Day of Pentecost: Are We Listening for The Spirit's Many Languages?

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 104:25-35, 37 (BCP., p.735)


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 (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."

Blog Reflection

So, here we come to it.  The conclusion of the Easter Season with the Day of Pentecost.  Pentecost is often said to be the Birthday of the Church.  It is a celebration marked by a birthday cake at the coffee hour after Sunday Eucharist.

The experience of those first Apostles in the upper room followed by the diverse languages they spoke, is symbolic of the many different ways the Holy Spirit speaks the language of Salvation.  It is the language of God's amazing love by which God offered Jesus on the Cross by which He triumphed over  death in the Resurrection.  Through those languages each person tells their stories about how God touches their lives; bringing healing and reconciliation between all people.  

The coming of the Holy Spirit is not the moment by which Christianity becomes a religion of supercessionism, making all other religions less than what Christianity is.  On the contrary, it is the moment in which the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to see a world beyond our doctrines, creeds and dogmas; to respecting the dignity of every human person; by which we share the love of Jesus with others around us.

The Holy Spirit is believed to be the feminine nature of God.  The Spirit is our advocate with God on our behalf.  The reading from Romans suggests that through the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift of being God's adopted daughters and sons regardless of how the labels the world around us might define us.  We are identified by the relationship of God to us, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit confirms this relationship through the gift of Gods amazing grace through Christ.

As the Church continues to struggle with what we are listening to from transgender bathroom bills, same gender marriage rites in the Church in New Zealand, immigration, racism and gun violence; who's stories are we listening to, and who's are we ignoring?  What new language are we prepared to learn and learn from; so that the message of the compassion and healing hands of Jesus can be felt by those yearning to be loved and included?   

The Holy Spirit continues to move upon the Church and Christians "to be lead into all truth." (John 16:13).  A truth that is living and growing as opposed to deteriorating and becoming stagnant. 

Each of us will keep the commandments of Jesus in our unique way, in the only way that God calls us to do.  The more open we are to the languages through which the stories of Salvation and Redemption are told; the greater the ministry of the Church bears better fruit.

As our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has said, "We are called to be part of the Jesus movement, to make the world a better place for all of God's People."

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.  (The 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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Seventh Sunday of Easter: One Among Many

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16:16-35 (NRSV)

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

Are you confused at all by this Gospel reading from John is the one being used this Sunday? It is a bit strange.  We spent the last six or seven weeks focusing on the Risen Christ.  We had three Sundays with readings about the Risen Jesus with His Disciples.  After, we had two Sundays during which we heard Jesus speak about being the Good Shepherd, followed by Jesus telling us to love one another as He loves us.  Thursday was Ascension Day.  Jesus left the Disciples to be at the right hand of God.  Now, we are back to Jesus' discourse during the Last Supper.  What might this Gospel reading be telling us?   We are awaiting the Day of Pentecost on which we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Christians to be Christ's witnesses all over the world.

We have another challenging matter with this Gospel reading.  Jesus' prayers are for Christians to be one as He and the Father are one.  This prayer is very curious.  Each of the Disciples came from very different places and had different occupations.  There were Fishers from one town.  Others were perhaps farmers or servants.  It is suggested that Judas Iscariot was a scholar.   I am sure each of them had a different approach to their faith, and experiences of the Resurrection.  Thomas after all, wanted to see the evidence of the Risen Christ.   Others had an experience of Jesus walking with them on the road to Emmaus.   I tend to believe that there were women present for this conversation, each who knew Jesus from their own perspective.

There are traditions within Christianity that would suggest that Jesus was talking about the Church being one with no denominations to support different beliefs and practices for various countries, languages and cultures.  Others would suggest that oneness is for all Christians to be opposed to abortion, birth control, equality for women, LGBTQ, marriage equality, etc.  Notice that no where in this Gospel text does Jesus make conditions about what this oneness means.  What Jesus is praying about is that Christians will be one as He and His Father are one, so that every person in the world knows that they are loved without distinction.

While many Christians are waging political and social debates about transgender people using the "proper" public restroom, or declaring every Muslim not able to enjoy their religious freedoms, or supporting racism, sexism; the ministry of healing and reconciliation on the part of Christians being one is being made a scam.  Jesus did not make a condition on what oneness would mean.  Christians on the other hand, have been for centuries deciding what divides us from seeking the common good and respecting the dignity of every human person.  This prayer of Jesus is that we will be one in loving others who are different from ourselves, and welcoming them to be part of the Body of Christ with no distinction.

How will you answer Jesus' prayer to be one among many Christians?

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.226).

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.255).

Fifth Sunday of Easter: The Kainos Commandment

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 11:1-18 (NRSV)

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

Psalm 148 (BCP, p.805).


Revelation  21:1-6 (NRSV)

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

"See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them as their God;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away."

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."

John 13:31-35 (NRSV)

At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Blog Reflection

I have recently begun to read Walking In Valleys of Darkness: A Benedictine Journey Through Troubled Times, by Fr. Albert Holtz, OSB.  In the book, Holtz writes about two Greek words for the English word new.  One word is neos.  This word refers to "recent, young."  The other Greek word for new is kainos which means "unheard of, unknown."

The "new" commandment referred to in Saint John's Gospel today is the word kainos, not the word neos.  It is suggested that it is a commandment that is unheard of or unknown.  If that is the case, what should be the response of Christians to this kainos commandment?

All of our readings today speak to us of what is new or kainos.  That which is unknown is becoming clearer as the kainos Jerusalem comes down out of heaven in the Book of Revelation.  All things such as the tears we cry, the pain we feel and what we know will be changed into the kainos Kingdom.  While we do not read the word new or kainos in Peter's experience in the Acts of the Apostles, it is quite clear that Peter had a kainos experience on that roof top.  It changed his outlook to the people God was calling him to go to.

If there is one thing that we all find difficult to cope with is change.  We all say we want a kainos Church and society in which injustice and oppression are no longer the status quo.  However, when faced with the minute kainos changes towards making that happen, even the most open minded of persons can become quite reluctant.

I once had a conversation with a very progressive minded individual about the issue of housing for minorities.  The subject was about how the individuals and families of certain races are often left with the worst choices in terms of housing with no one to assist them with knowing their rights.  When the occasion comes to talking with their landlords to take care of maintenance requests and pest control, their requests seem to fall on deaf ears.  As the conversation continued, the person I was talking with said, "Whenever you have Latinos or Hispanics living in apartment buildings, there will always be that kind of problem."

The debate over equal protections for LGBT people, in particular transgender people and what gender uses what bathroom has really been getting more intense.  These issues are the result of people not being open to kainos understandings of gender roles and what they mean.  Yet, the problem of "classes" of people being denied basic human rights protection is not so kainos.  It happened in Nazi Germany and in the United States of America during the Civil Rights movement influenced by individuals such as Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Jesus tells His disciples and us today that He is giving us a new (kainos) commandment.  That we are to love one another as He has loved us.  The love that Jesus speaks of sees past gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion and every label we can come up with; to love the human person totally and completely without distinction.  The kainos commandment is the love of God for all humankind by which Jesus gave His life for all of us on the Cross and rose from the dead.  He is calling each of us to break kainos ground and to see beyond what is on the surface, to live into our Baptismal Vows of respecting the dignity of every human being; to love with the same love.  This is why our Book of Common Prayer, invites us to answer the questions in our Baptismal Covenant with "We will, with God's help."  Jesus invites us to face our human limitations honestly and be open to the Holy Spirit leading us into the kainos way in which Jesus showed us of loving others as God loves all of us.

In the Incarnate Word, God showed humankind that all of us can be loved, and all of us can love if we only put our faith and trust in God's love in the Person of Jesus Christ.  God knows what we are capable of when we love openly and totally, looking towards Jesus as that "way, truth and life" by which God brings healing and reconciliation to our broken and wounded world.  When we are open to receiving and sharing that love, we show forth the Risen Jesus who says "Peace be with you" even to those who have abandoned Him at his most desperate of moments.  The Risen Christ welcomes the stranger, gives sight to the blind and gives a voice to those who are unable to speak for themselves.  We are empowered to live into Saint Benedict's admonition to "receive all guests as Christ Himself." (The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 53).

I think it is past time for Christians to make the kainos commandment of Jesus to love others as He has loved us better known than to leave it as unknown.   What do you think?

How is God calling you to live into the kainos commandment to love others as Jesus has loved you?

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant
us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way,
the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his
steps in the way that leads to eternal life; 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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.225).


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. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Risen Christ, Shepherd Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 9:36-43 (NRSV)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Psalm 23 (BCP., p.612)


Revelation 7:9-17 (NRSV)

I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever!
Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

John 10:22-30 (NRSV)

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Blog Reflection

This is one of my favorite Sundays in the Easter Season.  After three full Sundays of celebrating the Risen Christ; here we get to meditate on a very beautiful way to think of Jesus.  

The image of Jesus being the Good Shepherd in a beautiful hill country such as what we see in the image above, fills us with a sense of peace and tranquility.  The green pastures with only sheep and shepherd, beautiful mountains and trees fill us with a sense of wonder.  In these days as events around us seem so ugly with no end in sight; thinking of Jesus as The Good Shepherd feels like the relief we need.

The pastures in which Christians find ourselves are anything but peaceful and serene.  Our Christian Faith continues to be mocked and damaged in the form of "bathroom bills" and bills promoting discrimination against LGBTQ people on a fast track.  Yet, the programs that could help the poor, homeless, disabled and unemployed get their funds depleted and given to military defense programs.  Federal and State legislation that could be used to protect innocent people from the excessive gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods, schools and churches are denied a fair hearing because of lobbyists with very deep pockets.  These and many more issues in our society are being promoted by those who claim that this is what Jesus died to "save us from" on the Cross.  In so doing, our Lord Jesus the Good Shepherd becomes nothing more than a picture on the wall and a story told.  There is nothing more to the story, when our stories are no longer heard.

I want to tell you all a story of what someone I care about very much experienced this past week.

He is thirty-five years old.  Less than two years ago, his husband/partner died of cancer.  A year ago he was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with massive congestive heart failure.  His heart works now, but only at about 46% .  He has to take Nitro for occasional chest pains.  He gets headaches form the Nitro after he takes it.  He also experiences dizzy spells due to vertigo.  He has asthma.  He is obviously unable to work because of his health condition.  He is able to get on a local health care program through Medicaid, but he can only go to certain doctors.  He has applied for disability and has an eighteen month wait for an answer.  He is very fortunate to be in the care of his late husband's family.  He has applied for food assistance, but has recently lost the assistance because of a law that requires him to take classes about how to get employed.  In his health condition, no employer would hire him.  He is too much of a liability if anything happens to him on the job.  

It troubles me deeply that as a society we have come to this point, where helping this unhealthy young man is too much to ask of our political and religious institutions.  As Christians we are called to follow the example of our Shepherd who is Jesus Christ, to seek out the lost and to be an inclusive people who welcome and embrace others.  Other "sheep" may not be in the same pasture with us Christians, but, they are still God's people nonetheless.  As recipients of God's love and salvation through the mystery of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection; we are empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to challenge the status quo with the true Gospel of Christ by which the marginalized and broken find a place for healing and reconciliation.  

As we meditate on Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd today, may we spend sometime in holy silence to listen to our Shepherd call us to be His prophetic witnesses.  May we pray for the power of the Holy Spirit that we may welcome all people so that they may find in Christians a safe place to cool their burning feet, wash the sweat off their brows and find some rest in the One who's yoke is easy and burden light.  After all, the Pasture is not only a beautiful place to be.  It is God's atmosphere of limitless possibilities.

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

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

Third Sunday of Easter: Do We Love the Risen Christ in Others?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 9:1-20 (NRSV)

Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said,

"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

Psalm 30 (BCP., p.621)


Revelation 5: 11-14 (NRSV)

I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,

"To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.

John 21: 1-19 (NRSV)

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me." 

Blog Reflection

It must have been quite shocking for Ananias to be given the assignment of restoring sight to Saul.  We read in the account from Acts of how Jesus called him to lay hands on the soon to arrive Saul and give him back his sight.  Ananias hesitates based on what he had heard and known.  Yet, Jesus calls him to the task, that would be the beginning of Saul's new life in Christ.  Because for the first time, Saul would see anew with his physical eyes, and with the eyes of faith the Crucified and Risen Christ as he was baptized by Peter and taught by the Apostles to prepare him for the ministry to the Gentiles. 

Ananias experienced what all of us do at some point.  When we have heard something about someone else and then are called to confront her/him with an act of hospitality and kindness, we respond in fear.   The problem is that when we respond to God's call with the fear of the past, we become deaf to God's work in the here and now.  In Christ, God challenges us to let go of our blindness to God's presence and work in others around us.  Even those we may have some stereotypical thought about.   Especially those who have been blinded by ignorance, prejudice and a refusal to grow past their common held notions.  Yet, God empowers us for the ministry of giving sight to anyone who comes to a new understanding of God in Christ, and to invite them into the Household of God, to pray and work with them in the work of reconciliation and healing.

As we turn our attention to the Gospel of John, there are some problems with the text that we have to confront.

It is really odd that the resurrection story in John 21 is so disconnected from what happened in last weeks narrative in John 20.   John 21 seems to come from the point of view that John 20 did not actually happen.  What in the world is going on?

We must keep in mind that the Gospel according to John was most likely not written by the Apostle and Evangelist himself.  Though there are indications that what is written could have come from John, the various twists and turns in the Gospel suggest that it was probably compiled by more than one person.   It is very possible that it could have been a small committee of people who just couldn't agree on what belonged in it. So they all got a little piece of what they wanted in there to satisfy everyone.  There are plenty of  good commentaries out there, but they are just that.  Commentaries, opinions.  Some more educated than others.  Also, the argument to let the Scriptures stand on their own and the Holy Spirit take care of it, doesn't work either.  Christians have been interpreting the Holy Spirit for centuries.   Look where that has gotten us?  Antisemitism, homophobia, sexism, racism, religious supercessionism, you name it.  No thank you.

Instead, let's pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying through the accredited scholarship of those who know a lot more than we do.

This Gospel reading though has some things in it that are very familiar.  The sea near Galilee as was said in Luke 5 when Jesus called Peter and the other disciples to be fishers of people.  Is it possible that this was something extra from Luke that just got thrown in?  Anything is possible.

What is written there has a lot to say.  Some important things we need to consider.  Many of them come from a terrific Biblical Commentary (opinion I know) blog called Progressive Involvement. 

First, each of the Apostles named are those who have had some problem with their relationship and/or faith in Jesus.  So, we begin not with those who were said to be strong and courageous, but those who have had issues that remain unresolved. God often comes to us in the midst of our confusion and unresolved issues, to bring us some kind of truth that we may not have looked at before.  Jesus will knock as long as it takes.  But, He fully intends to get our attention.   The question is, are we listening and watching for Him?

Second, the Apostles in this narrative have kind of broken away from the group and gone back to what they were doing before. The Jesus thing did not quite work out the way they wanted.  So, they go back to fishing all night.  And as they return to what they were doing before they were called by Jesus, so they are unable to make progress in their lives. They are in darkness and disbelief.  So, they spend the night on the old boring, but familiar things. They don't require a lot of energy, but they are willing to spend what they have on that which does not bring them results. They are kind of like those who attended the Great Vigil of Easter, and well, all the excitement is over.  Lent is done. Let's go back to no longer paying attention.  Let's go back to living in the dark about what the Christian life is really about. After all, it was only a Sunday. We don't live Easter. We just celebrate it, and well, it's all over.

As the darkness gives way to the "dawn from on high that breaks upon us" (Luke 1:78) Jesus comes and tells them to throw the net on the other side.  That's when they catch so much fish, that they are lucky that the nets did not break.  Still, they did not recognize Jesus.  You mean, they did not recognize Jesus from the last time they caught all those fish?  Sometimes, it takes another knock of reality from God, before we get our act together.  Are we listening for the knock?  Or have we rolled the stone back over th entrance to the tomb.  Who wants to be reminded of what the Risen Christ might call us to do?

When they realize that it is Jesus that calls them from the sea shore, we see Peter jump in to the river to cleanse himself and swim towards Jesus.  When the disciples meet up with Jesus, they share a meal by breaking bread and sharing in the fish they caught.  This scene is very familiar to the story in Luke 24: 13-35.  It is in the sharing of a meal in thanksgiving to God that they come together to listen and learn from Jesus. 

Do we see our Baptism as the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit so that we are part of the Household of God, with a responsibility towards others? 

Do we come to the Eucharist to listen to and learn from Jesus as we share in God's Goodness through the Body and Blood of Christ, to share God's Presence with the world around us?

The last part of this Gospel has some very important points to be made.  The following is take from Progressive Involvement.

Jesus addresses Peter directly.  Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.  In the first two instances, Jesus uses the word agapas--unconditional love.  In the last query, Jesus uses the word phileis--brotherly love.  Each time, Peter responds that he does love Jesus, but with a phileis love, not an agape one.  In other words, Peter's "love" is not at the same level as the "love" in Jesus' question. 

This seemed to be one of the Beloved Disciple's main points of dispute with Peter:  Peter doesn't love Jesus enough.  Indeed, the first question Jesus asked--"Do you love me more than these?"--would indicate that Peter may love "these," the disciples or perhaps the implements of his fishing craft, more than he loves Jesus. 

Secondly, each time Peter responds, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you," the word the fourth gospel uses for "know" here is oida.  This is knowledge at the "every day" level, the knowledge based on direct experience and intellectual discernment.  In the last exchange, Peter says again, "Lord, you know--oida--all things."  Then, however, Peter shifts to ginosko for "know":  "You know--ginosko, interior, mystical, "spiritual knowing"--that I love you." 

Ginosko is the kind of "knowing" that really counts in the fourth gospel.  Peter finally gets the "knowing" right--(as an addendum on the third try)--but he still doesn't get the love right.  Jesus finally gives in a bit, again on the third try, by reducing the love from agape to phileis perhaps in the hope that Peter can finally identify with him at least at that level.

Jesus' instructions to Peter follow this pattern:  feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.  Wes Howard-Brook:  "The alternation between lambs and sheep also brings to mind the dual role of the disciples.  They are both like Jesus, the Lamb of God, who will be sacrificed for the sake of the people, but are also those who follow, like the sheep Jesus leads (p. 478)."

The last time Peter was at a charcoal fire, he was there with "the slaves and the police" (18: 18) at which he denied three times that he was a follower of Jesus.  At this post-resurrection charcoal fire, he is with Jesus and the disciples, but still doesn't quite get that the center of discipleship is unconditional and intimate love of Jesus.  Nevertheless, in spite of Peter's disappointing performance in this dialog, Jesus calls him to the central task of discipleship which is tending and caring for the sheep. 

After the three-fold question of love, Jesus issues an "amen, amen" saying, an indication of special importance.  In the fourth gospel, Jesus willingly goes to the cross (10: 18).  Here, Jesus says that, while Peter will indeed die for the faith, he will do so unwillingly.  Peter is being taken where he does not wish to go.

Are we willing to seek God's help to love one another with the sense that each person is our sister and brother?  Can we love them with phileis (brotherly love) so that they can be drawn closer to God's (agape) love?   Can we understand that being a Christian is about living in community with others? 

Today, the Risen Christ asks us with Peter, do you love (phileis) me? 

How are we responding to His question?

Amen.

Prayers

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Third Sunday in Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p.224).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of
peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel
for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion
may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your
love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen. (Prayer for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p.246),

Second Sunday of Easter: Doubt Is The Way To Faith

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 5:27-32 (NRSV)

When the temple police had brought the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

Psalm 118:14-29 (BCP., p.761-763)


Revelation 1:4-8 (NRSV)

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

John 20:19-31 (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."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

Over the span of Church History, St. Thomas got a bad rap.  It was thought that Thomas doubting the Resurrection and wanting proof suggests that he was a man of weak faith.

Thomas is the one who wants more than just the words of the Disciples that Jesus rose from the dead.   Thomas wants to know it for Himself.  Thomas along with the other Apostles heard Jesus say on many occasions that He would go to Jerusalem, be put to death and rise again.  Thomas was not satisfied with the words alone.  Thomas did not want to believe on pure blind faith.  Thomas wanted his faith to be affirmed by the physical touch of Jesus and to know the words from Jesus to Thomas' heart were reliable.  Thomas wanted more than the literal translation.  Thomas wanted to see the truths he had been told become part of his every day experience.

The Rev. Barbara Mraz wrote these outstanding words in her blog for this Second Sunday of Easter, entitled "Got Doubt?"

"I don't think that doubt is the enemy of faith, but blind fanaticism is." 

Blind fanaticism can take the form of Biblical literalism to the point of lobbying for those crazy "Religious Freedom" bills, that really are no freedom of religion at all.  They are only the freedom of religion for over zealous conservative Christians to justify discrimination towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their struggle towards full equality.  The fanaticism behind the "Religious Freedom" laws is about control.  The ultra-conservative Christians want to be the voice and law makers as to how Christianity will be defined in American politics.  It does not stop with LGBTQ people, it extends to women's reproductive rights, health care, education, climate change and managing gun violence.

Thomas' encounter with the Risen Christ in our Gospel story today, tells us to doubt the fanatical and search for the faith that allows us to question how things have been, so that the Holy Spirit may "lead us into all truth."  This kind of faith questions on a level of deep trust, not in our certainties of what we think and/or do.  The kind of faith that Thomas' doubt leads to breaks the hard concrete, and makes it into a wonderful flowing stream of life giving water.   The same water that flowed in our Baptism and makes all of us in our diversity of beliefs and convictions part of the one family of Christ known as the Church.

May we with Thomas never dismiss doubt as an obstacle to faith, but embrace it with trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us towards the truths we have yet to receive and live by.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 224)

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. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

Easter Day: Rise Again with Christ As Easter People

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)

Peter began to speak to Cornelius and the other Gentiles: "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 118:1-2, 14-24 (NRSV) 


1 Corinthians 15:19-26 (NRSV)

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

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 

Alleluia.  Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

God has shown us in Christ that there is no power that can keep God from loving us.  Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote,

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 NRSV).

The Easter event is a difficult one for our human minds to take hold of.  We live in a world where death and violence claim the lives of countless people every day.  We were all horrified by the violence that occurred in Brussels this week.  We continue to live in our communities, schools, theaters and public buildings fearing the next sting of gun violence may be right next to us.  The language and rhetoric used by our political candidates bombards our senses and confuses us as to what we are actually voting for.

The scene of Jesus' Crucifixion took place in a time and culture where violence, enslavement and conquest was the theme of everyday life.  Hundreds of people had been crucified by the Roman Empire as a way to punish those who would attempt to rebel against what was considered then, the greatest empire in the world.  As far as the Roman Empire was concerned, all of the world belonged to Rome.  

We can understand what Mary Magdalene must have been feeling on seeing that the tomb was empty.  Jesus' Disciples ran to see only linens and an empty tomb with the stone rolled away.  Mary's tears and wondering where Jesus was, left her vulnerable for God to do wondrous things for her.  The Risen Christ comes to her and she enters into the contemplative experience.  She is recognized for who she is by the Risen Christ, and knows His love for her is intimate and complete. 

In the Resurrection, Jesus turns all of the violence into an opportunity to defeat even death with unconditional and all-inclusive love.  Jesus did not stop violence, death or oppression.  In His Death and Resurrection, Jesus set us free to rise up as Easter people and become God's agents to speak up for those who have no voice.  We are able to call on the leaders of the Church and society to focus on those who are marginalized without the means to live their lives with dignity and equality.  The Paschal Mystery ends all reasons to scapegoat the poor and neglected to serve the ambitions of the wealthy and powerful.

Christians also need a resurrection to be Easter People.  Christianity does not hold a monopoly on truth.  The Christian Faith with our many elements of what being a Christian is about, holds for Christians the truth that Jesus Christ came to redeem the world so that God's love for all people may be made transcendent.  Our Creeds, Scriptures and Sacraments are not an excuse to be a people of supercessionism.  Other religions such as Judaism and Islam are not lost to damnation because they do not share our belief in who Jesus was or is.  The Resurrection is our reason to be love others by honoring individuals of other religions, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions, etc. by "striving for peace and justice" and "respecting the dignity of every human person." 

As we gather with our families, church communities and friends to celebrate this Easter Day, let us pray for one another that we rise with Christ as Easter People.  May we see the challenges around us as opportunities to live into God's mission for our lives.  May we leave behind our sense of certainty and embrace the Holy Spirit's call to move forward to where God wants us to be.

Alleluia.  Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia. 

Amen.

Prayer

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.222).

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. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

Seventh Sunday of Easter: Jesus Prays for Us

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

Those who will be attending the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church might be feeling what those first Apostles did.  We have four very viable candidates to be elected as the next Presiding Bishop.  Whoever is elected to the task is the Primate for Episcopalians throughout this branch of the World Wide Anglican Communion.  There is a lot more on the plate for The Episcopal Church than just the election of the next Presiding Bishop.  Whoever is elected will be TEC's leader of the House of Bishops who helps guide us into the joys and struggles of what the General Convention decides with regards to any number of issues.  Let us all be in prayer for the Bishops and Delegates to the General Convention as they prepare for this important Convention.

As Christians, the other readings present us with some troubling words.  As Christians we profess our belief in Jesus as God's Son and the one who brings salvation to the world.  However, these many words present us with proclaiming the love of God through Jesus in a climate that still marginalizes other religions with their diverse beliefs and practices.  What we must take into account is that the writings of 1 John and this section of John's Gospel are written by Johannine communities.  The Gospel of John in particular represents a very highly intellectual view of Jesus as opposed to the narratives of the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.   It is strongly believed that there were three contributors to John's Gospel; one of whom could have been St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Evangelist.  Having written that, it is important to be careful about reading too much into what Jesus says during what we call The Last Supper Discourse with a literal, face value interpretation.  We must be very careful of what we call the "Jesus only" references, especially John 14:1-5.

We can interpret 1 John and the reading from John's Gospel today from a similar view point of last weeks readings.  Jesus is praying that Christians will go beyond what we see the world is about; and respond with a reverence and respect for the dignity of every human person.  Throughout the Gospels, Jesus gives to the Disciples and to all of us the means of how we can follow Jesus in word and example.  Jesus showed us how to welcome the stranger.  He was the example of how God values every human person so that no one is left on the fringes of society and/or the Church as if they do not matter.  Jesus loved those whom others considered unlovable and received them with radical hospitality with the intention of reconciliation.  Jesus not only told the Pharisees how to purge themselves of hypocrisy and relying on visible religious piety for the sake of being seen and celebrated; He taught all of us in our own hardness of heart.  In the reading from John, Jesus is praying with earnest desire that those He has shared the Goodness of God with, will be the outstanding example of what He taught them.   I truly believe that Jesus continues to pray that prayer for all of us.

I need this prayer as a Benedictine Novice as much as anyone else who follows Jesus.  I continue to be inspired by The Rule of St. Benedict, in particular Chapter 53 about receiving guests.  However, I have to confront within myself every day those attitudes and behaviors by which I am not open to welcoming Christ in others.  I can get so wound up in what is on the outside that I forget what real Benedictine hospitality is truly about.

Ultimately, hospitality is not about the table you set, or the driveway you plow. Hospitality is about the holiest of holies. It is about the heart you make ready. Yours. (Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love. Lonnie Collins Pratt and Fr. Daniel Homan, OSB p.169).

Whether our particular practice of hospitality is a ministry of receiving the countless individuals affected by racism, sexism, heterosexism, gender bias, the poor, the sick, the lonely, the Muslim, Jewish person or Atheist.  Jesus is praying for us to be protected from the blindness that keeps us from opening our hearts to His presence with reverence and respect for every human person.  Jesus did not leave us without God's help.  Jesus sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit which we will celebrate next Sunday on Pentecost.   When we allow the Holy Spirit to help us surrender ourselves to God's will, all of us can be an answer to the prayers of Jesus in our world.  God knows how much our world needs us to be the answer to those prayers.

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.226).

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).

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).