Easter Day: Christ is Risen! Christians, Live As Easter People!

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)

Peter began to speak to the gentiles: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Psalm 118 (BCP., p.760)


1 Corinthians 15:1-18 (NRSV)

I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

John 20:1-18 (NRSV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Blog Reflection

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Beloved Christians, today we sing Jesus Christ Is Risen Today and Hail Thee Festival Day!  We gather in large numbers to celebrate what the Scriptures, Tradition and faith have celebrated throughout the Centuries.  The choirs are singing hymns and anthems while the organ and other instruments are being played with brilliance and jubilation.  Easter dinners and parties with family and friends celebrate the arrival of Easter and the long awaited ending of Lent and Holy Week.  What a beautiful and wonderful day.

That first Easter morning must not have been a happy one in the beginning for Mary and the other women.  They came to the tomb to bring spices and fresh linens.  They must not have known that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had already done those things at Jesus' burial.  Imagine the horrified look on their faces when they found the tomb empty.   Imagine the look on their faces when they were met by the angels as is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke who told them, "He is not here.  He is risen!"

What about those disciples?  They were told on any number of occasions that Jesus would be crucified and on three days rise again.  The mighty Peter who said that he would follow Jesus wherever He went, denied Him three times.  Now, Peter is looking into an empty tomb, turned away and went home "for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead." 

As Christians who claim to believe in the Resurrection, where do we find the evidence of such around us?  We celebrated Lent and Holy Week.  Here we are on Easter Day.  It is hard to find evidence of the Resurrection in our politics and news.  Gun violence still runs rapid with no additional legal protections.  Racism is a wild animal that preys upon teenagers, women and men in our police departments, schools, colleges and churches.  Bills are written, debated and fast tracked to give a license to discriminate on the basis of "religious liberty" to deny basic human services to LGBTQ people, Muslims, Jews and others who do not fit the criteria of Christianists.  "Religious Liberty" is worth defending if one agrees with their version.  If one does not, then Christianists and Dominionists are being persecuted by making martyrs of themselves only.   Is it any wonder that Christians are viewed as standing at the empty tomb with the disciples and wondering what really happened?  Is it any wonder that many just cannot believe in the awesome Christian Faith that many of us embrace and love?

Thankfully, the Easter story did not end with the disbelieving disciples.  It took a woman of faith to weep in the garden, symbolizing the cries of Eve.   A woman who still believed in the hope of the Resurrection, finds her faith rewarded in her helplessness and despair as the Risen Christ comes and calls her by name.  The Risen Christ identifies Mary who is given the greatest of contemplative visions.  The Risen Christ didn't blame the woman for not believing, as Adam did.  The Risen Christ affirms the faith of Mary and ends all sexism and doubt that God restored humankind to it's Divine origins with our brokenness exposed, in a perpetual embrace in radical hospitality and reconciliation.  "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1).  As an Episcopalian and a Christian, I believe there is also no condemnation for those who are not in Christ Jesus as we Christians understand it to be so.  The Jesus that I believe in who rose bodily from the grave, embraces every person with dignity and unconditional love.

On this Easter Day, we renew our Baptismal Vows in communion with other Christians around the world.  To the questions, "Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?", and "Will you strive for justice and peace among all persons, and respect the dignity of every human being?" we collectively and individually answer, "I will, with God's help."

Today, as Christians we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead.  Now, let us celebrate by living as Easter People.  May we be an Easter People calling for an end to violence, prejudice, oppression and become ambassadors for the Risen Christ by doing all we can to make it so.

Amen.

Alleluia!  Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

Prayers

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus
Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of
everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the
day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death
of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Easter Day.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.222).

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

Christ the King Sunday: Christ Is Served When We Serve

Today's Scripture Readings

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Psalm 100 (BCP., p.729)


Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `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.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, `You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Blog Reflection

If I had to pick my favorite passage from Matthew's Gospel, this reading would be number 1.  There are many stories from Matthew that are inspiring.  We have meditated together in this blog using many of them through out this past Liturgical Year.  The words of Matthew 25:31-46 are so appropriate for the "crowning" if you will, of the Church Year.  We are reminded that when we serve others, we serve Christ who is present in all people.

I have written any number of times, and I think it bears repeating; the Christian Church and our Christian Faith are awesome.  If we could remove all of the politics and social problems the Church cannot avoid; what makes the Christian Faith what it is about is absolutely wonderful.  Speaking only for myself here, the day I recognized that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that I can serve Him as a child of God was among the happiest moments of my life.  It is impossible for me to write down all of the things I love about Christianity. 

At the same time, over these many years that I have struggled in no small way with the politics within the Church.  I have struggled as much with the ways in which many in the Church are not only the cause of much injustice; but encourages oppression and prejudice in the Name of Christ and/or the Scriptures.  

As we celebrate this Feast of Christ the King, we are reminded that our Faith is not all about our doctrines and/or our personal beliefs.  As with anything, if all of these are sought for the sake of themselves; the only purpose they serve is another incidental that can be so easily dismissed as meaningless.  The readings for this Feast combined with our living Faith are all pointing us to serve Christ in others.  Serving Christ in others is most inconvenient.  Serving Christ in others means assisting all others without exception or excuse.  It requires us to do the hardest thing.  We must let go and care for Christ in others for the sake of Christ.  This requires a purity of heart that seeks to serve God without wanting anything from God in return.  Not even warm fuzzy feelings.  To serve Christ in others should open our doors beyond even our own Christian Faith; to see in others, including other religious expressions the face of Christ interceding with His Father on behalf of all humankind.   If we make the claim to love God in Christ the King and limit ourselves to our own circle without sharing our time, resources and talents to expanding the Church into a House of Prayer for all persons; we are making our Christian Faith the biggest lie ever told for the past two thousand years.  Is it any wonder why many see a Feast such as Christ the King as another Medieval legend?

Last week the news broke that The Washington National Cathedral held a prayer service for Muslims.  Since that event, the Bishops office in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington has been inundated with calls complaining about it.  The basis of the largest number of the complaints were that the Scripture says that "Thou shalt worship the Lord our God and only Him."  I could not support the response of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde more.  I would add that inasmuch as we would like to believe that Christianity is the privileged religion; the fact is there are other faiths through which people find their way to God without being a Christian.  Those religions are no less real or valid.  Furthermore, because I believe in the Person of Christ the King, I also believe that different religious expressions of belief are not an impediment for God's saving grace to be at work through them.  

Christ the King was cared for this week as The Church of England finally gave the go ahead for women to be ordained as Bishops. Sadly, there are still many individuals that would prefer that women and LGBTQ people remain as second class citizens in the Church and society.

Christ the King was welcomed in a wonderful new way when President Obama announced that his administration would be taking executive action concerning the deportation of about a million immigrants.  Christ in "the stranger" was served in that action.  It is truly shameful that Christianists and those who prefer that our nation have limited citizenship, suggest that what the President did was "unlawful."  Interestingly enough, all Christians are immigrants in the United States of America.  The Native Americans can educate all of us about that fact, if we would only listen to them.

It is apparent that many would prefer that Christ the King be allowed to starve, than for a Priest to feed the poor in his local area. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ who is King now and at the end of time calls on us who have been baptized into His Church to serve Him by attending to the needs of others.  Let us remember that by Christ's death and Resurrection, He has already conquered sin, death and suffering.  The compassionate mercy of God has already been unleashed through Paschal Mystery.  It is the mission and ministry of all of us who have been initiated into the Family of God in Christ; to open up our own hearts, minds and doors to receive and serve Christ the King in all people.  If the Church wants to care for and nurture the Body of Christ, we must be ready to care for Christ in all people including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer persons.  We cannot oppose homophobia and support racism, or sexism, or any religious based prejudice or violence. 

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and make our way into Advent next weekend, let us all recommit ourselves to serve Christ the King by attending to the needs of others in His Name.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all
things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of
lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided
and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together
under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Proper 29.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.236).

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).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.260).
   

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Love and Justice, Not Entitlement

Today's Readings

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 (NRSV)

Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work.

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin."

Psalm 19 (BCP., p. 606)


Philippians 3:4b-14 (NRSV)

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 21:33-46 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time."
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures:

`The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord's doing,

and it is amazing in our eyes'?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls."

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet. 

Blog Reflection

This weeks Scripture Readings make me very nervous.  They make me nervous because a careless literary reading of them can lead to a heinous attitude of entitlement.  Christians have been making this error for centuries.  The reading from Exodus about God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  The Psalm, Epistle from Paul and the Gospel of Matthew about what the tenants did, and who "replaces them" have given rise the worst kind of antisemitism.  The readings could not be on a worse weekend than when the Jewish people are celebrating Yom Kipper.

On the flip side, Christians have some important reminders contained in the message of these readings.  As Christians, we are reminded that our Faith sits upon the shoulders of the authors of the Hebrew Scriptures.   Such a statement is made in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in stained glass windows that depict the writers of the Christian Testament perched upon the shoulders of the writers of the Hebrew Scriptures.  If Christians are able to live into a deeper devotion to Jesus Christ because of what is written in the Bible, it is because Christianity without Judaism has no feet with which to walk.   This is why any attitude or action of antisemitism on the part of Christians is an insult to our Savior who is a Jewish Carpenter of Middle Eastern origin.   Oh and by the way, when Joseph and Mary carried Jesus to Egypt to flee Herod's slaughter of all male children up to two years old in Bethlehem; the Holy Family was also an immigrant family.   Today, they would be called illegals.

The Gospel Reading from Matthew is also of serious concern. If we read it and take it at face value, it sounds as if Jesus was saying that because the Jewish people failed to follow God as they were told, Jesus came and entrusted the salvation that was promised to them to the Church.   Other meanings that could be attached to this parable is that anyone who lives in a way that is contrary to how a particular group of Christians interpret it such as women who have and/or support their right to reproductive health choices, LGBT, of who do not support bashing President Obama or the social and political campaign against the Muslim people; that they too would be forfeiting their place in God's promise of salvation.  

All of these Scripture passages are telling us something very different.  They tell us that those who hold God's Name in the highest esteem are best known for their love of God, neighbor and themselves.   That love breaks down the barriers that divide people because of prejudice, makes all forms of violence in the name of any religion a contradiction to who God is; and, brings healing and reconciliation through generous hospitality and personal sacrifice.  Love is the reason for obedience; not fear.  Jesus Christ is the cornerstone for the Church, because in Him is the fullness of God.  A fullness that is served by answering the call of God to serve others because love is our reason and goal.   Our prayers are heard by God, "not because of our many words, but because of our purity of heart, and tears of compunction" (The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 20, vs. 3).   Tears for those who are marginalized by the Church and society, because in both systems money, power, prestige and scapegoating are more important than living the meaning of the Gospel of Christ; while Christians sit idly by and do nothing.

The salvation brought to us in Jesus Christ is because of the love of God and the justice we do unto others who are different from ourselves.   It is not because we are entitled to do what we want, with whomever we want.   It means that even those who are outside of our expectations, ideals, and even those who are very difficult to love, are to be loved.   In The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 27, the Abbot is instructed to care for those who have been dismissed from the Monastery.   The Abbot is told to send a wise Senior who can help the individual turn his life around to be rejoined to the Community.   St. Benedict uses the words of 2 Corinthians 2:8 to say: "Let love be strengthened toward him, and let all pray for him" (vs.4).  Every reasonable effort is to be made to help such a person to better understand their place in the life of the Community.   In such a process, the Abbot and most likely the whole Community learns something together.

We should not get bogged down by the history of the Church, however unchristian it may be.  Neither should we be discouraged because of how we individually find it so difficult to live authentically the love of God, neighbor and ourselves.  We are all encouraged by the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church at Philippi when he writes: "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 22, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

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

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 of Assisi, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 833).

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: The Healing of Human Communites by the Community of Divine Intervention

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD:

Maintain justice, and do what is right,

for soon my salvation will come,

and my deliverance be revealed.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,

to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,

and to be his servants,

all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,

and hold fast my covenant--

these I will bring to my holy mountain,

and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer

for all peoples.

Thus says the Lord GOD,

who gathers the outcasts of Israel,

I will gather others to them

besides those already gathered.

Psalm 67 (BCP., p.675)


Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 (NRSV)

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

 
Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSV)

Jesus left Gennesaret and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Blog Reflection

There are two major questions that are often asked by theologians.

Question 1.  When Jesus was tempted in the desert for forty days (See Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13), could He have sinned or not?

Question 2.  Before Jesus was Baptized in the River Jordan (See Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-22) did He know who He was?

Both of these questions hinge on the belief that Jesus was and is of two natures; Divine and Human.   If we say that Jesus could have sinned during the temptation, then was He really Divine?   If Jesus could not have sinned, was He really Human?    If Jesus did know who He was before His Baptism, was he really Human?   If Jesus did not know who He was, then how was He Divine?

Today's Gospel account of Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman raises some similar questions.   His answer to her request to heal her daughter seems anything but kind, polite and consoling.  It sounds as if Jesus has been affected by the cultural biases of His time.  What does this say about His Divinity and Humanity?

I have written any number of times on this particular Gospel.  I have sided with those who say that Jesus was affected by the prejudices of His culture.  I would still have to say that, but this time, from a different perspective and reason. 

When Jesus came to us as God's perfect revelation of God's Self, He also showed us what human nature is really like, and what it could be.  The relationship of humankind with God suffered then, as it does now because of our immaturity.  Our refusal to grow up and become more like the Divine Person of Jesus Christ.   God came to us in Christ to show us just how broken and childish human nature had become, and how we might follow Christ to the point of our relationship to the Divinity might be restored.   God chose to teach us,  heal us, and restore us through the broken humanity made whole through the humility of God's Son, Jesus the Christ.  

I believe, that the experience of Jesus in His conversation with the Canaanite woman is God's way of reflecting for us in Christ, how wounded and immature our human relationships are.  We are so blinded by the racism that allows Michael Brown to be shot by a police officer, that many Christians and Americans would rather bury our heads in the sand, and say the police were justified in their brutality, than call out for justice.  We should not only call for justice for Michael Brown, but also for the peaceful protestors who were brutalized.

The large number of women, men and children who suffer from mental illness issues, and keep silent because of fear, marginalization and the many consequences that come from telling someone, that only when a beloved man named Robin Williams commits suicide, do more people sit up and take notice.   We continue to pretend like mental illness is not a real situation in our homes, families, churches and communities.   We even ignore the need for dangerous weapon regulations reform, because billionaires in the NRA flood our politics.

People who sit in pews shouting "praise the Lord" because a judge in Tennessee ruled that their Constitutional Amendment banning the freedom to marry in their State is constitutional, because they cannot see how the Christianist groups have brainwashed them to justify prejudice, violence and oppression.  

Others sit in judgment and negative stereotyping of Muslims world wide, because of the horrible massacre of Christians in Iraq.  In actuality, there is very little difference between fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Muslims.   The only difference is Mohammed or Jesus as their reason for justifying violent extermination of "others" who are not like them.

Why is this Gospel of Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman so important to these and other things going on around us?

Jesus' experience in Matthew's Gospel shows us that the healing of humankind by God's Divine love, does not come without the reconciliation of our relationships with one another.   The scarred and childish relationships, divided by discrimination and inequality won't be mended by God's Divine intervention alone.  They will experience healing and reconciliation because we take the step forward of confessing just how fractured and splintered those relationships are and working together with the Holy Spirit's guidance to bring about real change. 

The message of the Christian Gospel is that our communal relationships and our personal relationships with God are healed and redeemed through the Paschal Mystery as we are restored to our Divine relationship as Daughters and Sons of God.  With us, God is well pleased.

We often forget to look again at the story of our Creation in Genesis 1:26a.   "Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness......"  We were created by God in a communal relationship of God with God's Self.   It is the belief of Christians then, that God heals and restores that relationship through the community of God's relationship with and through the Divine and Human natures of Christ.  The relationship is healed and reconciled by healing the broken community of  humankind, through it's relationship with the Divine community with one another.  In the Ascension of Christ, we celebrate that in Jesus, our broken humanity is always at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf for the healing and reconciliation to continue through the perpetual sacrifice of Christ.

The Holy Eucharist is our constant evidence of God working among us, through our common humanity infused with the Divine mystery of Christ.   The single host, though it is broken and shared is all part of the one loaf.  So the Body of Jesus, broken on the Cross, and His Blood shed, spills into our diverse human relationships, to heal us in and through one another.   These things happen because of the faith that the Canaanite woman had to keep appealing to Jesus, even humbling herself to serve as a renewed understanding for Him, so that He would grant what she asked.  

How do we allow the broken humanity of Jesus to bring Divine healing to our relationships?

How do we reconcile our broken humanity, with the perfected humility of Christ?

Where do we hear Jesus through others challenging us to mature in our relationship with God through our wounded relationships with others?

Perhaps we are the Canaanite woman looking for help from a broken system.

Perhaps we are Jesus who need to see things from a different point of view.

Whatever and wherever we find ourselves, Jesus is calling out to us through the circumstances of our daily lives, to live by faith and trust.   Through Him and His Divine love, may our many broken relationships be healed and reconciled.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a
sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us
grace to receive thankfully the fruits of this redeeming work,
and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.232).

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

Fifth Sunday of Easter: Way, Truth and Life for Everyone

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 7:55-60 (NRSV)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Psalm 31 (BCP., p.622)


1 Peter 2:2-10 (NRSV)

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

"See, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious;

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

"The stone that the builders rejected

has become the very head of the corner,"

and

"A stone that makes them stumble,

and a rock that makes them fall."

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Once you were not a people,

but now you are God's people;

once you had not received mercy,

but now you have received mercy.

John 14:1-14 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

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

Blog Reflection

There was a time in my life when every time I read these amazing words from St. John's Gospel, I agreed with them without conflict.   Jesus' words "I am the way, the truth and the life" seem so absolute.  How could I or anyone else misunderstand Jesus?

While these same words carry with them a great affirmation of faith, they also contain a few problems.

John's Gospel beginning with the fourteenth chapter, starts what we call the Last Supper Discourse.   In this discourse are many proclamations that Jesus makes about Himself as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit.   It appears from the beginning, that the Disciples still have many unanswered questions about who Jesus is and what He is doing.  It is highly believed that the Apostle John himself is not the author of this Gospel, but a disciple of the Apostle was.    It is also very possible that the Gospel was put together by not only one, but a few different Johannine communities linked to the work of the Apostle and Evangelist.  Those communities were in great conflict with the authorities of the Jewish Faith of the time. The Oxford Annotated Bible suggests that we not interpret Jesus' arguments as being with the Jews, but with those who did not believe in Him.  The subject of using the Jews as Jesus' adversaries is responsible for unspeakable acts of antisemitism.  This text within John's Gospel is not a license to discriminate against Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Pagans, Wiccans or Atheists.   It is also not a Gospel reading granting us the green light to say that lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people must go through so called "ex-gay" or "reparative therapy" because sexual "preference" is not morally neutral.

Of all Gospel texts that gets used without restraint to suggest that Christianity is a religion of supersessionism, this reading is the worst.   If there was a text that has the greatest power to unite Christians with compassion and acceptance of diversity, this is the text.  However, there is also no text in all of Christendom that gives our Christian Faith as bad of a name as this one does.

The words of this Gospel reading suggest that Jesus is responding to a lack of faith that does not perceive a reality beyond appearances and mere logic.  The Apostles Thomas and Philip want answers to the questions they ask.  Their questions are very much like our own.  Full of a quest for a certainty that is not temporary.  Or they suggest a certainty based on what is on the surface.   Jesus answers their questions that opens their eyes of faith to see past who Jesus is to what His life is about.

The "way" of Jesus is to seek out the marginalized and to set free those oppressed by bias, violence and being swept to the sides by the cracks in the system.   The "truth" of Jesus is that God's love in unconditional and all-inclusive.  The "life" that comes from Jesus is one that embraces all people and loves them without distinction or exception.   Jesus' way, truth and life that draws people to His Father by God's initiative, because every person is created in the image and likeness of God, and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Not even a religion that does not believe in Jesus as Christians do, can keep God from loving every person.   Not even our disobedience to God to love God, our neighbor and ourselves keeps Christ from redeeming us through His death and resurrection.   The Jesus' way, truth and life no one who comes to God will be rejected because of who they are, what they believe, what color her/his skin is, or immigration status, or sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.  

The Easter Mystery is about how Jesus Christ by God's power broke through the chains of death, despair and doubt and found victory over those things that separate us from God and one another.   Our celebration of the Easter event challenges all of us to seek union with God in prayer to find healing and reconciliation among all God's people.  

By the grace of God, let us all love one another as Jesus Christ loves each one of us.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant
us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way,
the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his
steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.225).

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

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).

Tuesday in Holy Week: The Wheat and Message of the Cross

Today's Scripture Readings


Isaiah 49:1-7 (NRSV)

Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The LORD called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother's womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, "You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
But I said, "I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the LORD,
and my reward with my God."
And now the LORD says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the LORD,
and my God has become my strength--
he says,
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Thus says the LORD,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
the slave of rulers,
"Kings shall see and stand up,
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

Psalm 71:1-14 (BCP., p.683)


1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (NRSV)

The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

John 12: 20-36 (NRSV)

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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.

"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-- `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light."

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

Blog Reflection

Over these past few months, I have begun baking bread.   I make a honey wheat bread.  Each time I make it, I am amazed at how all of the ingredients come together to make a dough.   After the dough rises in a bowl, it gets put into bread pans to rise some more.  Then, it finally gets baked.   The aroma in the house is just wonderful.

The words of Jesus in today's Gospel about the grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying so that it bears fruit make a lot of sense to me.   I cannot make the wheat flour and all the ingredients in to a dough for baking bread, unless the grain of wheat falls and dies.  A single grain of wheat falls to give life far beyond what it was before.

Jesus is telling us that God will be glorified in what Jesus is about to do in giving His life.   If Jesus is to bring new life to those for whom God sent Him; He must in obedience to the Father, surrender Himself to the service of humankind to the point of His death.  When Jesus tells us about those saving their lives and losing them, and those who give them for the sake of the Gospel, He is telling us to do as He did.   What Jesus does on the Cross, is what He has done throughout His entire earthly ministry.   St. Paul tells us as much when he wrote: "The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

What does it mean for Christians to be an example of Christ's obedience this week?

One matter we might do well to meditate on is our response to the horrific shooting at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas.   Bishop Dean Wolfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas made an outstanding statement about the incident found here.  

The news of an armed man shooting and killing a teenager and his grandfather at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, and a woman at the Village Shalom assisted living facility, is another shocking reminder of the culture of violence that continues to flourish within our larger culture. We are particularly saddened to learn these murders appear to have been motivated by anti-Semitic feelings expressed by the man now in custody for these crimes.

On Sunday, the violence came to us. These are our neighbors. These are our friends. This is not somewhere strange and far away for us. These violent incidents happened in our diocese. My son played several basketball games at the Jewish Community Center when he was a student at Bishop Seabury Academy. We have friends who regularly participate in programs there.

On Sunday afternoon the Jewish Community Center was filled with young people from a myriad of faith traditions rehearsing plays and auditioning for musical competitions. It says something about the way in which people of different faith traditions live and work so closely together in our community that a man intent on killing members of the Jewish faith went to a Jewish Community Center and a Jewish assisted care facility and took the lives of two Methodists and a Roman Catholic. Hatred makes everyone look like the enemy.

I think for Christians, we must learn and relearn to think of those who worship in other faiths including Judaism and Islam as our Sisters and Brothers just like anyone else.   Whether our neighbors worship God through Jesus or not, we demonstrate the meaning of the Cross when we chose to love others, even those different from ourselves without distinction.   Jesus never suggested that we all have to agree with each other.  Jesus did tell us to love one another.   To those who celebrate life through hate and violence, the message of the Cross is foolishness.   But to those of us being saved, it is the power of God in our lives to love beyond our comfort zones, and without prejudice.

Perhaps this Easter Day, we can all celebrate a Church and society with a little less violence, injustice and oppression.  And show forth the evidence of the Resurrection, because we decided to do something about it.

Amen.


Prayer

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an
instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life:
Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly
suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior
Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.220).

Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday: With Whom Are You Entering Holy Week?

Today's Scripture Readings

Liturgy of the Palms

Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)

When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, 

"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

Psalm 118 (BCP., p.760)


Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)

The Lord GOD has given me

the tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustain

the weary with a word.

Morning by morning he wakens--

wakens my ear

to listen as those who are taught.

The Lord GOD has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious,

I did not turn backward.

I gave my back to those who struck me,

and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;

I did not hide my face

from insult and spitting.

The Lord GOD helps me;

therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like flint,

and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

he who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who are my adversaries?

Let them confront me.

It is the Lord GOD who helps me;

who will declare me guilty?

Psalm 31 (BCP., p.623)


Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Passion Reading: Matthew 26:14-27:66 (NRSV) 


Blog Reflection

Marcus Borg in a blog post about Holy Week: Palm Sunday writes the following...

What most Christians know about Holy Week centers on Good Friday and Easter, Jesus’s death and resurrection. The former is commonly understood as payment for our sins. The latter is most often understood as the proclamation of life beyond death – that God not only raised Jesus from the dead, but will someday also raise us, or at least those who believe.

But there is so much more to the story of Holy Week. Not only is there more, but the more challenges and indeed negates the common understanding of Good Friday and Easter.

In this blog, I focus on what Christians call “Palm Sunday.” The story is familiar: as the week of Passover begins, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and people cheer him, shouting “Hosanna – blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Less well-known is the historical fact that a Roman imperial procession was also entering Jerusalem for Passover from the other side of the city. It happened every year: the Roman governor of Judea, whose residence was in Caesarea on the coast, rode up to Jerusalem in order to be present in the city in case there were riots at Passover, the most politically volatile of the annual Jewish festivals. With him came soldiers and cavalry to reinforce the imperial garrison in Jerusalem.

It is clear what Pilate’s procession was about. By proclaiming the pomp and power of empire, its purpose was to intimidate. But what about Jesus’s procession, his entry into the city?

Thus for Passover that year, two very different processions entered Jerusalem. They proclaimed two very different and contrasting visions of how this world can and should be: the kingdom of God versus the kingdoms, the powers, of this world
The former is about justice and the end of violence. The latter are about domination and exploitation.

On Friday, the rulers of this world kill Jesus. On Easter, God says “yes” to Jesus and “no” to the powers that executed him.

Thus Palm Sunday announces the central conflict of Holy Week. The conflict persists. In words from St. Paul, the rulers of this world crucified the Lord of glory. That conflict continues wherever injustice and violence abound. Holy Week is not about less than that. 

Are we beginning Holy Week by entering Jerusalem with Pilate in a search for domination, power and exploitation?

Christians would like to believe that all of our yearly rituals of getting our Palms today, kneeling at the words that Jesus breathed His last during the reading of the Passion and shaking our heads at how fickle the human heart is.  Yet, if that is all we do, then Holy Week is a fable.  In so doing, we do not give God the opportunity to bestow on us the wonderful graces during Holy Week that make a difference in our lives.  The story of Holy Week might as well be put on the library shelves with the other religious based myths, to fade away with the coming of the electronic/digital age and quick fix self-help programs.

As long as Christians remain silent and apathetic about how much wealth and power have taken over not only the world's politics, but also in the Church, Holy Week looks like a fiction still in someone's imagination.

When Christians turn our heads and pretend that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are not being bullied in our schools, neighborhoods, homes and churches; and pour money into campaigns to stop anti-bullying measures; we are entering Holy Week with Pilate, not Jesus. 

If we continue to use the events of this week to promote antisemitism saying that the Jews killed Jesus, and/or support prejudice towards Muslims and other religions; we might as well be judging Jesus with Pilate.  Or we probably do not realize that we too are among those shouting "Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!"

If we enter Holy Week with Pilate, we might be tempted to think of ourselves as our own god.  It is our way or the highway.  All the world and it's many resources are ours for the plundering.  We excuse the polluting of the waters of the world with oil, or cause earth quakes because of the Keystone Pipeline all with the dishonest thinking that it is creating jobs.   

On the other hand, if we enter Holy Week with Jesus, we will discover that the path to holiness comes through humility.  The same humility that Paul writes about in the ancient hymn in Philippians 2:5-11.   The humility that is prepared to set aside all thoughts of being God, to become a servant of others even to the point of the death of self.   God's love in Jesus Christ is not about seeking self-honor or indulging in the self that is false.  Full of the "what I think...." and refuses to "walk according to the judgement and commands of another...." (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 5:12).

Jesus enters Jerusalem today knowing full well what is coming later in the week.  Yet, He will face immense hate, injustice and the losing of His life on the Cross.  He is willing to go through it all out of loving obedience to His Father and for all of us.  He will not stop loving those who falsely accuse and refuse to believe in Him.   He will chose to love even Judas who will betray Him with a kiss.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus will become the sin that God cannot look at, and take it all unto Himself and go so far as the Cross to redeem us all.   He will love the outcast, the woman, the LGBT person, the immigrant, the mother who weeps for her son lost to gun violence.  Jesus will love and redeem the one who chose no religion at all, because organized religion just hurts that person(s) so much.  There will be an outpouring of God's mercy that none of us can understand, explain or put into words that make sense.   One thing we will definitely know, is that God's love for us is unstoppable.   To make scapegoats of anyone for any reason, would be to look at what Jesus did for all of us and our Baptismal Covenant and would be the equivalent of Peter denying Jesus three times, or Judas selling Him for thirty pieces of silver.

In Christ, God tells all of us during this Holy Week, that God is with us, hurts with us, and is there to help us know that there is Easter Day after Good Friday.   That is why Jesus enters Jerusalem today.

Hosanna!  Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord.

With whom are you entering Holy Week?


Prayers

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the
human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to
take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross,
giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant
that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share
in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.219).

Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony
and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to
take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.252).

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).

Fifth Sunday of Easter: Love One Another without Distinction

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 11:1-18  (NRSV)

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

Psalm 148 (BCP., p.805)


Revelation 21:1-6 (NRSV)

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

"See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them as their God;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away."

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

John 13:31-35

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

Blog Reflection

In Psalm 86: 11 the Psalmist writes: Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; knit my heart to you that I may honor your name.

I think Peter experienced being taught the way of God in his vision on the roof top.  He had been taught that those outside of the acceptance of his Faith tradition were unclean.  They were to be avoided, dismissed and left to fend for themselves. The revelation of God's Self in Jesus Christ changed not only the world in terms of a relationship with God, but also our understanding of God's relationship with all humankind.  The more distance we create between ourselves and others who are different from ourselves, the greater distance our relationship with God becomes. We may have great moments of mystical experiences and growth in grace.  Those experiences however, are not to make us into our own personal isolation ward with God.  The Holy Spirit constantly moves on us, to expand our hearts to make them places for a greater love for God, neighbor and self.

When Peter put aside his biases, he was then enabled to do the Apostolic work of baptizing Cornelius and all his household.  Yet, those around him had not yet received the good news that was contained in Peter's vision.  The opportunity brought by the biased, yet questioning people, became a teaching moment through which the walls that separate people from each other could break down and unite communities together.

Racism, heterosexism, sexism, religious based violence and oppression divide communities.   The conspiracy theories circulating about the Muslim religion since the Boston Marathon bombing, are the result of a deadly social disease running wild.  They fuel cruel rhetoric and behavior.  Whole families and communities are stigmatized.  They do not reflect Christians saved by the death and resurrection of Christ being soldiers of the Lord in the new century crusade.  They represent an ignorance driven by fear, breeding hate that becomes horrible violence.  It is never the will of God.  It must be responded to with the proclamation of Jesus Christ and Him crucified to end all scapegoating and negative stereotyping.  The Paschal Mystery is our reason to love and make peace with all people.  A peace that welcomes all people, lets go of suspicions and is open to creating community with every person.   It involves a resolve to respond in obedience out of love and self-sacrifice.  Not get all the immigrants out so that we can live with our insecurities without question.

Psalm 148 is an inclusive song of praise.  All creatures and peoples with all their diverse ways of raising a hymn of thanksgiving and rejoicing sing Hallelujah to God who does great wonders in all the earth.    As we grow beyond our comfort zones, the earth gives honor and praise to God joined with the mystical community of creation.  God defends us from the enemies that would divide us from within, through foreign attitudes that keep us from accepting each other in hospitality and reconciliation.

Jesus at the Last Supper scene in today's Gospel, prepares the disciples for his impending death.  We have walked back a bit from the empty tomb, back to Maundy Thursday. We are returned there to remember what Jesus taught us as our responsibility to Him as followers.  Our response to the Paschal Mystery needs to be one by which we keep in mind what Christ taught us by Word and example.  That is why I chose the image of Christ washing feet as the visual for this Gospel reading.  Christ taught us the new commandment to love one another as He has loved us. 

It is easy, much too easy to look upon such love as a passive romantic.  After all, who doesn't like those wonderful warm fuzzy feelings that come with loving someone who loves us in return.  However, this love is not about feelings.  It is not even about receiving back what we give.  It is about a sacrificial love that does not just look and decide to walk away or avoid.  It is a love that gives of the whole of one's heart for the good of the other person.  Whether that person is the same as we are, or not.

To hear and respond to the commandment to love one another as Christ loves is about abandoning our comfort zones, our agenda's, our prejudices and make space for God in one another.   This is the most difficult love for all of us. We just don't like giving up our pride. We want to guard our labels and defend our personal accomplishments. We earned our own keep.  Why share with others who have not worked for it the way I have?   Does anyone hear in these attitudes that are within all of us at one time or another, the resentment, jealousy and competitiveness of the Elder Son in the Prodigal Son?  Go back and read Luke 15: 11-32.   There the Father watched from his window for his lost son to return. As the lost son returned, the Father ran to embrace him and give him a feast, killing the fatted calf.  The Elder Son just could not rejoice without feeling resentment and jealousy. The Father's response demonstrates the meaning of today's Gospel when we just says to the Eldest Son: "You are with me.  Everything I have is yours."

Everything that God has in marriage for straight couples is also God's to give to same-sex couples.   The banquet of God's Goodness and abundance to love unconditionally with hospitality and reconciliation belongs as much to LGBT people as it does to those who are not.  The holy institution of marriage is not threatened, changed or in any way diminished because LGBT people and couples get to share in the opportunities and responsibilities that come with loving, committed relationships.   As we saw Rhode Island, France and Delaware take up the work to grant the freedom to marry to same-sex couples, the joy of God becomes evident as God's love becomes visible in inclusive communities.  The commandment to love one another as Christ loves us becomes personified as straight couples who have shared in all the benefits of marriage, children, families and responsibilities can now be shared by LGBT people.

The commandment to love as Christ loves is a love without distinctions, but calls for a love from the whole of a person to the whole and common good of another.  Even if it means letting go of ourselves for the good of another.

The Easter that we are now living in this Season, is one by which we remember that all of the bonds that hold us down and keeps us from realizing God's love for all people, become broken and rolled away.  In the resurrection we can now rise up and walk.  We can see in the Light of God's revelation of Self in Christ.

How are we going to love without distinction, with the whole heart this week?

Prayers

Almighty god, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant
us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way,
the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his
steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Fifth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p.225).


O Lord my God. Teach my heart this day where and how to see you, where and how to find you. You have made me and remade me, and you have bestowed on me all the good things I possess, and still I do not know you. I have not yet done that for which I was made. Teach me to seek you, for I cannot seek you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in my desire, let me desire you in my seeking. Let me find you by loving you, let me love you when I find you. Amen. (Prayer of St. Anselm of Canterbury, St. Benedict's Prayer Book., p.118).

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).