Fourth Sunday of Easter: Jesus, The Good Shepherd, Guide Us to Justice, Peace and Equality

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 4:5-12 (NRSV)

The day after they had arrested Peter and John for teaching about Jesus and the resurrection, the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is

`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

it has become the cornerstone.'

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Psalm 23 (BCP., p. 612)

1 John 3:16-24

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

John 10:11-18 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-- and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father." 

Blog Reflection

I actually love the Fourth Sunday of Easter, among other Sundays and Feasts during the Church Year.  I think it is awesome that we get to return to these celebrations year after year to recall what we believe, and to find new opportunities for growth from the point in which we find ourselves.

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd may seem prehistoric for us in the 21st Century.  We are a society of "do it for you here and now" technology, with opportunities for further advancement.  These and other achievements give us a sense of self-sufficiency and personal freedom.  Why in the world might we need to have a conversation about a shepherd in the age of cell-phones, computers, ATM machines and electronic mail?  

The reality is that no matter how great we become at providing the good life for ourselves, there are always those who fall through the cracks.  Just as everyone has the possibility of gaining the best of the world, everyone still has the possibility of losing it all and finding themselves at the bottom of the priority list.  There is still sickness, death, violence, prejudice and evil of all kinds.  Wars and/or controversies that divide communities all over the world, still begin faster than our willingness to work for justice, peace and equality. 

Over these past weeks we have seen an all out political, social and religious created war against women.  State governments that claim to be "getting government out of people's ways" have passed laws all over the nation that are creating two classes of women.  One class of women are those who can afford reproductive health care services, the other are those who cannot.  Just this past week, the United States Senate passed the third authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, designed to protect them from domestic abuse.  GOP Senator Chuck Grassley wanted the bill watered down, removing domestic violence protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Additional violence towards women came by way of the Vatican coming down on the Religious Women who do a lot of good work for the poor and the homeless, while also speaking up about church related violence towards women and LGBT people.   Rather than understanding their role as shepherds on behalf of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ who brings unity, peace and equality, the the Roman Churches' leadership misuses their authority by way of religious and spiritual abuse.  Many proud and powerful women are speaking out, defending their dignity and integrity.  You can read a really good article in the National Catholic Reporter here.

We  need the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd today, because of those who use his Name to exercise violence, spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse.  Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord and Good Shepherd came to lay down his life for the sheep so that we all may now that God accepts and loves us, unconditionally and all-inclusively.   If we honor Jesus as a shepherd, then we must know and understand that no amount of discrimination and violence used in the Name of the Son of God is ordained and honored by God.  No use of the Bible or Church Tradition to justify social, political and religious based bigotry has any moral basis or mission that honors Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd.  On the contrary, to use the Christian Faith as an excuse for oppression and abuse is an example of what Jesus meant when he said:  "The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-- and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep."

As with any sheepfold, the one led and guarded by Jesus, the Good Shepherd has many sheep who are different and/or even unusual.  Each one has a beauty and purpose, even if they are not accepted by others in the flock.  Though other sheep might reject the unusual ones, Jesus loves each of us and cares for all of us as his very own.  Jesus laid down his life on the Cross and rose from the dead to give us all the hope of new and everlasting life.  That  hope is meant to inspire us to do all we can in the here and now to take good care of ourselves.  Our Shepherd also calls us to do what we can for other sheep in God's flock.   We don't all have to be perfect, white, straight, healthy, wealthy, arch-conservative Bible beaters, male or even Christian.  God's sheepfold is inclusive, where each sheep is special and redeemable, with God being the Savior and the ultimate decider of what our real destiny is. 

May the Risen Jesus, our Good Shepherd, guide everyone of us to justice, peace and equality for all of God's people. 


Prayers

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who
calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with
you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).


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


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

Confession of St. Peter: Faith and Doubt Lead to Grace

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 8: 4-13 (NRSV)

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is

`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

it has become the cornerstone.'

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.

Matthew 16: 13-19 (NRSV)

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Blog Reflection

As an individual who is still very new to the Episcopal Church, I have to write that there is a part of me that struggles intensely with this Holy Day. 

As Anglicans and Episcopalians are we not the people who do not claim the authority of the said to be Successor to St. Peter?  Yes, we are. 

The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Tradition are the via media between what is Catholic/Orthodox and what is Protestant.  Our worship and spirituality are very Catholic. Our leadership and polity, combined with our appreciation for the great Protestant reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley make us very much like Protestants.  

So when I come to the date of January 18th and the Episcopal Church asks us to consider this Holy Day of the Confession of St. Peter, I find myself with a bit of confusion.   I have to spend some time in thought and prayer about what the Episcopal Church and our Anglican Tradition is really saying about Peter and his confession of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

Peter is not exactly the best guy to be considered as the first among the Apostles.   He is stubborn. He is arrogant.  Peter's faith is not too great.  Peter has difficulties with Jesus.   Right after the Gospel reading for today in the Bible there is the encounter with Jesus in which Peter tries to persuade Jesus to not go to Jerusalem to experience his death and resurrection.   The very same Jesus who in today's Gospel tells Peter that he is the rock on which Jesus will build the Church, will say to Peter: 'Get behind me Satan!"   Later on during Jesus trial, it is Peter who will deny Jesus three times after having sworn to Jesus that he would lay down his life for the Jesus that he loved so much.

So why is Peter considered the first among Apostles?

What is so great about Peter that Jesus gives him the keys that says whatever Peter loosens on earth will be lose in heaven and what ever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven?  

Does that really mean that when Pope Benedict XVI says that "Gay marriage is a threat to humanity" that the Holy Spirit protects him from any and all sin when he is promoting such prejudice?

Peter is not made a great man or the rock because of who Peter is. The rock of Peter on which Jesus Christ has been building his Church is not a super power structure where one person is the universal dictator of all who call themselves Christians.  That rock of Faith is not represented as the Bishop of Rome seeks through his Bishops to infiltrate National, State and local governments so that they can only accept their version of what is "true".

Jesus recognizes Peter's confession as an act of faith from a man who does not have all his ducks in a row, but listens to God with in his heart so that he can confess with his mouth that Jesus is the Messiah; the Son of the Living God.   Jesus calls Peter the rock because of Peter's leap of faith that recognizes his own limitations, and that his only hope for salvation is to believe in God's perfect revelation in Jesus Christ.  Jesus responds to Peter's faith making Peter's Confession that rock on which Jesus would build the Church. 

The Messiah, the Son of God comes to establish a new justice through the establishment of God's reign through the Apostolic Succession.  This Succession of the Apostolic ministry is one that is not driven by a dictatorship, but one that inspires people through that same leap of faith that was in Peter when he made his confession. A faith that is collaborative with diverse groups of people and seeks God through radical hospitality and the ministry of reconciliation.

Each Bishop knows that she/he is an imperfect person who will make mistakes and do wrong.   The Bishops who have succeeded those first imperfect Apostles still come with their personal baggage; addictions, hunger for power vs the willingness to delegate and finds themselves battling the age old issue of money vs doing the right thing.  

One individual once said: "The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of Saints."  Sadly, the worst sinners (and that can be any one of us) often spend much too much time worrying about others sins rather than taking care of our own.

Peter's confession is an invitation for all of us to ask ourselves about what kind of faith are we professing?

Keep in mind that professing and confessing our faith does not make us perfect, nor does that alone bring us salvation.  The challenge for all of us is to live out that faith that we confess and profess by making it more than an abstraction.   Our task is to make it real and visible through the ordinary moments of our lives.

Our faith moves from being an abstraction to being a live with the risen Christ when we reach beyond our prejudices and attitudes to help bring about God's reign of peace, justice, inclusion and equality for all marginalized persons.   This means recognizing in people of different races, genders, sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions, languages, cultures, religions health and wealth statuses etc, the image of God and the hope for salvation in Jesus Christ.   It means being willing to serve the poor and the disenfranchised through our prayers and being actively involved in making the Church and the world a better place for everyone.

We are invited today to meditate on this awesome confession; while still asking ourselves about how we are going to confess and profess our faith in the daily routine of our lives. 

What will be our response?


Prayers

Almighty Father, who inspired Saint Peter, first among the
apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God:
Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that
in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow
the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 238). 


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

O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that
thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men:
Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servant for whom
our prayers are offered. Remember him, O Lord, in mercy,
nourish his soul with patience, comfort him with a sense of
thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon him, and give
him peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Those in Trouble or Bereavement, Book of Common Prayer, p. 831).

Proclaim Mercy and Love: Not Make Friends with Oppression

Today's Scripture Readings

Romans 12: 6-13 (NRSV)

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Mark 10: 42-45 (NRSV)

Jesus called his disciples and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Blog Reflection

It's Monday.  The day after The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I wasn't planning to write a blog post today.  I was not sure I would have anything valuable to contribute today. 

My anger and disappointment began today with the news that the Bishop of Rome has said that "Gay marriage threatens humanity."

No, Your Holiness.  The loving marriage between two people of the same sex does not threaten humanity.  Heterosexism based on ignorance that gives life to homophobia and keeping LGBT people as second class citizens because of religious based bigotry threatens humanity. 

I was further outraged when I read that the Archbishop of New York who has been selected to wear a red hat and become a Cardinal has bashed church rape victims.   It seems to me that cruelty and degradation are being rewarded with an honorary title. 

After I read that the Catholic League wrote that the molestation victims are "cry babies", I decided that I could not not write a blog post today. 

As I was thinking about these events and whether or not I should write a blog post today I was reflecting on John 12: 35.  "Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you."  This verse is used at the end of the third paragraph to the Prologue in the Rule of St. Benedict.  It is the paragraph that talks about getting up from sleep and learning about God's love for us by paying attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.   St. Benedict reminds us "not harden our hearts" which we pray from Psalm 95 every morning in the Daily Office. 

Then I am brought to today's commemoration of Julia Chester Emery.  A woman who devoted herself to the missionary work of the Episcopal Church who helped begin the United Thank Offering.  The work of Julia Chester Emery was to bring the good news of God's mercy and love to the wider hurting world and call upon the Episcopal Church to become actively involved in that missionary work.

Jesus tells us not to lord ourselves over people, but to be in a constant attitude of the willingness to serve others.  Jesus is the greatest example of humility as he gives of himself and all that God is in him in service by giving himself as a ransom for many.  Jesus is telling the disciples that if they want to be anyone of greatness, they have to be willing to help heal the wounds brought about by the misuse of authoritative power and wealth. 

Through today's news we are seeing the misuse of church authority.  When religious power is used to over lord bigotry the results are destructive.  

St. Paul today encourages us to "Let love be genuine" by "contributing to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to the strangers."  

Love is genuine when people like Julia Chester Emery a woman in an age when women are no where near as accepted as they are today is patient in her suffering, but persistent in prayer; works to alleviate the suffering of others all over the world.   Her work continues to bear fruit as year after year Episcopalians all over contribute to the United Thank Offering to continue Emery's work of alleviating the poor and others in need.

As LGBT individuals we are angered and wounded by what we are hearing in the news these days.  We would do well to use our outrage and the cuts we feel to become part of the solution. Just because the religious minded individuals who have said and written the news we are hearing today choose to "follow the advice of the wicked" (see Psalm 1) does not mean we should follow their example.  We should do the good things the Christian Faith calls humankind to do.  Let us make our love genuine and serve the needs of others.  May we outdo one another in showing mutual affection, rejoicing in hope and being patient in suffering.  May we follow the example of Julia Chester Emery in proclaiming God's mercy and love and not make friends with oppression.

May we take the lesson and canticle in Philippians 2: 5-11 from the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and make it our prayer and desire.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
   did not regard equality with God
   as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
   taking the form of a slave,
   being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
   he humbled himself
   and became obedient to the point of death—
   even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
   and gave him the name
   that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
   every knee should bend,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
   that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

Prayers

God of all creation, you call us in Christ to make disciples of all nations and to proclaim your mercy and love: Grant that we, after the example of your servant Julia Chester Emery, may have vision and courage in proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our light and our salvation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 163).


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.  (Book of Common Prayer, page 214).

Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name
of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart,
we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our
Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 213).

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, page 815). 

Second Day of Christmas: St. Stephen: Religious Exceptionalism and Intolerance Kills Again

Scripture Readings

Acts 6:8-7:2a,51c-60 (NRSV)

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?"

And Stephen replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. You are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Matthew 23:34-39 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Blog Reflection

The commemoration of St. Stephen the day after the Christmas Season begins seems like we turned from one chapter of the story to another.  In a sense we have.  In a sense we have not.

Yesterday we celebrated God coming to us in Jesus Christ.  As one so fragile and helpless.  Jesus came to help heal our wounded relationships. 

Today, we commemorate the first Martyr of the Christian Church; St. Stephen. One of those relationships God came to heal us from is religious exceptionalism and intolerance.  What we need to understand to heal those broken relationships from this Holy Day in our Church calender is that religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills a lot more than a body.  It kills community.

Christians were the new group in town.  Jesus had ascended.  The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.  The newly forming Church was gaining popularity.  Those who wanted to protect the exceptionalism of their own religion were challenged to be more inclusive of new ideas and the ways in which people understood their relationship with their God.  As Stephen makes the case for this new religion full of this zeal he has for being Christian, the existing religious establishment just would not tolerate it.

Sadly, what has happened to the Christian religion over these many centuries is that we have forgotten the lessons of how much religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills.  The Christ Child came to heal broken relationships, by helping us understand what is so broken and wounded about them.  The Church in the 21st Century is still learning how broken our relationships are.

What we have seen over the 20th Century with the rise of fundamentalism that makes use of the modern invention of Biblical literalism, is one form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance taken over by another sad example. The American Family Association. The Family Research Council(s) all over the country.  Focus on the Family.  The Trinity Broadcasting Network. These are a few examples of fundamentalist organizations that promote religious exceptionalism and intolerance. 

At the same time, in the Catholic Church, we have seen religious exceptionalism and intolerance rise through the use of a authoritarian model in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It's pages are full of very great insights. However, the intent appears to be to create a faithful following that does nothing more than recite the teachings only for the purpose of ending all conversations that would contradict them. The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Relevant Radio have done a good job of supporting and creating more individuals to promote this form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance. Here in Minneapolis and St. Paul we have a follower of the great "orthodox Catholic" networks. The person I speak of writes comments in any newspaper piece where Catholicism is written or spoken about. His comments are written for one purpose. To make sure that the teachings of the church are explained in their entirety.  Anyone who does not agree with what he writes, whether Catholic or not is immediately and violently torn apart by the commenter.

In our Anglican/Episcopal tradition we have seen many incredible strides.  Women are allowed to be ordained in all forms of Church ministry.  In most recent years and not without difficulties LGBT people can be ordained to all forms of Church ministries too.  Reconciliation has been sought with Native Americans, with a commitment to honor the cultural traditions they come from. Opposing the religious intolerance that continues to vilify Jewish people and Muslims is something we are talking openly about.  Yet, within our own progressive bodies, there remain those who would prefer to encourage religious exceptionalism and intolerance. 

St. Stephens' example of being forgiving and praying for the mercy on his persecutors is outstanding. In the midst of his terrible death by stoning, he is more concerned with keeping his own salvation and praying for those who are killing him.  Among the people in attendance of his stoning is Saul who would later become Paul.  Stephens' witness to the transforming power of God's saving love becomes a vehicle through which Saul would one day be where Stephen is.  One day, Saul when he is known as Paul will be the victim of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.

The coming of Christ at Bethlehem is a reminder that as Christians we are not always going to get it right.  As a human being from birth until death we never stop learning and growing in our understanding.  So the Church needs to continue to learn and grow because of those who lead it until Christ comes again.  That learning and growing happens as we are open to the transforming power of God's unconditional and all inclusive love and grace. 

The Church has it's history of burning heretics at the stake. Whipping those who do not share their views. Burning individuals who are thought to be witches. Many who supported discrimination towards Native Americans, African Americans, Irish people, Jewish people, Muslims, Atheists, Wiccans, Pagans and so forth. Christians at one point supported the idea that women should live in subordination. There are Christians who even today support such thinking. While there have been many strides towards greater acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, there are many who still prefer to reject us because of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.

A compelling case can also be made about religious exceptionalism and intolerance on the part of LGBT people and others.  As painful as being rejected because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is, returning that rejection by suggesting that all Christians are gay haters is not helpful.  I know of way too many openly LGBT ministers and priests who receive uncalled for violence from the oppressed who become oppressors.  The wounds to our communities will not be healed if we continue to take part in further wounding broken relationships. 

As we celebrate this Second Day of Christmas with the Holy Day of St. Stephen let us speak the truth in love, but always with a respect for diversity and a tolerance for perspectives that are not the same as ours.  This is something I need to pray about and work for too. 

The Christ Child has come to heal our broken relationships.  He does that by helping us to understand where and how they are broken.  Are we paying attention?


Prayers

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the
first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed
for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at
your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (St. Stephen, Book of Common Prayer, page 237).

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of
your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our
hearts, may shine forth in our lives; 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. (First Sunday after Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, page 213).

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

  

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: The Healer of Broken Relationships

Today's Scripture Readings

Luke 2: 1-20  (NRSV)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

John 1: 1-14 (NRSV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Blog Reflection

At the end of her Christmas message, The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church writes:

Jesus comes among us to remind us of a world living together in peace, to reclaim and make real that vision of creation for all humanity and all God’s creatures. That world is put right as relationships between God and humanity are set right. The relationship between God and human being cannot be set right without equal healing of relationships between us mortals.  See, your salvation comes!  Will we welcome that healing?

 If there is one time of the year in which many relationships are definitely not healed; it is Christmas.  Many families and their relatives face the Christmas holiday with anger and deep pain as they approach each other (or chose not to).  The distance between the coming of Jesus in the Manger at Bethlehem and broken hearts for some is too much.  The desire to mend those broken relationships may be there, but when it comes to actually interacting with them face to face; hearts are just too hard.  Emotions just seem to never stop colliding.

The magic of that Christmas night with the stars and the shepherds, all the glorious music and lofty Scripture readings.  Where does it all go when we see or we don't see the person we are in conflict with?

Sometimes I think many of the Christmas Gospel stories are misleading.  They talk of something mysteriously wonderful happening.  But, consider the manner in which Jesus was born.  It was anything but majestic in the Anglican ceremonial sense.  Everything that happened around the birth of Jesus was disorganized.  Nothing was totally right in order.  It was down right messy.

Did it really get better after Christmas?  After the Magi left, Herod had every son up to two years old slaughtered with the sword because they did not know that Mary and Joseph had taken Jesus to Egypt at the suggestion of the Magi.  Rachel cried in agony only a few days after Jesus was born (see Matthew 2: 16-18).  Did the world really get better?

The joy in the message of Christmas is that God came in the midst of our mess, our violence, our broken relationships and all that was and still is not right about anything.   Jesus came to bring God's perfect revelation to what was and still is so imperfect.  God comes into hearts and relationships that are all bent out of shape.

God comes; not as the mighty warrior with swords and machine guns raised to kill and slaughter.

God comes to be among us; not to force God's way in.

God comes and overthrows the mighty from their thrones; not by political maneuvering and corporate cash to overthrow the liberals of his time; to raise up an arch-conservative monarchy to kick the poor out of their homes without health care or the basic necessities of life 

God's perfect revelation of Self comes to us; not as some family council or National Organization for Marriage to tell LGBTQ people that they cannot be married to the person they love or serve openly in the Military.

God does not come in the voice of the Archbishop of San Francisco to kick out the gay friendly speakers in the middle of Christmas Liturgies while attempting a church membership drive called "Come Home."

God does not come in the voice of Archbishop Francis Cardinal George comparing the Gay Pride parades in the middle of Chicago to the Klu Klux Klan. 

In her outstanding article; United Church of Christ Pastor Emily C. Heath writes:

What they fail to understand is that culture didn't remove Christ from Christmas. We Christians did. We accepted the transformation of Advent, the period from late November until December 24th, from a time of holy watching and waiting to one of hyper-consumerism and cultural observances. So much so that when we go to a big box store and don't hear "Merry Christmas" we see it as an attack on our faith instead of the rightful separation of the commercial from the spiritual.

But there are still those who believe Christmas is under attack. I think they're right. But I don't think stores who have "holiday sales" are the attackers. I don't think it's towns that remove Nativity scenes from parks. I don't believe it's public schools that insist that Jewish and Muslim and Buddhist kids not be asked to sing songs affirming a faith different from their own.

I believe the greatest attack on Christmas has come from within. It has come from those of us who claim our greatest hope comes from the fact that God became a person of goodness, kindness, justice, and love. And who then act nothing like that person did.

And so here is my suggestion to Christians about how to keep Christ in Christmas: this season, worry less about the holiday policies of non-religious institutions, and worry more about whether we are actually listening to, and then doing, what Christ told us to do. In short, keep Christ in Christmas by acting like Christians.


I've always found the Beatitudes a good place to start. When Jesus called his followers up to a hill and preached to them, he told them who the "blessed" were; the ones whom God has looked with favor upon and will grant joy. The ones Christ calls blessed are often the same ones we as a culture are the quickest to condemn or criticize. We blame them for their own situation, and we refuse to help them. We somehow forget that when God became incarnate and preached a sermon about who was most blessed by God, these are the ones who were named: the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, the peacemakers, the merciful, the mourners, the pure in heart, the gentle. If Christmas is about the incarnation of God, and this is what God incarnate saw fit to tell us, then this is the ultimate Christmas message.

But over the last year, how many examples have there been of Christians who could care less who God has called blessed? How many times has a Christian told a hungry man to get a job? How many times has one told a poor woman that she just needs to work harder? How many times has a Christian ridiculed the gentle or the merciful? Called the ethical naive? Mocked the peacemaker or the one who calls for justice?

How many times have we told God by our actions that we could care less what Christmas means? Because if we don't take seriously the words of the man that that baby born on Christmas came to be, we have no idea what it means to keep Christ in Christmas.

Humankind cannot see God's desire to heal our broken relationships by miraculous deeds alone. Jesus is born today to show us that Jesus can be born again in us today and everyday to heal broken relationships by living as one of us. To know our experiences as one like us. Learning to cry when the pain hurts to much.  God comes and laughs at our jokes.  God comes to celebrate the momentous event of people coming together to love one another and make a difference in the world around us.

For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9, NRSV).

One of the greatest tragedies of this Holiday Season is when families cannot come together peacefully over the issue of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression because of religion.  Individuals who are LGBTQ of all ages experience a deep rejection this time of the year from their families. They face the possibility of some Bible thumper in the family giving them the drill of: "Well, some day God will cure you of your gayness."  Honestly, facing that kind of thing in the middle of Christmas Dinner with family is like giving an LGBTQ person sugar in one dish and vinegar in the next.  All the LGBTQ person is likely to remember about that holiday meal is the bitter sourness of the vinegar.

This Christmas Season let's all go to the Christ Child in the Manger and ask God Incarnate to lead us once again through this next year to heal those relationships that are so broken.  The risk of further injury and even being crucified will be there this year just like they have always been.  There is also the very real probability of resurrection by which we can all have newly healed relationships in spite of our broken and wounded humanity.  That healing comes when we accept ourselves for who we are, live openly and honestly with God, others and ourselves.   That healing is made even more real when those who have rejected us in the past come around to a better understanding and begin to love us and our same-sex partner(s) as we are.

In her blog post: Holy Family Values, Rev. Susan Russell wrote:

The Christ Child made the Holy Family holy – what made them a family were the values that bound them together as an icon of God’s love for the whole human family. And those values have absolutely nothing to do with either the gender or the genetics of those who make up a family and everything to do with the inclusive love of the God whose deepest desire is for this human race – created in God’s image – to become the human family it was meant to be.

Sadly, one of the things that has WAY too often gotten in the way of proclaiming that love to all people is the very thing that was created to proclaim that love to all people – and that thing would be The Church. Yet maybe it’s my own lived experience of reconfiguring a family on the other side of a marriage that gives me the hope we can also reconfigure our churches on the other side of bias and bigotry against God’s LGBT beloved.

O Come, Emmanuel, O Come All Ye Faithful and heal our broken relationships.  Amen.


Prayers

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth
of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully
receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the
brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known
the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him
perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he
lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to
take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure
virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made
your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed
by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Collects for Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, pages 212-213).

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of
your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our
hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the First Sunday after Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, page 213).   

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: All We Need Is Love. Where Have We Heard That Before?

Scriptural Basis

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.

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 once read the story of a woman.  She was the wife of a man, and was very happy for many years.  One night her husband was killed in a car accident.  While she was at her husbands wake, she was greeted by a woman who was crying bitterly about the widow's husband. Over the course of their conversation, the widow learned that the woman who was so destroyed had been sleeping with her husband and expecting a child that she conceived from their relationship. In spite of the widow's grief, upon hearing this news, as confused and angry as she was, she chose to become best friends with the woman expecting a child.  She was even present when the woman gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She helped the woman take care of the baby.  She often baby sat while the mother worked.  Later on, she drove the child to school on several occasions. The widow, the mother and the child were inseparable through out the child's life.

Over time, the relationship between the two women got deeper and in fact they fell in love. They bonded and became life long partners and raised the child right into adulthood.  They later applied for a marriage license and they were turned down, because their State does not recognize same-sex relationships.

Eventually the daughter fell in love with a man who was a Catholic. He proposed and she accepted.  However, when they went to the local Parish to arrange their wedding, they informed the Priest that the bride to be's parents were two mom's and she told him the story of her biological fathers death and the bond between the women.  The Priest informed the Bride to be that she could indeed be married in the church, but she could not claim both of her mother's as her parents.  She was crushed and then engaged couple decided to get married in a different church where the bride's two moms would not be excluded from the wedding ceremony and the proceedings.

While the daughter, her fiance and her two mom's were getting acquainted. Her fiance asked the two mom's what was it that made the widow over look the adulterous affair between her late husband and her wife that eventually led to their relationship.  The widow answered: "It was because of love.  We were told by God that we are to love God, our neighbor and ourselves.  Rather than be angry and hate this wonderful woman, I decided it was a more important decision to love her.  And love her I did and I definitely do."

I tell this story to illustrate what our Liturgy of the Word is about. We can argue all day about whether God is male or female. We can read all the theological treatises about the Immaculate Conception or whether the bread at Communion is really the Body and Blood of Christ because of transubstantiation, consubstantiation or whether it is just a symbol.  While I love a good brain frying conversation about the deepest questions in the Christian religion, in the end they mean nothing if we cannot understand that the love of God, neighbor and ourselves is the core meaning of what it means to be called a Christian.

Paul said as much in his first letter to the Corinthians 13, but to illustrate what I said in the paragraph above I want to just use verses 1 to 3.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

Over the past month we have seen what happens when corporate greed takes the place of loving our neighbor as ourselves.  The many protesters in the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York and all over the country and the world, is a call to recognize that money out of control destroys real human lives.  When the top 1% earns more than 10 middle class families combined, and keeps using their money to destroy the public funding for health care, consumer protections, public assistance, education, job creation and more, the lives of the 99% are affected in ways that cannot be completely understood.

When States like Arizona and Alabama pass immigration laws that punish "illegals" (and what a terrible word) by either profiling them or making it a crime for them to bath, there is no love of God, neighbor or self there.   That is nothing more than selfishness and bias at work.

When Republican candidates for President campaign suggesting that dealing with LGBT people and keeping us from equal rights, is akin to delivering the slaves in the south, there is no love there.  That is hate and "religion disguised as politics" (Frank Schaffer).

In his blog post: "So Why Did Jesus Refuse to Condemn Gay Folks?" Fr. Paul Bresnahan wrote:

Jesus insisted the we “Love one another” too. He didn’t just make that up because that was his opinion. No indeed! He selected one half of one verse from an obscure place in the book of Leviticus of all books to make his summary proclamation. “You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself. (Leviticus 19:18b)

With all the laws in Leviticus, why would Jesus pick this one. He could have chosen a whole host of other laws to condemn a whole host of people. Not Jesus! Instead he chose that one tiny law that has made all the difference then and continues to do so now.

Jesus was confronted by tiresome biblical literalists then as many of us still are. Somehow there were always Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Doctors of the Law all conspiring to find a pretext to have Jesus done away with. They always seem to want to catch him in his words. I can sympathize with Jesus here.

The same literalists keep showing up. And there always seems to be a note of judgmentalism among this crowd. They always want to find a good reason to condemn people.

Fr. Paul is correct.  When Jesus was confronted by the Biblical literalists of his time, he did not begin with a long list of "do not's."  Jesus did not call for a new Bible to be written either. He went back to the very heart of the Jewish Religion and said that the most important thing is to love God, neighbor and self.

Fr. Paul concluded his post with:

Jesus is a marvel. He knew that the most difficult thing is also the most simple. Love God, Love your neighbor. Love yourself.All three of these great loves are a marvel of challenge to a spirit that is fully alive to God. 

So now I put this to you. Are you ready to love God? If you think you are, you may also have to love your neighbor, and that will include folks you may find difficult to love. Who said following Jesus was going to be easy. His first followers had to give their very lives for folks who were difficult to love. 

Ultimately you will also need to love yourself. You will need to abound in forgiveness for yourself and everyone else. If you think you’re up to it, then you may follow Jesus. 

If you don’t feel you are up to it, you may still follow Jesus. When you find yourself unable to love, Jesus will remain constant, immovable, and always standing on the cross, extending his loving arms, so that everyone may come within his saving embrace. 

That famous song: "All We Need is Love" seems to be full of truth.  When we are confronted with such an idea, we might want to remind ourselves of where have we heard that before?  

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. (Proper 25, Book of Common Prayer, page 235).

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

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.(Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Correcting the Church: Even Orthodoxy Can Get It Wrong.

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Blog Reflection

This past week I found myself in a conflict with a dear friend.  The conflict was about taking a good hard look at the historical traditions of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  Which, I do in fact believe in.  In a post in a group labeled: "Liberal Anglo-Catholic" my friend wrote the following words.

By Catholicism we mean the teaching of the undivided Church. The seven great Ecumenical Councils (the seventh, Nicaea II, met in A.D. 787) are the basis of radical orthodoxy. Catholic means universal in the sense of whole and undivided. We hold to the traditions of the ancient Church, as carried on in Anglicanism and Eastern Orthodoxy. 

As I read those words, though fond of them I am, I responded as I thought I should as follows.

And let's not pretend to be ignorant of the fact that in its quest to be an "undivided Church" it is responsible for many evils then as it is now. Catholicism does not hold a monopoly on truth.

Sometimes, even for more progressive and liberal Christians, even those who call themselves Christian Socialists, Catholicism and doctrine can become an all too comfortable hiding place from the realities that brought about much of what Christians believe today.  It is easy to recite the Nicene Creed and enjoy the rich worship tradition contained in the Book of Common Prayer. Except for one thing. Catholic dogma though rich with truths in and of themselves, are not given to us so as to hide from the real world through which the Tradition of the Church has arrived at where we are now.  

In his book: Gay Unions: In Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason, the Rev. Canon Gray Temple wrote: 

"Tradition" is on of the reifications we warned ourselves against earlier in order to be clear in our thinking.  The word is easily used in ways that ignore its complexity and fluidity.  Let's remind ourselves that abstractions start out as a helpful and necessary way to save time; it's more efficient to say "politics"  than to list every candidate we know of and all their known actions.  But when "politics" gets reified, we forget individuals who participate in it and we lose its connection with citizenship. We should not permit reification to economize thought. An uncritical embrace of tradition results in what Berger calls alienation.  Part of growing up intellectually--as a citizen--is to de-alienate to the best extent possible.

Before examining particular traditions, let's reflect a bit on the value of tradition and how we sometimes corrupt its use.

Tradition is to communities what memory is to an individual. (Page 101).

There is a tendency in Catholic circles to celebrate our "oneness" in what we believe. Yet forget how very divided we are.  Among the many steps towards becoming one community is to understand that every individual within the community is different, thinks differently and understands differently. Diversity is a good thing. It is when we attempt to make the Church more inclusive is when suddenly people run back to "tradition" as a safe haven for not addressing problems within ourselves.  

I believe that at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus' instructions to the disciples today, is the desire to create and nurture communities within the Church with a recognition of the need for the ability to reconcile differences through working together.  To strengthen each other when we have our disagreements, by dealing with conflict through careful counsel and as a faithful witness to our faith.   

The problem for the Christian Church is that we have grown oh much to fond of our Catholic/Orthodoxy to allow the Holy Spirit to challenge us to be open to learning new things, so as to re-evaluate our long standing tradition of how we think of women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.  Among the ways we must be open to the Holy Spirit about such things as sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is through listening to the stories of those Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Evangelicals, etc who are LGBT.   The stories LGBT people have to tell of what it has been like to grow up being a Christian and discovering that we are of a different sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression in a Church and world that does not want to accept us or respect our need for equality and inclusion.

This past week a wonderful person named Ron Bates wrote an exceptional story about what it was like to grow up Catholic and gay in Minnesota.

For years and years, I would prostrate myself on the floor and ask God to change me. Maybe if I just pray more, fast more, do more "works of charity," the male attraction will go away.

After more than 30 years of trying to "burn" the evil out of me, I finally came out at age fifty four. God finally broke through to my heart of hearts and said, "I love you just as you are. You are praying for healing, but you are not sick!"

Our God does not change. God is God always. And God was with me always. After all the self-hatred and foibles of life, God was still there waiting for me.

At that moment, the shame and guilt I had felt for years left -- once and for always. If Pope Benedict had been standing right there to tell me I was "disordered," I would have said to him, "You are wrong. God made me and loves me just as I am."

   
In an article found in Pink News, Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire said: "God celebrates gay people." 

“There’s no doubt in my mind that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are part of God’s obvious delight in diversity. We see it all throughout creation, why wouldn’t we have it in humankind?

“I believe that the church has gotten this wrong, just as we once used scripture to justify slavery and the subjugation of women. It wasn’t too long ago in this country that women wore hats to church because St Paul said a woman’s place is to keep her head covered and her mouth shut! We kept women out of the ordination process because of that! Sexual orientation is something God celebrates and I believe that will become the mainstream Christian understanding before not too very long.” 

The Church is great at preaching the need for peace and caring for the poor and the marginalized.  But, when the Church beginning with it's leaders and many devoted lay people is confronted with the need to change an understanding, it takes an awful long time and some very un-Christian things said and done on the way to getting there.  This is one part of the Tradition of the Christian Church that still to this day has not entirely changed for the better.

It is totally right that LGBT people are challenging Christianists and others in terms of the issues of immigration, health care, and many issues. It is important that the dominionists realize that taking over the world to suggest that only radical right wing, Biblical literal thinking that is based on opinions, not educated facts not become the only Christianity the world knows. The Christian message is not about domination or even the establishment of one world religion at the expense of anyone and anything else.  Christianists and many who listen to them are not going to know or understand the damage they do to the Christian religion unless progressive Christians and even Atheists point it out.  

Catholicism and orthodoxy are terrific.  But, they are not the "rock" to hide behind so that Christians can excuse themselves from doing their part for the poor and marginalized. Christians are called to embrace all people and share the love and mercy of Jesus Christ through faithfulness and charity towards all people, including those different from ourselves.  Sometimes Catholicism and/or orthodoxy become an all too handy excuse to scapegoat and stigmatize. That is hardly a proper use of Tradition.

How can we challenge the Church in this 21st Century?  What ways can we challenge Christians misinformed by Biblical literalism and the stigmatization of minorities and others to consider a change of heart and behavior?  How can we challenge Christians or even ourselves who enjoy hiding behind Catholicism and/or orthodoxy to live the meaning of what we believe by becoming more inclusive?

The Holy Spirit will help us to find the way.  The life Jesus led is the way that leads to a greater understanding and self knowledge.   Let us not make the mistake of every thinking there is no more that we can learn, so as to grow, so as to better influence the Church and society around us.

In so doing we can fulfill what St. Paul said in his letter to the Romans.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."  (Romans 13: 8-10).

Prayers

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).

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

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 823).