First After Pentecost: Trinity Sunday. The Mystery of God Revealed Through Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 6:1-6 (NRSV)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory."

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

Psalm 29 (BCP., p.620)


Romans 8:12-17 (NRSV)

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 3:1-17 (NRSV)

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

"Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Blog Reflection

So many things have been written and said about the Trinity.  It has many meanings for various people.  It is something believed in or rejected as an impossibility.  Christians have debated this central mystery and enshrined its possibilities in the Nicene and Apostles Creed.

God still patiently waits for the mystery of the Trinity to become a living reality that goes beyond debate or creed.  God calls Christians to discern and reveal the Trinity in our relationships within communities of people who are real and desiring what cannot be seen.  The Trinity is revealed as diverse people receive one another as Christ, as we listen to what the Holy Spirit tells us through them.

As same-gender couples continue to work and hope for more than just the right to marry the person they love; but to be able to live into who they are beyond labels and prejudice.  There the fullness of God is revealed with beauty and holiness, just as it is in the marriage of straight women and men.  When we wake up and realize we all have a responsibility to be good stewards of creation, by preserving and sharing the worlds resources; the Trinity is integrated and living among us.  We must respond to God's call to eradicate the attitudes that feed racism, gun violence, and income inequality; because where ever love is, God's presence is there.

As we meditate today on what the Trinity means for each of us, may we also recommit ourselves to that love of Jesus for all the world that heals divisions and oppression.  May we ask God to help us to respond to the Presence of the Holy Trinity that makes us the Icon into the greatness of God in the world.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us
your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to
acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the
power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep
us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to
see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with
the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Trinity Sunday.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.226)

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

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:44-48 (NRSV)

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

Psalm 98 (BCP., p.727)

1 John 5:1-6 (NRSV)

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

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

John 15:9-17 (NRSV)

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

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

Blog Reflection

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

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

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

Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB wrote the following,

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

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

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

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good
things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such
love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above
all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we
can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and
obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 255).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Guide Us, Good Shepherd

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 (NRSV)

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

The society and culture in which we live is so full of "doing it my way" that the idea of a shepherd is too remote.  At the same time, our culture is all too vulnerable to being directed by greed, power, prejudice and violence.  Leaving ourselves without the Holy One who can lead us to a greater existence of ourselves and one another, is like traveling through an ice cold climate without warm clothing and food.  It is only a matter of time before the elements cause the deterioration of our overall health.

The readings for this weekend, give us a glimpse of what a shepherd looks like within the Christian Faith.  A shepherd is one who takes great responsibility for the sheep entrusted to them.  A qualified shepherd is one who knows each sheep by name and does what the shepherd can to feed, guide and protect them.  A shepherd is so concerned with the life of the flock, that the shepherd is ready to sacrifice her/his life for them.  

As Christians who follow a Liturgical cycle of readings, the fourth Sunday of the Easter Season is dedicated to the image of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd.  Why?  Because for Christians, Jesus is the shepherd who has laid down His life for all of God's people.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd in Name, word and deed.  Jesus lived into the life of a shepherd in His death and resurrection.  The center of God's action on our behalf is love.  The love of God for all of us was poured into the Incarnate Word who is Jesus, and from Him we receive the grace to love one another.

The image of Jesus as a Shepherd has been badly tarnished by those who use the Name of Jesus to justify discrimination by way of rhetoric and political maneuvering for the sole purpose of raising up wealthy enterprises.  The Name of Jesus as the true Shepherd is nothing more than an excuse to spread misinformation about women, LGBTQ people, immigrants, the sick and poor.  Such misinformation leads to encouraging violence and oppression that discourages people from believing in Christians as nothing more than a group of irrational religious people.  Such individuals who lead groups like the National Organization for Marriage, The Family Research Council, The American Family Association and others like them, only speak for a specific group of Christians.  They do not represent who Jesus Christ is and what He is about.  They do not speak for all Christians.  The same can be said for those who deny the reality of climate change, workers rights, and affordable health care for every person. 

As Christians who are baptized into a tradition that values the dignity of every human being, we are also responsible for representing the image of Jesus Christ the true Good Shepherd.  We are followers of the Jesus who cared deeply about the marginalized, and sought to include them among all of God's people.  Jesus made room for the sick, lonely, the dead, women, and many more.  Jesus resisted the type of culture that wanted one group of people to dominate another.  In Jesus our Good Shepherd, God valued each person and by the Holy Spirit empowers us to do the same.   As Jesus is our example, so we need to pray for the clarity to follow our Good Shepherd to do as He did.

Amen.


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, The Book of Common Prayer, p.225).

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

Easter Day: Are You Resurrectable?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)

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

Psalm 1181-2, 14-24 (BCP., p.760).


Colossians 3:1-4 (NRSV)

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

John 20:1-18 (NRSV)

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

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

Blog Reflection

If you have never had the opportunity to attend the ceremony of a Benedictine making her/his Solemn Vows you are truly missing something wonderful.   If you get an invitation to attend, you should definitely accept.

One of the parts of the Rite, involves the one making Solemn Vows to prostrate on the floor and then be covered with a pall.   While covered with the pall, the Cantor and the Community chant the Litany of the Saints.    The pall is then removed, the Sister or Brother stands up and makes her/his Solemn Profession with the Vows of Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience.   The Vows are for life.   There is no turning back.   The experience of the pall, symbolizes dying to our old selves and rising a new person.   It is a symbol of what takes place in our Baptism.   Up to the point that Solemn Vows are taken, the Sister or Brother has undergone a grueling formation process.   Surrendering herself/himself to praying the Offices, the daily prayerful reading of Scripture and learning The Rule of St. Benedict along with obedience to one's superior.    One would think that doing such would make one imprisoned.   After all, the idea of surrendering ourselves to the "judgment and commandments of another" (See RB 1980, Chapter 5:12) is not looked upon very well in this day and age.  However, the exact opposite is what happens.   When we learn to surrender ourselves to the will of God through obedience to our Superior, we find the greatest freedom, and our greatest reward is learning to trust more and more in God for all that we need.

On this Easter Day, as we arrive with Mary at the tomb and discover that Jesus is not there, we too might become absorbed in the experience of questioning our faith.  How can all that we hoped for, suddenly be taken away by the Crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, be laid in the tomb on Holy Saturday, only to find ourselves at an empty tomb?    Where is Jesus?   Where have they laid Him?

Thomas Keating in his book The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience on pages 70-73 gives us a lot to ponder about the event of Mary Magdalene and her encounter with Jesus.   The seen of the garden for example, is a "cosmic context."   The two gardens of Eden and where the Resurrection took place as "juxtaposed."  

"in the first, the human family, in the persons of Adam and Eve, lost God's intimacy and friendship; in the second, Mary Magdalene (out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils) appears as the first recipient of the good news that intimacy and union with God are once again available."

"Jesus is the gardener of the New Creation."

At one point in our Gospel narrative the story suddenly changes when Jesus calls her by name.  Keating writes:

"Jesus spoke her name, "Mary!"  Only he could say her name in that way.  Instantly, with the whole of her being, she recognized him and in that moment knew that he had risen from the dead.

In the Scriptures, to be called by name has special significance.  To call someone or something by name is to identify who or what it is."

"By calling her by name, Jesus manifests his knowledge of everything in her life and his total acceptance of all that she is.  This is the moment in which Mary realizes that Jesus loved her.  This is the first step in her transformation.

In the Christian scheme of things, the movement from the human condition to divine transformation requires the mediation of a personal relationship with God.  The personal love of Jesus facilitates the growth of this relationship. The experience of being loved by him draws the Christian out of all selfishness into deeper levels of self-surrender.  How could this movement occur without the conviction of being personally loved by him?  The simple utterance of one word, "Mary!" brought to focus all her longings.  Her response was to throw herself into the arms of Jesus as she cried out in her joy, "Master!"

In these moments, through the Resurrection of Jesus, Mary was resurrectable.   Her moment of vulnerability enabled her to hear the voice of the Risen Christ calling her by name.   Mary's response was to recognize in the Risen Jesus, her Master.  The one who accepted her as she was, and loved her without condition or distinction.

Are we resurrectable?

On the Easter Day, we are met with God's extravagant love that is inclusive and unconditional.   Jesus calls us by our name in the midst of our doubts, fears and chaos.   He offers us the opportunity to know that God has forgiven us and redeemed us through the Blood of Jesus Christ.   We can feast with joy and wonder that God ushered in the New Creation through the Paschal Mystery.

In the Invitatory Psalm for Morning Prayer this week, we pray with one voice: Alleluia, Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  Alleluia.  (See The Book of Common Prayer, p.83)

Are we resurrectable?

Are we ready to set aside all of our prejudices, and live into our Baptismal Vows?   To strive for peace and justice for all people, and to respect the dignity of every human person, with God's help?

Are we resurrectable?

Are we ready to end the sexism that continues to suggest that women are not equal to men, and continue the assault on them in terms of equal work compensation, reproductive health and respect?

Are we ready to reduce the gun violence that is killing innocent women, men and children in our schools and local communities?

Are we interested in calling out the wealthy and powerful who fight the efforts of addressing climate change, to stop polluting our oceans, rivers and end the fracking that is destroying many of our most precious animal sanctuaries?

Are we ready to call out the countries of Uganda, Russia, Nigeria and others about their laws that have further criminalized LGBTQ people in their countries?

Are we ready to say no to the violence between Russia and the Ukraine?

Are we serious about no longer ignoring the pain and the anguish of those who live in poverty, without unemployment benefits, food stamps and the right to vote?

Are we ready to work so that all Christians will end the spiritual and pastoral violence of LGBT people in the Church and society?

Can we please end the violence towards Jews, Muslims and other religions and/or those who practice no religion at all?

The Resurrected Christ saw the pain that was in Mary on that first Easter Day, called her by name, loved her and brought new life to hers.   Mary knew that there was no longer a barrier between God and her, because of Jesus' love for her. 

If Christians are to be resurrectable on this Easter Day, then we must allow Jesus to come to us, call us by name and meet us in the midst of our pain, disbelief and disarray.  As we recognize that Jesus loves us as we are; we must also turn to our neighbor and with that same love, love them as God in Christ has loved us.   Only then, will our Alleluia's really be moments of true joy.   Because we will know in our hearts that the barriers of injustice, oppression and violence that divide us become that which unites us to the Risen Christ and one another.

Are we resurrectable?

Amen.

Prayers

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

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, p.815).

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

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: The Gospel Way to Things and People

Today's Scripture Readings

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 (NRSV)

Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me -- and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

Psalm 49 (BCP., p.652)


Colossians 3:1-11 (NRSV)

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things-- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

Luke 12:13-21 (NRSV)

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

Blog Reflection

The readings for today are about living the Gospel practically. They are guiding us to do more than read and pray.  We are being told to do what the Gospel is about in terms of things and people.   It is a message we need in this age of wealth having the power to control the future of everyone and everything at its beckoning.   In the era of the post Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court in 2010 by which individuals and corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money to influence national and local elections, this message of responsibility of what we have and what we do with it with regards to others, is timely.  

The reading from Ecclesiastes and the Psalmist tell us that what we do and work for in terms of possessions and wealth is a fleeing reality.  We are all born and nourished in environments of the necessities of life, as well as those things that while not necessities do bring a tremendous amount of joy.  Yet, whether what we work for provides necessities or that which delights us, they are all passing away, as do our lives.  Nothing of what we have now will go with us at the end of our lives.  We often find during the course of our lives, the more we hang on to things and even people, the more they tend to slip away.  What really is worth hanging on to then?

The Gospel calls us to a state of accountability when it comes to being able to let go for the sake of our salvation.  The words of the parable are harsh. The Gospel will unsettle us when we are open to what the Holy Spirit says to us.  If we are so busy gathering what we need and more that we forget that God is most imperative to us, then what we are hording is worthless.  

One of the differences between Benedictines and Franciscans, is our view of material things.   As Benedictines we don't take a vow of poverty so as to live in abject poverty.   However, we do live with a sense that anything we have and/or use, is not ours to own.  Everything, life itself, even our own bodies are on loan from God.  We honor God by how well we use what God has given us.   St. Benedict instructed us in Chapter 33 of The Rule that everything we have and use is for the use of the Community.  In Chapter 31 Benedict instructs the Cellarer when he says: "He will regard all utensils and goods of the Monastery as sacred vessels of the altar."   In other words, everything is of importance, but nothing is to be possessed to the point that it distracts us from growing closer to God.  

What might be the reason for what Jesus is saying in the Gospel and Benedict in The Rule?

In Jesus Christ, God's perfect revelation of Self, God showed that God knows human beings better than we know ourselves.  Though we are not suppose to allow things, money, control to become the spiritually and psychologically damaging thing that it is, those things happen.  While we cannot do everything perfectly, it can still be used to help us discern God's will.  If we are hording things, wealth and power all to ourselves, what does that say about how we handle people?   How does such a spiritual disorder affect our willingness to let go of our control of people?  Especially, but not limited to those who are different from ourselves?

As a nation, we are so hooked on our current sources of energy and fuel that we are not being good stewards of what those resources are doing to our earth.  We are also blind to how wealthy coal executives, oil company CEO's, and more are, to the point that they use it to control our politics. We are polluting our water, air, destroying the rain forests, polar ice caps and more at an unprecedented rate. We live lives of waste and over use of things that we know are not good for us.  What does this misuse of creation say about our taking seriously our responsibility for taking care of one another?

We live in a nation of incredible wealth and resources that can help every human person.   Yet our immigration system is broken.  We have politicians voting for the fortieth time to repeal health care reform that is working to help people who have little or no access to quality medical care.   We have laws being passed that are punishing women who are raped or sexually assaulted by closing clinics that help the most economically challenged.  We have individuals speaking violent rhetoric towards African Americans, Native Americans, Muslims, Jews, LGBT people. There are many individuals doing such things in the Name of Jesus Christ, and celebrating their misapplied zeal.  

We know from history that when peoples are empowered to get the health care they need, find good paying jobs, live in peaceful communities, work to erase violence and prejudice, there is healing and reconciliation.   We also know that when people invoke the Name of Jesus Christ to extend radical hospitality to bring about healing and reconciliation, the results are mind blowing.  Friendships are created.  Communities grow in their relationship with each other.  And, everyone is held accountable for using what they have for the good of others around them.  

This past Thursday an amazing thing happened in Minnesota   Marriage Equality became legal.  Same-sex couples can now legally marry the person they love.  On Thursday, August 1st, Jason and I got married.  We are now husbands.  We share the same life and love we always have.  The only difference is, we are now united to one another, vowed to each other and are one.   We now get to say that we are husbands and is as true as it can possibly be.  

I would say that marriage is one of those things that opposite sex couples cannot hold for just themselves.  It is a great opportunity and even a "wealth" that is meant to be shared with Same gender couples.  Marriage is one of those things that is not given to us to keep unto ourselves.  It is something God gives, and calls on us to use for the purpose given.  Marriage is about love, commitment and responsibility.  I do not believe that all marriages are for the purpose of giving birth to children.  If it happens that a marriage brings about the birth and raising of children, then that is their particular vocation.  Not every marriage brings about children.  Marriage does bring a sense of stability to those who live together, and it helps build a sense of security in the home and society.  It is not for any sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression to keep from others.  It is to be shared with and for people who are ready and willing to live in love, commitment and responsibility with each other.  To regard each other as vessels containing Christ.  And that, is  how the Church and society is meant to live in relationship with each other.

Amen.


Prayers

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your
Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without
your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 13, Book of Common Prayer, p.232).

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).

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth,
you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom
and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one
may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet
to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Book of Common Prayer, p. 827).

Third Sunday in Lent: Social Responsibility Is Not Outdated

Today's Scripture Readings

Exodus 3:1-15 (NRSV)

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." He said further, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Then the LORD said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" He said, "I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain."

But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM Who I AM." He said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you':

This is my name forever,

and this my title for all generations.

Psalm 63 (BCP., p.670)



1 Corinthians 10: 1-13 (NRSV)

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.

Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play." We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Luke 13: 1-9 (NRSV)

There were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Blog Reflection

One of the more devastating consequences of individualism without community, is that social responsibility becomes obsolete.   When we adopt a philosophy of "I am an entity in and of myself only" opportunities for the growth of everyone perishes with far reaching and devastating results.

The continual use of chemicals that damage the environment for every living being, is considered an "unavoidable consequence" for the growth of multinational corporations.  The punishment of middle class income due to the abuses of Wall Street executives and corporate CEO's, is just capitalism that supposedly protects the working class.  One individual becoming wealthier and more powerful, at the expense of those who become poorer and more destitute happens because low income people learn to fend for themselves, because, the government just cannot meet the needs of everyone.   It is okay for the government to go into a sequester of spending cuts that hurt education, federal workers, funding for health care, police protection, and immigration reform, is okay, because it is more important to save those tax breaks for only 1% of Americans, or gain the political advantage.   If Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia suggests that The Voting Rights Act is no longer necessary because it gives "racial privilege", and racism is somehow a thing of the past.

Our readings for today speak to the issue of social responsibility.   There are far reaching consequences of sin.  Sin that disrupts the work of justice on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized of society, is not the problem of a few.  It carries with it the destruction of the human community for generations to come.  Still think this is not the case?  Just think of how the Holocaust in Germany and all through Europe that occurred in the 1930's through the middle of the 1940's continues to impact the relationships with Jewish people and non-Jewish people alike.  There remains not only a cultural divide, but an atmosphere of distrust between individuals of different races, religions and nationalities.

When the children in our schools are not protected from bullying because of their gender, gender identity/expression, race, sexual orientation, religion or any other reason, no person, no child is really safe.  Everyone's true identity as children of God, with whom God is well-pleased becomes corrupted by prejudice and misinformation.

Our Gospel narrative for today tells of Jesus having a conversation with those who have taken some social action, without the thought of what it might mean for others.  Jesus' response to them is a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  The decision of a few to use violence as a means for confronting violence, only results in more violence.   The Gospel response to violence is non-violence.  Not just for the sake of a few, but for the sake of all.  The impact of drone missiles killing families in Pakistan, means that the world is deprived of whole generations of individuals who can make a difference.  It is one thing to object to LGBT discrimination by way of peaceful Pride parades, attendance at hearings and participation in lobby days.   It is quite the violence to respond to LGBT violence by way of glitter bombing and pie throwing.   It is violence by which LGBT people experiencing the effects of the violent rhetoric of Christianists, by opposing all religions individuals and groups and stereotyping them as irrational, etc. 

Jesus presents us with another message as part of the first one.  Our work as Christians is to produce good fruit not just for us, but for all.   A tree that will not produce what it is given life for, can only be good for pretty much nothing.  Failing to use the great gifts we have all been given to benefit others and to contribute to the common good of all, is to allow the fruits of all that God has given us to dry up and become tasteless and only good for waste.   On the other hand, a tree that is full of good things, that produces fruit that gives life to all, is a tree that gives and gives, and life continues to develop and grow with the culture, as opposed to working against it.

This past week Bishop Marc Handley Andrus of the Episcopal Diocese of California, wrote a friend of the courts brief to the Supreme Court asking them to strike down Prop 8.  In his remarks that are included in an excellent article in The Washington Post, he wrote:

On marriage equality, our church has traveled on pilgrimage with our culture. Sometimes we have led in advocacy for marriage equality, and sometimes we have learned from the culture and from leaders outside the church. We have developed rites for blessing and marriage for all, and we have extended the support of the church to LGBT people in the form of premarital counseling and the integration of same-sex couples into loving communities of faith. The historic social prominence of The Episcopal Church lays some extra responsibility on us to use our influence for good. Thus we have advocated with courts and lawmakers at every level of government to promote marriage equality.

What about the charge that we have thrown away tradition? Over and over I’ve heard people jokingly (mostly) call our church, “Catholic light,” and claim (this, almost always derogatorily) that The Episcopal Church has no clear moral standards. It is easy for such a church, the argument goes, to irresponsibly accept culturally-led innovations like marriage equality.

The second thing about Episcopalians and marriage equality, then, that is important to say at this moment is that we are a church that believes Christ continues to be with the world, moving with us, helping us find meaning in moments of joy and also loss and pain. The Christ whom we recognize is the one who speaks in John’s Gospel, saying, “There are many things I would teach you but you cannot bear them now … the Sprit will lead you into all truth.” For Episcopalians, tradition is a moving force that is not only dynamic but that changes quality over time, and we might liken the change to be one of more light being cast into the world. 

Our journey through Lent now has three weeks before Holy Week.  As we continue our practices of fasting, prayer, and alms giving, perhaps it is a good time to consider very carefully our social responsibility to one another in our behaviors, attitudes and actions.  It is a good Season to remember that we are God's children with whom God is well-pleased, and so are others who are different from us.  We do not need every person in the world to think like us, act like us, or even agree with us.  But, what we do with that, and how we deal with that, reflects not only what is in each of us, but what becomes the narrative of society as a whole.

The Eucharist is about everyone coming from every where to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ.  There are no people who are not welcomed to the Table of the Lord.  No one is less fit to place themselves to receive the Presence of God and grow into the people that God wants each of us to become.  In the Eucharist we should welcome and respect others, because we are welcome and respected by the One who gives of Himself totally and completely for the good of all of us.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves
to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and
inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all
adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil
thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Third Sunday in Lent, Book of Common Prayer, p. 218).


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


O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know
you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend
us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that
we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of
any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Collect for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 99).