Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 19: Everyone Is Welcome to This Table

Exodus 32:7-14 (NRSV)

The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation."

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, `I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

Psalm 51 (BCP., p.656)


1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NRSV)

 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 15: 1-10 (NRSV)

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Blog Reflection

The opportunity to share a meal with someone means a lot more than just eating.  We live in a time and society in which the important thing is to sit and eat.  If you are working, you eat your lunch as quickly as you can.  Sometimes you are fortunate to have an actual lunch break.  Other times, you may be someone who works through lunch.  Eating and working at the same time.

One of the downfalls of the electronic age of the internet, iPhones, Androids, television, iPads, etc, is that we communicate with individuals far and near.  Sometimes during meals.  I am embarrassed to say that I am all too often pulled in to doing this too.  As John Michael Talbot wrote in The Universal Monk, "We talk more in our time, but communicate less."  

When we actually sit with others (family, friends, church communities, etc) to break bread, enjoy a refreshing drink and share in good conversation; we are engaging in community living.  No longer is it just us vs. them.  In eating and drinking with others, we share what we are receiving with those who have grown, prepared and made what we are eating and drinking possible.  We are also sharing our lives and hearts with those we are eating with.

Those questioning what Jesus is doing in today's Gospel, are worried about what kind of people He is sharing the dinner table with.  They feel that there must be some kind of litmus test as to who should be seated at Jesus' table with Him and the communities that are gathering around Him.  What Jesus is doing here, is welcoming all who come to the table without labeling, stereotyping, and excluding.  The behavior of those whom Jesus has invited, might be questionable by others standards.  Jesus is not interested in standards.  Jesus came as God among us, to make a place at the table for anyone who wants to come and eat.  Jesus offers them and us in this Gospel to come as we are to find refuge and rest in God's gift of salvation with no pretenses or requirements other than to come and eat.  His happiness and the joy of Heaven is that people who often wondered if there was a place in God's loving Presence for them, find that they are warmly and eagerly welcomed.

The image of a table can also be symbolic of other opportunities to share with others who are different from ourselves.  Over these past few weeks we have been reading and hearing about the efforts to help the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota.  The potential for a pollution disaster is enormous.   Our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls on us to think carefully about what clean water means to all of us; and our commitment to be good stewards of this vital resource.

At the heart of this debate and issue, is the dignity of all human persons.  All too long Americans and the Church have failed to regard the Native Americans with respect and dignity.  Yet, this matter has brought together Americans from all walks of life, faiths to protect the Standing Rock Tribe's lands and rights. 

Jesus invites all of us regardless of the labels and situations in our lives to come to him and share at His table.  The Eucharist is where we share in the Goodness of God as the Real Presence of Christ is given to us in the Bread and Wine of Holy Communion.  As God is the Creator and Giver of all that is good, our sharing in the Sacrament of Christ's Presence, is a sharing God's extravagant love with one another.  

Will you accept Jesus' invitation to come to His table?

Will you help welcome others to Jesus' table?

Amen.

Prayers

O God, because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Proper 19.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: Prejudice and Injustice: The Social Diseases Continue

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 37: 17-20 (NRSV)

The man said, ‘They have gone away, for I heard them say, “Let us go to Dothan.” ’ So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’

Ephesians 6: 10-20 (NRSV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour 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 armour 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. 

Luke 6: 27-36 (NRSV)

Jesus said: ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If 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. But 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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 

Blog Reflection

Shortly after I came out, I began to consider dating a man.  He was handsome.  Downright sexy.  He was intelligent and like me; quite opinionated.  As we got to know each other there came in me some doubts as to whether he was the right man for me to date.  I was not sure exactly what I wanted to do just yet.  That decision was made very clear when in a phone conversation with him, this handsome, sexy, intelligent and opinionated man announced to me that he felt that black people should not be afforded the same rights and opportunities as white people.  He further stated that he felt that most African Americans were trying to "screw the system" with their playing of the race card all the time.  My reaction was one of shock, disbelief and one of the few times I was totally speechless.  I could not even respond.  After a brief period of silence, the individual told me I could say good bye if I wanted to.  I responded to him: "I have to at this point.  I just cannot date a man who like me is already experiencing the discrimination and inequality on the basis of our sexual orientation, yet feels that he is justified with having the same attitudes of discrimination and inequality towards African Americans." 

I have said on many occasions that if someone had told me that there was racial discrimination in the LGBTQ communities before I came out, I would never have believed it. 

At the same time, over these past years I have had to confront within myself; my own attitudes and behaviors passed on to me by my own family with their own racist opinions and behaviors.  I like to say I am not a racist, but there are still those messages of inequality in my own attitudes and behaviors that show up from time to time.  When I find them, I am totally embarrassed and ashamed.  I have to pray to God to help me to notice them and route them out of my life.

This yearly commemoration of the Late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on what would have been his 83rd Birthday today, reminds us that there is prejudice and injustice in our world.  These are not good for ourselves, society or any community worldwide.  These are social diseases that must be routed out of us with Godspeed at our backs.   They do not reflect a Christian Church or society by any means.

Prejudice and injustice are not new to the Christian Faith.  The Christian Church has played out roles of prejudice and even violence towards people of different races, religions, sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions, genders, cultural backgrounds, languages, wealth status, health status, etc.   There are many Christians who make use of the Bible and/or the basic doctrines of Christianity to justify prejudice and violence towards those who are different.  The Church still has much work to do as well as take up the cause of equality and justice for all peoples.   No single Church denomination or body is exempt from the need to continue to work on these and other issues.

We read in Genesis today a portion of the story of Joseph's brothers planning to trap Joseph and sell him to slavery.  The wickedness that is in the hearts of Joseph's brothers has played itself over and over as many European White Christian countries took it upon themselves to decide who should have the opportunities to be free and prosper and who should be "owned" by them.  The scenario played continuing versions as the English Empire sought to colonize Africa, Asia and also the Native Americans as they came to the shores of the new world that is now America. 

There is another scenario that has also played itself out from the story of Joseph and his brothers in societies repetitiously.  Later in the narrative Joseph becomes appreciated for his ability to dream and support the king of where he had been enslaved.  Joseph eventually ascends to the throne and then the two brothers who had sold him into slavery come to him seeking help when they are experiencing severe famine.  Joseph does not take revenge, but instead exercises mercy and forgiveness.  The tables are suddenly turned. The "slave" becomes the one who frees those who are also enslaved.  

Last year when I attended Creating Change 2011; those of us who were part of Practice Spirit, Do Justice experienced an amazing healing as Native Americans led us through exercises to help us understand what the oppression of their people was like under the white Christian settlers.  They also showed us through an amazing ritual dance how all of us can become part of the healing of all humankind, by simply recognizing that all of us are connected to each other. 

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians invites us to put on the whole armor of God.  He reminds us that what makes us Christians, gives the ability to do the work of reconciliation and hospitality.  It often seems like a great war.  Rather than focus on the imagery of a battle field; I believe St. Paul encourages us to see the conflict of social injustice and inequality to be a struggle with the spiritual forces that are trying to stigmatize.  Using all of the great elements of what makes us Christian; truth, righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Holy Spirit's voice as we listen to the Scriptures.  The challenge is to not read the Bible with our prejudices intact; but to let our Mother the Holy Spirit rip open our Pandoras Boxes and help us see new insights.

This past year, we have witnessed some amazing attacks against people because of their race. 

The moves by States to enact laws that require voter ID's to exercise our constitutional rights to vote, impact those who are already disenfranchised because of race, income background and/or even age.

Those who are already marginalized by a broken system, experience deeper infringements as laws are passed to deny immigrants the opportunity to not be unfairly profiled or imprisoned.  Such was the case with the anti-immigration law in Alabama by which illegals faced the possibility of losing their water for bathing and drinking.  

The further divide of the economic classes of people have at their core a resilient stench of keeping people who are oppressed by a bad economy as far down the totem pole as they can go. 

The Rev. Al Sharpton has an excellent article in the Huffington Post about these and many other issues related to remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Jesus Christ commands us all to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us.  That is a pretty tall order.  One that those of us who experience violence, discrimination and injustice on a daily basis have a very difficult time with.  Except that Jesus is one who is also experiencing bias and oppression just for being someone who loves others just a little bit differently. 

I do believe that at the center of the Gospel is a call to remember that violence of any kind is never the will of God.  If we act in response to hate with hate and violence, our work towards justice and equality becomes counterproductive. 

Harboring unhealed grudges and withholding forgiveness towards our foes only allows their work of hate and inequality to gain traction in our lives and communities.  Unforgiveness destroys our individual selves and makes further injuries on a society that is already driven by hate and violence.  More importantly, it is not worth handing our opponents the unnecessary satisfaction of seeing us and our relationships with others destroyed at their benefit. 

Forgiveness does not mean that we excuse their actions.  It also does not mean that we no longer work to expose their injustices and the need for all of us to work to change hearts and attitudes to be more accepting and less violent.   It does mean that we do not hold them and their actions between us and our relationship with God and the Holy Spirit. Our Mother the Spirit so wants to heal us and help us to move on. 

The Benedictine message of radical hospitality and reconciliation are a part of the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We are to called to see Christ in one another.  Including those that we struggle the most with.  We are called by God to welcome one another and allow ourselves to be challenged to address our own interior biases to become a people who embrace and cherish one another.  In reconciliation we are invited to work out our differences with others in the quietness of our own hearts and lives in attitudes of prayer; but also to become active in making the world wide community more inclusive of everyone.


Prayers

Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you lead 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 reighs with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 307).

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, page 815).

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).

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

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).

Taking the Good and Bad from Church Tradition: Making Progress from Contradiction

Scriptural Basis

Luke 10:1-9 (NRSV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'"

Blog Reflection on Faith,  Justice and Equality

This is one of those commemorations that I have a bit of trouble with.

Last June shortly after Pentecost, we read about exchanges between the Archbishop of Canterbury and our Presiding Bishop. 

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori in her response to Archbishop Rowan Williams wrote:

We also recognize that the attempts to impose a singular understanding in such matters represent the same kind of cultural excesses practiced by many of our colonial forebears in their missionizing activity. Native Hawaiians were forced to abandon their traditional dress in favor of missionaries’ standards of modesty. Native Americans were forced to abandon many of their cultural practices, even though they were fully congruent with orthodox Christianity, because the missionaries did not understand or consider those practices exemplary of the Spirit. The uniformity imposed at the Synod of Whitby did similar violence to a developing, contextual Christianity in the British Isles. In their search for uniformity, our forebears in the faith have repeatedly done much spiritual violence in the name of Christianity.  

And:

We live in great concern that colonial attitudes continue, particularly in attempts to impose a single understanding across widely varying contexts and cultures. We note that the cultural contexts in which The Episcopal Church’s decisions have generated the greatest objection and reaction are also often the same contexts where women are barred from full ordained leadership, including the Church of England.

Yet here we are commemorating the first missionary to the new church in the "colonizing" United States. 

Thomas Bray was sent here to see what was happening with the establishment of the American branch of the Anglican Communion.  

I was very interested to read the following quote contained in the explanation of today's commemoration in Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints.

His understanding of, and concern for, Native Americans and Blacks were far ahead of his time. He founded thirty-nine lending libraries in America, as well as numerous schools. He raised money for missionary work and influenced young English priests to go to America.

As the Native Americans were seeing their values, homes and peoples invaded, taken over and destroyed, I am sure they were oh so happy that Bray's understanding and concern were beyond his years.  I bet they were so delighted that he founded thirty-nine libraries in America. 

To those of us who now enjoy what we have, we are so grateful that the Christian faith came here by way of those who came here from other lands.  But for the Native Americans who saw everything they had built and loved destroyed by those first white Christians, such statements are just a reminder of the suffering that their people have endured and continue to experience. 

In this commemoration we have to take the good and the bad from our Church Tradition. 

The first English Christians came and brought with them much tyranny for the Native American people.  There is no getting away from that. They believed they were doing the right thing by way of what they understood the Gospel to mean.  To those first English, Christian settlers they understood Jesus to teach them to go out and share the good news of Christ, and to build a civilization that was suppose to be created on the values of Christian Charity and the Sacraments.  What they did not know or understand, is that Jesus commissioned us with these seventy followers to: "Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you."  

Christians were not commissioned by Jesus to plunder whole communities of peoples and reform them according to an anglicized model.  One of the biggest mistakes of Christians, especially those of us who are part of the Anglican tradition, is assuming that our model of Christ as an Anglo-Saxon must be the same for everyone else in the world.  It is this very kind of thinking that led to racism, sexism and heterosexism among the Native Americans, the African Americans, the Irish, the Italians, the Hispanic/Latinos, as well as the Muslims, folks of other religions, sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.   It was the image of God as a male that has led to countless acts of discrimination towards women.  

As the Christians of earlier generations established themselves here in America, they did plant the seeds so that one day we would be here in the twenty first century.  Where we now understand that not everything we did in Christian Tradition was so saintly and wonderful.  That we would learn to look with gratitude, but also criticism at what our ancestors did and said.  Here we are in the Episcopal Church of 2011 with a female as our Presiding Bishop.  We have one openly gay ordained Bishop.  We have one openly lesbian Bishop.  We have many LGBT ordained Priests and Deacons. We have Indigenous Communities that are actively part of our church.  Many of them very open to LGBT people too.

One year ago on February 13th, Jason and I were present for the Consecration and Ordination of Bishop Brain Prior as the 9th Bishop of Minnesota.  The Indigenous Community took part in that ceremony with the burning of sage and the beating of the drum before the service began.  The Native Americans and the Episcopal Church were celebrating together a new beginning. 

The image of Enmegahbowh is on the wall at the healing station at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. 

There has been some growing friendships between many American religious institutions and the Native American Nations.  Many of these collaborations are taking place without the Christians requiring the Native American's to give up their Two Spirit nature and understanding of worship, culture and practice.

To quote Dean Spenser Simrill: "Christianity does not hold a monopoly on the truth."

As Christians and people of Faith, we can embrace other traditions, cultures, ways of worship and ideals that help others see what our faith is and what it is not.  

Many of our most cherished celebrations such as Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and so forth are not from the traditions of those first Christians in the Bible.  Many of those practices happened with the "Christianization" pagan rituals.  Some of the most conservative of churches, still celebrate those rituals today. 

The Christian Church and our Traditions make progress from contradiction.  This is nothing new or out of place.

The Christian Church continues to make progress in spite of contradiction as more and more Christians are embracing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer individuals.  We have learned not to interpret Paul and Leviticus without looking to some good critical scholarship.  Many of us are learning from the Unitarians, that "Standing on the Side of Love" comes from a humanitarian tradition, but with in it lies the very heart of what being a Christian is about. 

Embrace all people with a heart of love.  Standing on the side of love, when the world and even the Church hates so very much is the right thing to do as a Christian.  Speaking up in the Name of the God who is Love is much more important than defending dogmas and doctrines used to defend prejudice and violence.  Letting good human reason guide our understanding of things we do not entirely understand, speaks of Christians "standing on the side of love" rather than using our powers to propagate the earth with more religious based bigotry. 

Whether we agree with how the Unitarians view God and religion or not is irrelevant here.  The more important thing is, are we paying attention to how they are helping us understand the mission of Christ to the Church?  Do we as Christians "stand on the side of Love" or are we too wound up in who we can hate? 

We can all take the good and bad from our Church Tradition.  We can make progress from contradiction.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to continue to "guide us into all truth" (Jn 16:13) we are taking the good and the bad and making progress from contradiction. 

Prayers

O God of compassion, you opened the eyes of your servant Thomas Bray to see the needs of the Church in the New World, and led him to found societies to meet those needs: Make the Church in this land diligent at all times to propagate the Gospel among those who have not received it, and to promote the spread of Christian knowledge; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Thomas Bray, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 225).

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. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816).

O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races, cultures, *sexual orientations, and gender identities/expressions in this world.  Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and show us your presence in thos ewho differ most from us, until our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Thanksgiving for the Diversity of Races and Cultures (*sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions added by blog author) Book of Common Prayer, page 840). 

Practice Spirit, Do Justice; Worship that Values Cultural Change

Scriptural Basis

Isaiah 58: 1-12 (NRSV)

Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. 

Blog Reflection for Justice and Equality

As I read this Canticle from Isaiah in the Daily Office this morning, I found myself remembering all of the great things I learned and saw at Creating Change 2011. 

As a convert from being Roman Catholic to Episcopalian, I love Liturgical worship and music.  I love ritual with a message through all of it's symbolism, activity, context and seasonal traditions.  I love Liturgical worship even more when it is inclusive of diverse groups of people, with all of our stories, life experiences and cultural histories come together with a sense of respect and solidarity.  When we accept and realize that every one of us is different and decide to put those differences aside and work together, amazing things can happen.

While many of the mainline churches have become inclusive and have embraced LGBTQ people and many other minorities, we do have one major problem.  We enjoy all too much talking about charitable works and doing good for others.  Mainline churchgoers and sometimes our leaders do not enjoy talking as much about doing justice.  We are all too content with the "us" vs "them" mentality.

As good Episcopalians "we" are really good at implying who "we" means so as not to allow "them" to disturb our warm fuzzy selves.   "We have been working on becoming more inclusive, welcoming and affirming.  We don't need to do much more."  "We serve weekly suppers for the economically challenged.  We are doing all that we can." 

I do believe the issue in this canticle from the third Prophet Isaiah is worship and justice working together.  Isaiah  "is drawing on a long standing tradition of prophetic criticism (compare Amos 5: 18-27, which insists that worship without justice has no value.)" (John Collins, Collegeville Bible Commentary, Old Testament Volume, page 448).

At the opening plenary session for the Practice Spirit, Do Justice theme for people of all faiths at Creating Change 2011, we did an incredible three incredible ritual exercises.  

Before we began we were presented with a realistic explanation of what English white Christians did to the established lives of the Indigenous Community when my Pilgrim ancestor's landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

(FYI for hose who do not know, my grandfather's ancestors on my mother's side of our family were Pilgrims who lived in the Plymouth Plantation.)

As if I was not already feeling bad enough hearing their stories, the presenters began leading us through the three exercises. 

The first exercise began with all of us being asked to fold a single white sheet of paper into four pieces and tearing them into the four individual parts.   On each of those four parts we were asked to write down things that are valuable to us.  To give you examples: love, faith, opportunity, our partner(s), home, money, food etc.  Then we were asked to gather closer to the front of the room.  The leader asked us to hand over to him our values.  After he got all of the values he could get from us, he turned around and burned them.  He had taken our values and destroyed them.  Just like those first English, white Christian settlers did to the Indigenous people.  

To begin the second exercise they asked all of us who were white, African American, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Straight, LGBTQ, Immigrants, Latinos, married, divorced, rich or poor anything but Indigenous to stand in one small side corner of the room.  As we were gathering in that small corner, they took a rope and placed it in front of us.  They leaders stretched and held that rope from one corner of all of us gathered into a triangular shape to the other of the corner we were all standing in.  As those of us who were told to go into that corner grew larger, the rope closed in smaller and tighter.  Until we had one small corner of the room and the Indigenous people had all the widest space in the room to roam around and do whatever they wanted.  That also represented what the white Christians did to the Native Americans. 

The third exercise began with an Indigenous chant and dance by which the Native Americans began to gather all of us bunched inside that rope following behind the leader.   Slowly and repeatedly gathering followers behind the leader, single groups of participants followed the other, until all of the people in that bunched up space were following this one person.  She led us out of the roped in corner and began to march the followers around the outer edge of the room, until all of us were connected as one circle of people. 

Most of us who participated in that experience were either crying, just speechless or completely unable to move without taking everything in with the utmost humility.  The movement symbolized how broken, oppressed individuals who are facing injustice in our own communities and beyond, can work together as one people to change a whole generation of hearts and lives forever.   But, we must be willing to see what we are doing as it is, not through the rose colored glasses that blind us to what we cannot view. 

As good Episcopalians it is not enough for us to sit nicely in our church pews taking in the beauty of our worship.  Our celebrating and praying as beautiful and worshipful as it is, with all the correct vestments and the best of our inclusive language does nothing for the work of Justice unless we are willing to become participants in reconciliation and visible change.  The beautiful lit candles of our altar's must light the fire of compassion within our hearts that can so easily become empathetic to the needs of those who are experiencing political, social and religious based oppression. We need to move past the recitation and amens of our excellent prayerful rituals, and begin to apply the meaning of them in our everyday work of justice and equality for all people.  

Episcopalians and Anglicans cannot be content to approve an Anglican Covenant that seeks to diminish the hard work of organizations such as Integrity USA and the Chicago Consultation.  The wording of the present Anglican Covenant could be used as an instrument to silence our progress for the sake of those who's hearts are all too comfortable misusing their pastoral authority to oppress LGBT people all over the Anglican Communion.  The Covenant seeks to make to vindicate those who are sitting silently and comfortably while ignoring our responsibility to voice and act on behalf the threatened and vulnerable LGBT sisters and brothers in Uganda.  The importance of the Archbishop of Canterbury's voice condemning the actions of the Anglican Priest who disrupted David Kato's funeral proceedings cannot be overstated. 

We cannot be content with superbly stated theologies, while the horrible injustice of oppression is uplifted by those who have been ordained and called to represent and minister to those who cannot walk safely in their streets, or be left peacefully alone in their homes. We here in the Episcopal Church cannot be too satisfied with ourselves for having ordained one openly gay bishop and one openly lesbian bishop.  Our work for the justice and inclusion of LGBTQ people and other minorities in the Church and society has made great strides, but is far from finished. 

If we are willing to get up from our comfortable places and begin the give some value to our worship by working for justice and equality, God has promised to guide us and to satisfy our needs even in places that are parched.   God has promised to strengthen us to do all that we are willing to do in God's Name for those who are oppressed.  That which has been ruined will be rebuilt.  We will be known as the "repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live on." 

Prayers

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known o us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, page 216).


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. (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

The Holy Innocents: Remembering How Political Maneuvering Kills

Matthew 2:13-18 (NRSV)

When the wise men had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

"A voice was heard in Ramah,

wailing and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

Today is one of those commemorations that I wish we did not have to remember.  After celebrating the birth of Jesus with such beauty and splendor, why must we pause today to remember that King Herod slaughtered all the male children up to two years old, just because Herod was jealous or afraid of his rule being taken from him by the Christ Child?   Because the Gospel story of the Holy Innocents is a reminder that the world in which Jesus was born into is the world we live in, even today.  It is not a world where we recognize individual people for who they are, or respect others who are different from ourselves.  We are reminded today that despite our best intentions, all of us want to maneuver our way around someone else getting ahead of us.  We all have a thirst for power, greed and selfishness that leads to destructive behavior.

Not only is today the commemoration of the Holy Innocents, but it is also the 120th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890.

The Sand Creek Massacre and the Washita Massacre both led to the Wounded Knee Massacre. The Sand Creek Massacre brought the realization that "the soldiers were destroying everything Cheyenne - the land, the buffalo, and the people themselves," and the Washita Massacre added even more genocidal evidence to those facts. The Sand Creek Massacre caused the Cheyenne to put away their old grievances with the Sioux and join them in defending their lives against the U.S. extermination policy. The Washita Massacre did that even more so. After putting the Wounded Knee Massacre briefly into historical perspective, we’ll focus solely on the Wounded Knee Massacre itself for the 120th Anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Also recorded in the Native American Netroots Diary

Black Kettle, his wife, and more than 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho had just been exterminated, and Custer’s 7th was burning the lodges and all their contents, thus stripping them of all survival means. Sheridan would wait until all their dogs had been eaten before "allowing" them into subjugation, then Custer would rape the women hostages in captivity.

As we recall not only one, but two tragedies in human history, we are brought face to face with our own human frailty and need of God's redemptive graces.  As we have seen time and again where there is ignorance, there is also fear.  Where there is fear that goes uneducated it becomes violence.  Violence of any kind is never the will of Almighty God.  Not due to religious differences, political diversity or any other reason.  God makes very good use of the suffering brought about by violence to bring healing and restoration, but the violence itself is never the will of God.

We would like to believe that there no longer exists the political corruption and maneuvering that killed the Holy Innocents and gave rise to the Wounded Knee Massacre.  However a look across the ocean in the Country of Uganda where a bill has been written that if passed will make it the law to imprison or put to death individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning.  One of the most dangerous parts of ths bill is it will require teachers, parents, counselor's and pastors/bishops etc to report within 24 hours anyone they know who is a known homosexual or they could face prison time.  This too is a nation wide, and religious based bigotry with violence at it's root and goal.  The same ignorance that has given rise to the hatred of Indigenous Peoples, is the same bigotry against individuals due to their sexual and gender diversity.  Political maneuvering that results in such violence, destroys communities and peoples in ways that are beyond explanation.

The Christian Faith rose out of an age of religious and political violence to share the good news of the salvation of humankind in Jesus Christ.  Christianity does not hold a monopoly on the truth. Christianity believes in Jesus Christ who is God's truth, but then again, all truth including a respect for all individuals regardless of their religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression etc, etc, etc is God's truth.   There is no person, religion, sexual or gender diversity, culture that exists without God's knowledge or creative activity.  In the end, God is the one who will save all human souls.  Not Christians.  The more we try to hang on to our rule, our domain, the more we will lose.

The Episcopal Church though far from sinless in our history, has been for quite sometime attempting to make peace and to include the Indigenous Community.  It is not without amazement that the Episcopal Church has been working on making peace with racial, sexual and gender diversity as well.   The work of inclusion is far from finished. It has most likely just begun.  Unfortunately, there remain even within our Anglican Communion those who do not wish to make room for diversity.  Praying for an open heart and mind is easier than allowing God to actually open them on God's timing. 

The birth of Jesus was about God doing a new thing in time.  It was about God opening up the closed minds and hearts of those who had already decided how God should act and be.  God was not finished with humankind.  In Jesus, God sought to teach us new things by the Holy Spirit's power working in Christ.  We need to pray for that same openness to the movement of God's Spirit in today's Church and society.  So that we may see what is in our hearts and minds and allow God to help and heal us of our own biases and ignorant attitudes and behaviors.  May our minds always be open to learning about the beauty of all of the colors of God's beautiful garden in humankind. 

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Holy Innocents, Book of Common Prayer, page 238).

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, page 826).


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. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Day: May We Celebrate, Include and Repent

My very favorite of all American Holidays recognized as Holy Days by the Episcopal Church has to be Thanksgiving Day.  I was raised in West Wareham, Massachusetts in the company of my good mother, my father, my sister, my Italian great aunts and grandmother on my mother's side.  My father was a hard working man.  Although he had difficulties as any person does, he did as much as he could humanly do to be sure his family was well cared for. 

It was not until after I moved away from my home town that my grandmother filled me in on a secret that I never knew until then.  My grandfather's ancestors on my mother's side of the family were pilgrims who settled in the Plymouth Plantation and most likely celebrated that first Thanksgiving Day feast together.  I am very thankful to God for the heritage that is part of my families legacy.  Yet, I also have to be mindful of the fact that there are whole groups of people who perish and experience injustice at the hands of those who prosper. 

As a former right wing Christian I used to watch (and now I am ashamed of my previous behavior as I consider myself a progressive Christian) the news clips of Native American's in the First Unitarian Church in Plymouth expressing anger over how the Pilgrims took their land and resources as the Puritans colonized territories not belonging to them.  Now that I am Episcopalian I am reminded that my Anglican heritage is full of both Anglo-Catholics and Puritans who shamefully shared in some of the plundering of the Two Spirit Natives.   As Americans, we have much to be thankful for and celebrate, but we should also recognize that we have an obligation to include others as well as repent of many evils that are still part of our daily lives.

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (NRSV)

When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, "Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us." When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God, you shall make this response before the LORD your God: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me." You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.

The reading from Deuteronomy is a reminder that everything we have today is a gift from God.  Our land, homes, families, communities, material things as well as our intellect are all part of God's graciousness towards all of us.  As Americans we have been given an abundance of goodness to share in.  Yet, we like all individuals are effected enough by human nature that we often want to hoard all that we have for ourselves.  Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate with festivity all that God has given to us, as well as remember the sacrifices that have been made to bring to us all that we have.   As Christians, God sacrificed God's perfect revelation in Jesus Christ to bring salvation to all humankind that will approach God through Christ.  Even Christians have forgotten charity towards those with whom God communicates differently through other world religions, Spiritualities, cultural expressions and so forth.  God has created and blessed all humankind as unique and diverse so that all of creation can draw closer to God in ways that work for them.  This past year, American conservative Christians have demonstrated such hate towards Muslim people, resulting in negative stereotypes that have brought about hateful rhetoric and violence.  And the continued rhetoric and behavior towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people from Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics/Anglicans and even some Episcopalians cannot be overlooked.  As a result of the poor behavior towards LGBTQ people many LGBTQ individuals struggle with isolation from their families during this holiday season.  May be some of us need to open our hearts, doors and dinner tables to an LGBTQ person who is lonely this Thanksgiving.  

In Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:4-9 we are told:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

This Thanksgiving we are called to rejoice in all of the opportunities that God gives us to speak up for and to work for the equality of all who this day are denied their dignity by the Church and society.  As Americans we are fortunate to live in a land where we have the freedom to act on behalf of people who are marginalized.  Our United States Constitution as well as the Gospel that Christians claim to cling to call on our Government and us to speak on behalf of and do all that we can today for those who are yet waiting for a better tomorrow.  Thanksgiving Day is an opportunity to be thankful that there are great voices and individuals among us who are passionate and willing to remind the wealthy and powerful, that their corporate wealth does not rule those who can barely afford a one room apartment and have to go to a soup kitchen.  Through out the Bible and especially the Psalms there are countless examples of God viewing the poor as God's greatest friends.  Even as corporate powers want to send the middle class into oblivion, God still has the last word.  In America, we still  have the power to tell corporations NO.  Let us rejoice and give thanks, in prayer and supplication that in America we can say no to injustice, inequality and the evils of greed.

Paul tells us to celebrate what is good, noble, pure, pleasing, commendable, holy to think on those things.  Love is excellent, whether shared by individuals of the same-sex or opposite sex.  Marriage equality is pure, holy, good, noble, pleasing.  Inviting someone who would otherwise be alone with no one to care about them to share our Thanksgiving Day meal, warm home if only for a few hours is good, noble, pure, pleasing and commendable.  Serving Thanksgiving meals at a place where people who would otherwise go hungry for the day is a good and praiseworthy thing.  Spending a day in silent gratitude is praiseworthy. 

Last but not least our Gospel for this Thanksgiving Day is John 6: 25-35.

When the crowd found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

I am very thankful that on Thanksgiving Day that our Gospel is about Jesus feeding us.  God promises us through Jesus that all who come to him will not hunger or thirst.   For those who are poor, without work, homes, heat, health care, or dignity through the misconceived notions of the Church and society hearing that Jesus won't leave us hungry or thirsty is a big problem.  Many people are hungry and thirsty.  Many people today are with out justice, such as individuals denied proper medical attention because of health insurance companies mismanagement of their wealth.  How then is God feeding and nourishing us?

As Episcopalians and Catholics we understand that Christ is Really Present in the Eucharist.  For Episcopalians we are reminded that we must allow Christ's presence to be Real through us if Christ is to truly feed all of us with Christ's Body and Blood.   The word Eucharist means Thanksgiving.  We give thanks to God when God's presence is made real as we celebrate, include others marginalized by society and the Church and repent of our sins for marginalizing other peoples in the first place.  Giving thanks is an opportunity to reflect that "immeasurable love in Jesus Christ, our Lord" through our service of those who really are hungering and thirsting for the Goodness of God through the Church's ministry.  God nourishes others with the Real Presence of Christ when we may Christ Real as we serve others who need to know that they are loved, cherished and part of God's holy family of loved and included persons.  

This Thanksgiving I am thankful to God for all of the good that I am able to enjoy because of God's graciousness.  I am thankful for the love that Jason and I share together as a devoted Christian gay couple.  I am thankful for our Spiritual home of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral and the Episcopal Church.  I am thankful for the ability to sit and write these lines that may give some encouragement to someone who might need one today.  I am thankful for the heritage of my family.  I am thankful that my mother has done so much for me and that we are still able to talk on the phone while we cannot be together in person.   I am thankful to all who read my blog and find it helpful.  I am thankful to all who read my blog and have different opinions.   I am thankful that though we as LGBTQ people we are far from achieving full equality in the Church and society that we are moving ever closer and closer.  I am thankful for all of the great activists both secular and religious who are part of the work for equality and caring for those marginalized.  I am thankful that God sees fit to allow me to know so many wonderful people, many whom I cannot name, but are an important part of my life.  I am most thankful that God loves me as much as God does, that I have been made a good gay person who loves Jesus Christ and that writing this blog is a means by which I can share that love.  I am no better than anyone else.  I am a man of many faults, sins and even some disabilities.  But I know that God loves me as a gay Christian because in Jesus God has redeemed me as one of God's own.  I am thankful that over these past two years God has been transforming me in ways that I could not be not that long ago.   I am also very thankful that this Friday, marks two years since I left the Catholic church's ex-gay ministry called Courage that was started by Cardinal Cooke, and that I now have a terrific life, a loving man and so much love in my life because I can be who I am and know that only better things are yet to come.

I wish all of my blog readers, whoever you are and where ever you are, what or who ever you believe in a Happy and Holy Thanksgiving.  

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Thanksgiving Day, Book of Common Prayer, page 246)

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.  (General Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer, pages 101 + 125)

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, 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).

Christianity Really Is About Inclusion, Love and Justice

James 2:14-26 (NRSV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

Over this past year two groups have been started on Facebook.  One group is called: Christians Tired of Being Misrepresented.  The other is called: The Christian Left.  There is also a group called the Progressive Christian Alliance.  All three of these groups have something in common.  We are really fed up with all Christians assumed to be like the Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics with their hate rhetoric towards women, LGBT, immigrants and so on.  It is our conviction that the real meaning behind Jesus Christ is not a message that excludes people.  Rather, the Gospel is about inclusion, love and justice for all people.

This reading from James makes an unmistakable reference to the relationship between the Christian Faith and the works of justice, inclusion and love.   We can claim our belief in all of the creeds and prayers found in the Book of Common Prayer as much as we want.  Yet if our faith does not include working to love our neighbor as ourselves, to work for the justice and inclusion of those marginalized by society and the Church,  our faith becomes worthless.  The Gospel becomes another legendary story book.  The Sacraments are a big party, but mean very little.  

On the other hand, when our faith lives in our work for love, justice and inclusion the Gospel becomes a live through us.  Our faith figuratively speaking grows legs with a heart and body with the ability to bring healing and reconciliation.  When our hearts are broken by Arizona's immigration law and Christians along with all people of good will rise and call attention to the fact that all American's are really immigrants on the land of Native Americans, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is living and acting on the principles of the love of God and neighbor.  When we call our United States Senate this week and ask them to pass the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the DREAM Act, and the extension of unemployment benefits during the lame duck session of Congress, the call of the Bible for love, inclusion and justice is a story that is still being written into the hearts of Americans today.  

One of the most powerful music video's still available is the Judd's Music Video-Love Can Build a Bridge.  I am including it as part of my blog today.

As Christians and people of Faith in a so called "free society" I think we need to ask ourselves some important questions.  How free of a people can we really be when individuals are made captives to a political and religious system that excludes loving people who are different than ourselves?  What lessons are children being taught by a Church and society that remains silent or is counterproductive to equal justice for immigrants, LGBT, Native Americans, women, African Americans, Muslims and other religions, languages, abilities etc?   How can Christians be examples of love, inclusion and justice for all people who still live on the margins of society and the Church?

As the conversation at the end of the Judds music video and the late Harvey Milk suggested there is always hope, when people of good will rise to give all people some kind of hope.   The Bible is full of texts that talk about the need for hope.  Without hope we cannot move forward with a sense of confidence.   In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christians have been given hope that the work, love and justice we do in this life will be rewarded in the life to come.  What in the world are we waiting for?

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 28, Book of Common Prayer, page 236).

Eternal God, you blessed your servant Samuel Seabury with the gift of perseverance to renew the Anglican inheritance in North America: Grant that, joined together in unity with our bishops and nourished by your holy Sacraments, we may proclaim the Gospel of redemption with apostolic zeal; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Samuel Seabury first Bishop in the United States, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 679).

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, page 815).