Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany: Authority, Evil, Salvation

Today's Scripture Readings

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (NRSV)

Moses said, The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." Then the LORD replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak-- that prophet shall die."

Psalm 111 (BCP., p.754)


1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (NRSV)

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-- as in fact there are many gods and many lords-- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV)

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Blog Reflection

My husband Jason loves the Muppets.  In the movie Muppet Treasure Island, Captain Abraham Smallet (played by Kermit the Frog), approaches in a stage coach that throws the streets in England in a chaos.  The First Mate, Samuel Arrow (played by Sam the Eagle) says that the Captain is so badly tempered that he has demons.  Gonzo, the odd one in the bunch replies, "He's got demons?  Cool!!"

Today's Gospel narrative depicts Jesus addressing an evil spirit in a man.  In His conversation with the evil spirit, the spirit knows that Jesus is the Holy One of God, and fears Him terribly.  Because Jesus is the Holy One of God, even the evil spirit obeys His voice.  Those around Jesus are amazed at the authority by which He is able to free this individual from the evil force that raged within him. 

The Biblical depiction if individuals with "unclean spirits"  is quite unfair.  Among the classic interpretations of individuals with unclean spirits is that it refers to individuals of that time with severe mental illness.  Such an interpretation has been responsible for individuals with mental illnesses to be marginalized and stigmatized.

At the center of this Sunday's Liturgy of the Word is are the themes of authority, evil and salvation.

As an individual who has experienced the abuses that can come from those who use "the authority of Scripture," I personally have an issue with those words.  I agree with Bishop Gene Robinson who wrote in his book, In the Eye of the Storm: Pushed to the Center by God,

"let's not forget that the real "Word" of God is Jesus himself. ...To elevate the words of scripture to a place higher than the revealed Word of God in Jesus Christ is an act of idolatry" ( Page 22).   

The authority figure here is Jesus, God's perfect Self revelation.  In this Season after the Epiphany, we are reflecting on the manifestation of God to all humankind through the Person of Jesus.  If the authority of Jesus is only limited to those of us who are classified as "normal" (whatever that means), then God is limited to a particular definition of persons.  As such, Jesus shows that by His authority as God's Son, He is able to address evil by name and call it out, and that He is the salvation for all those who feel that they have no hope.

Individuals who have been stigmatized due to the erroneous use of the Bible are set free by the redemption that Jesus brings; as He calls out the evil of prejudice, injustice and oppression by name.   The evil that Jesus addresses is an individual being so full of the evils brought on to him by the cultural notions and stereotypes; that the individual is deemed helpless to the powers that have seduced and reduced him.  The fear of others around him, also makes him susceptible to those powers of evil that bind him mercilessly.   Jesus came to him, called out the evil by name and set this person free.  He did not chastise the individual, assign him to an institution or declare him an invalid.  In fact, what Jesus did for that young man, was set him free to become part of the larger community as a person made whole by the grace of God.

Women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people, individuals of other races, cultures, religions, languages, disabilities etc., continue to be among those whom society and the Church make into "others" to be set aside.   Just this past week, the Anglican Communion witnessed the wonderful occasion of the Rt. Rev. Libby Lane ordained as the first female bishop in the Church of England.  The reaction from not too few Christians in various denominations and sects to the role of women in the Church, has been just terrible.  There is a wonderful podcast led by  Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, in the program All Together.  The podcast is entitled, "Sexism: The Original Sin of the Church."  I strongly encourage my readers to click here and listen to the program.  It is outstanding. 

The only way that the Church is going to address the evils within itself, is for Christians to call that which is contrary to our Baptismal Covenant out, and become individuals empowered by God for the work healing and reconciliation.  The greater acceptance of LGBT people, women and many others mentioned is so critical to the ministry and mission of the Church.  More importantly however, is for Christians themselves (as in ourselves) to acknowledge such evils within ourselves, let them go into the hands of the living God and find salvation in Jesus Christ as truly liberated and saved people.

Let the work of the Holy Spirit also lead us to be responsible and respectful people, to see that we do our part to care for the lonely, the sick, the poor, those who live in war torn areas of the world, and those right within our own communities.

May Jesus by His authority "save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.  For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are God's forever and ever.  Amen."


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in
heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of
your people, and in our time grant us your peace; 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 Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

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.  (Prayer for Social Justice, The Book of Common Prayer, p.260).

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Contemplative Prayer, Oneness in Christ and Justice

Today's Scripture Readings

 1 Kings 19: 1-15 (NRSV)

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus."

Psalm 42 (BCP., p.643)


Galatians 3:23-29 (NRSV)

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Luke 8:26-39 (NRSV)

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Blog Reflection

Thus far, my studies during my Novitiate have me doing Lectio Divina using Preferring Christ: A Devotional Commentary on The Rule of St. Benedict by Norvene Vest.   The text of The Rule that she uses is a version by Fr. Luke Dysinger, OSB, of St. Andrew's Abbey in Valyermo, California.   We are given a portion of the Prologue, a Chapter to use for an entire week, so that the words of The Rule can sink deep into our hearts and God can speak to us there and help us grow closer to God.    At current, we are still in the Prologue.   The words that have been jumping out at me over these last 3 weeks have been about listening.   "Listen."  "Incline the ear of the heart."  "To you therefore, my words are now addressed."  "Let us at last arise, since the Scripture stirs us."  "let us hear with wondering ears what the Divine Voice admonishes us, daily crying out: Today if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."  "And again, You who have ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says...." (Preferring Christ, pages 2-5).

All this brings me to the essential element in contemplative prayer.  Listening.  Contemplative prayer requires us to listen, and "incline the ear of the heart" in order to hear God speaking to us.   This is why St. Benedict places such emphasis on silence.  Silence is not just about the absence of noise, such as no TV, phones, internet, music, etc.   It is about silencing the noise within us.  The noise of our anxieties over the plans we are making, what our next meal will be, getting together with a friend, those things that just work us up.  To be able to hold a close conversation with God in contemplative prayer, it is essential that we practice a silence that could easily pierce everything that distracts us. In contemplative prayer, we are not seeking to get something we want.   We are seeking union with God, to the point of seeing things from God's perspective.

The narrative from the Hebrew Scriptures for this weekend is about a life in peril.  Yes.  However, it is also about knowing where and how God speaks to our heart and soul.   It is not through violence, the mighty fire, and the earthquake.  It is through the stillness of our interior selves, by way of the voice of the Holy Spirit calling to us, to seek union with God. Elijah did not just learn this, he experienced it.  God wants us to experience that union with God as well.  God wants to grow closer to each of us from the point of where we are.  All God asks of us, is to quiet our interior selves long enough to be able to listen to what God is saying within us.  If we will do that, we will discover that God is so full of love, so full of compassion and a desire for us, that we will wonder why we did not take time to meet God in this way before. 

The Psalmist opens with such the appropriate response to what we have heard from the Hebrew Scriptures.

As the deer longs for the water-brooks,
  so longs my soul for you, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God;
  when shall I come to appear before the presence of God.  (Psalm 42: 1-2, BCP., p.643).

Our hearts and souls long to be nourished by God, by helping us to experience God's abiding presence in the midst of our troubled hearts.  God wants us to pour out our hearts to God, and so allow ourselves to be renewed in grace to live holy lives.

The work of Christ's redemption is not merely a legalistic penal code.   It is a way of living to the point, that the love of God, neighbor and self becomes the manner by which we exist.   All are one in Christ as St. Paul tells us in the reading from Galatians, because of Christ's work of redemption on our behalf.   We are all part of Christ, regardless of who we are in terms of gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, employment, language, physical/psychological or developmental challenge.   In Christ Jesus, we are all one in His Body, the Church.  Each of us come with our peculiar characteristics, behaviors, opinions, and understandings.  Some of us are not that well educated, others are very well educated. The point is, none of those things tear us away from being one in Christ.  We are one by our common Baptism, and our need of God's grace through Christ. We are united to Christ and one another because of the Holy Eucharist.   In our Post Communion Prayer in Rite II we pray:

Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
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. (Book of Common Prayer, p.365).

Now we come to probably one of the most intense Gospel narratives.   There are so many messages to be listened to.  How do we discern what is really important?   By examining some important points.

Mental illness then (and even today), was not handled very well.  People who had mental illness issues, often had them as a result of the horrible oppression they lived under at that point in history.   They were outcast from the communities.   They often were left among the graves, as they were considered good as dead.

When the man in this narrative, who is possessed by an evil spirit says that his name is "Legion" what might he be saying?   He is speaking out of the reality of the horror he most likely witnessed when legions of Roman soldiers plundered people, and whole communities right in front of him.  He probably saw them all happen when he was very young, and lived with the horror of the great evils that possessed him ever since.  Fear. Anxiety. Unconsoled grief.  Perhaps even shame.

The swine on the country side are symbolic of what is going on in this narrative.  The pigs represent a change in the country in which Jesus was in.  He was no longer in no pork eating Israel.  He was in a Gentile place.  People in that country were so scared of the man, that the pigs on the hill country were more important than the life of the man who lived among the tombs.   When Legion asks to be sent into the swine and not the abyss, they are trying to tell us something.  The abyss from which they came, is a place where their power over the man came from They begged not to go back for fear of what awaited them should the Son of God send them there.  When Jesus finally commands them to go into the heard of swine that runs down the hill into the water to be drowned, it is not animal cruelty as some suggest.   It means that the life of the man who was tormented all those years was so important, that if it meant sacrificing the swine to make him well, that is what Jesus was willing to do.   It meant that that which had plagued the country at that time was cast out in shame and disgrace, and the man was set free.   Once again, Jesus is interested in the dignity of this tormented man.  Giving him the freedom of living as one redeemed by God was the most important thing He could do for him.  And, Jesus did it.

After Jesus frees the man, he wants to go with Jesus.  Jesus tells him and all of us to take care of what we have at home.  It might be nice to go off and see miracles, and hear great sermons.  But, what God has given us, that which is right in front of us, is what God wants us to pay attention to.  

What evils in our time do we settle for, because we want to hang onto other things that are least important?

How about our consistent inattention to the issue of mental illness in our time?

How about uncontrolled wealth at the expense of those who are poor?

How about male-privilege at the expense of the dignity of women, such as the anti-abortion bill passed by the US House this past week?   Yet, funding for job training, education, health care programs that benefit women, men and children are continually on the chopping block.  How is a woman who is economically challenged suppose to be able to support a child, when she can barely support herself?

How about the looming danger of student loans rates about to go higher than they already are, because some bankers want to make some money off those who already live in poverty?

How about companies polluting rivers, the Gulf of Mexico, the air and out atmosphere in the name of their billion dollar profits and CEO salaries, at the expense of the beauty of the earth and the sacredness of God's creation?

This past week, we have witnessed an incredible event.  Alan Chambers, the President of Exodus International, an ex-gay "ministry" is closing it's doors.   Chambers has issued a formal apology for how he and the organization have hurt so many people, many of them who unfortunately took their lives because of the misinformation of the organization.   He himself has been on an incredible journey by which he appears to be experiencing a great conversion within himself, and those who manage Exodus.   While he himself has not had a complete change of opinion about homosexuality, and is unclear about where he should stand on marriage equality at this point in time, he is at least willing to say that his opinions one way or the other, do not mean he has the right to control the laws of the country, or keep them out of houses of worship where they are affirmed and accepted.  In fact, he wants to see the Church become a more welcoming place for all.  Including those who understand differently than he does.   We have yet to see what becomes of all this, but, this beginning is a great sign of progress.  It is right that we celebrate it that way.

Could this be a sign of Jesus freeing us from a great evil in our time, so that souls who are still imprisoned in self-internalized  homophobia can begin to see that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are blessings from God?  Not barriers to living holy lives, or loving others with purity of heart. 

When Chambers read his apology to a group of ex-gay survivors, many of them told him of their concern about his continued use of language that hurts LGBT people.   You can watch the video here.

Our Gospel today, does not have a terribly happy ending.  Jesus is asked to leave that area, because the people there recognize who Jesus is, and what He can do.   As Jesus often comes to change us from the inside out, to make us a more inclusive Church and society, it is so easy to push Him out in those who are different from ourselves.   We make Jesus the new "other" that we must control, manipulate and oppress because of our personal biases.  Whatever we might want Jesus to do for us, the last thing we want because of our personal selfishness, is to allow Him to change us.

We are invited this Sunday to sit quietly with God in contemplative prayer, find our oneness in Jesus Christ, and to see Christ's work of mercy among us, as God's justice.   All of these have opportunities for us to allow the Holy Spirit to displace us a bit, so that we can grow closer to God, and reverence God's presence in others.  The hardest step to take is the first one.  It begins with our willingness to listen to God from within ourselves.  It continues by our viewing others from God's point of view and not just our own.  Spiritual and personal growth manifests God's presence as we are open to what God has to say to us, as we seek union with God in working for justice, equality and true peace for all people.

Amen.


Prayers

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your
holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom
you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 7, Book of Common Prayer, p. 230).


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).

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). 

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: Can the Church Face It's Own Evils?

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Blog Reflection

As soon as I became aware of what the theme and scripture readings for this weekend would be, I cringed.  This past week we saw an earthquake begin Virginia and go all the way up to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.  This weekend the whole east coast is facing the devastating affects for Hurricane Irene.

The news stories about the earthquake barely got out of the news stations. Hurricane Irene had yet not made land fall before the Christianists started their tirade about why America is facing the natural disasters.


Joseph Farrar of World Net Daily stated:

"If America doesn't face judgment soon, God will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. And God doesn't offer apologies. He does, however, offer second chances, third chances, fourth chances. He's trying to get your attention. Are you paying heed? What will it take? Will your world have to be turned upside down before you recognize what's happening?"

On the earthquake Pat Robertson said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t want to get weird on this so please take it for what it’s worth. But it seems to me the Washington Monument is a symbol of America’s power, it has been the symbol of our great nation, we look at that monument and say this is one nation under God. Now there’s a crack in it, there’s a crack in it and it’s closed up. Is that a sign from the Lord? Is that something that has significance or is it just result of an earthquake?"

A group of "orthodox Anglicans" said:

"We are asking that the kingdom of God would advance into the consciousness of backslidden Christians, atheists and sinners. Lord, let this be an evangelistic hurricane. Let it stimulate Wall Street to cry to You. Father, we ask for this storm to be instrumental in igniting a prayer movement on the East Coast."

The Gospel for this weekend looks not at the evil outside of the company of Christians, but within.

Is it not hypocrisy that Peter who was just said last weekend to be the rock on which Christ would build the Church is now a stumbling block to Jesus?

Hypocrisy is no stranger within the Christian religion.  It is all too often a welcomed and well cared for resident.  The people with the greatest zeal for what Christians believe to be true, can also be the weakest examples of who Jesus was and how Jesus lived. We sing those mighty hymns at our Sunday Liturgies. We pray the prayers, recite the Nicene Creed with devotion and conviction. We receive the Eucharist revived and grateful for the Presence of Christ. Yet, as soon as we turn to see the person who parked in our favorite parking spot or sat in our reserved pew spot, and suddenly we are just like Peter denying Jesus during his passion and death.

There is no greater enemy of Jesus Christ and the Church than the hypocrisy of Christians who pray our belief in the Holy Trinity, while harboring attitudes of bias, violence and condescension for those who are different from ourselves.  Racism, sexism, heterosexism, Islamophobia, the insistence that we let sick people live without health care, a home, the basic necessities of life, yet live with gun violence breaks the heart of Jesus.

The spiritual abuse of women, LGBT people, different religions etc reflect the evils of this world that have found their homes in many Christian church communities keeps Jesus and the purpose and meaning of his going to Calvary to die on the cross from gaining its true fruition. The stone remains at the entrance of the tomb and the resurrection of Jesus remains a dead legend when Christians use Gospels such as this one, as a defense of the evils within the Church.

In the Reading from Paul's letter to the Romans 12: 9-21 says:

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

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people continue to experience a love that is not genuine when Christianists greet them with with erroneous interpretations of scripture verses like Leviticus 20:13 or 1 Cor 6:9-10 to condemn the natural love she/he feels for someone of the same-gender.

Those verses in and of themselves do not condemn homosexuality, bisexuality and/or transgender behaviors.  When the authors of the Biblical texts existed there were no abstract words such as heterosexual and homosexual.  Sexuality was a means of violence and domination.  Over the centuries Christians have been understanding and revising what we previously understood about sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.

When Christians dedicate themselves to scholarly readings of the Bible as the inspired word of God, and not the "infallible word" and seeks to continuously grow in Christ, the evils in the Church lose their destructive power.  Inclusive communities are created and nurtured.  An inclusive Church can face and work to heal the wounds of division, discrimination and violence when Christians practice radical hospitality and reconciliation.

Are Christians facing the evils that exist within the Church?  Do Christians understand that suggesting that God sends earthquakes, floods, hurricanes or tornadoes because of individuals marginalized by the Church and society, is a sin that thinks not as God thinks by any means?

There is no doubt in my mind that there is much evil in the world. When the Church pretends there is no evil within our own walls, denominations or activities, the Church perpetuates evil. When Christians continually use rhetoric towards LGBT people, women and people of other races, cultures, languages, abilities, challenges etc that is by itself cruel in nature, so called followers of Jesus become a stumbling block to the real mission of Christ and the Church.

Christians and the Church make a greater impact on the world and other people when we seek ways to repair the damage done by the colonization of Christians upon the Native American communities for example.  At the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2009 Resolution DO35 was to repudiate the doctrine of discovery. A small step forward, but a significant step.

The Church being an institution that is administrated by human beings will fall short of it's goals and ideals.  But when the Church fails to see hate and violence among it's leaders and people, it is the duty and responsibility of Christians and other people of good will, to point it out and call the Church to be accountable for the actions of it's people.

May all of us play our part in confronting and dealing with evil. But may we all begin with an honest look at our own evils.  God knows we have plenty of them.  That is why God sent Christ.  Why then are Christians pretending like no evil exists in the Church or there is nothing that can be done about it?


Prayers

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 17, Book of Common Prayer, page 233).

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

O merciful God, who taught us in your holy Word that you would not willingly afflict us, look with pity upon the sorrows of those affected by the natural disasters this week for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 831).