First Sunday After Pentecost: Trinity Sunday: It Is About Relationships

Today's Scripture Readings

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (NRSV)

Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

"To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of long ago.

Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth--

when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world's first bits of soil.

When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,

when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master worker;

and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,

rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race."

Canticle 13 (The Book of Common Prayer, p.90).


Romans 5:1-5 (NRSV)

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

John 16:12-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Blog Reflection

I recently had an experience on Facebook.  

Among the many posts that are appear on my feed from time to time are written to say things like, "If you love me, please copy and past this message in your status and post it.  I bet most of you won't.  If you do copy and post this message as I have asked, I will know that you love me."

I really do not like posts such as that.  Among my many reasons is that it encourages us to type and post something like that on Facebook than it is to say such things in person.  I also feel that such posts are suggestive of manipulating readers to say what the author whats to hear, rather than giving the other person the option to say something on their own.  Lastly, they often make me wonder about the genuineness of the original writer of the post and those who copy, paste and repost them.   Is it just to get it out of the way?  Is it real and heart felt?   Do we really know?   I am not so sure, nor can I be.  This is why I tend not to copy and paste them.  I will sometimes write the individual a private message to say it for real to the other person, or simply not pay much attention.

This past week, I did a whole 80 degree turn on one particular post.  The post read, "If you call yourself my family hit the like button and copy this on your status and when I see your name I'll know who my real family is, blood or not... Here we go!!😀"  Why I chose to pay attention to his and have opinions and ignore the others is as much a mystery to me as it is to you.  Well, I copied and pasted the message.  I got many really nice comments to the post on my own timeline.  One individual was quick-witted  enough to make a comment about how he does not copy and past such things followed by an emoticon with a winking eye.  My response to him was that I agreed and understood, but that this was one of those moments when I decided to do differently.  Then came one comment by someone I have rubbed shoulders with on any number of occasions.  The individual held nothing against me, but simply told me that she considers me part of her family.   Well, let me just say that that response put this Benedictine in my place as to how much I have to learn about humility.  It also provided me with an opportunity to do some genuine but tearful reconciliation with the other individual.  Something I did that was different than what I would normally do, became a catalyst for the Holy Spirit to bring about some forgiveness, healing and reconciliation for both of us.  It is something that I cannot adequately put into words, nor completely understand.  I can only write the experience of what happened; then hope that others understand what I am writing.

The great mystery of the Holy Trinity can be talked about, but can never be explained adequately or logically.  The Trinity of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; or Mother, Child and Comforter or any other name is simply beyond our human limitations.  They are also incomplete and inadequate names.  We celebrate this great mystery every time we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism.  The Priest and congregants make the sign of the Cross with the Name of the Persons of the Trinity at various points in our worship.  Theologians of the past, present and undoubtedly in the future will write books, internet presentations, and just like me; write blog posts to meditate on this incredible part of our faith.  There are those who believe in the Trinity and what it means.  There are those who are not so sure.  Still, there are others who just do not and cannot believe in such a strange concept as one God in Three Persons.

There is one matter about the Trinity that is not written about anywhere near as much.  The Holy Trinity is more about relationships than it is about theology.   It is more about how God relates to God's Self and everyone of us.  As with many pieces of our Christian Faith which we confess in our many creeds and prayers, if we do not live into those mysteries with love and compassion for each other, the Trinity is just hogwash talk.  It is the ministry and mission of Christians to bring forth the presence of God the Holy Trinity, by living in reverence and consciousness of God's presence on others who are different from ourselves.

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit "will lead you into all truth."  Jesus did not say that we would be given a truth that is once for all, stagnant and ever left in Church History and ancient Tradition.  Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit will (and does) lead us beyond our intellectual or theological dogmas, to a living reality of the God-Head present in every place and every person we encounter.  Each place, culture, person will show us a different view of God that we never understood before.  Every opportunity whether it coincides with our status quo or planned steps or not; is a moment for the Holy Trinity to live God's full reality as we allow ourselves to be led into one truth and another.

In recent weeks and days, our media is inundated with the debate about who should use which public restroom based on one's gender identity/expression.  The debate and those using transgender people as their scapegoat to demean and denigrate them; is based on ignorance and fear.   The news that one Christianist organization has been sending men into a women's restroom to help create a fear about sexual assault is just outrageously wrong.  It is fear mongering and the invasion of a transgender person's dignity, simply to make a statement as to what genitalia should be relieving themselves in what restroom. 

Honestly, do we really think the Triune God cares that much about such things?  I think the Holy Trinity is more interested in what we are saying about God when we marginalize and stereotype any person by the way of spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse.  Is it any wonder why people shrug their shoulders at any form of organized religion?

Maybe as we meditate on who God is in the Holy Trinity and how God is moving on our hearts with regards to our relationships with each other, we might discover our true selves.  Perhaps we might hear the Holy Spirit leading us into new truths that we would have never thought about before.  Maybe, just maybe we might receive the Holy Spirit's conversion in our hearts to learn to live into the Mystery of the Triune God-Head and make God known by love and compassion.  Maybe, the world would be a better place, and Christians will give Jesus Christ a good Name.

What do you hear the Holy Trinity saying to you?

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us
your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to
acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the
power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep
us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to
see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with
the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.228).

Almighty God, you have revealed to your Church your eternal
Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in
Trinity of Persons: Give us grace to continue steadfast in the
confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for you live and reign, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.251).

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.255).

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 21: It Is The Little Things We Do

Today's Scripture Readings

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 (NRSV)

The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the LORD became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,' to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, 'Give us meat to eat!' I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once--if I have found favor in your sight--and do not let me see my misery."

So the LORD said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you."

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, stop them!" But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!"

Psalm 19 (BCP., p.606-607)


James 5:13-20 (NRSV)

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Mark 9:38-50 (NRSV)

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

"For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Blog Reflection

Saint Theresa of Avila was quoted as saying, "The smallest thing when done for the love of God is priceless."  This is not the same meaning of priceless that followed every MasterCard commercial once upon a time.  This is priceless in the sense that God does not count what we do for the love of God by how well, how big, how much or how expensive.  God accepts what we do out of love, because as far as God is concerned, there is no price to be paid.  Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection took care of that.

As much as we profess to celebrate all that God does for us, it is easy for us to get all wound up in what we do not have.  I think this was the case with the People of Israel in our reading from Numbers.  Their complaint is not entirely invalid.  Yet, that which they are craving from their time in slavery, was where they were also oppressed.  At times, even when God has delivered us; our eyes are in our past and not being attentive to the here and now.  Moses recognizes that he is only one person.  He can only do so much.  So God gathers others to help Moses in the guidance of the community.

The ministry and mission of the Church can be summed up very well in our reading from James.  The Church is called to be the healing presence of God through prayer, word and sacrament.  Yet, that call is meant for something larger.  Namely, the whole community.  This means that Christians are entrusted by God with the work of healing and reconciliation.  It begins in part, by the Church being interested and responding to the needs of the sick, the suffering and the lonely.  The prayers and work of the Church is very powerful when exercised by trusted stewards of God's gifts.  James is admonishing the community in which he writes, to make use of that ministry to cast out the evils of their time.

I labeled this blog post as "It Is The Little Things We Do" because of what we read about in today's Gospel.  The disciples saw someone doing a similar thing that they did.  They were just in another community observing and following Jesus.  In their haste, they tell Jesus what they did.  Jesus' response is something that Christians need to hear today.  All Christians (and all people for that matter) can serve the Name of Jesus from where ever they are, and still make an impact on those around them.  All Christians are part of the same ministry, even as they perform that ministry in different ways and in different company.   It is not a matter of being liberal, conservative, Anglo-Catholic, moderate ofr evangelical.  It is a question of what are we doing with the opportunities that God presents us with at the point of where we are.  Someone who just sharpens pencils for a meeting is still serving God in great ways; as does the Parish Formation Director.  The one who shows up to help rearrange the chairs for choir rehearsal is still part of the song being sung by the choir.  Whether or not they sing every note perfectly.

The Church finds ourselves at an interesting crossroads.  We are blessed with our Baptism with it's covenant through which we commit ourselves.  We commit ourselves to the work of ministry and mission, while living into our vows by opening ourselves up to the presence of God including in those who are different from ourselves.  The last thing we want to do, is make anyone feel that they are less important to the life and ministry of the Church so as to scandalize them about who Jesus Christ is.

Jesus Christ is seeking deeper relationships through those who are seeking union with God.  Each individual searches for that union according to who they are and where they are.  We must be most attentive to our own search for God, so that we may love and desire God wherever God is found.  God is most likely sought and found where we have not looked for God, desired God and committed ourselves to love God from where we are at.  Whether we are individuals of diverse races, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions and such, each of us is in a place, where God wants to love us.

There are opportunities in front of us to not only tell our own stories of what God is doing in and through our lives; but also listen to what God is doing through others.  If we will spend some time to "listen" while "inclining the ears of our hearts", we will encounter God in ways the draws us deeper in to the mystery of who God is.

Fellow Christians, let us all work together at what God has before us, wherever and who ever we are.  God has so many wonderful things God wants to do with, for and around us.  Let's get to it.

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 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of The Church.  The Book of Common Prayer. p. 818).

Easter Day: Christ is Risen! Christians, Live As Easter People!

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)

Peter began to speak to the gentiles: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Psalm 118 (BCP., p.760)


1 Corinthians 15:1-18 (NRSV)

I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

John 20:1-18 (NRSV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Blog Reflection

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Beloved Christians, today we sing Jesus Christ Is Risen Today and Hail Thee Festival Day!  We gather in large numbers to celebrate what the Scriptures, Tradition and faith have celebrated throughout the Centuries.  The choirs are singing hymns and anthems while the organ and other instruments are being played with brilliance and jubilation.  Easter dinners and parties with family and friends celebrate the arrival of Easter and the long awaited ending of Lent and Holy Week.  What a beautiful and wonderful day.

That first Easter morning must not have been a happy one in the beginning for Mary and the other women.  They came to the tomb to bring spices and fresh linens.  They must not have known that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had already done those things at Jesus' burial.  Imagine the horrified look on their faces when they found the tomb empty.   Imagine the look on their faces when they were met by the angels as is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke who told them, "He is not here.  He is risen!"

What about those disciples?  They were told on any number of occasions that Jesus would be crucified and on three days rise again.  The mighty Peter who said that he would follow Jesus wherever He went, denied Him three times.  Now, Peter is looking into an empty tomb, turned away and went home "for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead." 

As Christians who claim to believe in the Resurrection, where do we find the evidence of such around us?  We celebrated Lent and Holy Week.  Here we are on Easter Day.  It is hard to find evidence of the Resurrection in our politics and news.  Gun violence still runs rapid with no additional legal protections.  Racism is a wild animal that preys upon teenagers, women and men in our police departments, schools, colleges and churches.  Bills are written, debated and fast tracked to give a license to discriminate on the basis of "religious liberty" to deny basic human services to LGBTQ people, Muslims, Jews and others who do not fit the criteria of Christianists.  "Religious Liberty" is worth defending if one agrees with their version.  If one does not, then Christianists and Dominionists are being persecuted by making martyrs of themselves only.   Is it any wonder that Christians are viewed as standing at the empty tomb with the disciples and wondering what really happened?  Is it any wonder that many just cannot believe in the awesome Christian Faith that many of us embrace and love?

Thankfully, the Easter story did not end with the disbelieving disciples.  It took a woman of faith to weep in the garden, symbolizing the cries of Eve.   A woman who still believed in the hope of the Resurrection, finds her faith rewarded in her helplessness and despair as the Risen Christ comes and calls her by name.  The Risen Christ identifies Mary who is given the greatest of contemplative visions.  The Risen Christ didn't blame the woman for not believing, as Adam did.  The Risen Christ affirms the faith of Mary and ends all sexism and doubt that God restored humankind to it's Divine origins with our brokenness exposed, in a perpetual embrace in radical hospitality and reconciliation.  "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1).  As an Episcopalian and a Christian, I believe there is also no condemnation for those who are not in Christ Jesus as we Christians understand it to be so.  The Jesus that I believe in who rose bodily from the grave, embraces every person with dignity and unconditional love.

On this Easter Day, we renew our Baptismal Vows in communion with other Christians around the world.  To the questions, "Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?", and "Will you strive for justice and peace among all persons, and respect the dignity of every human being?" we collectively and individually answer, "I will, with God's help."

Today, as Christians we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead.  Now, let us celebrate by living as Easter People.  May we be an Easter People calling for an end to violence, prejudice, oppression and become ambassadors for the Risen Christ by doing all we can to make it so.

Amen.

Alleluia!  Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

Prayers

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus
Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of
everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the
day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death
of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Easter Day.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.222).

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).

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

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV)

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

Psalm 29 (BCP., p.620).


Acts 19:1-7 (NRSV)

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

Mark 1:4-11 (NRSV)

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

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

Blog Reflection

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.


Prayers

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

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

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Love is About Our Relationships

Today's Scripture Readings

Leviticus 19: 1-2, 15-18 (NRSV)

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Psalm 1 (BCP., p.585)


1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NRSV)

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.

As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

Matthew 22:34-46 (NRSV)

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "`You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,

`The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet"'?

If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Blog Reflection

I have just returned home from spending a wonderful week of Convocation with my Sisters and Brothers in The Companions of St. Luke/OSB.   We met together. We renewed our friendship. We prayed our Offices together. We spent 28 1/2 hours of our time in a silent retreat.  We shared with each other our experiences of our home parishes, families and celebrated the Eucharist together.

One of the misconceptions about Monasticism is that it is not all about our Offices, Masses and being "hidden" away.   The Companions of St. Luke/OSB is part of a new monasticism in that we live the majority of our lives dispersed in our marriages, families, communities, jobs and volunteer work.  Yet, through our praying of the Daily Offices, Lectio Divina (the prayerful reading of Scripture) and living by The Rule of St. Benedict, we have an opportunity to live into our Baptismal Vows more deeply through the traditional and contemporary expressions of our Benedictine Vows of Obedience, Conversion of Life and Stability.  Our lives together and a part are about how we build relationships with our God and with others.

One does not have to be a Monastic to recognize the importance of living more deeply into who we are as Christian people.   Our Baptismal Vows and Covenant begin on page 304 and 305 of The Book of Common Prayer give us something too interesting to miss.   As we go through the questions asked by the celebrant, following the Apostle's Creed; each of the questions become a little bit more difficult.   It is quite easy to continue in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers.  It is a bit more complicated to persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.   It is quite simple to proclaim the good news by word, but it is much more challenging to do so by example.  This weeks Gospel reading is all about seeking to serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.  The last one, which as you all know is the meaning of this blog is probably the most difficult.  Particularly in a world that is riddled with violence, prejudice, oppression, injustice and endless political ads about who can pour the dirtiest mud on the other to win.

The Baptismal Vows, the Benedictine Vows and this Gospel reading today are all about love and our relationships. What is written in all of the Scriptures for this weekends Liturgy, is meant to become how we live in relationship because of the extravagant love of God, that extends beyond ourselves to another person.  

All of us are human.  All of us fall short of what it means to love God, neighbor and ourselves to the point of total self-surrender and sacrifice.  The one common element that Christians have that makes us such an awesome and divinely gifted people; is that God showed us how to love God completely in our neighbor and ourselves through the Person of Jesus Christ.  In Jesus Christ we have God loving all of us so deeply that "God did not spare God's own son, but gave him up for us all" (Romans 8:32).   Because Christians believe this, it makes no sense how we can suggest that God and the Church should marginalize any person for any reason.  We may not suggest it by our words, per say, but we certainly can do it by our actions and attitudes.  

The more Christians pretend not to notice the rise in gun violence, and supports the use of the second amendment as a way to solve our political differences; the whole meaning of loving God, our neighbor and self is lost in the gun powder. 

As long as there are Christians who support LGBT people, yet turn the other way when it comes to immigration reform, racism, sexism and police militaristic brutality; the love of God, neighbor and self is nothing more than a fable.  

Christian love is about our relationships that go beyond the beauty of a Gospel book and a well sung hymn.  It is how we respond to God in our neighbor who is another one of ourselves to the point that anything less than reverence and respect can be compared to throwing the Chalice on the floor and pretending it never happened.

This love does not turn away from the opportunity to love, just because it is more challenging.  On the contrary, the Christian seeks the help of the Holy Spirit to grow in the grace of God, so that we can love more deeply; especially when it is not easy.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.  Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer. Pages 102 & 126).


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of
faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you
promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.235).

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

Seventh Sunday of Easter: Christ's Presence in His Absence

Today's Scripture Readings


Acts 1:6-14 (NRSV)

When the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Psalm 68 (BCP., p.676)


1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 (NRSV)

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

John 17:1-11 (NRSV)

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. "

Blog Reflection

This past Thursday, the Church celebrated the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ.   The feast recalls that forty days after the Resurrection on Easter Day, Jesus ascended into Heaven.  

The Ascension is a mysterious event in the Scriptures.  The Bible is quite clear that it happened, but not so clear as to when it occurred.   The Gospel of Matthew has almost no account of the Ascension.   It is briefly referred to in Mark.  In Luke's Gospel there is the suggestion that the Ascension happened on Easter Day.   John does not mention the Ascension in a chronological order, but, he records that Jesus spoke of such in the Last Supper discourse as He prepared the Disciples for His Death and Resurrection.  Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will come after the Ascension in Acts, and in the Gospel reading for today.

It feels as if we Christians are in an in between time.  Between Ascension and Pentecost.  In terms of the seasons, that is where we are.  However, this period of time in the Liturgical Year is not unlike where we all are.   We are between the narration of these Gospel accounts, and awaiting the return of Christ, just as the Apostles awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Something wonderful has yet to happen.  All we know, as did all they knew then, is that God had done something amazing, and the best was yet to come. As we read through out the Acts of the Apostles, the best that God gave on Pentecost was a miraculous transformation in the lives of those who received the Holy Spirit.  It changed them, those around them and it really changed the lives of those who heard the message of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection.  It also changed how others responded to the message of the early Church.  Some responded with joyful reception.   Others just couldn't get passed hearing about it without using their political powers to try to silence the messengers.

We in this Year of 2014 are given the same choice that those first Apostles were given on that Ascension Day.   We can stand idle, looking up to the heavens for the best new wave of miracles that may or may not happen, or, we can gather and pray and work together as the Holy Spirit is already among us calling on us to minister hospitality, healing and reconciliation to those who are oppressed, experiencing injustice, prejudice and separation from any sense of community. 

We will experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit next Sunday on Pentecost, along with the joyous emotions of celebrating the birthday of the Church.   It is right and good that we will celebrate together. However, so long as the members of the Church walk with tunnel vision to our neighbors who suffer from poverty, gun violence, loss of loved ones, their health and well being without turning to them with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, the celebration of Easter, the Ascension and Pentecost is nothing more than a fable with no realistic implications.   Our Baptism means little more than a head splashing, and our Baptismal Covenant are vows taken for nothing.

Through prayer, worship and an openness to the presence of Jesus Christ amidst His absence, the Body of Christ which is the Church remains active and real.  For it is in the Eucharist that Jesus nourishes His Body (as in us) as one people called together in our diversity and amidst our disagreements to love one another as Christ loves us.   Our oneness is not so much in what we believe, but in what we pray.   We pray together and with one another for God to make a difference in the world through faith in all that Christ has accomplished on our behalf.   Through the Paschal Mystery that we have celebrated during this Easter Season, we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit to love one another, and others who are different from ourselves with acceptance and wholeness, as we ourselves have experienced.   But, only if we allow that grace of God to work in and through our lives.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 226).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

 

Monday in Holy Week: The Self-Giving Love of the Cross

Today's Scripture

Isaiah 42:1-9 (NRSV)

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him;

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

He will not cry or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow faint or be crushed

until he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the LORD,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations,

to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the LORD, that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to idols.

See, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth,

I tell you of them.

Psalm 32:5-11 (BCP., p.632)


Hebrews 9:11-15 (NRSV)

When Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

John 12:1-11(NRSV)

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

Blog Reflection

In my blog post for the Fifth Sunday in Lent Year C I wrote the following about this Gospel reading.

All of us need to learn to see Christ in our neighbor. Each person is a sacred vessel containing the presence of Christ. We can and should serve one another with gladness and joy. To serve another, is to serve Christ. 

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is costly.  It will demand our best and our all.   We will be challenged to let go. Turn over ourselves over and over again for the use of God's will.  At times, it will cost us that which is most precious to us. It might be that special date or time we had planned to entertain ourselves or become an entertainer.  It may cost us our popularity. It may cost us those possessions that we are hoarding all for ourselves, when others could use our excess.  It may be our intellectual pride by which we think we are smarter than others.  It may be our desire to fit in with the most powerful, wealthy and the best looking.

Mary is preparing Jesus for His final journey into Jerusalem and ultimately to the Cross.  This anointing of Jesus' feet also has another meaning.   As Thomas Keating writes in his book The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience:

In this remarkable incident, Mary manifests her intuition into what Jesus is about to do.  Moreover, she identifies with Him to such an intimate degree that she manifests the same disposition of total self-giving that He is about to manifest on the cross.  She had learned from Jesus how to throw herself away and become like God.  That is why this story must be proclaimed wherever the Gospel is preached. "To perpetuate Mary's memory" is to fill the whole world with the perfume of God's love, the love that is totally self-giving.  In the concrete, it is to anoint the poor and the afflicted, the favored members of Christ's Body, with this love (Page55).

We begin Holy Week with this Gospel, because this is it.  Here we are asked to make the decision to follow Jesus in real discipleship in His self-giving love, or let Him go to the Cross without following Him in our daily life.   The costly part is that we will have to live into our Baptismal Covenant in upholding the dignity of every human being even if society and the Church continue to make distinctions that are contrary to the Gospel.

That is what the Cross is all about.

Amen.


Prayer

Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but
first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he
was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way
of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and
peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.220).

First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 42:1-9 (NRSV)

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the LORD, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.

Psalm 29 (BCP., p.620).


Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Matthew 3:13-17 (NRSV)

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

Blog Reflection

One of the greatest challenges of our times, is to find an appropriate balance.  This is as true in the practice of our religion as it is with any other part of our life.  St. John Cassian in the Second of The Conferences wrote about the importance of the Monastic grace of discretion.  This act of God's favor, helps us to avoid either doing too much or too little.   It is quite possible to pray too much, fast too much and do other things so much so, that we fall out of balance.   Not only our bodies and our minds, but also our spirit.

What does this have to do with today's feast of the Baptism of the Lord?

In our Christian Faith, we stress too much the need to repent and be redeemed from our sins, or we over do not caring enough about what we do, and the consequences we bring upon ourselves.   Much of what we do in either extreme comes from where our heart is, and what we are listening to.  Are we listening too much to our hectic schedules of things to do, places to be; while neglecting to listen deeply to God within our hearts?

This celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, tells us that Jesus listened much more to God within His heart.   When He first came to St. John the Baptist, he says to Jesus: "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"   Jesus' response: "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness" tells us that though things were out of order in the deepest degree, God did amazing things at that moment.  God's response to Jesus' obedience to the will of God, was to receive the Holy Spirit, and the voice of God is heard saying: "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."   In an act of total contradiction to how things ought to be, God's power and grace shows through Christ's act of deep humility.  The glory of God is manifested (an Epiphany) in Christ Jesus.

As Episcopalians and Anglicans, we are so blessed that our tradition values the Sacrament of Baptism.   As I was making the decision back in 1994 to move from Protestant Evangelicalism to Roman Catholicism, one of the driving issues for me, was reverence for the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist.   When the time came for me to consider a move to The Episcopal Church after my husband Jason and I met, again, I found myself with the greatest concern over respect for the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.   In the Episcopal Church, our Baptism is prefaced with our Baptismal Vows and Covenant found in The Book of Common Prayer on pages 292-294.   It is not enough to be sprinkled with holy water, and given a pretty candle.  There is a recognition of our responsibility to the Sacrament we have shared in.  We are received by faith, and in faith, by God's grace we are empowered to live in the hope and knowledge of salvation.  Our faith is evidenced not so much in our words, but in our response of obedience to the will of God.

As Benedictines, our Vows of Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience are intimately linked to our Baptismal Vows.  Our life grounded in God, with the commitment to allow the Holy Spirit to change us, by obedience to the will of God in our Superior, is living into our Baptismal Covenant.   Yet, it is important for us to understand that The Rule and all of the things we do, is to help us to search for union with God in a life of continuous prayer.

It is easy for us to focus on the work of striving for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being as an end in itself.  The work of inclusion of LGBTQ people, ending racism, sexism, religious based discrimination, and the many other issues I write about here, are not ends nor are they means to an end.  They are part of deepening our relationship with God, by learning to serve one another out of reverence for Christ, present in all persons.  When Jesus heard the words: "This is my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased" those words were meant for each one of us.   In Christ, we are God's Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

Our life of prayer, praise, living with our spouses, our friends, communities, working for a greater equality of all people, is because in Christ, all of us are God's Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

We balance our life of prayer, study, work and leisure as God's Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

In Christ, we are adopted as God's own, and given new life with new possibilities.  If we are to know what those are, we must be listening to God within ourselves, and in Christ as we meet Him in one another.  

Even when we fail to live in obedience to God, God's grace in Christ forgives and redeems us, again and again, because in Christ each of us have been claimed as God's Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

Therefore, no violence, bias, oppression or scapegoating is appropriate.  All of us are a sacred space in which God in Christ has chosen to dwell by the power of the Holy Spirit.   We are God's Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

Amen.


Prayers

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

Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the
death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, that, as we
have put away the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the
spirit of our minds, and live in righteousness and true holiness;
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.  (Prayer for All Baptized Christians, Book of Common Prayer, p.252, 253).  

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the
earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those
who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people
everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations
into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten
the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for the Mission of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p.257).

All Saints Sunday: Beatitude Is Our Attitude

Today's Scripture Readings

Daniel 7: 1-3, 15-18 (NRSV)

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.

As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: "As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever."

Psalm 149 (BCP., p.807)


Ephesians 1:11-23 (NRSV)

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Luke 6:20-31 (NRSV)

Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:

"Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

"Blessed are you who are hungry now,

for you will be filled.

"Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

"But woe to you who are rich,

for you have received your consolation.

"Woe to you who are full now,

for you will be hungry.

"Woe to you who are laughing now,

for you will mourn and weep.

"Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets

"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Blog Reflection

In the Oxford Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church the following definition is given for the Communion of Saints.

Part of the 9th article of the Apostles Creed.  it is usually interpreted as the spiritual union existing between each Christian adn Christ, and so between every Christian in Heaven, Purgatory, or on earth (p.136).

J.B. Bernard in An Introduction to the Episcopal Church on the subject of the Communion of Saints wrote:

This means the fellowship of Christians with one another through their possession of the one Spirit and their fellowship with Christ.  It applies not only to this world, but also the next.  All Christians are one in Him (p.91).

These quotes along with our Scripture readings on this All Saints Sunday gives us a lot to ponder.   Yet, the greatness of it is not in the amount to think about, but the enormity of God's love for all God's people.  All of us who have been brought together by the Catholic Creeds, to serve in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, find our oneness in Jesus Christ.  All that is good and holy, with all the potential to be touched by the ever present mercy of God, is because of what Jesus Christ did by His death, resurrection, ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  No matter how much the Church may get wrong since it's beginnings, this oneness in Christ, this one belonging to one another because of Christ, means that there are no losers and no one to be excluded.  Everyone is to be invited to receive in faith the Holy Mysteries, and ponder for themselves what salvation in and through Jesus Christ means for them.

In case we need some kind of script to understand what it means to be one in Christ, that we are a part of the Communion of Saints, we need look no further than Paul's letter to the Ephesians. We all share in some way in that inheritance of the Saints in the light of Jesus Christ, so that each of us may know what is true and worthwhile.  None of us are required to agree with one another.  All that is asked of us, is to know in our hearts that God has redeemed us in Christ, and promises the strength of God the Holy Spirit to each of us, as we work on behalf of God to do the ministry of hospitality, healing and reconciliation for all God's people.

As we read the Beatitudes in Luke's Gospel today, we hear Jesus affirming those who are already blessed to be counted as among the Saints.  The poor, the hungry, those who weep, those who love their enemies, and accept God's will in circumstances including those that are just contrary to what we think that they should be.   All of us in one way or another have lived through those moments of being in need, being crushed and broken, and facing injustice, oppression and prejudice.  Yet, Jesus tells us all, that we are blessed, and that God's reward is already there for us.  It is in this moment that we find God's grace calling us to be saints, radically transformed for the work of God's compassion and mercy.   In our Baptism, we have all received that redemption of Christ so that we all share together as members of Christ, as part of the Communion of Saints.

Ten years ago this weekend, The Episcopal Church consecrated and ordained Bishop V. Gene Robinson.  The first openly gay Bishop in the Episcopal Church.  His consecration and ordination has borne the fruit of the Holy Spirit to help LGBT people become more included in the ministry of the Church.  Bishop Gene's voice has been, and continues to be heard amidst all the controversy in the Church over the issues surrounding of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. Those of us who are LGBT have received the Good News of the Gospel, that we too are to be counted among the Communion of Saints, to serve and be served as part of Christ's Body, the Church.   Among us are the poor, the hungry, those who mourn, the pure in heart, those in need of mercy and peace.  Bishop Robinson's consecration and ordination was an act of God answering our prayers, to bring us hope and much grace as we continue the work of inclusion for all God's people.

On this All Saints Sunday, may we count ourselves as among the Communion of Saints.   May we pray to know that we are one in Christ with one another, in all our diversity, arguing and calamity.   Christ is God's presence and peace in the midst of the chaos.  In Christ, is our hope, our faith, our Baptism, and all that God promises in this life, and in the life to come.   May we claim the blessing of God who is + Father, Son and Holy Spirit + for ourselves and others around us.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one
communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son
Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those
ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for All Saints Day, Book of Common Prayer, p. 245).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

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, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).