Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: The True Faith and Ministry of the Church

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 51:1-6 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:

"Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,

you that seek the LORD.

Look to the rock from which you were hewn,

and to the quarry from which you were dug.

Look to Abraham your father

and to Sarah who bore you;

for he was but one when I called him,

but I blessed him and made him many.

For the LORD will comfort Zion;

he will comfort all her waste places,

and will make her wilderness like Eden,

her desert like the garden of the LORD;

joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and the voice of song.

Listen to me, my people,

and give heed to me, my nation;

for a teaching will go out from me,

and my justice for a light to the peoples.

I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,

my salvation has gone out

and my arms will rule the peoples;

the coastlands wait for me,

and for my arm they hope.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

and look at the earth beneath;

for the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment,

and those who live on it will die like gnats;

but my salvation will be forever,

and my deliverance will never be ended."

Psalm 138 (BCP., p.793)


Romans 12: 1-8 (NRSV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 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.

Matthew 16:13-20 (NRSV)

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

Blog Reflection

This Sunday's Gospel text is one of those that I wish we could skip.  It is a text that has been used to say many different things.  

In the Roman Catholic Tradition this is the text attributed to the Papacy.  Evangelical Christians have interpreted these words from Matthew's Gospel to say that it is only by confessing Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God can one be saved.  More progressive theologians would say that this Gospel reflects that Christians confessed Jesus as the Son of God, but Jesus Himself did not.   This Gospel is also used every year on January 18 the Confession of St. Peter the Apostle in The Episcopal Churches' calendar.  It is a Holy Day with it's own collect in The Book of Common Prayer on page 238.

I recently began reading my next book in my formation.  The book is entitled Western Monasticism: A History of the Monastic Movement in the Latin Church written by Peter King.   I was reading through the first chapter about the beginnings of the Monastic Movement in Egypt.  I was quite struck by the following paragraphs.  

The first flowering of christian monasticism occurred at a critical time in the history of the Church.  In 313 the so-called Edict of Milan ended the persecution of Christians once and for all.  The Emperor Constantine soon began to look upon the Church as an important support of his monarchy and to grant it various privileges.  Christianity soon became the new state religion.  Bishops were now looked upon as the emperor's advisers and held important positions at court.  From having been persecuted, they became persecutors of those holding deviant opinions.

The consequent worldliness and lowering of standards did not go unnoticed.  Saint Jerome remarked that as the Church acquired princely might it became 'greater in power as measured by its wealth, but less in virtue'.  'Not all bishops are true bishops', he wrote, 'You notice Peter; but mark Judas as well....Ecclesiastical rank does not make a man a Christian'.  As for christian priests, There are other men...who only seek the office of presbyter and deacon that they may be able to visit freely.... When you seen these gentry, thing of them rather as potential bridegrooms than as clergymen'. (Pages 27,28).

I wanted to quote these words to you, my readers, as part of my own interpretation and application of this Gospel text.  It may or may not work among Scriptural and/or theological scholars, but, no one said it absolutely has to.

St. Paul in his letter to the Romans calls upon Christians to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect. "   It would seem to me that the ministry of Jesus was about seeking the lost and lonely, bringing justice to the oppressed, and helped people find their way to God through love of God, neighbor and self.  The basis of such a ministry was the God came to us, as one like ourselves to show us the way to a relationship with the Divine, through a life of self sacrifice and devotion to the reparation of the human community.  It was more than a doctrine.  It was about more than what was decided by a Church council, or political party.  It was because God created all of us with the dignity as God's beloved.  In Christ Jesus, our relationship as God's beloved is redeemed, and with us God is well pleased.  If the Church only ministers to and for the wealthy, the powerful and the most privileged, the Church "conforms to this world."   When the Church works for the poor, marginalized and the lonely, it is being transformed by a renewed mind.

The confession of St. Peter and the words of Jesus to him in Matthew's Gospel are about the faith and ministry of the Church, by the grace of God.   They are not a statement of political and/or universal authority for the purpose of control.  The ministry of the so called Apostolic Succession is not only about twelve men, who declared by Sacred Scripture everything from the ordination of women, to justification for discrimination against LGBT people, Muslims, the Jewish people, African Americans and so forth.  It is precisely because of the faith and ministry of the words between Peter and Jesus that the Church should be more inclusive and abundant with diversity.

The late Archbishop Michael Ramsey said it best when he wrote:

The succession of bishops is not an isolated channel of grace, since from the first Christ bestows grace through every sacramental act of His Body.  But certain actions in the work of grace are confined to the bishops; and thereby the truth is taught that every local group or church depends on the one life of the one body, and that the church of any generation shares in the one historic society which is not past and dead but alive in the present.  Thus the church's full and continuous life in grace does depend upon the succession of Bishops, whose work, however is not isolated but bound up with the whole Body (The Gospel and the Catholic Church, p. 82, 83).

The work of confessing Jesus Christ, and the binding and losing of the Reign of God is the work of all Christians in whatever capacity they are in.  It does not matter what our race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, wealth, health, etc.   What matters is that we bring the faith and ministry of the Church into where we are, who we meet and what we do.  We bring that faith to our work for justice for Michael Brown, and peace for Ferguson, Missouri.   We live the confession of our faith in our prayer and work, and in respecting the dignity and integrity of every human person, loving our neighbor as ourselves with God's help, in our Baptismal Vows.

Today's Gospel reading from Matthew is a call of grace upon all Christians, and the true hope for those who have been hurt by the Church and society, so that they may find some kind of peace, healing and reconciliation with God.  Whether they believe what they profess in the Nicene Creed or not.

May our faith and ministry as the Body of Christ mean that the Church fulfills it's mission, because we are all faithful to what Christ has called us to.

Amen.


Prayers

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered
together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your
power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 16: The 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, The Book of Common Prayer, p.816).

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

Day of Pentecost: Holy Spirit, What Language Do You Wish to Speak Through Us?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104 (BCP., p.735-737)


1  Corinthians 12:3b-13 (NRSV)

No one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

John 20:19-23 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Blog Reflection

In The Liturgy of the Hours: Volume II, Lenten Season and Easter Season, the Office of Readings for Pentecost, Saint Irenaeus wrote the following.

The Lord promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God.  Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven.  And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above.  Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay we have become one body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightening.  (Pages 1025-1026).

I love this excerpt by St. Irenaeus with one exception.  I do not agree that Baptism has liberated us "from change".  If the Sacrament of Baptism does not change us to live into our Vows with greater love of God, neighbor and self, then Baptism is no different from our morning shower.   We may cleanse the body, but the soul is without an important element for salvation.  Conversion. 

When the Holy Spirit came upon the early Church on that Day of Pentecost, suddenly they could be heard telling the story of God's salvation through Jesus Christ in their own native language.  The story of God that had been kept within, was able to reach out to the ends of the earth.   Those first women and men, who were Apostles were given the gift of faith by which they were empowered to share God's grace through the word and the Sacraments.  Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh who was crucified, raised from the dead and now ascended into Heaven, had sent the Holy Spirit in abundance.  The fragrance became a pleasant scent that pierced even the most congested life, full of death, hopelessness and despair.  The hope of God continuing to bless all humankind in Christ, now had a new element to humankind, yet ever present in the Triune relationship of God with God's Self.  The Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit represents the feminine nature of God.   She is the Advocate.  The Comforter.  She continues to lead the Church "into all truth" (John 16:13).  She also continues to call and speak through those Baptized into the Name of the Holy Trinity, to be examples of Jesus' compassion and hope for the poor, the sick, the oppressed and those stigmatized by the Church and society. 

In the Noonday Office, we pray:

Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to
direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all
our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into
all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.107).

I think a really good prayer for us to pray on this Day of Pentecost is: Holy Spirit, what language do you wish to speak through us?    

Those Apostles though they were imperfect and had many doubts, were filled with the Holy Spirit, and given the ability to speak Her language in their native dialects.   With in every language is a unique culture and receptivity for hearing the Gospel message of love.   In every understanding of Jesus and His work on behalf of the marginalized and destitute, is the movement of the Holy Spirit calling the whole Church to a deeper sense of unconditional love amidst diversity and expressions of the Christian Faith.  The Holy Spirit calls each of us to not become too comfortable in our current situation, but allow God to displace us to speak of God's acceptance and liberation of people who are different from ourselves; based on the reason of our unique experience of God in our own lives.  To let go of our prejudices, and to see the face of Jesus with reverence and respect for the dignity of every human person.

As the Church and society struggles with everything from immigration reform, better gun control laws, funding for the unemployed, to those who need food stamps, education, protection from the laws that discriminate on the basis of gender expression/identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, religion and so forth; God the Holy Spirit is empowering us to emulate that all human persons be respected and cherished as God's holy people.   God's holy ones endowed by God's image and likeness and redeemed for the hope of prosperity, wholeness of life and the liberty of God's adopted daughters and sons in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 1:5).

On this Pentecost Day, may the Church be open to the work of the Spirit in our time, community and homes to speak Her language with clarity of speech, and hope for all who long for the grace of God to liberate all of us from division, to oneness of heart and soul.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.227).

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful
people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all
things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.227)

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).

St. Mary the Virgin: A Woman Graced, Tried, and Rewarded

Today's Scripture Readings

 Isaiah 61:10-11 (NRSV)

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

my whole being shall exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,

so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise

to spring up before all the nations. 

 

Psalm 34 (BCP. p.627)

 

Galatians 4:4-7 (NRSV)

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

 

Luke 1:44-56 (NRSV)

Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

 

Blog Reflection

As I read through the various traditions of what this August 15th, Commemoration of the St. Mary the Virgin means, I am awestruck by the diversity.  A diversity that is a great source of division among Christians.

For Roman Catholics, today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Catholics believe that on this day, Mary did not die, but was assumed body and soul into Heaven.  It was a dogma proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1945.  This belief is based on another belief by Catholics in Mary's Immaculate Conception.  Meaning she was conceived without original sin, prefiguring the victory won by the death and resurrection of Christ.  Both dogma's suggest that because Mary was God's perfectly created creature, who did the will of God from conception to the end of her earthly life, she who was "full of grace" never experienced death, and was rewarded with a glorious assumption by Mary's Son.

 In the case of what this day means to the Eastern Orthodox, today is the Feast of the Dormition.  In a stunning explanation of the connection of the Feast of the Transfiguration which we celebrated on August 6 and the Dormition, the following comes from the website to St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Both feasts are connected with death. The Transfiguration comes before the death of Christ and anticipates it. The Dormition marks the death of the Mother of God, and comes after the death and resurrection of Christ. 

About the Transfiguration, we say that the revelation of His glory was the Lord's gift to the disciples Peter, James and John in anticipation of His suffering and death. The revelation of glory was meant to give the disciples something - some hope - to see them through their experience of holy week and to strengthen them in the face of death of their Master. Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold Thee crucified, they would understand that Thy suffering was voluntary.... (Kontakion) 

The Dormition of the Mother of God is also a gift. It is a gift of hope because it reveals that in Christ, death is no longer the master and great anxiety of our lives, but is itself subject to the power of His love. The reality and power of the resurrection of Christ is applied to our common human life in the person of the Mother of God. What is proclaimed as Gospel - the risen Christ, the Lord of Life, trampling death by death - is experienced here in the reality of the believer's new life in Christ. For being the Mother of Life, she was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb. (Kontakion)

The Commemoration of the St. Mary the Virgin presents us with some interesting spiritual and theological problems as well as much to rejoice in.  The problem as Abbot Andrew Karr, OSB of St. Gregory's Abbey in Three Rivers, MI points out in his blog for today, is that Mary is either deified or made out to be a demigod.  

Mary’s real glory is that she was a human being every much as the rest of us. That is, she was and is a Jewish girl. Mary is, of course, inseparable from the Incarnation of the Word in her womb. Although Mary’s son was (and is) divine, Jesus was (and is) fully human, like you and me. In his excellent book Sheer Grace, Drasko Dizdar says that Mary, far from being a deity or demigod, “is the utterly and simply human subversion of this deification of human “archetypes” into the divine feminine.’” This is what the famous words of Mary in the Magnificat are all about when she says God “has cast down the mighty from their seats and has lifted up the lowly.” If such words simply mean other people become just as mighty as the ones who were cast down, then the words change nothing for humanity. The ones who are raised up are lowly and continue to be raised up only by remaining lowly. The proud are scattered in the “imagination of their hearts.” The rich are sent away empty because their hearts are too full of their desires to have room for God. What is so subversive about Mary, then, is her humanity. While other humans try to make themselves more than human by being movers and shakers, Mary is blessedly content to be human. As Dizdar says, Mary is a whole human being “as God has always intended the human creature to be as creature.” 

Then there is the matter of The Real Mary .  A 16 year old girl in a culture under immense oppression, with religious laws that are represented by as much misogyny as you can get.  Women were property to be owned by some man, with their dignity at the mercy of such a culture.  Yet, she has the most incredible experience with the Angel Gabriel who tells her that she was to be the mother of the Incarnate Word.  She accepts God's will, and she struggles like all of us do, with what exactly God is doing when we are blessed by God's random act of grace to do mighty things.   In her Magnificat, she sings of how God turned over the worlds corrupt structure, and gave life to the lowly, the hungry, and keeps God's promise of mercy.  Yet, as Mary experiences the crushing moments of Jesus' agonizing death, she questions God's purpose, and suffers with her son, and experiences what all parents who lose children do.  The experience of having died an inner and excruciating death as a mother feels in the depths of her womb, because the child who was once part of her body, is dead. 

On the subject of today's Commemoration of St. Mary the Virgin, I would like to throw some things out based on my own experience. I was a Roman Catholic for 15 years and believed very strongly in the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, her perpetual virginity and the rest. One of the great gifts of being Episcopalian is that we are open to differences of belief and opinion, and even questioning so that we arrive at an authentic faith. So, here is what I now think. It is just as possible that the Immaculate Conception and Assumption did happen, as much as it is possible that they did not. Whether they happened or not, we do know from the Gospel accounts, that Mary received a fantastic random act of grace to conceive and give birth to Christ, who is God incarnate. The human became infused with the divine, and the divine changed forever the relationship between humankind and God. Therefore, Mary is an awesome example of what it means to be a recipient of God's random act of grace, and to live her life, changed forever, by the fruit of her womb. Whether we believe in the Immaculate Conception and/or Assumption or not, I think the important thing is, are we transformed by our encounter with Jesus, the fruit of Mary's womb? How do we respond when we receive a random act of God's grace? Are we truly transformed, or do we return to business as usual? Mary is the example of how to live out that transformation, and receive the reward of God's saving grace. 

Perhaps on this Commemoration, we can pray for God's random act of grace to help us address the issue of climate change, the horrific violence to LGBT people in Russia, Uganda, New York City, and in other places because of prejudice and oppression.   What would we do if we received God's random act of grace to uphold the dignity of women with regards to adequate reproductive health care, job creation and training, equal job wages, protection from exploitation and gender violence?   

If we were to receive such a random act of God's grace, would we truly be transformed, to become a missionary of God's transforming grace?  Or would we just continue with business as usual?

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene
to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness
of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we
may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the
power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Mary the Virgin, Book of Common Prayer, p.242).

 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, p.815).

Day of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Comes, Speaks and Transforms

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2: 2-11 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104 (BCP., p.736)


Romans 8: 14-17 (NRSV)

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 14: 8-17, 25-27 (NRSV)

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

Blog Reflection

To fully appreciate the awesomeness of this Pentecost, we would do well to understand it's origins in the Jewish Faith.   Pentecost for the Jewish religion is also known as Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks.  The Feast celebrates God giving the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai.  God's commandments to love God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength, and love one's neighbor as oneself.  The Feast commemorates God pouring out God's love for God's people with a call to do justice and live in thanksgiving for all God did for the people of Israel. 

As Christians, we celebrate God pouring out the fullness of God's presence and power by the way of the Holy Spirit.  The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ brings it's best and most powerful grace.  The out pouring of the Holy Spirit to come on those first Apostles gathered in that upper room.  The experience was so life changing that it brought with it the ecstasy of God's presence made real, and faith given reason to give birth to the Church.  The Faith of the Apostolic ministry becomes empowered to speak boldly about God's act of salvation in Jesus Christ, and to advance the arrival of God's Reign.  The arrival of the Holy Spirit unties the bonds of different languages, so that each person listening can hear the message of the Gospel in their own tongue.  The joy of God's love and mercy can be received by everyone, without distinction.

Psalm 104 blesses the Lord with all our souls, as the Holy Spirit is celebrated as God created all things.   All creatures great and small, are the product of God's Spirit that has existed before all time.  On Pentecost the prayer of Psalm 104:31 is answered.  "You send forth your Spirit, and they are created, and so you renew the face of the earth."   The prayer is answered for the Apostles, but continues to be the prayer of Christ on behalf of us.  That God's Holy Spirit will impart Her graces upon us, in this time, to be Christ's answer to how the Spirit renews the face of the earth.

The Gospel for today is so well fitted to what we are reading in Acts, the Psalms, and Paul's letter to the Romans.   Philip asks the question that all of us ask from time to time.  "Jesus, show us the Father."   Philip is blessed with the physical presence of Jesus.  He reminds Philip that he has in fact seen the Father in Christ.  Philips search for God is found in Christ, who is God's perfect revelation of Self.   Jesus' affirmation of Philips faith is not just a matter of personal revelation.   It is to be evident in Philips ability to love God by way of all that Christ has commanded.

The commandments of God in Christ are to be lived by faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit that is given on the Day of Pentecost.  God is present in the Holy Trinity by way of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so as to lead us to God in faith and in action through our daily lives as we love one another as Christ loves us.  It gives evidence to the presence of the Holy Spirit who has come to speak and transform ourselves and others around us.  To transform a world filled with the darkness of violence, poverty, prejudice, oppression, and injustice.  To transform the Church to end the sins committed by a masked religious zeal to marginalize women, LGBTQ people, people of different races, religions, people who are economically, physically/developmentally/emotionally challenged, cultures and abilities. The Church must be open to being continually renewed to become the Community of the Spirit, by extending our hands and arms in radical hospitality and reconciliation.  Ready to kneel down and wash the feet of all who come, looking for hope and a place to rest their souls.

This week, the Holy Spirit moved on the State of Minnesota.  On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota signed into law the freedom to marry bill.  As of August 1, 2013 LGBT people will be able to legally marry the person they love.  Minnesota's Episcopal Bishop, Brian Prior recognizes that within our Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion there is a diversity that must be honored.   This includes respect for those Parishes in our Episcopal Church in Minnesota that may chose not to bless same-sex relationships.  I personally would love to have every Episcopal parish agree to bless same-sex relationships.  I tend to agree with those who would remark that parishes that don't are not being open to the movement of the Spirit.  However, the Spirit moves however She chooses, when She chooses, and on whomever She chooses.  Even on hearts like mine that are so arrogant, opinionated, and often not as open as they should be.  It is so important on this Day of Pentecost to honor the Spirit moving as She does in the hearts of each person, including those we disagree with.  Oh, how I need to better understand that with love and compassion with them, as God does with me.   As with all Christians.

The Holy Spirit has come.  She has come to speak and transform us, our communities, ourselves, our relationships, our prayers. To renew them to be life-giving in diversity, and in common.

As Pentecost officially closes the Easter Season of 2013, may Christians move forward with a renewed commitment to love God, our neighbors, ourselves and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being with God's help.   May the Holy Spirit who came to speak and transform, begin with us and lead us forward in peace and hope.

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).


O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful
people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all
things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.  (Collect for Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).


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

Seventh Sunday of Easter: From Ascension to Pentecost

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16:16-34

With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

Psalm 97 (BCP., p.726)


Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 (NRSV)

At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words:

"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."

And let everyone who hears say, "Come."

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

John 17:20-26 (NRSV)

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Blog Reflection

I am writing this particular reflection at a fantastic time in the State of Minnesota.   Just this past Thursday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill that will grant the freedom to marry to same-sex couples.  This upcoming Monday, the bill will be voted on and likely pass in the State Senate.  Our Governor Mark Dayton is expected to sign the bill into law on Tuesday.   If all goes in that order, same-gender couples will be able to apply for State marriage licenses on August 1, 2013.   It is an exciting time for those of us who have been working so hard to make this kind of thing happened.  

As Jason and I celebrated Ascension Thursday together at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis, on the very day the House passed the bill, we sang probably my favorite hymn.  And it was the most appropriate for both Ascension Thursday and the events of the day.

When Christ was lifted from the earth,
his arms stretched out above
through every culture, every birth,
to draw an answering love.

Still east and west His love extends
and always, near or far,
He calls and claims us as His friends
and loves us as we are.

Where generation, class or race
divide us to our shame,
He sees not labels but a face,
A person, and a name.

Thus freely loved, though fully known,
may I in Christ be free
to welcome and accept His own
as Christ accepted me. Amen.
Words by Brian A. Wren
Music by Gordon Slater
See Hymnal 1982, #603


Among the many comments that have come since Thursday's historic vote, is the argument by opponents about "religious freedom."  Not to mention their concerns about children and families.  All of these are based on a weak, but very firm belief that anything other than the union between one man and one woman is detrimental if not destructive to the family and children.  They also believe that marriage equality is a threat to "religious freedom."   A great professor at the University of Minnesota by the name of Dale Carpenter wrote a fantastic article answering all of those questions.  You can read that article here.   

Another point about the debate in the MN House on Thursday, was how respectful it was.  There was very emotional and passionate discussions, speeches about the subject of marriage, by both supporters of marriage equality and those who oppose it.  But, one of the other great events we witnessed was how people's hearts and minds are changing in regards to LGBTQ people, couples and families.   Rep. Tim Faust who is also a Lutheran Pastor gave an outstanding speech.   In his talk, he spoke about how his views and understandings have changed on the issue of the freedom of same-gender couples to marry the person they love.  You can watch and read about that speech here.  You won't be sorry.

I am sure many of my blog readers may be asking yourself what does this have to do with Christ's prayer for the disciples, those who believe in Him through their word, and for the Church to be one?   With Christians so divided over everything from the economy, politics, solving the issue of what to do about out of control gun violence, climate change, women's rights, LGBT equality etc, how can Christ's prayer possibly be answered?  When will it be answered?  

To give us some possible answers to consider, I would like to reuse a story quoted by Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB.

Once upon a time, the story begins, some seekers from the city asked the local monastic a question.
"How does one seek union with God?"
And the Wise One said, "The harder you seek, the more distance you create between God and you."
"So what does one do about the distance?"  the seekers asked.
And the elder said simply, "Just understand that it isn't there."
"Does that mean that God and I are one?" the disciples asked.
And the monastic said, "Not one, not two."
"But how is that possible?" the seekers insisted.
And the monastic answered, "Just like the sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and the song.  Not one. But not two."  (Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. p.195).

The grace that Christians must be open to, is to be able to grasp the notion that God and us are not one, but not two.  When we are interacting with another person, we are interacting with Christ present in her/him.  It really doesn't matter whether that person shares our religious convictions, beliefs, practices or not.  What matters most, is to seek God and to love Christ above all else in one another.  It is the most crucial thing to do, but the most challenging.  Despite our advances in technology, science, internet capability, psychological discoveries, etc we have yet to end the divisions that are created by distinctions.   Whether they be by race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, economic status, health, employment, language and so forth, there are more excuses and reasons to be divided to our shame as Christians and a so called "civilized" society. 

I truly believe that among the things Jesus was praying for, is that those to whom the Apostles would reach out to in the Name of Christ, would believe in Him because of what they said and did.  Jesus prays that for us today.  Jesus did not give birth to the Church on that Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on those disciples, to become isolated by distinctions that cannot be reconciled.  This is evident in the fact that after the Holy Spirit came, each person listening to the Apostles speaking to them, heard them speaking in their own language.  Finally, the language of the God of love, through Jesus Christ and the Spirit was so clear, so understandable, that everyone could hear it.   Every person, regardless of their walk of life, was able to hear something about someone they could believe in.   They were driven to know God in Christ as Savior, Redeemer and friend.  By way of the Holy Spirit the distance between God, them and us does not exist.  We are not one with God, but we are not two.  That includes with our sisters and brothers.

As we await the celebration of Pentecost, we are asked today to find our oneness in Christ, not as labels, distinctions.  But as people with names.  People with hearts to love and be loved.  People looking for hope where they see despair and tragedy. People who want to believe without being told that there is no space or place for them.  People who can search for God just as all of us are.  In prayer, singing, reading, meditating and in one another.

Amen.

Prayers

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

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

The Day of Pentecost: Holy Spirit, Lead Us Into Truth

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2: 1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104 (BCP. p.736)


Romans 8:22-27 (NRSV)

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

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

Blog Reflection

These past two weeks since President Obama announced that he supports marriage equality for LGBT people have been amazing.  We have witnessed the movement of the Holy Spirit in wonderful and new ways.   We have also seen how quickly prejudice and violence rises from those who continue to use the Bible and the Christian religion as a means for hate and cruelty.

This past week we have been reading and hearing about the Pastor in North Carolina who has called for all "queers to be executed."   Many in America both religious and non-religious have responded with outrage and horror.   Yet, the Pastor's own church members supported what he said.   It is amazing and unbelievable how hate in the Name of Jesus Christ can be so popular.

Is it any wonder that so many upon hearing about things such as this turn away from the Christian religion?    Why would anyone want to participate in a religion with messengers who preach hate and violence, and encourage others to do the same?

Because those who preach and teach that Christianity and the Bible are the means for discrimination, cruelty and oppression are telling only one side of the story.   It is not the Christ side.   Their story of Jesus that suggests fear and destruction does not reflect the accurate picture of Jesus or the Christian religion.  We could easily say that they are taking the Lord's Name in vein and they do not even know it.

As we celebrate today the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day, we see how the Advocate changed the Apostles instantly.  Their moods, their activities and so forth were transformed so quickly, it looked  like they were drunk at 9am.   Peter rose and told the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how this fulfills what the prophets had foretold.   The Church was born and given their sense of mission.  But, the story does not end there.   Just like the truth about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church and the Bible do not end with the book of Revelation.  Nor are they perfectly understood or described by one preachers words, or any particular church council.

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

The first time I heard this Gospel passage preached on in a way that is open to diversity, was by now retired Bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda.   He preached about how all of the truth about homosexuality or any part of the Gospel is not finished, but is a continually evolving.  Jesus recognized that the work of the Holy Spirit revealing God's truth to humankind would not end with the Apostles, but would continue to be unraveled throughout human history.  Through the words of Jesus from John's Gospel today, we know that truth is something that is not static, nor is it abstract.  It does not end with one declaration, nor is it "common sense" when their are so many different cultures, races, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions, languages and religious that understand truth to mean different things.  Yet, we know that the Holy Spirit, the feminine nature of God, continues to speak whatever she hears, and declares what is to come from the heart of God.

It is no accident that I might remember this Scripture being preached on by Bishop Christopher.  He preached and continues to preach on this matter, because of Uganda's continued efforts to pass a bill that would mean that LGBT individuals who are open, suspected or outed could be put in prison or executed by hanging.   The bill would mean that Pastors, counselors, teachers and/or parents who do not report homosexuals to the authorities could themselves face prison time.  The bill has been supported and encouraged by American evangelical missionaries of hate.

Yet, here we are on Pentecost Sunday, a week after the message of Pastor Worley calling for the execution of LGBT people.  Particularly after North Carolina voters passed a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality earlier this month.  This just goes to show that Christianists are not happy with just passing marriage amendments.  They literally want LGBT people eliminated.  Once discrimination becomes a matter of being passed by voters, where does it stop?

Our Mother, the Holy Spirit desires to lead us into all truth.  Including the truth that the Church has got many things wrong.   The Holy Spirit can certainly reveal that the way the Bible has been interpreted and Church tradition has framed the discussion of homosexuality all through the years, as being totally wrong.

The question for us is, are we open to the Holy Spirit leading us into all truth?   Are we so arrogant that we refuse to be open to the Holy Spirit leading us to be more inclusive and loving, and less biased and violent?  Are we open that our Mother, the Holy Spirit may help us to know that the power of salvation and redemption by way of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, gives us every reason to love the unlovable?   To reach out to those marginalized and oppressed by the Church and society to minister to them by the way of radical hospitality and reconciliation? 

God the Holy Spirit comes to us so that we may know God's comfort and consolation in the midst of the pains, trials and sufferings of life.  She comes to share her grace and truth that it is okay to let her open up the Pandora's Boxes that we put God, our neighbors and ourselves into, to keep us from accepting and loving those who are different from ourselves.   Including allowing ourselves to let go of any criteria we have developed for how we judge others, and realizing that all of us, regardless of who we are, are in need of forgiveness, redemption and the hope of being loved unconditionally and inclusively.  To call on Church leadership to stop using our religion as an excuse to hate and exclude.   Instead, the Holy Spirit comes to help us to exercise the ministry of welcome and healing of those broken relationships that Jesus Christ came to heal.

As we conclude the Easter Season today, we go forth having been renewed in faith, hope and love.   Knowing that God has forgiven us, and reconciled us to God's Self by way of the Cross and Resurrection.  That our Mother, the Holy Spirit comes to help us by her grace and tender teachings to know that she groans in intercession before God on our behalf, so that we may be God's witnesses of all that Jesus Christ taught and did, being open to being lead into all truth.   The truth that does not end on Pentecost.  It only begins as we are open to what God's Spirit will do in and through us, if we are open to learning more truth as she hears it from the heart of Almighty God.


Prayers

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful
people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all
things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.  (Collect for Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227)


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


Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 824).

Seventh Sunday of Easter: Being One and Being Inclusive of Diversity are Inseperable

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (NRSV)

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Psalm 1 (BCP., p.585).


1 John 5:9-13 (NRSV)

If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 17:6-19 (NRSV)

Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed, "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth."

Blog Reflection

Jesus' famous prayer for the Apostle's to be one.  A prayer that has been the source used for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on one hand and then used by many Roman Catholic Bishops to suggest that any church community or denomination not united to the See of Peter are not part of the "one Church" on the other.   This same Gospel gets used to accuse other church communities who have accepted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as ordained Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and/or began blessing same-sex relationships, of having "broken off from the one true Gospel."     This passionate plea by Jesus for his followers to be one is used time and again, to give Jesus a very bad Name.

This past Thursday, we commemorated the Ascension of Jesus to the right hand of God.  What that means and how it happened is different for everyone.  Just as each person has a unique understanding of what the resurrection means.  No two people discussing the Holy Trinity will understand it in the same way.  But, is their belief in God any less real because of their disagreements?  

When the Anglican Church was being formed, among the ways that the founders sought to make that distinguished us from Rome, is that although we pray in common, we do not have to believe in common.  As Episcopalians who are part of the Anglican Communion, we cherish independent thinking and the ability for each person to arrive at their own belief's, but still pray with us all the things Christians believe.  Yet, one thing we do understand is that our Baptismal Covenant incorporates us into the Body of Christ, and Holy Communion continues to united us one to another through the Body and Blood of Christ.   We believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but we do not define how that presence is real (ie. transubstantiation or consubstantiation).  We leave that up to God and the individual to work out, while at the same time feeling free to dialogue with each other about our differences.  Can differences of opinion about doctrines, dogmas, sacraments, the interpretation of Scripture and so forth, still mean a oneness among the followers of Jesus?  As Episcopalians and Anglicans, we answer yes.  Because one matter that we do understand is the commandment of Jesus to love God, our neighbors and ourselves inclusively, is something we are all called to do.  That is something we can all agree on.

Christians have become so settled with disagreeing about doctrines and the like so long, that we do risk forgetting that the commandment of Jesus to be one in the loving of God, others and ourselves is really what Christians are all about.   No two people have to agree on anything.  However, seeking the common good of another individual who is different from ourselves, is what Jesus' prayer to be one entails.  It is not just a prayer about our creeds, sacraments, leaders or worship languages, etc.  It is a prayer to be one in what God through Jesus Christ did in his earthly ministry, and now continues to pray for all of us to do as he prays for us from his throne in glory.   We can use the Bible literally and even the meaning of the sacraments to exclude LGBT people from participating in Communion and be spot on if we want to be like that.  Except that by doing so, we have failed to love God, our neighbor and ourselves, making our actions null and void.  Read 1 Corinthians 13 for a better explanation of that one. Because the oneness of God's people to see God's presence in LGBT people, women who have had abortions, individuals of different races, religions, languages, behaviors etc, and seek to exclude them from the Church and the sacraments, is the Body of Christ, that is the Church, fractured. 

Being one and being inclusive of diversity are inseparable from each other.  They compliment each other.  They complete one another. When Church leadership uses the Gospel to instruct and guide Christians away from being inclusive of diversity, they render the answer of Jesus' prayer as unanswerable.  When Christians fail to hold Church leadership accountable for not being inclusive of diversity, we too grieve the heart of God, by not participating in the answer to the prayer of Jesus coming to pass.  When we work for justice and equality for all people, serving the needs of the poor, the hurting, those affected by political, religious and social oppression, we are making progress so that Jesus prayer for us to be one, is a step closer to becoming a living reality.

How are we playing our role of answering the prayer of Jesus?

What are some things we might do in the weeks and months ahead to help the Church answer Jesus' prayer for his followers to be one?

How might we be an example of someone who wants to be an answer to Jesus' prayer?

I think we could be a better example if we will think a little bit more about the ending to the Prayer after Communion on page 365 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord.  Amen.


Prayers

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


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


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