church has yet to preach and share the Gospel in such a way, so that parents, friends, work places, politicians, schools, businesses etc, do not fear the worst or feel like they were kicked in the stomach when they hear about their dear friend being LGBT.  While monogamy is a beautiful goal to work towards, until the day a  young man can tell his mother and father that he is gay without worrying if he will be homeless after saying so, monogamy is just a restriction and not something they will want to do.  All the shame for being "promiscuous" by many Priests, just sounds like "there goes the Church telling me how to live" when the Church still has not embraced every LGBT person, family, and couple.  

If we are going to call for conversion, then we must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to convert us.

Jesus's call in today's Gospel is not a slam on the Jewish religion.  This Gospel today has unfortunately been used to justify the worst anti-Semitism.  Such a stance misses what Jesus is calling Christians to do.

Jesus is calling on all who consider themselves "leaders" to remember that they too are to be held accountable.  

We see in this passage an enduring challenge to demand for all leaders to be authentic and accountable for their just or unjust actions.

We also remember that we are all leaders in some way.  The call to authenticity here includes practicing what we preach, purifying our hearts’ motives for public ministry, and living in relationships of mutuality.   When we do these things, we place ourselves in a humble place, remembering that Jesus said “You are all students” (verse 8).  Such is the path that avoids imposing our own burdens and needs upon others for whom we are responsible.  Such is the path to inhabiting Moses’ seat (whatever the leadership role to which we’ve been called) as if we are on the holy ground of the burning bush.  There, we listen anew to the Liberator’s call to be agents of justice-making and need not be anything more or less than ourselves.

We live in a day when “All are Welcome” signs are posted outside so many churches.  Too often, however, the signs are only marketing gimmicks when churches do not truly offer God’s hospitality.  There is such a contrast between the open invitation and the congregation or denomination’s claims in its ordination position or its work for justice.  Where is the authenticity in such self-promotion?  We live in a day when leaders of both church and society may clamor for their own acceptance, status, material gain and popularity, and do or say whatever will gain them such security. Believers who do so cloud their discernment of God’s revelation and risk communal ruin.  Authentic lives, staying power and justice go hand-in-hand. (Out in Scripture).

Christians will never be authentic leaders within their communities, until many of the clouds of prejudice are no longer supported by Christians and our various communities.  The continuing mud slinging towards the Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, immigrants, women, LGBT and so on suggest that Christians are lacking in authenticity in our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus calls on us today not to dominionism, but to nurturing good communities where truth, justice, equality and inclusion are every day celebrations.  

When we work together to help immigrants bring their stories to our communities and make their stories part of our stories, then the Gospel is being authenticated through our actions.  

As LGBT people become ordained as Bishops, Priests, Deacons and lay leaders who help the Church become more inclusive to the point of supporting marriage equality, ending hate crimes and no longer demonizing people on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, the Church becomes more authentically part of God's reign. 

When the Church seeks out the protection of the rights of women to no longer be subjected to male privilege legislating their health care, job creation, education  and protection from violence and exploitation, the Church is authentically protecting the vocation of motherhood and the role of women.  

When the Church joins the people on Wall Street in calling on our government leadership to enact laws that defend the poor and middle class, and calls on the rich to ending their desire to dominate all of America, the Church is authentically participating in the mission of God's love and compassion.

God is calling on Christians to authenticate our vocation.  We must live our lives committed to our God and what our Mother the Holy Spirit is empowering us to do.  It is not enough to attend church services and exercise hypocrisy through fake political politeness.  It is important to be part of the call of God the Holy Spirit to embrace the lost, release those captive by political, religious and social oppression and heal society through radical hospitality and reconciliation.

Prayers

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 26, Book of Common Prayer, page 235).

Gracious Father, we pray for your 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 your Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816)

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, 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, page 823). 

Fifth Sunday of Lent: A New Live Lived with Authenticity for Justice and Inclusion

Today on this Fifth Sunday of Lent, I have a great deal on my mind.  This past week has been terrible with the budget fights in Washington, DC, along with the Supreme Court electoral mess in Wisconsin.  The Republican controlled House of Representatives are determined to wipe out so called "entitlements" known as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Not even on the forefront of the minds of those doing such things, are the millions of middle-class and low income Americans who are in need of the programs and services they want to eliminate.  All for the sake of giving away billions of dollars in tax breaks to wealthy corporations, and their CEO's.   All of the money in the United States can be found for tax subsidies for the oil and nuclear energy industries, while women's health care and programs that assist people in need, there just is not enough money for those any more.  I am going to say it, it is an ass backwards system.

How should Christians be responding to all of this in our time?  What does this weekend's Scripture readings have to say about the situation the Church and society finds ourselves in?   How might we become instruments of justice and equality where oppression and neglect are so visibly destroying the lives of so many people?

Ezekiel 37:1-14 (NRSV)

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord."


So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.


Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, `Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act," says the Lord.

Blog Reflection

Notice that the dry bones mentioned in Ezekiel are not one individual.  "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel."  A community once filled with concern for the stranger, interest in doing justice for those oppressed had become selfish and most likely greedy. 

As Out in Scripture says:

The well loved “dry bones” passage of Ezekiel 37: 1-14 dramatically illustrates the theme of the texts for this week: God’s desire that we enjoy not just life, but liveliness.

To live is to see beyond our own prejudices and deeply held "traditions" and see the names and faces of real people who need to hear and understand the message of the Gospel.  All persons are of high value to God.  God see's the "liveliness" in diverse groups of people, not just those who are Caucasian, white, male, wealthy, healthy, heterosexual and so on.   God calls upon us to "enjoy not just life, but liveliness" among all of God's people.


Injustice and oppression brings about death and destruction.  They dry up all of the running water and vegetation that gives life to communities of persons.   When people are excluded, people become proud to be alone and isolated from those who are different from themselves.  Out of exclusion comes greed and an unquenchable thirst for power and prestige. 


A great example of this is the ongoing problem in Uganda, where a petition of over a million people has been brought forward to pass the bill that would mean life in prison or even the death penalty for women and men who are openly LGBT.   This is the result of evangelists here in America, who have taken the message of hate into Uganda and filled the people there with the "false witness" of what LGBT is about.  Such moves are not about just being "correct" in their information.  It is about created dead societies of people who through the forcing of false information, seek to see a society gain a sense of "power" over people who are different than themselves.  It is a way of building a "society" that "fits" their ideals.

John 11:1-45 (NRSV)

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.


Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."


When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world."


When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"


Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

 Out in Scripture offers more insights.

Ezekiel and John 11:1-45 offer a different view. Indeed the sign of God’s presence and power is precisely in the body coming back to life. Homophobic culture insists that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people crucify their liveliness (live celibate lives) in order to be deemed righteous by the church. Yet, we must prophesy resurrection to all such persons. Just as Ezekiel summons Israel out of the grave of exile into its cultural life and liveliness, so LGBT people are invited by God out of denial and self-hatred, guilt and thwarted attempts at forced celibacy.  We are called into life (authenticity) and liveliness (passion).

In the gospel of John, life comes as we come out from the grave (closet?) and liveliness comes as we shed our grave clothes (unfetter the body).  It is interesting that at the end of Ezekiel 37:7-9 the disembodied bones end up with sinew, flesh, skin and ruah (spirit), but no clothes.  Similarly, Lazarus ends up in the same state with Jesus calling for the cloth to be taken off him (John 11:44). Nakedness is celebrated here as God calling forth new life.  Just as when we were born, are bodies are exposed without shame.  

In this message of life and liveliness, there is a sense of urgency. John unambiguously shows us Jesus’ error – he thought Lazarus would not die, thus he waited before going to attend to him. Yet Lazarus did die, and understandably Mary and Martha were disappointed that Lazarus’ special friend had not come when summoned. 

Do we also disappoint when we passively wait in the face of the death-dealing attitudes of condemnation, ostracism and scapegoating sometimes heaped upon LGBT people?  Who suffers when we have waited for an opportune time to speak? Or, when we wait for a better time to assert our rights to life and liveliness.  We invoke Psalm 130 to justify our waiting. Yet the waiting (qwh in the Hebrew) of the psalmist is instead an active preparatory waiting – as a runner in a relay begins running her leg of the race before the baton is passed. We must not wait for God to arrive, we must begin running before God hands us the baton.

Part of celebrating a life of equality and inclusion is living the fullness of who we are, with a sense of appreciate for God's beauty in having created us as LGBT.   

Heterosexism with it's insistence that all must be straight in order to be happy and healthy, shields not only LGBT people, but others from learning the truth about how wonderful and holy LGBT people are.  Homophobia which is the result of heterosexism, causes a fear and a reaction to that fear that is destructive for LGBT people as well as the Church an society.   

Because of how much these forces work against LGBT people, it is so difficult not to find within ourselves a sense of internalized homophobia, and live in shame of who we are.   Even though we may have come out many years ago, and are now living and working on our own.   Even if we find ourselves in happy and holy relationships.

Jesus calls LGBT people today, just as he called Lazarus to "come out" and live our lives as resurrected people. LGBT people are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live with a sense of authenticity.   We are not called out by Jesus in today's Gospel to live our lives ashamed of who we are. That is why LGBT and many others like us, need this Gospel today to remind us that God's wish for us, is to be alive and celebrating who God has made us.  

As God has called us out, so God also calls us to be instruments of equality, justice and inclusion for ourselves as LGBT people and many other's on the margins of socieyt and the Church.    

We are not called just to "lay down and die" when some Bishop or Priest says or does something that is utterly wrong.   Jesus calls us to "come out" and be the voice for those who remain oppressed because of politics, religion, spiritual and social stigmatization.   

So how can we take this Gospel and Ezekiel and affect change in our society? In what ways can we take the events of this past week and all of the evil that is around us in the Church as  well as all of society and be resurrected people, calling forth those communities that have become the dead"valley of dry bones?"

It is up to each of us to decide what we will do and how we will live the meaning of today's Scriptures. I think all of us knows where we are living as if we are dead. I also think that we also know that we do not have to remain dead in those places. Jesus calls us to "come out" and live as resurrected people.

Prayers

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Fifth Sunday of Lent, Book of Common Prayer, page 219).

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
        We have tried to live as we were taught,
        denying our bodies, denying our liveliness.
        Yet we have known this is not your way.
    We have trembled before the gift of liveliness.
        We have tasted it and turned away
        to inauthentic repentance and superficial guilt.
        Yet you pursue us relentlessly with your embrace,
        with your acceptance, with your love.
    Forgive us for rejecting your acceptance.
        Forgive us for rejecting our body-selves.
        We now accept your gift, just as we are.
        In the name of Jesus, fully-embodied Christ, Amen. (Prayerfully Out in Scripture)