Fourth Sunday in Lent: Open Our Eyes, O God!

 

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Samuel 16:1-16 (NRSV)

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Psalm 23 (BCP., p.612)


Ephesians 5:8-14 (NRSV)

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

"Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

John 9: 1-41 (NRSV)

As he walked along, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, `We see,' your sin remains."

 Blog Reflection

Lent is now in its fourth week.  Two weeks from today we will begin Holy Week.  As we draw closer to the celebration of recalling Christ's total self-sacrifice for our redemption, the Revised Common Lectionary brings us to this reading of Jesus healing the man born blind.   It is another long Scripture reading.  Before we arrive with Jesus to enter with him into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we need to reflect on how well we see the compassionate love of God before our eyes.

In interpreting today's Gospel reading about Jesus healing the man born blind, we need to take some important key facts in mind.  In the time in which this narrative would have occured, many had the horrible presumption that anyone who was disabled or a beggar was such because of some sin she/he or even their parents must have committed.

The major problem with John's Gospel, is that it is most likely written by the oral tradition of the Johaninne Christians. There was probably not one person telling the story, but many.  They faced a great deal of persecution and affliction because of their faith.  It resulted in a terrible amount of dislike for the Jewish Faith. That is why there is a lot of texts in John's Gospel that is very sadly antisemitic. In the case of this Gospel reading in John 9:1-41, it really does not help much that Jesus' reply was that the man was born blind so that "God's work might be revealed in him."  This too suggests that God afflicted the man from birth for this moment.  It is not exactly a ringing endorsement of God's graciousness.

The central meaning here is that Jesus put compassionate and healing love for the dignity of the man blind and poor ahead of the ritual rules.  As the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees heats up, the issue becomes what is more important; the person born blind and being ridiculed and denigrated by those from whom he begs, or the rule about the sabbath?

As Christians, we too need to think and pray about what is more important.   Is it more important for our Congressional leaders to please the Koch Brothers by denying millions of hungry people the funds for food stamps, unemployment insurance and protection from high-powered magazine rifles?   Or do we value even more the Baptismal Vow to uphold and respect the dignity of every human person to motivate us to tell our Congress and President to stop putting politics ahead of people?

As the nations of the world decide how to best respond to what is happening with Crimea, Russia and the Ukraine; are economic sanctions really the answer?   Those in control of the Russian government are not going to feel the most painful impact of such sanctions.  It is those who really are poor who will pay the biggest price.

Christians in the United States really do have another matter that we need to examine to question as to the clarity of our vision.

The recent issue of "religious liberty" has swept its way into every important social issue from abortion and birth control, to equal rights protection for LGBTQ people, and to reducing gun violence is out of control.   Any legislation on any Federal, State or Municipality level that seeks to address the needs of the poor, marginalized and oppressed becomes the subject of the "religious liberty" debate.  It has become one of the most potent whispering campaigns that amazingly has found it's way into the ears, pulpits and court rooms of our country via the work of the Alliance Defending Freedom organization.  I cannot remember such outrageous nonsense like this uniting the efforts of fundamentalist Christians and the entire National Conference of Catholic Bishops like this one has.  The religious liberty talking point is nothing more than a sham on behalf of selfish and narrow minded people claiming to be followers of Christ who are sore losers.  It is pathetic and immature. It is not liberty on the basis of religion.  It is  spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse disguised as religious zeal.  It is meant to blind people about the real truth about what is happening. Conservative religious based bigotry.  Because the same Christianist organizations who claim they are the victims of discrimination based on "religious liberty" think nothing of bullying a human service organization such as World Vision USA because they decided to end their employment discrimination practices towards same-gender married couples.

This past week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the arguments in the case of Hobby Lobby with regards to their "religious liberty" right to refuse to cover the cost of contraception to their employees as a result of the Affordable Care Act.  As to what I think of this matter, I am going to defer to an article in USA Today written by Bishop Gene Robinson.  See the quote below.

Sometimes, even for a bishop, it's embarrassing to be a Christian. Not that I'm embarrassed by Jesus, whose life was spent caring and advocating for the marginalized, and whom I believe to be the perfect revelation of God. I'm just sometimes embarrassed to be associated with others who claim to follow him.

The Jesus I follow always stood with the poor and powerless — and trust me, this struggle is about about power. Whether the issue touches women or gays and lesbians, our religion should be about more love, not less; more dignity, not less.

Christians need to be very careful about using our religious beliefs as weapons of mass destruction that could have a lasting impact well beyond the non-existent issue of "religious freedom" that has been exploding into a harmful and unnecessary holy war.  What is in our hearts may be very well intentioned.  But, if many of us would look into our hearts with Jesus, we may often find that what God is seeing there and what we think is there are not one and the same thing.

In our reading from the Hebrew Scriptures today, God tells Solomon: "Mortals, ,, look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).  During Lent, we are looking with prayer, fasting, alms-giving and self-denial at what is in our hearts.  We are inviting God to go there with us as we repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness.   At some point, it befits us to see honestly the blindness we pretend is not there with regards to our personal relationship with God and others, and seek the help of Jesus to change our ways.  That is what repentance means.  To change the direction in which we are going.  Christians have way too many examples in our history both far back and most recent of giving Jesus Christ a bad Name by fueling our prejudices.  It is time for Jesus and others to see in our hearts and lives the unconditional and all-inclusive love that is compassionate and self-giving with no exceptions.   It is time to put the love of God, neighbor and self ahead of our erroneous Bible interpretations and politics. It is time for our ritual worship and how we live and love to become one and the same.  Handling people with the same care as we would the Sacred Vessels of the Altar.

Amen.


Prayers

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down
from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:
Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in
him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 219).

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. (Book of Common Prayer, p.260).

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.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.816).

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Whom Are We Ignoring?

Today's Scripture Readings

Amos 6:1a, 4-7 (NRSV)

Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,

and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,

and lounge on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock,

and calves from the stall;

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,

and like David improvise on instruments of music;

who drink wine from bowls,

and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,

and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

Psalm 146 (BCP., p.803)


1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NRSV)

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time-- he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Luke 16: 19-31 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Blog Reflection

In her book The Monastery of the Heart: An Invitation to A Meaningful Life, Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB writes:

We are all Seekers of the God who is here but invisible to the blind eye; who calls to us but is unheard by those who do not listen; who touches our lives wherever we are, but is unfelt by those whose hearts are closed to the presence of God-- who is everywhere, in everyone at all times (page 21).

The parable in today's Gospel Reading contains some fascinating images.  It is not unlike the image in the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55.   The rich are brought down, while the poor are raised up.  Yet, in  Luke 16:19-31, Jesus is taking us a step further. It is another timely message for the events we are currently living through.  

The United States House of Representatives is prepared to shut down the government which includes services to the poor and disadvantaged, Education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and more.  They are prepared to close the government to keep that many more people from purchasing health insurance this year.   What is wrong with this picture?  Our Gospel has some thoughts about that for us.

According to William Barclay in The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, the problem with the rich man is that he is so blinded by all that he has that he does not even notice poor Lazarus hungry and in need outside his gate.  In those days, people ate with their hands and not silverware.   They did not have napkins either.  They wiped their hands on pieces of bread that was later thrown out.   Lazarus longed to eat the bread crumbs that fell from the rich man's table.  The rich man was so absorbed by what he had, that he could not see past them to see his suffering brother at his gate.   He ignored Lazarus.  He chose to forget about Lazarus.  He had everything.  He had nothing to lose, or so he thought.

Before we get too lost in the judgement rendered, I think we need to look at it from the stand point of what affects one person, affects us all.   What goes around, comes around.   When the rich man having to face the reality of what his actions did to one man, he now has to face what they meant for him too.  Not only has his choice to ignore Lazarus brought him an eternal hell, it has also affected others whom he left behind.   Now he finds himself in the place of need, only to learn that the man whom he ignored now serves a greater master.  A master who did not forget his suffering, but shared in it with him and rewarded him for his faith in God, despite his poor state in life.   For the rich man, ignoring Lazarus meant he ignored God.

When we ignore others around us, we are ignoring Jesus.  The Jesus who is present and calling out to us from those places where He has been forgotten.  In the immigrant seeking to be welcomed into a country where she/he can find a peaceful place to raise a family.  Jesus is in the lesbian teen being bullied in school. Jesus is in the transgender homecoming queen who has gotten hate messages from all over.   Jesus is in the LGBT people being terrorized in Russia.  Jesus is in the millions of Americans who cannot get health insurance, who need food stamps, the women who need reproductive health care.   Jesus is present in the mother of an African American son who was gunned down, just because of his skin color.  When we ignore these, we ignore Jesus.

Who and where do we hear Jesus calling out to us to recognize him?

Are our ears open to Jesus as He calls to us?

Are we walking past Jesus as He cries out for help?

What would make us listen better?

I would suggest that if we are not taking time to spend in silence with Jesus in our hearts and lives, we will become deaf as He calls us elsewhere.   If we do not open our own hearts to Jesus who wants to share room in our hearts and lives, to nourish us in the Eucharist, we will not hear Jesus in those who are in need.   Our hearts become cold.  We become complacent.  We ignore the call of Christ in our sisters and brothers.

Jesus is calling us today.   Are we listening for Jesus?


Prayers

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 21, Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

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




Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p.826).

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: What God Are We Serving?

Today's Scripture Readings

Amos 8:4-7 (NRSV)

Hear this, you that trample on the needy,

and bring to ruin the poor of the land,

saying, "When will the new moon be over

so that we may sell grain;

and the sabbath,

so that we may offer wheat for sale?

We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,

and practice deceit with false balances,

buying the poor for silver

and the needy for a pair of sandals,

and selling the sweepings of the wheat."

The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:

Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

Psalm 113 (BCP., p.756)


1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NRSV)

First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For

there is one God;

there is also one mediator between God and humankind,

Christ Jesus, himself human,

who gave himself a ransom for all

-- this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Luke 16:1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, `What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, `How much do you owe my master?' He answered, `A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, `Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, `And how much do you owe?' He replied, `A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Blog Reflection

St. Hildegard of Bingen in her Book of Life's Merits wrote:

Greed says: "I snatch all things to myself. I hug all things to my breast; the more i have gathered the more I have......  When I have whatever I need, I have no worries about needing anything from someone else."  Simple sufficiency replies: "You are harsh and devoid of mercy because you do not care for the advancement of others.  Nothing is sufficient to satisfy you.  I, however, sit above the stars, for all of God's good things are sufficient for me..... What should I desire more than I need?" 

Christians can write all the smear they want to suggest that abortion, sex outside marriage, and gay marriage are a danger to to the moral welfare of society.  Greed however, is far worse than they all are.   No social disease destroys communities in the way that the desire for millions of dollars and all the power that comes with it   Consumerism and it's drive on technology, fashion, transportation, luxury, more speed, and the suggestion that these deliver social and personal popularity is among the greatest of lies that are taken as truth.    

The Bible readings this weekend are calling us to be more responsible for the good things God gives us.  We are challenged to look beyond ourselves to see the needs of others beyond us.  The Scriptures are trying to tell us that having what we need is one thing.  When we take more than our share, and deprive others of the basic necessities of life we allow ourselves to worship another god, who is not our God. 

We have been so blessed in our time, yet we never have enough.   We seem to be in an endless desire for more and more. 

Benedictines do not have an issue with using the things we are given for the purpose of nourishment, shelter and even comfort.  However, Benedict makes the case that what we use, we do not own.   Everything, including our bodies are on loan to us.  We are responsible for using what we are given out of reverence and respect for God who gives us what we need.   In addition, God places on us the responsibility to share what we have with those who are in need.   We share not out of fear, but out of love.  Love for God, our neighbor and ourselves.

This past week, we saw our U.S. House of Representatives vote to decrease funding for food stamps, and to defund health care for political gain.  These issues are no longer about those who are unemployed receiving help with food, and the sick receiving health care without becoming homeless.  It is about power to control things for the benefit of the wealthy few, at the expense of the many struggling for hope and prosperity.   As Christians, it is our moral obligation to be concerned when the needy, especially when they are already on the ground wounded from life's brutality, getting kicked in the stomach by those who should be doing all they can to help them.  God is giving us the opportunity to speak up and become active on their behalf.   We have the chance to live out the meaning of our Baptismal vows.

We have had too many incidents of mass shootings.  The US Navy yard in Washington, D.C.  The shooting of 28 people, 20 of them children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CT.  High School shootings. A mass shooting at Virginia Tech. Yet, the NRA and those frightening people into believing false conspiracy theories about the Government are able to convince our Congressional leaders that there is no need for universal background checks and stricter laws regulating dangerous weapons.  

We have laws being passed that make it more difficult for African Americans, Immigrants, low income people to vote for their elected officials.  Four States have refused to process benefits for legally married same-sex couples, and others have asked the National Guard in their States to not process them.   We are seeing more laws pushed that violate a woman's right to reproductive health care.  All pushed for by individuals using their billion dollars to affect the laws that benefit them, but are so destructive to others.

What God are we serving?  What God do we wish to serve?

Jesus is telling us in this parable that those who have been given responsibility for much, are accountable for what we do with what we are given.    Do we hold ourselves accountable?

We have been gathered together as the Body of Christ to worship Him and celebrate the new life given us by His death and resurrection.   We have been given God's gift of the Holy Spirit to share the good news of Jesus Christ to all the ends of the earth.   We have been united to Christ and one another through the Eucharist with a sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ.  We have every reason to serve God in the people and with those things that are given to us, so as to give God the glory that God so rightly deserves.  

Perhaps we should remember today the words we read at Vespers on Friday: "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Amen.


Prayers

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to
love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among
things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall
endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 20, Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the
earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those
who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people
everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the
nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh;
and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, p.100).

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

  

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Looking to the Furture, Paying Attention to Now

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 15:1-6 (NRSV)

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Psalm 33 (BCP.,  p.626)


Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 (NRSV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Luke 12:32-40 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

Blog Reflection

I am sure all of us at one time or another have had the experience of looking too far ahead, and not seeing what is directly in front of us.  How many of us have bumped into someone because we had our eyes fixed on a different person way off in the distance.  In our excitement to get to that person before they leave where they are, we ignore who might be right in front of us.  Perhaps we've accidentally caused such a person to trip or lose their own shopping bags, because our regard for her/him is far less than the person in the distance.  What is far away is important, but if we are not careful it is we carelessly neglect or damage what is right in front of us.  God has us in the here and now for the time being.  Our responsibility and charity in what we have at the moment is God's gift to us, how we handle it, demonstrates whether we are paying attention to God, or ourselves.

Abram (who becomes Abraham in the future) is symbolic of all of us.  In this first book of the Bible, not only are we told the story of Creation and God's goodness to all people, humankind's immaturity that results in our fall from grace, the flood and Noah's Ark.  Genesis, also gives us a look at the behaviors of all humans.  Abram is a man of wealth.  Here he is depicted in a situation that many of us find ourselves in at one point in our life or another.  Like those who have much, he is concerned what happens to his wealth after he dies.  He is wanting a child so that he will know that he has an inheritor. God answers Abram's prayer by telling him that his descendents shall be as numerous as the stars of heaven. God is telling Abram about the future, and giving him a peace of mind.  Abram could not see what God was going to do in front of him, he had to have faith in God's promise, and trust God in the moment.

God's answers the prayer of Abram by telling him that not only will he have one who inherits the blessings God gave him, but that many, many others will also inherit God's blessings from him.   One important aspect of God's answer to Abram's prayer, is that our prayers are not answered for only us, but also for the wider community of humankind.   When we see our prayers and the answers we want as only being about us, God is then concerned about the wider picture.   The answer often comes in a way that benefits the community, by responding to us individually as part of a greater community of people.  What God gives to us as a result of prayer, is given to be shared with others beyond our own walls.

Sometimes in our prayers we are so worried about so many things, it seems like we can never quite communicate with God in the way we would like.  We do not seem to understand how much what is in our minds weighs us down.   In the Ninth Conference on Prayer by St. John Cassian, chapter 6, he describes the experience of an elder who saw another monk who was suppose to be at prayer.  Instead what the elder saw was the monk hitting a rock with a sledge hammer, while another watched and edged him on.  In the end, the monk was not able to do anything to affect the rock,  His over exerting himself over the rock not only left him empty in terms of taking care of the rock, it also left  his relationship with God experiencing a spiritual famine.  His prayer life suffered greatly.  He was so infatuated with being able to break the rock, that he abandoned his relationship with God.   It is so important to be able to put all things into God's hands and leave them there.  The rock can easily symbolize anything that we place between ourselves and God in prayer and allow it to have the important place in our lives that only God should have.  Only when we trust things into God's hands and work with God's commandments might we be able to successfully break those rocks in our lives.   At end of the chapter, Cassian writes:

And when the soul has been established in such a peaceful condition, and has been freed from the meshes of all carnal desires, and the purpose of the heart has been steadily fixed on that which is the only highest good, he will then fulfill this Apostolic precept: "Pray without ceasing;" and: "in every place lifting up holy hands without wrath and disputing:"[510] for when by this purity (if we can say so) the thoughts of the soul are engrossed, and are re-fashioned out of their earthly condition to bear a spiritual and angelic likeness, whatever it receives, whatever it takes in hand, whatever it does, the prayer will be perfectly pure and sincere.

In the Common English Bible, Hebrews 11:1 reads this way. "Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see".

Following the first verse, the writer to the Hebrews writes of the faith of Abraham.  The faith written about in Hebrews is not as much about what we believe in, or proclaim in the Creeds.  The faith that Hebrews' author writes refers to trust.  The same trust I wrote about in conveying St. John Cassian's Ninth Conference on Prayer.  It is the trust that lets go of all our securities and things as we think they should be, and walks with faith in God.  This is one way by which we move into the future, while taking care of the here and now.

This version of faith is not about looking for a comfortable set of words or thoughts that give us the warm fuzzies.  This faith is about following submitting ourselves to God's guidance, even when the path we are led to, seems like it is all wrong.  Though the dots are not all connected, nor do all things look like they belong together.  God is still in the chaos, guiding us now into where God wants us later on.

In many ways there is a faith that occurs in a woman or man who comes out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer   When Christianists continue their crusade of misinformation about same gender love, and the effects it has on children, families and individuals, someone coming out faces all of them and says: "No, I am someone loved by God as I have been created", that takes a great act of faith.  Whether the individual puts the Name of God on the experience or not.  Faith gives us the strength to face all of the obstacles before us, and do what we know is true and good for ourselves and others.  At the same time it is that great love of God that fills us with hope that we can trust in God and be whom God made us to be.

As more States are passing marriage equality laws, the couples who have faced the many obstacles in their way have demonstrated an incredible faith.  The faith that tells them that what they and others like them are experiencing is an injustice, and must be challenged.  They face their lives being opened by the media, and many groups both supportive and opposed, yet, they keep their sight on achieving equality for LGBT people near and far.

Jesus challenges those hearing him in the Gospel today to keep their attention on the poor and those experiencing oppression right in their midst.  While they want to be sure to keep their lamps lit and their doors open for the return of the master, it is important to remember that the master comes in those who are already knocking and looking for relief.

As immigrants seek justice and inclusion so that they can have the opportunity at a decent life for themselves and their children, are Christians keeping our lamps lit for them, and their doors open?    Are we ready to receive them in hospitality, and to be a source of healing and reconciliation where racism, and class discrimination continues to suppress and discriminate?

Are we concerned enough about the anti-LGBT violence in Russia to work with the leaders of our own government to take the stand that no violence because of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is worth being sure we get all the gold medals in the Winter Olympics? 

Are we too busy thinking about Jesus Christ coming back at the end of time, that we fail to be concerned about Christ growing hungry because of jobs being lost because of the sequester, or becoming sick because of our still corrupt health care system? 

Jesus Christ is not only the hope of our salvation into eternal life at the end of our lives or the end of time, He is also the Holy One who works with and through us today, at this moment.  Using the same faith that Abraham had, to know that God would do the right thing when Abraham almost sacrificed his son, Isaac, God will also help us with whatever we are facing at this point in time.  Even if it means we must sacrifice our very selves for the sake of others, as Jesus did on the Cross, God will still be with us and reward us, because of God's faithfulness to us. 

May God help us to trust God, and to follow Jesus as He leads us from this point in time, to whatever and wherever God's will wants us to go.

Amen.


Prayers

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always
those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without
you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 14, Book of Common Prayer, p.232).


Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p.826).

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Bread and Word of Life: Not Violence or Prejudice

Today's Scripture Readings

Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18 (NRSV)

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:

"Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

Psalm 34 (BCP, p. 628)


Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

John 6:56-69 (NRSV)
 

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Blog Reflection

One of the joys of being a musician is the ability to read notes on a piece of music and turn them into a magnificent melody with the harmony.   To someone who does not read music, the notes and staffs, sharps and flats all look like ink blots on paper.  It takes a skilled musician to read the music and give it life so that it goes beyond just a beautiful piece played or sung.  It becomes a living medium that moves the heart and stirs the soul.

Over the past 20 years or so, Gregorian Chant has made a huge come back.  When the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo De Silos recorded their first Chant CD, they gave new life to something that was considered by many to be dead.   They breathed new life into the lives of many people, with those simple chanted melodies and phrases that moved people to cherish a tradition that is long removed from our own time.  Yet, somehow, it is all still with us.  It is because of the Bread of Life, that brings the words of everlasting life, to all who will take time to praise God in what ever time and situation we may find ourselves.

I do love the Holy Eucharist.  The day that I was finally convinced for myself that Jesus is really present in the consecrated Bread and Wine, was a moment of conversion for me.  I fell in love with the idea and practice of receiving Christ in Holy Communion and seeking God's grace to be nourished and strengthened by the Sacrament.  However, every day, I am challenged in my heart, mind and actions about how I make the real presence of Jesus real in my relationships with Jason and others.   That is why the Eucharist is so important to my own life.  Without it, I would not be able to keep my faith in Christ amidst the violence and prejudice I have experienced as a gay man, and/or as a gay man who is a Christian. 

In today's Gospel, Jesus again tells us that he is the bread of life.  He invites us to feast on himself so that God may abide in us, and we abide in God.   There are followers in his audience who just find this too much to take.   So they leave.  Jesus asks those who remain if they too want to leave.  Peter answers: "Lord, to whom can we go?  You have the words of eternal life."

What so many in our time are looking for, is for Christians to be an authentic example of the real presence of Christ. To give life and meaning to the Holy Communion we receive and the Word we listen to.  Unless Christians are ready and willing to surrender ourselves to the will of God, by accepting who we are, and agreeing to love others with openness and inclusiveness, Holy Communion is just a potluck supper, and the Word who is Jesus, is just another old world legend.   How can we call others to believe and love, what we ourselves do not practice in our daily lives?

Over these past two weeks we have seen the Christian Faith once again used as an excuse for violence and prejudice.  When an individual running for the US Senate suggests that when women are raped, their bodies are able to not get pregnant, and therefore laws should be made that affects a woman's ability to make the choice that is best for her, the Christian Faith becomes an offensive means of brutality.  When whole political parties, claiming to be following the Gospel are prepared to take health care away from seniors and the disabled because of the greed of Wall Street executives, the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion, becomes Sunday morning snack.  It was good to share it, but it really doesn't mean much.  When money and greed is more important than helping immigrants find a home where there is no racial profiling or degradation, the Gospel is just a story book, by which it's main character is dead.

Jesus, the Bread and Word of Life, calls us to authenticate the one whom we receive, by being who we are, the Body of Christ.  We are commanded by Jesus, to love one another as he loves us.   To give of ourselves, our time, resources and even sometimes just holding up in prayer, the marginalized and oppressed among us.   This means that we open ourselves to opposing harmful amendments that ban marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.  The Bread and Word of Life, does not condone, nor bless the work of ex-gay ministries or therapies that attempt to change a persons sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, because of violence and prejudice towards LGBT and Questioning people.  Jesus, does not laugh when young women and men attending middle, high school or college are bullied because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.  Whether actual or perceived. 

When women, LGBT people, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, people of different races, cultures, classes and health are targeted and attacked socially and politically, Jesus weeps, because his message of salvation becomes moot and no longer lives and breaths among God's precious children.   No wonder people are losing interest.

The good news for us in 2012, is that Christians can still give meaning and authenticity to the message of the Gospel.  We can speak up on behalf of those stigmatized by radical religious and political groups.  We can act on the fact that voters are being suppressed all over the country with voter ID laws, by letting our governments know that we do not approve and we are prepared to do something to restore the right to vote. 

Jesus invites us to receive him in the Eucharist, and to remain with him, who has the words of eternal life, by seeking God at all times, and preferring nothing whatsoever to the love of Christ.  Hence, the two foundational pieces of the spirituality of St. Benedict.  We are asked today, to give life and meaning to our Baptismal Covenant, by working for peace and justice, and respecting the dignity of every human person, by standing up against violence and prejudice.  We can be people of radical hospitality and reconciliation, as we extend our hands in friendship and our hearts ready to receive and love others as Christ.

Let us all pray for one another to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, and ask for her leadership so that we can receive and live the Bread and Word of Life.  

Lord, to whom can we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  May we be authentic examples of what we pray and receive in our lives.

Amen.


Prayers

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 16, Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).

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

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).

Laurence: Deacon and Martyr: Who Are the Treasures?

Today's Scripture Readings

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NRSV)

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

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

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

Psalm 126 (BCP,. p. 782)


John 12:24-26 (NRSV) 
 

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

Blog Reflection

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

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

Who are the treasures of the Church today?  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God loves us all.  

God imparts God's grace to all. 

We are all treasures of God. 

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

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

Amen.


Prayers

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

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

 

The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ: We Are God's Beloved

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 1: 1-5 (NRSV)

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Mark 1: 4-11 (NRSV)

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

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

Blog Reflection

What will it take to get Christians to consider what it takes to be authentic?

As I hear the small tidbits of news about the Republican debate in New Hampshire, I am most disturbed by the news that there was an all out attack on LGBT people in the debate exchange.  I am equally concerned that the State of New Hampshire is considering a bill to repeal marriage equality there. 

This whole past year as the debates have unfolded, we have heard rousing cheers at the thought that we just might have to let an unemployed sick person die because they have no health insurance.  "Sometimes that's just how life is" replied one of the candidates.

When Christians become too comfortable with being uncharitable and empathetic towards those who are less fortunate and underprivileged, the Gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a dead story.   No wonder Bibles get so dusty.

Last year after Creating Change 2011 I chose the description of this blog.  I wanted to connect us to our Baptismal Covenant that we renew on this Baptism of Christ.  I wanted us to think about the last request about striving for justice and peace and respecting the dignity of every human person.  It is so interesting how the word "every" becomes "not you."

While I cannot explain how God reveals God's Self in Christ what I can say with conviction is that I believe it.  I also believe that in the very Person of Jesus Christ is all of humankind interacting with us and God in both prayer and community.  What Christians need to understand is that every human person is represented in the Divine God head and the humanity of Jesus the Christ.  There is no such thing to God as a worthless and unloved person.  Humans and Christians might make it appear that God plays favorites.  That is far from how God sees things.

When Jesus comes to John the Baptist to be baptized, Matthew's Gospel tells us that John said: "It is I who need baptism from you."  John recognizes that standing before him is the one he prophesied about.  Yet, Jesus in his humility recognizes his responsibility to fulfill what God requires of him and that is to be baptized as one who is like all humankind.  In Matthew's Gospel and in Mark, Jesus emerges from the waters of his baptism with the words: "Behold, my beloved in whom I am well pleased."

We are God's beloved and with us God is well pleased.  I have been writing that every year on this Baptism of the Lord and I will continue to write it.  It has to sink in that all of us are God's beloved and with us God is well pleased. 

All of us are broken. Wounded. Marginalized in one way or another.  We all miss the mark and do not quite get it.  On this day everything we are and are not is recognized by God through our Baptism into Christ.  Everything about us both good and not so good is so important to God.  God sees in us God's beloved with whom God is well pleased.

In his letter to the Galatians Paul wrote:

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is no 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. (Galatians 3: 27.28 NRSV).

Does this knowledge of our being beloved of God give us any right or privilege to look down on anyone else who is not quite like us?  No.  Jesus who is God's Incarnate Word through whom all things were made (see John 1: 2,3), humbled himself rather than sought equality with God (see Philippians 2: 5-11).  Jesus saw the beauty and wonder of God's creation in the hearts and souls of all who came to him.

There is no justification for taking away the marriage equality of LGBT people, nor seeking to pass constitutional amendments. 

There is no excuse for being happy about someone dying because they cannot afford health care. 

There is no righteousness in targeting Muslims and Jews and other religions or those who are of no religion at all. 

There is no witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in taking away a woman's options for reproductive health care.

If all of us could only stop for a brief period and remember that all of us are God's beloved with whom God is well pleased; perhaps we would respect and take care of one another better than we do.  The dead Gospel would truly come alive in the world if Christians were to make justice and equality for all people the purpose and mission of our prayers and life.   All of us are connected to each other in God's beloved with whom God is well pleased.  As each of us are God's beloved with whom God is well pleased, so are those without equality, justice and full inclusion in the Church and society.


Prayers

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River
Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him
with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his
Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly
confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 214).

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

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, page 823).  

The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle: May the Church Always Be Open to Conversion

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 10:16-22 (NRSV)

Jesus said to the twelve, "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."

Acts 26:9-21 (NRSV)

Paul said to King Agrippa, "Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

"With this in mind, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' I asked, `Who are you, Lord?' The Lord answered, `I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles-- to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

"After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me."

Blog Reflection

I think for LGBT people and many women if we were to meet St. Paul our first question upon meeting him just might be: "What the hell were you thinking when you wrote the things you wrote?"  St. Paul is a hero to those who are white, male and heterosexual.  At lest we think he is.  Considering how much the whole Bible and particularly Paul is used against LGBT and the inclusion of women in the Church, many of us have painful memories of how Paul's writings have been used.  That is of course until we read a good book about unraveling those famous "clobber passages" in Romans 1:27, 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1: 10.  There are others who suggest that the "thorn in my flesh" that Paul referred to in 2 Corinthians 14: 7 was homosexuality.  However, if we take that in light of what Gray Temple says in his book Gay Unions: In the Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason, then there is a real problem.  Because the Biblical authors including Paul did not have two abstract concepts called heterosexual and homosexual. 

Today, we commemorate not so much of what Paul says, but his conversion experience.  He was a man filled with misplace zeal as he was on his way to kill Christians before Jesus confronted him.  How many of us wish that Jesus would confront the Tea Party folks and many others who continue to suggest gun violence towards President Obama and those of us who are liberals or progressives.  Paul was told who it was that he was persecuting.  Jesus in that moment personified in Paul the teachings he laid out in Matthew 25: 31-46.  How well are we in this 21st Century personifying the words of Jesus who tells us "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."?

We continue to see Christians using the Name of Jesus Christ to justify scapegoating women, LGBT and many others.   We also hear of Christians using the Bible as a WMD to individuals of other religions, such as Rep. Peter King who is determined to continue to vilify Muslims and Islamic people.  On Martin Luther King's Holiday, an individual left a very destructive explosive during the MLK Parade in Spokane, Washington.  As much as we don't really want to talk or hear about it, let us not forget that earlier this month a Jewish member of Congress was shot in the head as she was trying to meet with constituents in her district.  The Westboro Baptist Church led by Rev. Fred Phelps was prepared to picket the funeral of the nine year old girl who was killed on that terrible day.  They even produced a poster that suggested that the shooter did America a "favor".

When we see Christians using the Gospel as an excuse for violence and prejudice we need to ask the question, is the Church in 2011 still open to conversion?   Do we understand that there needs to be some good conversation about how to help people on ground zero work their way towards some kind of personal independence?  And that Christians do not exemplify a converted heart when we ignore our obligation to those who really do need us to love them as they are, welcome them in all hospitality and participate in the radical ministry of reconciliation for and with them?     It really is not okay to justify the violence that refuses to see that Jesus Christ is suffering in the poor, the marginalized and the sick.  When we turn our backs on the countless women and men who are unemployed, afraid of loosing their homes, not sure if they will have their health care because our Republican House and many Legislatures around the country want to take health care away from people, we are ignoring Jesus Christ who is being forgotten.   We are failing to participate with the Holy Spirit as she calls us to conversion as the Church. 

Conversion is something that is on-going.  It is not a once done, it's done deal.  Once we have experienced conversion there is no "guaranteed life insurance policy."  Conversion takes place every minute and hour that we participate in God's Holy Spirit's call to allowing God to use us to influence the world for the better.  When we work to bring peace where there is war.   When we learn acceptance and let go of prejudice to learn about those things that we do not understand about other people, God is converting our hearts and lives.  It is quite okay to face those things and learn that our former attitudes and actions were wrong.  That is when we and the world around us experiences conversion.  Kurt Kaiser in the hymn Pass It On wrote: "That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it.  You want to sing it's fresh like spring, You want to pass it on."  


Prayers

O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; 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. (Collect for the Conversion of St. Paul, Book of Common Prayer, page 238, 239).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.  (A Prayer attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Diveristy and Inclusion: America and the Church Have A Long Way to Go

Scriptural Basis

Luke 6: 27-36 (NRSV)

27 ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. ³⁰Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32
‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.^* Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father

Blog Reflection

Does it suck to read this particular Gospel today or what?  Yes!  It does suck.  This upcoming Wednesday the Republican controlled House of Representatives will hold a vote on repealing the new Health Care Law. I don't particularly want to be told I have to love those who are about to vote to take health care away from seniors and people with pre-existing conditions and give health insurance companies free will to do as they please.   I certainly don't feel like loving the Illinois Family Council who today is accusing LGBT people of "willing to exploit the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement in order to achieve their morally dubious and intellectually vacuous goal."

These are difficult days to love people.  Over this past week we have heard of how violent rhetoric has catastrophic consequences in the attempted assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the others killed and wounded in Tucson, Arizona.  As horrific as those acts were, the rhetoric and the finger pointing continue.  Have we learned anything?

The legacy and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr continues to live on even 43 years since his assassination in 1968.   His work on behalf of our African American sisters and brothers is one worthy of our consideration.  Here in 2011 we still have many people today who still cannot see past the color of another persons skin, or the differences in cultural practices, religions, sexual and gender diversity, languages, economic status, health or lack thereof, age, etc.  Here in the beginning of the second decade of the 21st Century we still have an American nation and a Christian Church with those who struggle to see past our own prejudices.  There are those who suggest in the name of Martin Luther King we should launch a campaign for the Nation's unemployed.  The struggle for the civil rights of all kinds of diverse peoples should take place in honor of Martin Luther King.  I agree with both of those.

Loving our enemies and doing good to those who hate us is not the same as loving what they do and/or approving of what they say and promote.  Spreading violence, hate and malice has deadly consequences as we saw last week.  Continuing to divide groups of people against each other, using the words "blood libel" carelessly that offends our Jewish sisters and brothers, and the scapegoating of other people to avoid taking responsibility for our own actions or lack thereof is as much against what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about as failing to love even those who use such ideological rhetoric.   Love is not necessarily only in our emotions, or our willingness to go along with what is easy.  Love is expressed in actions or lack thereof in order to protect and appreciate the common good that is a part of every human person.  That is precisely what has been missing in much of the rhetoric used this past week and over these many years before and since Martin Luther King.  Our concern for our neighbors needs to move beyond our limited thinking and become apparent in our actions and even our activism on behalf of the poor, marginalized, sick and oppressed among us.  When individuals use the Gospel as an excuse to keep people poor, marginalized, sick and oppressed it is our obligation to respond out of loving concern for the poor, marginalized, sick and oppressed.  It is also a commandment of the Gospel that our response be as much about telling our enemies they are wrong as our "speaking the truth in love." (See Ephesians 4: 1-16).  It is a tough task, but "somebody's got to do it."

America and the Church have a long way to go on the road to accepting and dealing with diversity and inclusion.  Like Martin Luther King we need to be willing to take our steps together and keep on the journey. The people who's lives we touch and those who will join us and oppose us are among God's chosen people as anyone else.  While we must "speak the truth in love" and even love those with whom we disagree, we must nevertheless keep up our activism and prayers for the conversion of a world of hate into a world of love.  Seeking the common good of all people, especially those oppressed by the incorrect use of the United States Constitution and the Bible by well meaning individuals and now corporations is why Jesus Christ experienced his Epiphany.  As God manifests God's presence through a diversity of ways, may we be as open to expressing God's love in diverse and inclusive ways to make our nation and the Church a more welcoming and healing place for all.  Amen.

Prayers
  

Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Martin Luther King, Jr.  Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 307).


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

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).