St. Martin of Tours and Veteran's Day: A Connection to Christ and One Another

Today's Scripture Reading

Matthew 25:34-40 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' "

Blog Reflection

St. Martin of Tours is one of my favorite Saints commemorated in our calendar.   When I think of the great evangelical Saints like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, as well as missionaries like Mother Theresa of Calcutta and St. Vincent de Paul, they all got their start from St. Martin of Tours.   At one point, St. Benedict had erected a shrine to St. Martin of Tours.


I just read a great article in the Daily Episcopalian about the connection between St. Martin of Tours and celebrating Veteran's Day.   It appears that St. Martin was also a soldier in the army.  It was during his journey toward a day of battle that he saw the naked man shivering in the cold, and using his own sword to divide his cloak in half, gave the other to the freezing man.   Later, Martin had a vision of Jesus wearing the other half of his cloak.   So, Martin lived out the meaning of the Gospel used for his Commemoration today.  It also turns out that St. Martin was a peacemaker at a time when the Barbarians were going to attack.  His refusal to participate in the battle, but placed on the front of the battle field, was among the reasons the Barbarians decided not to attack.

So many of our Veteran's are those who put their own lives on the line for our benefit.  They risked their health. Their time with their families.  Their own careers and many of them. Their whole lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.  Yet, as much as our Veterans have given on our behalf, so many of them have never been appropriately thanked, or received the care and compensation their sacrifices deserve.   Many of them are poor.  Others suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety, loss of the ability to parts of their bodies and more.   Many of our Veterans are of mixed races, religions, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions, ages, speak and write in many languages, and abilities.


Our Veterans are the face of Jesus who is hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, in a prison of one kind or another, or sick.  Turning our backs on our Veterans is to leave Jesus out in the cold, looking for some warmth.  St. Martin of Tours reminds us that we must be willing to put ourselves out there for the cause of peace, and to serve others as Christ Himself.  Serving God and one another, including our Veterans brings the Community of Christ closer together in hope, holiness and an opportunity for all of us to grow in our faith.

Let us all today say thank you to God for the witness of St. Martin of Tours, and our Veterans.   May we express our undying gratitude to them, and do what we can to encourage our government, church communities and local communities to recognize and care for our Veterans.   Remembering that when we serve and thank our Veterans, we honor and serve Christ Himself.

Amen.


Prayers

Lord God of hosts, you clothed your servant Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a Bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us grace to follow in his holy foot steps, that at the last we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.  (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p.675). 

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

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, p.826). 

Laurence: Deacon and Martyr: Who Are the Treasures?

Today's Scripture Readings

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NRSV)

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,

"He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Psalm 126 (BCP,. p. 782)


John 12:24-26 (NRSV) 
 

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor."

Blog Reflection

Laurence the Deacon was martyred in Rome in 258 under the decree of Emperor Valerian.   He decreed that the upper class in the Church be persecuted and all of the buildings and treasures ceased and given to the Emperor to sell and/or obtain for his treasury.   Laurence was martyred six days after Sixtus II and his companions were in the same cemetery where Laurence was grilled alive on a gridiron.  

Before Laurence was martyred, they ordered him to find all the treasures of the Church and to turn them over to the Emperor.  Laurence returned with the poor, the sick and the children with whom he had taken care of through the Church's relief fund.   When Laurence returned, he said; 'These are the treasures of the Church."

Who are the treasures of the Church today?  

Christians are in a very difficult time.   The election is full of corporate cash being used to support the wealthy, such as health insurance company executives.  Owners of large oil companies and financial market appear to be spending their legalized unlimited cash to confuse voters about what is really at stake in things like the Ryan budget plan that would turn Medicare into a voucher paid system, leaving millions of elderly and disabled Americans in major financial disarray.

There have been two horrific shootings.  One in Aurora, Colorado and the other in Wisconsin.  Yet, those "second amendment rights" must be defended.  It is much more important to support the right to carry assault weapons, than to seek the safety of the people who die when a mad man goes into the place of worship of another religion other than Christianity, and kill those who don't preach the Christian Gospel.

Of course, we have people like Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, suggesting that the children of same-sex couples should be kidnapped and carried through an "underground railroad."   Fischer believes that children being raised by same-sex couples are endangered of being "recruited" as LGBT people.  

Rev. Susan Russell wrote an outstanding article in The Huffington Post in response to Fischer.  In the article, Susan wrote:

Because here's the deal: There are good people of deep faith who read the same scriptures and come to different conclusions about a whole variety of issues. And then there are dangerous people of deluded faith who have projected their biases onto God and are so convinced that they have sole possession of the absolute truth that facts don't matter, laws don't matter, and the rights of those who disagree with them certainly don't matter.

And it is long past time for the rest of us -- for all the rest of us -- to claim our power by speaking out, standing up, and calling out the toxic rhetoric of the Bryan Fischers of the world for what it is: antithetical to the life, witness, and Gospel of Jesus; contrary to authentic Christian values; and not of God.

It should go without saying that kidnapping is not a traditional Christian value, but given that it apparently does need to be said, if we don't say it, who will?

The treasures of the Church are those people whom Jesus draws close to. Those who are marginalized and oppressed, because of discrimination and negative stereotyping, are people that Jesus went out to welcome and bring healing.   The Church is called to reach out to God's treasures by being a place of hospitality and reconciliation for all people.   We reach out by being open to the movement of God's Holy Spirit, who wants to rip open those Pandora's Boxes, and help us to see God working in the lives of the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised, the LGBT and the women who are attacked for exercising their reproductive rights.   We are called to be concerned for those who are sick and cannot afford to go to the doctor because they do not have health insurance.   We are called by Jesus to pray for those who are held captive by poverty, corruption and social oppression. 

Laurence was martyred, because he knew who the treasures of the Church were.  He brought them forward, so that his persecutors and we here in 2012, may remember that we give our lives for Christ, by being open to God's generosity and mercy in those with whom we share our faith and world. 

Do we know that we too are treasures of God and the Church?

God loves us all.  

God imparts God's grace to all. 

We are all treasures of God. 

May we all learn to think of ourselves as God's treasures.

May we all learn to see and love each other as treasures of God.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, you called your deacon Laurence to serve you with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom; Grant that we, following his example, may fulfill your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving you with all our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 519).

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).

 

Monday of the First Week in Lent: Who Do You Go to the Desert With?

Today's Scripture Reading

Mark 1: 1-13 (NRSV)

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
   “Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight” ’,

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

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

 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 

Blog Reflection

Henry J. M. Nouwen in his book, The Wounded Healer writes: "The great illusion of leadership is to think that a man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there" (p. 72).

During this Season of Lent we are being led into our time in the desert, by One who knows all too well what it means to be out there.  Unlike, the scene a couple weeks ago of a group of men testifying before a Congressional House Panel about the dangers of contraception for women, when they have no understanding of the experiences of women; Jesus has actually been in the desert and witnessed the dangers and knows exactly what we are getting into.  He knows what it is to be a Baptized believer set loose in a world of spiritual, physical and psychological challenges.

We can infer from the reading from St. Mark's Gospel, that Jesus' experience of the desert follows the experience of John the Baptist.  Therefore, is it possible that Jesus looked to the experience of his baptizer as his model for going into the desert with complete trust in God?  How else could Jesus have known that it was the Spirit who led him out there, and that there would be angels waiting on him as he faced the wild beasts?

In today's commemoration of the Priest and Preacher George Herbert, the Episcopal Church gives us the Gospel reading of the Beatitudes from Matthew 5: 1-10.  This Gospel reading follows Matthew's account of Jesus' temptation.  How else might Jesus have known that it was the poor in Spirit who would inherit God's reign if he had not faced his own Spiritual poverty and need for God, as he hungered for food, was tempted by the illusion of world domination, and putting God to the test?    

Jesus' experience of his temptation in the wilderness is our model during this Lenten Season.   Jesus knows of what we face, and by God's Holy Spirit, Jesus attends to our needs by the assistance of angels just as they attended to him.  

As lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer Christians, we are led by the Spirit into the wilderness of a Church and a world where the wild beasts of those afflicted by attitudes and behaviors of prejudice and violence are waiting.  They wait with their erroneous interpretations of Scripture, the untested version of Church Tradition, and a blind understanding of Reason to attempt to harm us.  They would rather stay in their own cocoons where they are protected from a more educated and critical understanding of the Bible, the history of the Church, and the actual experiences of others, through which Reason is applied to a renewed understanding of human sexuality and gender identity/expression. 

At the same time, if we as LGBT Christians do not leave the illusionary world of "by the bars and internet alone will we find love," or of unhealthy and uncontrolled sexual appetites, to allow the Gospel to heal our hurts and forgive ourselves and others; we become only an extreme version of those who hate us, on the our own side of the social and political isle.  We are challenged by the Gospel and the Cross, do to a lot better than that.

The Holy Spirit may be challenging a number of us LGBT Christians to recognize the goodness that exists in our hearts and our desire to share our love with another person physically and romantically.   To do that, we must go with the Spirit into the wilderness where we will face the wild beasts of oppression and prejudice and resist the temptation to respond to them with the same attitudes and biases that feed separation and segregation.  We can go there with Jesus who knew what it was like to be around people in his own country who did not accept him, but loved them any way.  We can look for others who are marginalized and oppressed and become part of the missionary work of showing that God does not hate or reject anyone.  But, welcomes everyone and gives them the opportunity for healing and reconciliation.

This Lent, we are challenged to go in to the desert with Jesus and trust in the Holy Spirit to help us face the wild beasts, and experience being waited on by the angels.  So that we may come to the celebration of Easter as God's risen people, ready and able to do the Apostolic work of new life in Christ in our world.


Prayers

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be
tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted
by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of
each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (First Sunday in Lent, Book of Common Prayer, p. 218).

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Ash Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer, p. 217).

Our God and King, you called your servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a pastor of souls, a poet, and a priest in your temple: Give us grace, we pray, joyfully to perform the tasks you give us to do knowing that nothing is menial or common that is done for your sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (George Herbert, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 247).

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

Fredrick Douglass: The Truth Shall Make You Free

Today's Scripture Reading

John 8: 31-32 (NRSV)

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "if you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Blog Reflection

The Episcopal Church today, commemorates Fredrick Douglass.  A man who was separated from his mother at birth, and given to his new "owners" as a slave at the age of eight. Fredrick was given to Hugh and Sophia Auld by Hugh's brother. He eventually learned to read. He eventually fled his captors. Through many hardships and in the face of injustice, he became an activist in the abolitionist movement. (See Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 232).

Fearing the possibility that his owners might try to reclaim their "property" he fled to Ireland and Britain.   In his Autobiography slave narrative, My Bondage, My Freedom, Fredrick wrote:

"Eleven days and a half gone and I have crossed three thousand miles of the perilous deep. Instead of a democratic government, I am under a monarchical government. Instead of the bright, blue sky of America, I am covered with the soft, grey fog of the Emerald Isle [Ireland]. I breathe, and lo! the chattel [slave] becomes a man. I gaze around in vain for one who will question my equal humanity, claim me as his slave, or offer me an insult. I employ a cab—I am seated beside white people—I reach the hotel—I enter the same door—I am shown into the same parlour—I dine at the same table—and no one is offended... I find myself regarded and treated at every turn with the kindness and deference paid to white people. When I go to church, I am met by no upturned nose and scornful lip to tell me, 'We don't allow niggers in here!'"

I don't normally write a blog on optional commemorations in our Church calendar.  I do find it a bit odd that Fredrick Douglass' feast day would even be optional.  It is such an appropriate and important remembrance during Black History Month.  Given all the racial language that has been coming out towards President Barack Obama, and GOP Presidential candidates carelessly using race as a campaign issue to gain support through negative stereotyping, I think pausing to reflect on an individual who faced prejudice and injustice with such an outspoken and profound voice is an imperative.

Of what truth is Jesus speaking of in today's Gospel?   How do we define what truth we need to know, so that we are set free?

The context of this particular Gospel story is quite confusing.  The eighth chapter of John begins with the story of the woman caught in adultery.  Jesus challenges those who brought her to him, to try to trap him, to cast the first stone by the one among them who is without their own sin.  That narrative, which is an addition to the original text is followed by Jesus speaking of himself as the Light of the world.   Next, comes Jesus foretelling of his death in a very heated discussion with Jewish people who are seriously questioning his respect for the present Jewish faith.  As we come to the place where today's Gospel reading taken, Jesus is finding Jews who believe in him and his words, and decide to follow him.   This text is then followed by Jesus proclaiming himself as one with God, by stating that before Abraham was, "I am."

Is Jesus really saying in this text that everything that the Jews had believed and practiced was now completely invalid?  Given how those who formed John's Gospel as to state that Jesus is the Messiah of God, one could derive from it a sense of supercessionism.   The old has gone, the new has come.  Or so it appears.

The words that Jesus speaks throughout the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) and here in John is not one of supercessionism.  This is not a moment of replacing what always was, with something that replaces it. 

In the Gloria Patri, we pray, "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen."  The newer supplement to the Book of Common Prayer called Renewing Our Worship replaces the male pronouns with; "Praise to the Holy and Undivided Trinity, One God: as it was in the beginning.......".   The truth about Jesus is that God's Incarnate Word always was, is now, and will be forever.   The truth that Jesus speaks of is found in the Jewish faith, as much as it is found in the Christian faith, the Islamic faith and even in those who practice no religion at all.  It is the truth that seeking the common good of all people, by being compassionate, inclusive and concerned about renewing the face of the earth, by recognizing the goodness of God that exists in all people, is the truth that Jesus not only speaks, but acted upon through out his earthly ministry.  This is the truth that will set us free.

Throughout his life, Jesus does the work of God, the Opus Dei.  Jesus participates in God's creation of the world, by meeting the needs of those who have been marginalized, and made to be second class citizens in a time where there was oppression all around him, with God's redemption and hope for salvation.  Jesus' ministry of hospitality and reconciliation of those who were told that there was no place in his religion or in society, was the counter cultural message that we pray in Psalm 34: 15-22 on page 628 of the Book of Common Prayer. 

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous,
  and his ears are open to their cry. 

The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
  to root out the remembrance of them from the earth. 

The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them
  and delivers them from all their troubles. 

The LORD is near to the broken hearted
  and will save those whose spirits are crushed. 

Many are the troubles of the righteous,
  but the LORD will deliver them all. 

He will keep save all his bones;
  not one of them shall be broken.

 Evil shall slay the wicked,
  and those who hate the righteous will be punished. 

The LORD ransoms the life of his servants,
  and none will be punished who trust in him.

The racism, sexism, heterosexism, class discrimination and the social diseases that many Christians claim is defended by Jesus and the Scriptures, are injustices that have no place in God's "House of Prayer for all peoples" (Isaiah 56: 7b).    What Jesus envisions in that "truth, by which you will be set free" is one by which every daughter and son of God is given a place at the table of humankind, to pursue a life of liberty, happiness and the hope of prosperity.  A kingdom where equality for all is taken for granted, not the exception to the rule.  Everyone is welcome to receive Holy Communion, and the care of the poor and disenfranchised is a priority, not a luxury granted by the very wealthy.  A world in which all loving relationships that are honored by God, are also revered and celebrated by everyone.  A worldwide community where every culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression/identity, race and person is extended the most generous of welcomes and invited to the table of inclusion, reconciliation and healing.  It is the truth that sets captives free, and gives sight to those who are blinded by greed, prejudice, violence, oppression and inequality. 

As Christians, we are called to be disciples of Christ by recognizing the sacred value of all persons, even those who are different from ourselves.  No person is a matter of "property".  The cry for everyone to have an opportunity at the necessities of life, is answered by Jesus Christ, by calling his followers to do more than volunteer our time and energy to directly helping those in need.  But, also by doing our part to change the corrupted system that gives permission for such injustices to be spread and empowered.

As we remember Fredrick Douglass and his work to free himself and others, let us also recommit ourselves to the establishment of God's reign through our devotion to God's work in our time.  There is a place in the field and at the table for everyone to participate and partake. 

The next two questions in our mind should be; who are we?  Whom are we prepared to invite?


Prayers

Almighty God, whose truth makes us free: We bless your Name for the witness of Fredrick Douglass, whose impassioned and reasonable speech moved the hearts of a president and a people to a deeper obedience to Christ.  Strengthen us also to be outspoken on behalf of those in captivity and tribulation, continuing in the Word of Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 233)

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son
revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that
we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be
strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his
likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen. (Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 217).


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).

Cornelius the Centurion: Being Open to New Things

Today's Scripture Reading


Acts 11:1-18  (NRSV)

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

Blog Reflection

Reading the story of Peter's experience in Joppa shows us that he had a lot of growing up to do.  Peter was used to the Christian Faith being one that only should apply to the Jews who followed Christ.  While Christianity was not suppose to become the religion of supercessionism, it also was not to be isolated to only one people, place or time.  Nor was it to be a Faith that was stagnant.  Peter is met head on with his own narrow prejudices.  God's Spirit told him "What God has made clean, you must not call profane."

Cornelius received the Christian Faith, because the Apostles minds were opened to sharing it with people outside of their comfort zones.  They could begin to understand that the Gospel is meant to defy human logic, and yet it is to communicate love and respect for the dignity of all human persons.  So does our Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer p. 292-294.

This is such a great commemoration on the same day that the Federal Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit ruled that Proposition 8 that restricts marriage for straight people is unconstitutional.  You can read the entire document of that ruling here.  LGBT people all over the country are celebrating this moment of victory for the hopes of full marriage equality.   What a wonderful day.

The internet is buzzing with the usual good news, along with comments from those who oppose Prop. 8 as well as those who want it to stay put.  Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council.   Concerned Women for America.  The Alliance Defense Fund.  The National Organization for Marriage.  Catholics for the "Common Good."  These groups have all come out with their usual hateful rhetoric and total disregard for Christian Charity,  tooting their own horns about today's ruling as "bad for children and families" etc, etc.

This kind of reaction brings me back to the words Jesus spoke in John 16: 12 and 13.

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." 

I think the experience of Peter that led to the conversion of Cornelius is a perfect example of the Holy Spirit leading the Church into all truth.  The Church and hopefully all Christians are still being led into all truth. We are not completely there yet.  Truth for Christians was revealed in someone, namely Jesus Christ. That Truth is never stagnant or complete until he returns.  In the mean time, the Holy Spirit is still speaking those things that are to come.  For us in the 21st Century, that appears to be recognizing that LGBT people are good and holy as we are.  Our sexuality is blessed by God as a means of loving others, and serving everyone's "common good" and not just a certain few.  When exercised in holy and life-giving relationships, the sexual expression between two people of the same-sex communicates love and the self sacrifice of one person for the other.  Yes, these things are possible as God continues to lead us into all truth as our Mother the Holy Spirit speaks and declares what is to come.

It is possible for us, just as it was for Peter and Cornelius. to be drawn to a greater understanding of God, others and ourselves by being open to that Conversion of Life St. Benedict refers to in the Rule that calls us to serve others out of reverence for Christ.  What is needed is for us to be open and willing to allow God to change our hearts and to repent of our sins of prejudice in attitudes and behaviors. 

May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us into all truth, and help us to be open to new things for the glory of God's reign.  Because Jesus also said: "Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you." (John 12: 35).


Prayers

O God, by your Spirit you called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles; Grant to your Church such a ready will to go where you send and to do what you command, that under your guidance it may welcome all who turn to you in love and faith, and proclaim the Gospel to all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Cornelius the Centurion, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 215).

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us
the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known
to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).


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).

St. John Chrysostom: Tradition with It's Successes and Failures

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 1: 4-10 (NRSV)

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the LORD said to me,

"Do not say, `I am only a boy';

for you shall go to all to whom I send you,

and you shall speak whatever I command you,

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."

Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me,

"Now I have put my words in your mouth.

See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,

to pluck up and to pull down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant."

Luke 21: 12-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict."

Blog Reflection

I have a love/hate relationship with St. John Chrysostom. 

I love the contributions Chrysostom made to all of the good theological and spiritual development of the Christian Faith.  Chrysostom made fantastic contributions to the early Church, many of them are celebrated in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition.  We Episcopalians end each morning and evening prayer during the Daily Office with the Prayer of St. Chrysostom.  The words are beautiful and inspiring. 

I do not hate Chrysostom himself.  I hate the contributions he made to the development of the early Churches' position on human sexuality.   Chrysostom believed that all of the sexual passions of human beings are flawed and lead to some kind of spiritual destruction.  Even though Chrysostom in his commentary about the "natural" and "unnatural" use of human sexuality referred to in Romans 1: 26 and 27, he admits that homosexual orientation is natural (See Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality by John Boswell, p.109) and his analysis of Sodom and Gomorrah agrees that it was destroyed for their lack of hospitality (p.98), Chrysostom condemned homosexuality itself as being even worse than fornication between heterosexual people.  You can see some of Chrysostom's writings in John Boswell's book in the appendix on pages 359 - 363.  How unfortunate for Chrysostom and the future of Christian Tradition. 

At the same time, I am also reminded that my beloved St. Benedict adopted many of the ideas of St. John Chrysostom with regard to human sexuality.  Yet, I cherish the Rule of St. Benedict and it's focus on "preferring nothing whatsoever to Christ".  Just as I can love St. Benedict and disagree with his position about "giving into bodily temptations" so to speak, I can also disagree with St. John Chrysostom and still appreciate the good work he did in the early Church.   Each age of the Church has those things that they once believed and accepted as true at one point in time, and the changing of those things with a better understanding that becomes a new light on an old subject.

"Is "tradition" inerrant? Of course not". Writes Bishop Gene Robinson in his book: In the Eye of the Storm: "Like those who authored the various parts of the Bible, those Christians who have come after are not inerrant either.  Their lives are not perfect, nor are their interpretations of scripture, nor are the decisions they made because of those understandings" (p. 56).

In today's Gospel Jesus has brought us back to Advent for a bit.  At the place where this Gospel reading picks up, Jesus has just given his warnings of what will happen at the end of time.  He is warning that his followers will face persecution and even torture for doing what they have been commissioned to do.  Loving the marginalized will almost certainly get us into some kind of trouble. Seeking to change the way things have always been will make people uncomfortable and want to dismiss us and our ideas.  Though our efforts are about giving Jesus Christ a better Name by making the Church more inclusive of LGBT people and other minorities, we will experience rejection and a refusal to cooperate from those who are much too comfortable with things as they have been. 

Again, quoting Bishop Robinson, "If we are not making trouble and making waves, then we'd best check to see if we're preaching the same Gospel that Jesus was preaching. It got him in trouble with the religious powers that be, and if we start doing that, we'll be in trouble too" (p. 83).

In the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures we read the story of God calling Jeremiah to be a prophet.  Jeremiah like many prophets before him, sees himself as inadequate because of his age.  God assures Jeremiah that God will be with him and to not be afraid.  Jeremiah will experience many hardships as he speaks to God's people about how to get back on God's track. 

None of us are completely perfect to be involved in the work of striving for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human person.  That is why our response to that question in our Baptismal Covenant is. "We will, with God's help." (BCP p. 294).  Our own limitations do not prevent us from making a good contribution to the Tradition of the Church if we are willing to do our best.  There is no such thing in God's eye's as too small of a thing done to help establish the reign of God.  We may not write theological treatises that gain us a consecration ceremony and all that garb. But, when we receive God's grace and put forth our own efforts to make the world a more holy place where all God's people are included, we are doing the work of the Gospel.  We are engaged in the Apostolic ministry of radical hospitality, reconciliation and healing.  Those who complain about us and make waves while they do nothing, but spread more false information about LGBT people based on ignorance; those who see a possible path to finding a place for them at the Table of the Lord are very thankful. 

We can commemorate St. John Chrysostom with both appreciation and concern.  We can celebrate the exceptional work he did to inspire thought and hope in the Christian Tradition.  It is also appropriate to look at the misinformation he put forth to create an atmosphere of rejection for LGBT people in the Church, both then and now with disagreement and concern.  We can make us of his good contributions to correct and rewrite his imperfections by reading and hearing the Gospel message of salvation for all people, including LGBT people.  We can read Chrysostom's commentaries and see that the sexual love between people of the same sex is just as natural and holy as it is between heterosexuals.  We should pray: Come Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth, so that there will be a new understanding about seeking justice and peace and respecting the dignity of every human person, including, but not limited to LGBT people.

Continue with the work.


Prayers

O God, you gave your servant John Chrysostom grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching, and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 579).


Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).


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

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).

Wulfstan: All of Us Are Connected to Each Other: Let's Make the Best of It.

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 26: 26-31 (NRSV)

Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, ‘Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?’ They said, ‘We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’ So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 

John 15: 5-8, 14-16 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

"You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name."

Blog Reflection

As an Episcopalian and an Oblate of St. Benedict, I am delighted to be commemorating today one our Benedictine Monks who went on to be an outstanding Bishop.  


Wulfstan was educated in the Benedictine Abbeys of Evesham and Peterborough.  He spent most of his life in the Cathedral Monastery of Worcester as monk, prior and then as Bishop of the see from 1062 until his death on January 18, 1095.  (See Holy Women,  Holy Men; p. 176).

The times that Wulfstan lived in the time of the Norman Conquest of Berkhamstead, and though he was sympathetic to King Harold of Wessex, he submitted to the wishes of William the Conqueror.   He was one of the few Anglo-Saxon bishops to keep his see as the Conquest of the Normans in England over threw the typical way of life in 1066.


It must have been very difficult for Wulfstan to submit to those who had caused his country and the Church so much pain.  However, Wulfstan did what the Rule of St. Benedict and the Gospel asked of him.  He avoided the "self-seeking" attitudes that can be very problematic during such a period of time.

This commemoration and the Scripture Readings that accompany it are both wonderful and challenging.   

In the Reading from Hebrew Scripture we see a very rare event.  Individuals who are suspicious of each other sitting down and learning about the other and coming to a place of friendship and peace.  


How wonderful it would be if Governments, churches, and groups with opposing views could sit down together; peacefully and with interest in each other to learn about one another.  

Do you think if that those who target Muslims suspecting all of them as terrorists would actually let go of their suspicions long enough to sit down and learn about the goods of the Islamic faith and stop all their violent language?   

Do you think people who insist on taking away a woman's rights to chose what reproductive health care is best for them, could sit down with people who are faced with their "choices" without using the extreme language of "killing" and "murder" long enough to hear about the tragedies of women who have been raped and/or sexually assaulted?   Do you think those of us who do support a woman's right to chose would actually be able to talk about how damaging the loss of health care, education funding, job creation programs, funding for day care centers are to women who want to chose to give birth to a child?

Can those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) sit down with those who want to take away our rights for job discrimination, marriage equality and the like and actually feel like we have accomplished something?

If your answer to these questions includes: "Yes, I would love to, but the other side just won't listen" that is my response too.  LOL


The only way we will be able to constructively converse with our opponents is for us to tell our stories through how we live as well as through whatever means help us to tell that story best.  We will not be able to tell our stories if we respond to violent rhetoric with returned violence.  Call them out for what they say and suggest doing, but do so in a way that we respect both them and ourselves; and we will "heap coals on the devil's forehead."


Our Gospel reading; one of my favorites; reminds us that those of us who call ourselves Christians are held together by a Person who's Name is Jesus Christ.  Jesus is our connection to God and the Holy Spirit. By the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation, all of us are connected to each other.   By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; which we participate in through our Baptism; we become one with Christ and each other as we join Christ on the Cross and meet him at the empty tomb.   In participating in Holy Communion we continue to be nourished by the Presence of God and recommit ourselves to reverencing God's Presence in others as well as ourselves.  


Jesus in this Gospel is reminding us that he is the one by which we are bound to each other and that includes those that we struggle with in our relationships.  Jesus tells us that we cannot accomplish living out the Gospel and loving one another in a holy and life-giving way, unless we root ourselves in him. 

It is most interesting that in addition to commemorating Wulfstan, that today's reading from the Rule of St. Benedict is the following.

Your way of acting should be different form the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else.  You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge.  Rid your heart of all deceit.  Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away from someone who needs your love.  Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false, but speak the truth with heart and tongue.


Do not repay one bad turn with another (1 Thess 5: 15; 1 Pet 3:9).  Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently.  Love your enemies (Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27).  If people curse  you, do not curse back but bless them instead.  Endure persecution for the sake of justice (Matt 5: 10). (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4. Tools of Good Works, verses 20-33).

 "A peacemaker's paragraph," writes Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, "this is one who confronts us with the Gospel stripped and unadorned.  Nonviolence, it says is the center of the monastic life.  It doesn't talk about conflict resolution; it says don't begin the conflict. It doesn't talk about communication barriers; it says, stay gentle even with those who are not gentle with you.  It doesn't talk about winning; it talks about loving" (The Rule of Benedict, p. 58).


You must not be proud, nor be given to wine (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3).  Refrain from too much eating or sleeping and from laziness (Rom 12:11).  Do not grumble or speak ill of others. (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4, The Tools for Good Works, v 34-40).


"Benedict reminds us, too, that physical control and spiritual perspective are linked: pride and gluttony and laziness are of a piece.  We expect too much, we consume too much, and we contribute too little.  We give ourselves over to ourselves.  We become engorged with ourselves and, as a result, there is no room left for the stripped-down, stark, and simple furniture of the soul" (Sr. Joan Chittester, The Rule of Benedict, p. 60.61).

I am going to add the next verse which is not part of today's reading.  "Place your hope in God."  (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4, The Tools for Good Works, vs 41).


As soon as I read all of this I realize I stink at what God and St. Benedict are asking me to do.  When I read about some Christianist who suggests that I am really a pedophile for wanting to marry my husband, I want to and sometimes do say every nasty word I can think of.  I eat too much. I get tired of people treating me as a door mat.  I get confused and discouraged.


Wait a minute!  St. Benedict tells me to "Place my hope in God."

Jesus calls me; a guy who messes up time and again, Jesus' friend.  Jesus wants me to be grafted into him so he can keep me connected to God in all of my disconnectedness.  God invites me to a death of myself so that I can live in God.  By giving up my life and my will, I live new life.  I have to struggle to do this time and time again.  Whether I succeed or fail; God still loves me.  God loves me as a gay man and as someone who struggles even more with social communications because of Asperger's Syndrome. 


God is not asking of us to get it perfect.  Salvation is not a matter of doing everything for the purpose of gaining something.  It is a matter of trusting and faithfully putting one foot in front of the other, doing the best we can, and letting God do the rest.  Should we trip up and fall, God asks that we get up and begin again.  In Christ, God is with us when we fail and start a new.


The point is all of us are connected to each other. Whether we like it or not

St. Benedict's Rule reminds us as does the Gospel that all of us; regardless of where we are in our faith journey are all beginners; and are told to never give up on God who never gives up on us.


Prayers

Almighty God, your only-begotten Son led captivity captive and gave gifts to your people: Multiply among us faithful pastors, who, like your holy bishop Wulfstan, will give courage to those who are oppressed and held in bondage: and bring us all, we pray, into the true freedom of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 177)

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word
and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's
glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the
ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and
for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the
world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among
them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they
may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen. (Prayer for Peace Among the Nations, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

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

 

St. Aelred: The Patron Saint of LGBT People and Integrity

Today's Scripture Readings

Ruth 1: 15-18 (NRSV)

So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
   or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
   where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
   and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die—
   there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
   and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’
When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Philippians 2: 1-4 (NRSV)

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

John 15: 9-17 (NRSV)

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

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

Blog Reflection

I have a very important message today for those who wonder if the Church should be welcoming and affirming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer (LGBTQ) people.

Being LGBTQ is about love.

Being Christian is about love. 

Our sexual orientation albeit homosexual,bisexual, pansexual, metrosexual, heterosexual is about love.

Being a Priest, Bishop, Deacon, Religious, lay member/leader etc is about love.  Allowing the Church to be more inclusive of LGBTQ people in all of our Sacraments and Sacramental Rites is about love.

Aelred was one of three sons of Eilaf, priest of St Andrew's at Hexham and himself a son of Eilaf, treasurer of Durham.^[1] He was born in Hexham, Northumbria, in 1110.

Aelred spent several years at the court of King David I of Scotland, rising to the rank of Master of the Household before leaving the court at age twenty-four (in 1134) to enter the Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx in Yorkshire. He may have been partially educated by Lawrence of Durham, who sent him a hagiography of Saint Brigid.

Aelred became the abbot of a new house of his order at Revesby in Lincolnshire in 1142^[2] and in 1147, abbot of Rievaulx itself, where he spent the remainder of his life. Under his administration, the abbey is said to have grown to some hundred monks and four hundred lay brothers. He made annual visitations to Rievaulx's daughterhouses in England and Scotland and to the French abbeys of Cîteaux and Clairvaux.
Aelred wrote several influential books on spirituality, among them Speculum caritatis ("The Mirror of Charity", reportedly written at the request of Bernard of Clairvaux) and De spiritali amicitia ("On Spiritual Friendship"). He also wrote seven works of history, addressing two of them to Henry II of England, advising him how to be a good king and declaring him to be the true descendent of Anglo-Saxon kings. Until the twentieth century, Aelred was generally known as a historian rather than as a spiritual writer; for many centuries his most famous work was his Life of Saint Edward, King and Confessor.

Aelred's work, private letters, and his Life by Walter Daniel, another twelfth-century monk of Rievaulx, have led some writers to infer that he was homosexual. In writing to an anchoress in The Formation of Anchoresses, Aelred speaks of his youth as the time when she held on to her virtue and he lost his.^[3] Nevertheless, all of his works encourage virginity among the unmarried and chastity in marriage and widowhood and warn against any sexual activity outside of marriage; in all his works he treats of extra-marital sexual relationships as forbidden and condemns "unnatural relations" as a rejection of charity and the law of God. He criticized the absence of pastoral care for a young nun who experienced rape, pregnancy, beating, and a miraculous delivery in the Gilbertine community of Watton.

Aelred died on January 12, 1167, at Rievaulx. He is recorded as suffering from the stone (hence his patronage) and arthritis in his later years (Patrologia Latina 195). He is listed for January 12 in the Roman Martyrology and the calendars of various churches.  (Source: Wikipedia).

Walking With Integrity last year wrote the story of how St. Aelred became the Patron Saint of IntegrityUSA.

At the 1985 General Convention in Anaheim, CA, at the suggestion of Howard Galley, Integrity/New York, the Standing Liturgical Commission recommended Aelred, along with a number of others, for inclusion in Lesser Feasts and Fasts. When this resolution came before the House of Bishops, the preconversion Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong informed the house that, according to John Boswell, Aelred of Rievaulx had been gay--implying this might disqualify his inclusion. With little discussion the House of Bishops approved the others on the list but sent Aelred back to the commission which sent him back to the House of Bishops where, in spite of his being gay, and with the bishops' full knowledge that he was, he was admitted to the calendar.

During the 1987 national convention of Integrity, in St. Louis, the following resolution was submitted by the Rev. Paul Woodrum and was passed: "Whereas the Episcopal Church USA meeting in General Convention in Anaheim, California, in 1985, with full knowledge, thanks to the vigilance of the bishop of Newark, of St. Aelred's homoerotic orientation, did approve for annual commemoration in her liturgical calendar the Feast of St. Aelred on 12 January and did provide propers for the same, Therefore be it resolved that Integrity Inc. place itself under the protection and patronage of St. Aelred of Rievaulx and, be it further resolved that Integrity, Inc. dedicate itself to regularly observe his feast, promote his veneration and seek before the heavenly throne of grace the support of his prayers on behalf of justice and acceptance for lesbians and gay men." 

St. Aelred was one who though he embraced a life of celibacy did not discourage other forms of physical love between monks in his own community.

Aelred allowed his monks to hold hands and give other expressions of friendship (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 166).

Here in the 21st Century we understand that any physical relationship between consenting adults is a private matter between themselves and their Higher Power. 

I am writing this particular blog post on a day that means so much pain, sadness and anger among LGBT people.   The Canadian Prime Minister has dissolved thousands of same-sex marriages performed in Canada between couples who live in countries where they are not recognized.  The thousands of LGBT couples in the United States who went to Canada to be married there awoke this morning with the news that they are no longer married.  You can read the story of this move by the Canadian Prime Minister and the reaction of Dan Savage who's marriage in Canada has now ended here. 

Undoubtedly there are Christianist groups all over the United States who are celebrating this blow to equality for LGBT people.

The Scripture readings on this commemoration of St. Aelred remind us of how important love is to our vocation as Christians.  St. Paul tells us to have the mind of Christ who always put the needs of others a head of his own.   Even to the point of giving his own life on the Cross.   Jesus commands us in the Gospel to "Love one another as I have loved you."

The life vows of a Benedictine: Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience are all about loving God, others and ourselves as the optional alternative Gospel reading from Mark 12: 28-34a says.  

Stability means offering ourselves to God as we are.  No masks on.  No pretenses.  No denying all that is strong and weak about us.  "The vow of stability" writes Esther de Waal in her book Living with Contradiction; An Introduction to the Spirituality of St. Benedict; "tells me that I must not run away from myself." (page 49).  By stability we mean anchoring everything about ourselves in God.

Conversion means allowing the God who invites me to not run away from myself, but ground everything about me in God; now I have to allow God to help me grow and "change".  This means that God takes me as I am, here and now and calls me to grow in my ability to love myself, my partner and others in a self sacrificing love. I am to take on the daily challenge of learning to accept others as much as I need to accept myself.  Loving myself and others is essential if I am going to live my life in a loving relationship with God.

Obedience, means that if I am going to achieve stability and allow God to help me experience conversion, I must be willing to listen to what God is calling me to do.  I must be willing to set aside all else I am doing and obey God's call to be obedient to what God is asking of me.  This means that I accept the struggle between my own will and the will of God.  If I am to experience growth in acceptance of myself and maintaining any kind of stability in God, while God calls me to conversion, I have to be willing to say yes to God's desire. 

If I accept God's will for my life as a gay man, then I must accept my sexual orientation, ground how I live it in the Gospel, the Rule of St. Benedict, and the Baptismal Covenant to serve others including my husband and many others in obedience to God's commandments.  If I make the attempt to change who I am, I am already being disobedient to God.

In St. Aelred we see an interesting dynamic about being LGBT and being someone who seeks God in our lives.  Instead of denying and trying to mask who we are, we are invited to be who we are and live it openly and honestly with God and others. 

We cannot find stability in God if we live in denial of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. 

We will experience the most wonderful conversion when we allow ourselves to be loved as we are, and to love our spouses, friends, families, and communities in the way God created us to love.  God will show us how to put others needs before our own and find loves fulfillment and joy in serving others through the awesome gift of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.  

When we face the reality of who we are and agree to serve others as God calls us, we are in fact obedient to God's voice in our lives and hearts. 

As we use our own experiences and tell our stories of how we learned to love ourselves and yet still fell in love with the God who created us and loves us as we are and by doing so help the reign of God to be established by working for the justice, peace, dignity, equality and inclusion of all marginalized persons including LGBT people, we are not only living the way of St. Benedict, we are also fulfilling the vows of our Baptismal Covenant.

The Baptismal Covenant, the Rule of St. Benedict, the life and patronage of St. Aelred, and the meaning of the Christian Life for LGSBT people is love. 

Let the inclusion and loving begun by our efforts continue.


Prayers

Almighty God, you endowed the abbot Aelred with the gift of Christian friendship and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness: Grant to your people that same spirit of mutual affection, that, in loving one another, we may know the love of Christ and rejoice in the gift of your eternal goodness; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.  (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 167).

Pour into our hearts, O God, the Holy Spirit's gift of love, that we, clasping each the other's hand, may share the joy of friendship, human and divine, and with your servant Aelred draw many to your community of love; through Jesus Christ the Righteous, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.  (Prayer taken from Lesser Feasts and Fasts).

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

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).