Fourth Sunday in Lent: Open Our Eyes, O God!

 

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Samuel 16:1-16 (NRSV)

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Psalm 23 (BCP., p.612)


Ephesians 5:8-14 (NRSV)

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

"Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

John 9: 1-41 (NRSV)

As he walked along, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, `We see,' your sin remains."

 Blog Reflection

Lent is now in its fourth week.  Two weeks from today we will begin Holy Week.  As we draw closer to the celebration of recalling Christ's total self-sacrifice for our redemption, the Revised Common Lectionary brings us to this reading of Jesus healing the man born blind.   It is another long Scripture reading.  Before we arrive with Jesus to enter with him into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we need to reflect on how well we see the compassionate love of God before our eyes.

In interpreting today's Gospel reading about Jesus healing the man born blind, we need to take some important key facts in mind.  In the time in which this narrative would have occured, many had the horrible presumption that anyone who was disabled or a beggar was such because of some sin she/he or even their parents must have committed.

The major problem with John's Gospel, is that it is most likely written by the oral tradition of the Johaninne Christians. There was probably not one person telling the story, but many.  They faced a great deal of persecution and affliction because of their faith.  It resulted in a terrible amount of dislike for the Jewish Faith. That is why there is a lot of texts in John's Gospel that is very sadly antisemitic. In the case of this Gospel reading in John 9:1-41, it really does not help much that Jesus' reply was that the man was born blind so that "God's work might be revealed in him."  This too suggests that God afflicted the man from birth for this moment.  It is not exactly a ringing endorsement of God's graciousness.

The central meaning here is that Jesus put compassionate and healing love for the dignity of the man blind and poor ahead of the ritual rules.  As the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees heats up, the issue becomes what is more important; the person born blind and being ridiculed and denigrated by those from whom he begs, or the rule about the sabbath?

As Christians, we too need to think and pray about what is more important.   Is it more important for our Congressional leaders to please the Koch Brothers by denying millions of hungry people the funds for food stamps, unemployment insurance and protection from high-powered magazine rifles?   Or do we value even more the Baptismal Vow to uphold and respect the dignity of every human person to motivate us to tell our Congress and President to stop putting politics ahead of people?

As the nations of the world decide how to best respond to what is happening with Crimea, Russia and the Ukraine; are economic sanctions really the answer?   Those in control of the Russian government are not going to feel the most painful impact of such sanctions.  It is those who really are poor who will pay the biggest price.

Christians in the United States really do have another matter that we need to examine to question as to the clarity of our vision.

The recent issue of "religious liberty" has swept its way into every important social issue from abortion and birth control, to equal rights protection for LGBTQ people, and to reducing gun violence is out of control.   Any legislation on any Federal, State or Municipality level that seeks to address the needs of the poor, marginalized and oppressed becomes the subject of the "religious liberty" debate.  It has become one of the most potent whispering campaigns that amazingly has found it's way into the ears, pulpits and court rooms of our country via the work of the Alliance Defending Freedom organization.  I cannot remember such outrageous nonsense like this uniting the efforts of fundamentalist Christians and the entire National Conference of Catholic Bishops like this one has.  The religious liberty talking point is nothing more than a sham on behalf of selfish and narrow minded people claiming to be followers of Christ who are sore losers.  It is pathetic and immature. It is not liberty on the basis of religion.  It is  spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse disguised as religious zeal.  It is meant to blind people about the real truth about what is happening. Conservative religious based bigotry.  Because the same Christianist organizations who claim they are the victims of discrimination based on "religious liberty" think nothing of bullying a human service organization such as World Vision USA because they decided to end their employment discrimination practices towards same-gender married couples.

This past week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the arguments in the case of Hobby Lobby with regards to their "religious liberty" right to refuse to cover the cost of contraception to their employees as a result of the Affordable Care Act.  As to what I think of this matter, I am going to defer to an article in USA Today written by Bishop Gene Robinson.  See the quote below.

Sometimes, even for a bishop, it's embarrassing to be a Christian. Not that I'm embarrassed by Jesus, whose life was spent caring and advocating for the marginalized, and whom I believe to be the perfect revelation of God. I'm just sometimes embarrassed to be associated with others who claim to follow him.

The Jesus I follow always stood with the poor and powerless — and trust me, this struggle is about about power. Whether the issue touches women or gays and lesbians, our religion should be about more love, not less; more dignity, not less.

Christians need to be very careful about using our religious beliefs as weapons of mass destruction that could have a lasting impact well beyond the non-existent issue of "religious freedom" that has been exploding into a harmful and unnecessary holy war.  What is in our hearts may be very well intentioned.  But, if many of us would look into our hearts with Jesus, we may often find that what God is seeing there and what we think is there are not one and the same thing.

In our reading from the Hebrew Scriptures today, God tells Solomon: "Mortals, ,, look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).  During Lent, we are looking with prayer, fasting, alms-giving and self-denial at what is in our hearts.  We are inviting God to go there with us as we repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness.   At some point, it befits us to see honestly the blindness we pretend is not there with regards to our personal relationship with God and others, and seek the help of Jesus to change our ways.  That is what repentance means.  To change the direction in which we are going.  Christians have way too many examples in our history both far back and most recent of giving Jesus Christ a bad Name by fueling our prejudices.  It is time for Jesus and others to see in our hearts and lives the unconditional and all-inclusive love that is compassionate and self-giving with no exceptions.   It is time to put the love of God, neighbor and self ahead of our erroneous Bible interpretations and politics. It is time for our ritual worship and how we live and love to become one and the same.  Handling people with the same care as we would the Sacred Vessels of the Altar.

Amen.


Prayers

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down
from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:
Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in
him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 219).

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. (Book of Common Prayer, p.260).

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.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.816).

The Spiritual Blindness of Violence and Prejudice

Today's Scripture Reading.

John 9

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ But they kept asking him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’

 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’

 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, ‘Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.’ He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’ Then they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.

Spiritual Blindness

 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains. 

Blog Reflection

I was not planning to write an extra blog post this week.   Ash Wednesday is two weeks from this Wednesday.   I will have much to write about.  However, as I have looked over the Gospel Readings to be used with this weeks Daily Offices from The Book of Common Prayer, and the news that is coming to us, I felt that something needed to be written.   

Some horrific things are happening on the other side of our globe.   Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence is on the rise.   It is happening because of prejudice disguised as religious driven zeal has influenced the leaders and people in the countries of Russia, Uganda and Nigeria.   Over these past few months there have been numerous reports of laws being debated, passed, and enacted.  Individuals are being beaten, rounded up, the cruelties are going unnoticed, without appropriate response or action.  

The Gospel Readings from St. John's Gospel chapter 9 this week deal with the removal of blindness.   The blind man was a beggar.  He had been unable to see since birth.  The first question out of the mouths of the Disciples was "what sin did the man or his parents commit?"  Jesus' reply was that he and his parents committed no sin, but was there to glorify God.  The religious authorities of Jesus' time make use of this man's healing by Jesus as an opportunity to mock and defame Jesus of Nazareth.  Their jealousy over His popularity, just cannot be contained any longer.  They need a scapegoat.  

Many LGBT people all over the world who have been blinded by the prejudices of others, have begged since their birth to have their rightful place in the Church and society.  They've been blinded to the true and compassionate Jesus, by those who are also blinded by misinterpretations of Scripture, and misinformation about them.  Now, marriage equality is sweeping much of the Western World, because the inability to see Christ in LGBTQ people is being healed, by the inclusive message of the Gospel,    Yet, the religious zealots of our time, continue to spread false rumors, and call what God is doing in our world, the work of evil.  Even to the other countries, formerly raided and colonized for the slave trades.  I guess those same countries are now being raided and colonized for prejudice towards LGBTQ people too.

It is more important now than ever, that Christians who know the Light of Jesus Christ and His Gospel of healing and reconciliation, become messengers of hope for those still experiencing the oppression of discrimination and misplaced religious-based bigotry.   As Baptized Christians, we must pray and work together so that the Name of Jesus Christ and His Church will have a good Name, because it is a "house of prayer for all God's people."   

May the hospitality and graciousness of God move upon all people of good will everywhere, call out those who use the Bible and their erroneous interpretations to injure and hurt, inviting them to repentance, mercy and conversion.   Yes, it is possible for the blind to see, because Jesus through us has cleared the dirt from our eyes, to see His loving presence in every person, every where.

Amen.


Prayers

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).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p.826). 

4th Sunday of Lent: Are We Open to God's Light Present in the "Other" ?

One thing we have been seeing over the past couple years since Barack Obama was elected and inaugurated as President of the United States, is that it doesn't take much for well-meaning people to create an "other" that must be defeated.  The birth of the Tea Party movement and the onslaught of racist remarks and concerns over the President's birth certificate are all designed to make him that "other" that is not qualified for the office that Obama holds.

Through events such as Arizona's horrible anti-immigration law, and the law that takes money away from Medicaid and Medicare transplant patients, and the rise against health care reform all over the United States we see that immigrants and the sick are that "other" that we just cannot afford to assist.

Over the last day or so, we have heard about Gov. Rick Scott of Florida who has ordered immediate cuts to programs that assist disabled people. Disabled people are also the "other" that we just cannot spend money on now.

We have also learned the Pastor Terry Jones of Florida finally carried out his plan to burn the Quoran.  His decision has resulted in the deaths of United Nations employees who were killed as outraged individuals erupted in protest in Afghanistan.  To Pastor Jones and many other Christianists those who practice the Islamic Faith are the "other" who are destroying what America is about.

Today's Old Testament and Gospel are all about God seeing the "other" of a family in the case of Samuel anointing David as King of Israel.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus sees the person in the man born blind.  In the times that Jesus lived in, someone who was born blind was the "other" that people brushed aside.   How times and attitudes still have yet to change.

Scriptural Basis

1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NRSV)

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

The story of Samuel anointing David as king of Israel can easily be compared to Walt Disney's classic animated feature The Sword in the Stone.   The young Wart (actually young King Arthur), is thought to be the dumbest member of his adopted family.  He is young.  He is very skinny and scrawny.   The Wizard Merlin sees in Arthur something very awesome and takes it upon himself to educate Arthur even against the wishes of his foster father.   In the very end during the tournament to decide who should wear the crown to rule all of England, the Wart forgets Kay's sword.   When he runs back to get the sword he pulls the sword from the stone that says: "Whosoever pulleth out this sword shall be crowned King of all England."  The MC of the competition calls everyone to go back to the anvil and see if Arthur can again pull the sword from the stone.  None of the strong armed men in the crowd could pull the sword.  Only Arthur pulled the sword.  And he was crowned King of England.

It is quite fair to say that until Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, he was the "other" that was thought of as insignificant.   After Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, one of the bystanders remarks: "It's a miracle.  Ordained by heaven."

I think the setting for Samuel anointing David as King of Israel is another instance of someone who was thought of as an "other" by those around him was suddenly noticed by God.   Because God did not see David as an "other."  God saw David as the one God had chosen to do great things for God's people in that time and place.  

John 9:1-41 (NRSV)

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."


The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."


So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.


Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said,

"I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, `We see,' your sin remains."

Here in the Gospel we see that Jesus recognizes the beauty and goodness of God in the "other" known as the man born blind.   To the Pharisees and many in that time, the man born blind was some "inconvenient" person who was just in everyone's way.  Taking everyone else's money and not doing a thing for himself.  Kind of like those wanting to take food stamps or collect taxes on money given to people who cannot work through no fault of their own away, because "they are just lazy and are not working because they don't want to.  Why should my money go to people who are not working for it?"

Jesus saw in the blind someone that was so valued by God, that he just couldn't walk by and do nothing for the man, knowing that Jesus could do something to help.   Jesus did not see the man born blind as an "other." Jesus saw and knew the presence of God and honored God's presence by restoring to the man, not only his sight, but the very dignity that belonged to an individual created by God.

Why were the Pharisees so angry with Jesus?

Our Deacon, the Rev. Margy Mattlin in her sermon at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral answered that question so perfectly today.

The Pharisees did not want the man born blind to suddenly be part of society as a man with his dignity restored.  Notice how they treat the man like he is still some piece of garbage.  Even his own family spoke to him in a way that dishonored what had happened to him.   When the marginalized of society suddenly begins to take their rightful place, suddenly the "mighty are cast from their thrones." (Luke 1:53).

This I think has everything to do with why the rhetoric towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people has been being ramped up.  I also believe that the gains made by the LGBTQ communities with the repeal of DADT, the proposed repeal to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the enactment of marriage equality in six states, are making our opponents that much more determined to bring us down. 

There is no such thing as a non-personal anti-LGBTQ campaign.  There is also no such thing as a non-personal anti-immigration bill.  There is something very personal about denying people the opportunity to have health care coverage, food stamps, job training programs, public education and collective bargaining rights to workers.  All of these "anti" campaigns are designed to make wealthy people and large corporations as the status quo of society.  While those who are middle-class and low income individuals and families are the "other" that we just cannot help any more.  LGBTQ people cannot have our equal rights, because we are the "other" of society because the Bible according to Christianists reads that people who have sex with members of the same sex are an "abomination".  Even though the word "abomination" really means "culturally unacceptable."

As long as LGBTQ people remain the "other" we can be denied our equal rights in terms of jobs, housing, financial assistance, public assistance, marriage equality, and the right to be part of the military. LGBTQ teens cannot be protected from being bullied in their schools and communities, because they are the "other" that are being "indoctrinated" by "homosexual activists."  As soon as we begin to gain our equal rights, all those who have had their place as the status quo have to move over and share with the group of people, they still consider the "other." 

What is wrong with the picture that Republicans and Tea Party folks have been trying push on America, is that such policies fail to regard all individuals as people of sacred worth.  The assaults on women, LGBT, public workers, the poor, the Muslims and any one else that is different are all designed to remain as the "other" of society. What is worse is that many Christians have grown up or have been converted into thinking of "others" who are not exactly like them have become way too comfortable with their attitudes and actions towards the "others".  It has become the means of scapegoating and justifying the most cruel violence in the Name of God and the Bible.

The readings for today challenge us to see in all people who are different than ourselves, the need for justice, equality and inclusion.  All of us as God's people have a role to play in helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves.   We are asked to open our own often blind inner eyes and see in each person regardless of skin color, body odor, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, religion, behavior, health or wealth status, language written or spoken, and see in all people, God's created beauty and redemptive work. 

Lent is an invitation to look deep within ourselves to see how we are thinking of others who are different than ourselves?   Who is that someone that we are looking down on, as if they are worthless?  Who's ideas are we disagreeing with to the point that we also disregard the person as valued and treasured by God?  What can we do in our prayers and actions to change this world that sees the "others" and to begin doing as much as we can do for them?

The invitation of today's Scripture readings is to see the heart that God cherishes and relishes in each person as a unique masterpiece of God's creation. In God's eyes, there is no such thing as an "other" through which God's light does not and cannot shine.

May Holy Week and Easter find us recognizing the light of God in every human person.  Amen.

Prayers

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Book of Common Prayer, page 219).

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, page 815). 

Being Welcoming To Those Who Don't Make Us Cozy

Luke 14:12-24 (NRSV)

Jesus said also to the one who had invited him, 'When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.' One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, 'Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!' Then Jesus said to him, 'Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, "Come; for everything is ready now." But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, "I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets." Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets." Another said, "I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come." So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, "Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame." And the slave said, "Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' Then the master said to the slave, "Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner."'

This is one of those Gospel readings that convicts me to my in most core.  I was raised by a father who felt that the only world that was really important was his own.  If an individual did not measure up to his standards, the other individual might as well have been burnt toast, because he definitely wouldn't be adding the butter. 

We Christians like our own special pew where we sit for church services.  We like our cozy church dinners that cost more than a night at a Sheridan Hotel room to make ourselves fat and call it a fundraiser.  Yet we are quick to turn away or smirk at someone who acts, thinks, believes and just sees things a bit differently.  We want those who pat us on the back and make us feel better, but don't let someone who makes us realize how visually challenged we are to other people.   Yup, the Church is full of hypocrites, and at times I am among the worst.


Jesus is challenging all of us to consider how we might build bridges to those who are often marginalized by society and the Church.  We have gotten so use to categorizing folks to make us feel better about being politically correct (which I believe very much in. Inclusive language is very important), while not taking care of the biases that exist in each of us.  This is one of the reasons why prejudices still exist and even in the most hidden places in the most welcoming of churches and places.  Prejudice is most often fueled by ignorance, which breeds fear if the ignorant one remains uneducated.  When fear becomes mobilized into violence and cruelty, fear then builds up walls of division and in hospitality that can take several life times to tear down.  


If the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer communities want there to some day be a greater acceptance of sexual and gender diversity, one thing we must learn to do is dialogue with those who make us most uncomfortable.  One of the important lessons of the Anglican Communion is to try to keep everyone at the table talking together to work our way towards a sense of understanding.  Naturally in any group where there are folks who do not agree with us.  There will be those who will not even dialogue.  That does not mean that we should back off and stop trying. It does mean that we should try to tell our stories as much as possible to anyone who will listen, so that those who will not might some day realize what they have been missing.  


Those who are opposed to equal rights for LGBTQ people as well as other minorities and groups that are marginalized, are the way they are because someone or a group of people taught them to think that way.  In the case of LGBTQ people there are centuries of misinformation about sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression courtesy of Christians who have been misinterpreting the Bible.   That is why it to our benefit that LGBTQ people Christians or not learn as much as we can about what the Bible really means, and learn to say so in our defense.  It is also possible that we are ready to be a voice of compassion for all marginalized persons, as the Bible is about justice for all people.  


The banquet we are invited to is one in which there are many people there.  Some whom we like, others that we don't exactly care for.  Never the less we are there to be part of the banquet, welcoming and affirming others even those that make us uncomfortable.   There will be those that we welcome better than others.  There will be those moments when we will have preconceived notions about someone that we don't really know.  For this reason, we often ought to try to reach out to acquaint ourselves as much as we can.  Sometimes we will succeed and other times, just stink miserably.  That is when and why we turn to our God of unconditional love and forgiving grace.  Our God is not One who is looking to punish anyone. God is looking to transform us into people who love others unconditionally, with hearts wide open.   We often discover that after we fall flat on our faces, only to realize we needed to be following God's way rather than our own.  God's Way is the Loving Way.  Which way are we following?

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 27, Book of Common Prayer, 236).

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

 

Are We There Yet? No, Not Yet.

John 10:31-42 (NRSV)

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?' The Jews answered, 'It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.' Jesus answered, 'Is it not written in your law, "I said, you are gods"? If those to whom the word of God came were called "gods" -and the scripture cannot be annulled- can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, "I am God's Son"? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.'

Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, 'John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.' And many believed in him there.

The Gospel today picks up as part of the chapter from which Jesus has been describing himself as the Good Shepherd.  The Jews who have been listening to Jesus speak are responding to what he has been saying to them because of what is written in Ezekiel 34.   In Ezekiel 34 the prophet tells Israel that they have been following false shepherds from vs 1 to 10.   In verses 11-31 They are told that God is the true Shepherd of Israel.  

"For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep.  I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness." (Ezekiel 31: 11, 12).

It is therefore very understandable why the Jews who were hearing Jesus proclaim himself as the Good Shepherd would be very concerned about what they heard.  Their anger would have fed fear of what might happen should they accept this news that Jesus is one with God and therefore Jesus is now the Good Shepherd.  The Old Testament is full of stories of how God destroyed people if they did not understand things in exactly the right way.  


What Jesus is doing here is telling his audience that a new era of humankind has come.  God has now come upon the scene as a human being just like all of us.  This is a major scandal for the Jewish people to have a man saying that he is one with God.  Yet, Jesus has been healing the sick, raising the dead and making the claim that the reign of God has come and is the here and now.  In Christian theology we understand that the reign of God is already, but not yet.  Jesus came and brought the reign of God closer to us.  In Jesus, God's perfect revelation we understand that God is here with us, interacting with us, leading us and helping us to discern God's will.  However, the fullness of God's reign has not yet happen.  And so in some ways we are working our way through a darkened tunnel with Jesus Christ as the Light of the World, who with the Holy Spirit is guiding us "into all truth." (Jn 16: 13).


Much of what we are learning through the Gospel of John is just like going on a long trip with the children saying: "Are we there yet?"  And we respond: "No, not yet."  We so want to get where we are going, but we still have to figure out who we are and what God wants from us.  For us Christians, Jesus is the "way, truth and life."  (Jn 14: 6).  It is through Jesus that we find our way to God, so that we may know Jesus the truth and receive life everlasting.  What we are challenged to understand is that we cannot be serving Jesus who is the way, truth and life, if we are rejecting Jesus in other people who are different than ourselves.  When we make race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, gender, culture, challenge a barrier between us and other people, we blur the vision of people being able to see that Jesus and God are one.  When Christians say that LGBTQ people cannot draw close to God unless we change our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, or end our loving committed relationships, Christians are misrepresenting Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.  


Over the last few weeks of summer, we have been inundated with the right wing fundamentalist Christians attacking the Islamic people.  This upcoming Saturday is September 11th during which we will commemorate the horrific events that took place.  Fundamentalist Christians are preparing to burn Qurans on Saturday, thinking that they are doing some heroic awesome work.  St. Benedict in his Rule for Monks wrote the following.

"Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, do so there is good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life.  This, then, is the good zeal for which monks must foster with fervent love: they should be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another." (The Rule of St. Benedict in English, 1980, The Liturgical Press, Chapter 72.  The Good Zeal of Monks, Page 94).

St. Benedict's lesson that is meant for monks, is certainly applicable to all Christians.  Instead of looking for ways to use the wrong kind of zeal that would burn the sacred book of Islam which leads all Christians and Americans into a world of hell with Islamic people, why not look for ways in which we can be first to show respect to others and live in peace with the Muslim people?  Creating a place of fear and hate towards any group of people including the Islam people is counterproductive to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  


Creating a world of fear for people who are different, is creating a world that cannot welcome God.  In response to Fox News host Glenn Beck's rally on August 28th, Rev. Patricia Templeton wrote an opinion article in Episcopal Life Online entitled: Glenn Beck's God is Not My God.

Like many Americans I watched the news last weekend and saw the pictures of people gathered on the mall in Washington, D.C., at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial.

There conservative talk show host Glenn Beck stood at Lincoln's feet, looked out across the crowd and declared, "America today begins to turn back to God."

As I listened to him speak, it suddenly became clear to me. Glenn Beck and I may both call ourselves Christians, but we don't worship the same Christ or the same God.


The God whom I worship is a God who frequently reminds us that we live out our faith in large part through our relationship with the other – by showing hospitality to strangers, by loving our neighbors and our enemies, by reaching out to those on the margins of society.

Beck and his cohorts build their following by promoting a fear of the other, a fear that is in full bloom across much of our country.

We see it in the Arizona immigration law that recently went into effect, a law that gives police the authority to ask people to prove their citizenship or immigration status -- questions that most likely won't be asked of white Americans.

We hear it in the congressman who, on the House floor, urged the repeal of the 14th Amendment guaranteeing citizenship to all people born in this country because, he claims, terrorists have a scheme to have babies here and then raise them to kill Americans.

We hear it in efforts in Georgia to amend the law so that our places of worship can become armed fortresses where the stranger is greeted with suspicion, not hospitality.

We see it in polls that show increasing numbers of Americans believe that our president is a Muslim and not really an American citizen, and in Beck's claim that the president has "a deep-seated hatred of white people."

We hear it in Christian ministers who plan to commemorate September 11 by burning copies of the Koran.

And we hear it in the hysteria that greets plans to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque two blocks from the World Trade Center site, and attempts to block the building of mosques in other American cities from Tennessee to California.

The common factor in all these efforts is fear -- fear that is whipped up by Beck and other right-wing personalities, including many of our political leaders.

At the heart of that fear is suspicion of the other, defined by the fear mongers as those who are not Caucasian and Christian.

As we read through the opinion column Rev. Patricia Templeton reminds us.

Changes and the unknown often arouse fear in us. I believe there is something innate in that. But fear is one of the greatest impediments to hospitality. And Scripture reminds us repeatedly that acting out of fear is not faithful.

So how can we faithfully react to the fear of the other that is so rampant? How do we address that fear when we find it in ourselves?

For people of faith, we begin by turning toward God.

In practical terms, that means not buying into the climate of fear that so many seem eager to whip up. It means finding out the facts, the truth of a situation.

It means having empathy for the others around us. It means looking at the Hispanic woman registering her children for school and remembering that our ancestors, too, came to this country as strangers looking for a better life for their children.

It means looking at those who want to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque in New York and remembering that many Muslims worked in the World Trade Center and died in the September 11 attacks.

It means realizing, as Jesus says, that we are blessed by those who differ from us.

It means regularly reminding ourselves of our Baptismal Covenant, whose questions lead to the heart of what it means to be a Christian, not only in what we are to profess and believe, but in how we are to live out those beliefs in our actions each day.

The last two questions, in particular, address our relationship with the other.

"Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?"

"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?"
 
The answer to both questions is the same, "I will, with God's help."

All of us are challenged to accept people who are different from ourselves.  I think that is what the Jews in the time of Jesus were struggling with, with Jesus suggesting that he and God were one.  Someone who was totally different than anyone they had ever met was now in front of them.  If Jesus were to come to us in the here and now as a Muslim, or a woman, or as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning or queer person and tell us that he was one with God, would we recognize Jesus or would we want to stone him because he was different than how we thought he should look or behave?   Jesus already does come to us in every human person who has been created in the beauty of God's image and likeness.  We already discriminate against Jesus when he comes to us in a person who is different than how we think Jesus should be.  How is that allowing Jesus to shepherd us?  How is that being faithful to our baptismal promises?

The good news today is regardless of where we are in how we greet Jesus in those who are different from ourselves, or even if we are unfaithful to our baptismal promises, Jesus is our loving and forgiving God.  We can come to God and ask the Holy Spirit to help us to open our hearts and minds to Jesus in whatever and whoever Jesus comes to us.  The Holy Spirit is always more than willing to help us understand where we are erring, and as a gentle and tender Mother, the Holy Spirit will help us to discern better behaviors and attitudes.  The Holy Spirit will help us to put those good attitudes and behaviors to good use so that we will be participants in the ministry of radical hospitality and reconciliation.  That way when the children ask: "Are we there yet?"  We can answer: "No, but we are getting very close every step of the way."

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 18, Book of Common Prayer, Page 233).

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, Page 815).

Be Careful About Refusing to See

John 9:18-41 (NRSV)

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, 'Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?' His parents answered, 'We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.' His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.' So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, 'Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.' He answered, 'I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.' They said to him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?' He answered them, 'I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?' Then they reviled him, saying, 'You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.' The man answered, 'Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.  Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.' They answered him, 'You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?' And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He answered, 'And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.' Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.' He said, 'Lord, I believe.' And he worshiped him.

Jesus said, 'I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.' Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, 'Surely we are not blind, are we?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, "We see," your sin remains.

The Gospel reading continues to show us a dramatic conversation following the healing of the visually challenged man. The man who can now see is subjected to scrutiny over who cured him.  Those inquiring even turn to his parents who out of fear from becoming caught up in the investigation to criminalize who ever it was the cured their blind son, refuse any involvement in the dispute.  When the now cured visually impaired man finds Jesus and is told that Jesus is the Son of Man, that man worships the One who cured him, the one who saved him from the darkness of not being able to see. The Pharisees on the other hand are so caught up in their refusal to see their own arrogance cannot see how visually impaired they are.  That is why Jesus said "your sin remains." (See The Collegeville Bible Commentary, New Testament Volume, Page 998).

I have observed through my own reading of the Gospel accounts between Jesus and the Pharisees and those whom he cured, raised from the dead, or helped come back into a sense of inclusion that Jesus' harshest judgments and words were for those who refused to see how blind they were.  Those who were so arrogant as to thinking that they had it all together just because they followed the rules that they interpreted so literally and used them to dominate others found themselves on the not so nice side of Jesus.  Those who knew that they needed help to be able to see and understand clearly were those whom Jesus healed, made whole and found them room among God's people.  They often represented those who were the outcasts by the Pharisees and the political tyranny of his time.  

Our own times are not that much unlike those recorded in the Bible.  Today we are living in an age where the distance between the have's and the have not's are growing wider and wider every passing day.  Billion dollar corporations with CEO's making huge profits are now able to have more say over the have not's in our society due to Citizens United.  Those who are sick and without health care really are not completely better off because of Health Care Reform.  The Health Care companies are still searching for every loop hole they can find to deny coverage to children and people with pre-existing conditions.  Jobs are still being lost.  The economy for the middle class and those on the very bottom is not looking any better today than it did almost three months ago.  Yet many of our politicians and religious institutions on both sides of the isle refuse to see the problems for what they are and act on them for the best interests of the people they have been elected or ordained to serve. 


We also have those in our churches and throughout society who refuse to see the damage to our environment done by toxic wastes and our addiction to oil and fossil fuels.   Many individuals also refuse to see the damage that is being done to a healthy society by racism, sexism, heterosexism, religious discrimination, class discrimination, discrimination to those with physical, developmental and psychological challenges.  When society and our church communities organized or otherwise refuse to see that any kind of discrimination damages the Church and makes our society unhealthy, the sin of inequality, injustice and cruelty is alive and well.


Our Church and society is healthier when we understand that it is everyone's business to be about the work of making peace in our world by working for justice for all.  When we refuse to try to do our part, we are choosing to remain visually impaired.   The quest for justice for the Islamic community as they are facing the terrible injustices of conservative Christian bias, is as much a concern for LGBTQ people, as the equal rights of LGBTQ people are a concern for all people of good will.   Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz wrote in the Bilerico Project about "The Fierce Urgency of NOW:  Why Queers Must Challenge Islamaphobia".

As a queer person, I am keenly aware that this kind of vicious targeting of any marginalized community is yet another reminder that we share space on the right wing target list with Muslims, Jews, women, People of Color, immigrants and people with disabilities. So why don't I hear more from the LGBT community and our leadership about the targeting of Muslims, mosques and Islam? 

A release from California Faith for Equality was written to address the dangerous work of Pastor Lou Engle and a number of religious conservatives over marriage equality.

CFE Leaders Challenge Alliance of Engle, Gingrich and Huckabee

 September 3, 2010

This weekend in Sacramento, California groups of religious extremists will take part in “The Call” –lead  by Pastor Lou Engle and promoted by conservative politicians such as Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee, who are using religious events to rally voters and to crush marriage equality in California.

“It is not only misguided but reckless to promote a God of vengeance.”  said Samuel M. Chu, Executive Director of California Faith for Equality, of Engle’s religious agenda.  ”Religion should never be used as a weapon to condemn, to harm, or to strip away a person’s humanity.” California Faith for Equality (CFE), is an organization of over 6000 clergy and lay leaders who support equality and justice for all.

“We represent good people of deep faith across the great state of California who know that traditional religious values are love, justice and compassion, not bigotry, discrimination and hatred,” said the Rt. Rev. Dr. Brian Baker, Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento.  “CFE stands with all those working for marriage equality because we believe God blesses all people equally and that Constitution should protect all people equally.”

“CFE strongly supports freedom of religion,” added Chu, “but we also believe in the freedom from religion. When politicians like Gingrich and Huckabee create an alliance with Lou Engle, we must speak out to prevent religious  extremists from writing their theology into the laws of this land.”

CFE spokespeople Samuel M. Chu and The Rt. Rev. Dr. Brian Baker will be available for comment throughout the weekend .

The challenge for the Church is to be open to the possibility that we are not seeing everything clearly.   Our two thousand years of Church history is filled with examples of how Christians have been getting it wrong.  The two thousand year history is also full of examples of women and men, gay or straight, one gender or transgendered, black or white, abled or challenged met with faith the multiple challenges of their time and as a result great conversions happened.  The Holy Spirit is again challenging the Church in the Year 2010 to open our hearts and minds to the possibility that we have been getting some things wrong.  She wants us to admit that we are visually challenged to those who are still left out in the cold.   The Holy Spirit came upon the Church to "guide us into all truth" (Jn 16:12).   Are we open to the Holy Spirit guiding us into all truth, or are we really that arrogant as to believing that we are already there?  Are we willing to tell Jesus that we are still very much visually challenged to those who really need the Church to open our doors, hearts and minds so that we can welcome all, and take our part in the ministry of reconciliation?   Imagine what healing Jesus Christ would do in our Church and society through us if we could all admit that we really do not see things as clearly as we thought we did.

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (Proper 17, Book of Common Prayer, Page 233).

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 you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, Page 818).

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

What Are We Not Seeing?

John 9:1-17 (NRSV)

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.' When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, 'Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?' Some were saying, 'It is he.' Others were saying, 'No, but it is someone like him.' He kept saying, 'I am the man.' But they kept asking him, 'Then how were your eyes opened?' He answered, 'The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, "Go to Siloam and wash." Then I went and washed and received my sight.' They said to him, 'Where is he?' He said, 'I do not know.' 

The inability to see is probably one of the most frightening challenges.  Those of us who can see with our eyes often take for granted what a great ability it is.  We can see the beauty of a clear blue sky or snow fall.   We can see the leaves changing color during the Fall.   We can see rain.  We can read blogs, newspapers, magazines, books.  No wonder a person who tragically and suddenly looses their sight experiences such hysteria.  


Yet, those who are visually challenged are inspire those of us who can see.  What visually challenged people cannot see through their eyes, they can feel through their hearts.  Some of the greatest painters are those who cannot even see the canvass in front of them, but they paint the most beautiful artwork.  One of the most beautiful stories from Little House On the Prairie was that of the visually challenged painter who struggled because her mother left her when she was about 4 years old. When her own mother sent for her, she would not go because of the anger she felt. She had not forgiven her mother.  But finally, the young daughter and her mother were left alone in the church, they told each other their stories. Suddenly as the mother felt her daughter's hair and face, the daughter realized that her mother was blind just like she was.  The tears the fell from their faces also fell from the audience that witnessed such loving forgiveness and reconciliation.  


In today's Gospel narrative the visually challenged man is believed to be blind because of something he or his parents did.  When asked: 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him." (Jn 9: 2,3).  Jesus saw in this man, not his sin, but the beauty with which God created him and that God created him for the moment when Jesus would restore his sight and God would reveal God's works through the now formerly visually challenged man.  


What are the preconceived notions we have of people who are different from us?  Can we begin to perhaps understand that our prejudices towards others are based on ignorance that gives rise to our fears, and therefore blinds us to the truth?    Can we understand that Biblical literalism is a spiritual blindness that challenges our ability to look past an individuals race,age, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression/identity, culture, class, challenge, ability to speak or write in English, employment status?  Is it possible for us to envision that each person's uniqueness is a way in which God reveals God's Self?


Because of Arizona's "Papers please" immigration law the issue of immigration has been blown up in our political and religious conversations.  People who worship in the religion of Islam want to build an Islamic Center just a few blocks from the site of the formerly standing World Trade Center.  This issue has ignited a firestorm of debate between conservative Christians and progressive Christians.  Just today it was decided by a California Appeals Court that Prop 8 supporters cannot force California's Governor or Attorney General to support Prop 8 in court.  What is really happening here?  We are not seeing that people who are not white, of a youthful age, male, heterosexual, able to speak or write in English, born in America, or Christian as individuals who are created in the image of God just as anyone else is.   We are not seeing that each person's dignity and integrity comes from God who has made each person as they are, with a purpose and a destiny that is different from every other person that God has made.  We are failing to see God's goodness in all people who are not just like us, or are what we think they should be.  When we do this kind of thing we are visually impaired to the point that we do not see that we are playing God with the quality of life for other people.  We are not loving our neighbors as ourselves.


A great Priest I know of suggests that we learn to look at ourselves and others around us through God's eyes.  Very often our difficulty in seeing others is the result of how we think God sees each one of us.  God does not look upon us as worthless sinners.  Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ all of us have been redeemed by God who loves us.  Through God's eyes each person regardless of those things that we think are different and therefore not worthy of dignity and respect, is seen and known as a wonderful and beautiful person to God.  An old hymn written by Adelaide A. Pollard contains these words.


Have thine own way, Lord!  Have thine own way!
Thou art the Potter; I am the clay!
Mould me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.


Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in thy presence humbly I bow.


Now here is the irony of a hymn like this.  When we sing hymns we are praying to God.   St. Augustine said: "When we sing, we pray twice."  Yet if we are going to sing and pray twice "Have thine own way, Lord!" Then we must also be prepared that God's way and our way are most often not in tune.  That is one way to see it.  Another way to understand it, is to see that God can mold and create and redeem us however and to whatever God wishes.  Therefore a person who's skin is not white, who's gender is not male, who's age is above 50, who's sexual orientation is not heterosexual, who's gender expression/identity is not a male born and a male therefore he must be, or a woman born therefore a woman she must be,  or unable to speak or write in English, or unable to see, walk, talk, think, behave, socialize, work can very well be molded and fashioned to reveal God just as they are.  Do we ever understand that when we ask God to "wash me just now" that can also include washing away the spiritual, visual challenge of seeing that God reveals God's Self through other people who are different from ourselves?   Can we also be washed of the idea that people who are different than what the status quo says they should be, should not have their equal rights and opportunities to work, get married, live in peace with their families, themselves, their own cultures, church communities, live in their own homes, vote and have their vote matter?   When we learn to see other people as God sees them and us, then our own visual challenge can also be healed, and we can finally seek to live in a community, world and Church of loving compassion and sharing.

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 17, Book of Common Prayer, Page 233).

O God, the King eternal, who divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Renewal of Life, Book of Common Prayer, Page 99).


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 you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, Page 818).

We Are Called to Come Out of the Sidelines

On October 11th of this year a very wonderful event took place. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people came out from the sidelines and into the faces of politicians, religious leaders, work places, schools, television sets and internet sites. Those who participated in the National Equality March in Washington, DC and all over came out into the open and said that we are not going to remain on the sidelines any longer while people in governmental power drag their feet when it comes to equality for LGBT individuals. It was a fantastic sight. It drew people into an awareness, and it made visible the people, the situations and the reality of what it is like to be an LGBT individual, couple and/or family in America. People who had grown silent on the side lines, accepting injustice came out in to the open and said no more.

In our readings from the Scriptures this weekend, we hear from Jeremiah: "See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble" (Jeremiah 31: 8-9).

It is never enough for God to leave those who are marginalized and stigmatized by society and the church on the sidelines. Over the years as the landscape has been changing for LGBT individuals there have been moves by the Episcopal Church and the ELCA to not leave LGBT people on the sidelines, but bring them into leadership positions. Why is this important? So that those who are blinded by their own arrogance can see that LGBT individuals like anyone else left in the margins have much to offer in the service of Christ and the Church. God is never content to just let us be. God has to shake us up, move us forward and constantly bring us into a greater understanding of ourselves and others. But we cannot do that unless we allow God to bring us out of the sidelines and into the place where God wants us.

In Mark's Gospel today, we read about Bartimaeus. A blind beggar who sits on the side of the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to face his Passion and Death. How Bartimaeus knew about Jesus we are not sure. But somehow, Bartimaeus knew that Jesus would be traveling along the road where he was. "When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet,,," (Mark 10: 47, 48). his can often be the experience of LGBT people. As they try to draw closer to God through the Church, they experience rejection, they are told to "keep quiet." This is one of the many reasons why LGBT turn away from religion all together. They cannot speak or take part in the life of the church, unless they are willing to "change."

What is interesting about Mark's Gospel is that we continually see how those who are closest to Jesus are the one's who are blind as to who he is. A couple of weeks ago, we heard John and James fighting about who was to be first and last. But here is Bartimaeus reaching out, calling out to Jesus while those who want to see this blind man who is marginalized, remain marginalized tell him to keep quiet. But Bartimaeus is not going to take being marginalized any longer. He is not going to be told to keep quiet, Bartimaeus knows who Jesus is, and he wants to experience the mercy of God that Jesus can give him and so he cries out even louder: "Son of David, have mercy on me." And then those standing around tell Bartimaeus: "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." Then Bartimaeus throws off his beggars cloak the one that he used to collect money as people went by and after Jesus asked: "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimeaus replies: "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said: "Go, your faith has made you well." (See Mark 10: 46 to 52).

Sometimes, LGBT people and many who experience marginalization from churches our very own families are so afraid to get up and throw off our anger at those who marginalize us. Given how LGBT individuals are cast off by religious institutions and told they are worthless unless they "change". It is so understandable why LGBT and many people throw off religion. Many LGBT people want to draw closer to God. They have fought their inner battle with their sexuality, thinking that they were dirty and useless just because they are attracted to members of the same-sex. There are so many stories of how lesbians and gay individuals have nearly committed suicide because they were afraid of their sexual orientation. They were afraid of their parents, families, friends, pastors and the list goes on and on. At the moment a questioning individual comes to term that who they are is who they are, and God created and loves them that way, that's when they begin to experience healing. And while they are experiencing a new found love for themselves, they have religious leaders like Pat Robertson or James Dobson telling them they are going down a path of sin. Or they read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that they are "instrinically disordered". And the LGBT individual that is coming out, feeling like there is no place for them in God's Church, go to the sidelines with this blind perception of themselves and how God sees them.

This is why it is so refreshing for me to read: "In the Eye of the Storm; Swept to the Center by God" by Bishop Gene Robinson. Instead of a Bishop writing some paper against same-sex marriage or telling an LGBT person that he is gay because his masculinity was not affirmed by their fathers, or femininity affirmed by their mothers, Bishop Robinson, shows how much the stories of LGBT people are told throughout the Bible. In stories such as the wandering of Israel in the desert in Exodus. Bishop Robinson talks about how God affirms us in Scripture by affirming every human being in their sexuality. The Bishop is being Jesus for me, by helping me to remove the blinders that I've had about myself and my sexuality. But to begin to see that, I had to get off the sidelines of my feeling guilty or dirty, to reading about an affirming prospective, and so allow Jesus to begin healing my blindness.

Today Jesus invites the blind, the black, the white, the gay, the straight, the challenged, those marginalized to come out from the sidelines and accept God's love. When the Episcopal Church and the ELCA made the allowance for LGBT individuals to discern the vocation of Priesthood and/or Bishop, as well as be married in the Church, they echoed Jesus' call to LGBT individuals to come out from the sidelines, to know and share God's love in service and sacrifice. No longer do they have to keep quiet. No longer do LGBT individuals have to remain outside of God's partnership, but they are now part of the Divine network of those who serve God not only as ordained individuals, but in all kinds of ways.

LGBT individuals who are called out from the sidelines need to take their places with others who follow Jesus Christ. We need to see that there are many people who remain marginalized by society and the church. Jesus has given us a call to help them as we are helping ourselves. And we participate in the ministry of Christ and the Church when we call on politicians and church leaders to see their own blindness when it comes to people left out by society. Every Christian and person of good will needs to be involved in this health care reform debate. The fact that over 40,000 people will die because they do not have health insurance, means that our health care system and our nation has gone blind to the people we are suppose to serve. Unless we see them as women and men of dignity and integrity, and call the insurance companies to leave behind their quest for corporate greed, and politicians from corruption, more people who could be saved, will die.

What are we doing to come out of the sidelines to participate in God's work in our lives? How do we allow the opinions of others to keep us from fulfilling what God wants? How do we use our gifts to serve others who are marginalized?

God has a place and a plan for everyone. God does not look upon anyone with shame, God looks upon us with love. God wants us to come out from our sidelines and participate in God's plan to change the world, to make the Church an inclusive place for everyone and to be God's hands, feet, and heart that extends to those who feel excluded.

God has already made the call for us to go to work. So, when and where do we begin?

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. (Book of Common Prayer, For the Human Family, #3, Page 815).