The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: A Messy Story

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. 

Psalm 98 (BCP., p.727).


Titus 3:4-7 (NRSV)

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

John 1: 1-14 (NRSV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Blog Reflection

It happens every December the 25th.  We as Christians celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Each year we read and hear the beautiful Scripture texts about Mary, Joseph and Jesus and the Word made Flesh from St. John's Gospel.  We gather to sing beautiful Christmas Carols and hear Lessons read.  Our churches are beautifully adorned with wreaths, greens, candles, lights and (hopefully) a beautiful creche displaying the scene at Bethlehem.  We gather with our families and friends.  We make phone calls.  We wrap gifts.  We post our holiday greetings on Facebook and Twitter.  People like myself write blogs.  As Christians we adorn and adore the Christ child as we recall how He was born through the womb of Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

Every year, I marvel at how peaceful Christmas Day is for us, while in various places in the country and our world this day is anything but peaceful and joyous.  Way too many children and families live in poverty.  Our neighborhoods are riddled with news of gun violence and racial prejudice.  Each day and year, families are torn asunder by religious fundamentalists who have to use this Christmas Day to plaster the holiday dinner conversations with Scripture verses erroneously used to condemn lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people, families and couples.  The same folks use the Bible as a weapon of mass destruction on health care reform, why we should not accept the Syrian refugees on the basis that they are Muslims, on women and many other minorities that could be mentioned.  Somewhere in some home, the conversations will include the condemnation of immigrants and the whole notion of helping our neighbors in need as Jesus taught us to do in Matthew 25: 21-46 is being thrown aside as being an example of socialism.

The fact of the matter is, the arrival of the Christ Child is a messy story.  There was no room for them in the inn.  Rose from The Golden Girls was right.  They should have called ahead to make reservations.  Too bad God didn't give them a cellphone.  Maybe there was no signal on the one they had.  What the story tells us, is that God comes to us as one like us, as one so vulnerable with only a manger to lay his new born human body.  The world around Him and the Holy Family was a mess.  The people of Israel were under enormous oppression from King Herod and the Roman Empire.  The religious establishment of the times were in turmoil with leaders who were more interested in their power of the people they served, than remembering that the heart of the Law is about mercy and justice for all people.  The message of the Nativity is a messy story.  There was no glittering lights, except a star.  No joyful singing with the exception of Angels who greeted the shepherds singing, Glory to God in the highest.  The glory of the moment was that God entered our human chaos; bringing the Light of God into our darkness and walking with us in that darkness.  "If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,"  Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike." (Psalm 139:10-11, BCP, p.794).

Whatever mess your life is in.  Wherever you feel chaos, injustice, oppression, discrimination, powerlessness and/or loneliness.  Whether it is the death of a parent, a child, a spouse, anyone that you love or the loss of a meaningful relationship.  Whether it is an addiction or behavior that you feel like you have no control over.  Whether you feel like no one loves you or cares that you are hurting.  Know that God came to all of us in Christ Jesus into our messes and chaos to tell us that "God is with us, Emmanuel." (See Matthew 1:18-23).  All that matters to God, is that you know that you are loved by the God who loves us in Christ Jesus, His Beloved Son, our Lord.  He is Lord not as a slave owner as some suggest the word means.  Jesus is Lord in that He is the source of God's unconditional and all-inclusive love who will raise you up not unlike the symbol of the Phoenix.

May all of us embrace one another in this Christmas Season.  May we be the light in the midst of the darkness for the world around us.  May we be consoled and renewed by the Light who is born for us; the Incarnate Word.  His Name is Jesus the Christ.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth
of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully
receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 212)

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the
brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known
the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him
perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he
lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 212)

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to
take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure
virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made
your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed
by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and
for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 213).

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).

3rd Day of Christmas: St. John the Apostle and Evangelist of The Word

Today's Scripture Readings

Exodus 33:18-23 (NRSV)

Moses said to God, "Show me your glory, I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

Psalm 92 (BCP., p. 720)


1 John 1:1-9 (NRSV)

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 21:19b-24 (NRSV)

Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me."

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"

This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.

Blog Reflection

St. John is my favorite of the Apostles and Evangelists.  I have a special affection for St. John.  Christmas just would not be what it is for me personally, without the words of the Prologue of St. John's Gospel chapter 1:1-14.  The first letter of John later in the New Testament is not only eloquent in its form and content, but it's message about the importance of loving God and our neighbor is so very clear. 

St. John's message of The Word and love, while they hold that special attraction for me; they are also the most challenging.  I love to write the words "Love one another as I have loved you", but, when it comes to doing what they mean I am as much a hypocrite as anyone else is.  If I am a hypocrite in any way with these words, it is because of my greatest personal and spiritual challenge.  I often have very high expectations of myself.  When I am not able to meet those high expectations, I become even more self-centered.  Instead of loving another as Christ has loved me, I end up staying even more focused on myself than as I was before .  Thomas Merton in his book The Rule of St. Benedict: Initiation into the Monastic Tradition 4 tells me that in so doing I indulge my "false-sense of self."

In the Prologue to The Rule of St. Benedict, he writes, "the Lord waits for us daily to translate into action, as we should, his holy teachings.  Therefore our life span has been lengthened by way of a truce, that we may amend our misdeeds.  As the Apostle says: do you not know that the patience of God is leading you to repent (Rom 2:4)?  And indeed the Lord assures us in his love: I do not wish the death of the sinner, but that he turn back to me and live (Ezek 33:11).  (RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict in English, p.18).

How can I or anyone for that matter "translate into action, his holy teaching"?  

On this Feast of St. John the Apostle and the Evangelist, St. Augustine of Hippo gives to me (and may be you too) some kind of answer.

"Now this Word, whose flesh was so real that he could be touched by human hands, began to be flesh in the Virgin Mary's womb; but he did not begin to exist at that moment.  We know this from what John says: What existed from the beginning.  Notice how John's letter bears witness to his Gospel, which you just heard a moment ago: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.

Someone might interpret the phrase the Word of life to mean a word about Christ, rather than Christ's body itself which was touched by human hands.  But consider what comes next: and life itself was revealed.  Christ therefore is himself the Word of life" (The Liturgy of the Hours, Volume 1, Advent and Christmas Seasons, p. 1267).

In this Christmas Season as we begin returning to the real world, we are confronted with the reality of life.  There is darkness, discrimination, oppression, violence, neglect of the sick, poor and more.  We are equally confronted with our own human limitations that help us to rely more on God and less on ourselves.  We are once again brought to the reality that we are all social beings, and therefore being part of a community that embraces us as we are is essential for our salvation.

Jesus, The Word made Flesh and the call to love others by St. John is our alarming wake up call and purpose for "beginning again."

Amen.


Prayers

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light,
that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and
evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that
at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for St. John.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.238).

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully
restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may
share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our
humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Incarnation.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.252)

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Truly, Christ Taught Us to Love One Another

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness--

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,

and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Psalm 96 (BCP., p.725)


Titus 2:11-14 (NRSV)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Luke 2: 1-20 (NRSV)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

John 1:1-14 (NRSV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Blog Reflection

As I am typing this blog post, I am listening to a beautiful recording of Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night) written by Adolphe Adam and John Rutter.  Some how, the words "Truly He taught us to love one another" seem so appropriate for us on this Christmas Eve/Day.

All of the readings in the Christmas Lectionary have something to say to us.  We are a people walking through a time of intense darkness.  There are way too many people living in poverty.  People have lost jobs and income at a staggering rate.  The violence on our streets, the execution of African American young people by police, the out of control gun violence all disturb us; and rightly so.  Just like the people in the time of the Prophet Isaiah, there is a light that shines in our darkness.  A cry for peace and justice in the midst of oppression and destructiveness.  As Christians, the Light comes not by a mighty warrior with weapons drawn and an army of tanks.  It does not come in a moral code designed to determine who is in and who is out.  God's answer for the Christian was born as a tiny baby in a Manger.  A baby born in humility surrounded by humanities' refuse.  Jesus Christ is born in our vulnerable human hearts in the Word made Flesh.

The vulnerable Word of God in Jesus the Christ was not born among noble castles with the best of food to eat, a paid wet nurse, or kept warm by wealth and power.  God was born in a stable (or cave) that was cold and drafty.  Christ needed a bed to sleep in, but he got a wooden Manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.  He was greeted by shepherds, and surrounded by sheep, goats, donkeys and ox.   

Did you notice what happened and what did not?

Jesus was born in the midst of poverty, helplessness and indifference.  Did Jesus end them all?  No.  Jesus was born into all of it so that God could show us how to live among it in a holy and life-giving "way."  Christ comes to walk with us and share our experience with us.  Jesus is born to "teach us how to love one another" in all that is different about each of us.  Jesus was born so that all of us can be reborn in our Baptism "not of the flesh, nor of the will of human beings, but of God."  We are reborn in Christ so that all who "receive Him have the power to live as children of God."  It matters not whether we are black, red, brown or white.  It matters not that we are women, men or another gender.  We are all children of God because of Jesus Christ who is born on this Christmas Day.  Regardless of our sexual orientation and/or gender expression/identity; we are adopted as God's own by reason in the Word made Flesh, who is Jesus the Christ.

We gather in our churches, with our families, friends and communities to celebrate this holy day.  This holy day was made for us to celebrate our God who came among us in Christ.  Yet, in our very neighborhood some where, someone is lonely, cold, without family or friends.

In our own families there is someone who is afraid to reveal the truth that is deep within him/herself, because of how he/she may be received and/or rejected.  She/he may hear someone in the family quoting the Bible while trashing the President, a particular political party, and/or jokes making jokes about legally married same-gender couples and/or bullying LGBTQ people/youth.

Somewhere there is a member of the family with a drinking problem.  Somewhere, a friend or family member is terrified of someone in their gathering who is drunk, and cannot stop themselves.

Perhaps a college student has come home with his/her girl/boy friend who is an illegal immigrant; while someone at the Christmas dinner table talks about the President's executive action on immigration reform.

In a home in our neighborhood, a family is grieving the loss of a family member through gun violence, cancer or dementia.

Why do I bring this up on this holy eve/day?

Because Jesus Christ was born into our uncertainty.  Christ is among us, weeping in the cold and bitterness of our prejudices; to call us to see, know and love Christ present in one another.   He came to teach us "how to love one another."  Jesus was born to call us to the ministry of healing and reconciliation with one another. 

Finally, Christ is born as God's perfect revelation of God's Self among us to show "us how to love one another" in a continuous and self giving relationship.   In this relationship, God pours out God's perfect love for all of us in the Son of God who is Jesus the Christ.

For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

As we celebrate this Christmas Eve/Day/Night in joy and wonder, may we be open to the relationship of God with us in Christ as He teaches us "to love one another."

A Merry and Holy Christmas Day and Season to you all.


Amen.


Prayers

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth
of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully
receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
 
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the
brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known
the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him
perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he
lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

 Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to
take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure
virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made
your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed
by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Collects for Christmas.  The Book of Common Prayer., pages 212-213).

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost: The Time for Waiting and Watching is Now

Today's Scripture Readings

Wisdom 6:12-16 (NRSV)

Wisdom is radiant and unfading,

and  she is easily discerned by those who love her,

and is found by those who seek her.

She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.

One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,

for she will be found sitting at the gate.

To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,

And one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,

because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,

and she graciously appears to them in their paths,

and meets them in every thought.

Psalm 70 (BCP., p.682)


1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NRSV)

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, `Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, `No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, `Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Blog Reflection

It is hard to believe where we are in our Liturgical calendar.  In just three weeks we will embark on a new Liturgical Cycle.  This Year A in which we have been reading from the Gospel of Matthew is winding down.   As is the Tradition of the Church we come to that time of the Year when we focus on the return of Christ at the end of the age.  All of the Lectionary Readings beginning mid September and up to this point have been slowly moving us to where we are now.   Now we pick up the pace as we prepare to celebrate Christ the King, Thanksgiving Day and the First Sunday of Advent.

It is prophetic that this Sundays Lectionary begins with Wisdom.  I find it humbling that we are introduced to what the Lord wants us to hear begins with the feminine nature of the Divine.  It has yet to be completely clarified if God even has a gender.  The Tradition of the Church has unquestionably been leaning toward the worst kind of male chauvinism.  Is it any wonder that one of the products of the Protestant Reformation was to promote the King James Version of the Bible that omitted the Apocrypha with its references to the Wisdom of God understood as a feminine quality?   Now as the Church begins a movement towards a greater acceptance of transgender individuals, our greatest hurdle is learning to let go of how we perceive a particular gender and what stereotypes we ascribe to them.

The writer of Wisdom tells us to be prepared for Wisdom to give us a firmer grounding in life than trying to do with out Her.  She moves in the hearts of those who have answered the desire of God for us to draw closer to God.  Once our hearts and souls are awoken to the stir of the Wisdom of God within us, and we give ourselves over to all She wants to do; we will discover a new quality in our relationship with God and others.  Wisdom seeks out those who seek a deeper union with God.  A union with God that is transparent because of a growing heart of compassion for those among us who remain second class citizens.   That heart should expand with the Law of our God of mercy being written by the grace of the Holy Spirit.  This kind of Wisdom is a breeding ground for the contemplative vision of God, by seeing all things and people from God's perspective.

I recently asked a Priest. "Where does the whole idea of watching and waiting in the Season of Advent come from?"   His answer concerned me not so much with what he did say; but what he did not.  In terms of the Liturgy of the Church; the watching and waiting that we are invited to through this reading from Matthew that will lead us into Advent; comes from the Benedictine Daily Office of Vigils.  Or, as we like to say in the Episcopal/Anglican Tradition, Matins.  Matins derives its meaning from the Latin word, "Matutinum" or "Matutinae" meaning "belonging to the morning."   It retains parts of the Night Office of Vigils.  In addition, Matins includes parts of Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Prime (meaning "First Hour").   The "watch" is referred to for example in Psalm 3:5 "I lie down and go to sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me."  In Psalm 16:8 we read, "I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night."  Another example is Psalm 22:2, "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; by night as well, but I find no rest."  Lastly, Psalm 63:6, "When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches."   St. Benedict retained the Office of Vigils from the writings of St. John Cassian and the Desert Mothers and Fathers.  

The readings from the New Testament and the Gospel are about watching and waiting for the return of Christ.   A wise Christian will keep watch with their lamps lit because we do not know at what hour Christ will return. 

There are a fair number of touching stories that point us to what this Gospel means.  I cannot recall the name of it (or them), but in one of them a man was expecting Jesus for Christmas dinner.   As he was preparing the feast, there were several knocks at the door.  He turned each of them away (I think), saying that he was waiting for Jesus to come to dinner.   When Jesus finally arrived, the meal was not quite finished.  As the guy was finishing, he was apologizing to Jesus; who told him that He already showed up in those who previously knocked and were turned away.  Therefore what made Jesus think the man would be ready to receive Him now if he wasn't then?

As Christians we always tend to have our lamps lit with plenty of oil to fuel them; so long as we gather in our churches to draft rules or canons about who we keep out of the Church.  We keep our lights on for Bible studies that only go so far as to move us beyond our self-absorption that won't let us welcome people of other faiths, sexual orientations, political parties or doctrinal diversity.   We meet together to discuss being "pastoral" while gossiping about who is not fit for the pastoral ministry of the Church.  There is something about her/his behavior that makes us uncomfortable and nervous as to how we will be perceived.   This is often the case for individuals with mental illness issues and/or autistic conditions.  Others who might experience this would be "illegal" immigrants or those who are homeless. The lights of opportunity are lit for those who give us large cash donations, but they are set very dim when Christ comes in the poor, lonely and disenfranchised to offer only themselves.  

Today, Jesus Christ challenges all of us to remember our Baptismal Vows in our watching and waiting.  All of us are invited to the wedding banquet that is the Holy Eucharist and in service to Christ and the Church.  Each of us have gifts to offer, to be received with respect and reverence for the Presence of Christ in each other.  Christians are encouraged in this Gospel to make room in our churches; as well as in society for the inclusive Reign of God.  Our prejudices along with our silent voices in the face of injustice, violence, poverty, sickness and oppression suggest our foolishness in thinking that there is time enough to buy more oil; because Jesus certainly won't come while we are away.  

The time for watching, waiting, praying and responding to Christ is now.   May we search for union with God in a bonded relationship; that is self evident in our devotion to strive for peace and justice among all people, and to uphold the dignity of every human being.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might
destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God
and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may
purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again
with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his
eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 27. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).

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).

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

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: Season, Shine, Fulfill

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 58:1-9a (NRSV)

Thus says the high and lofty one
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
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.

Psalm 112  (BCP., p.755)


1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (NRSV)

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him" --

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

Matthew 5:13-20 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Blog Reflection

As wonderful as it was that we celebrated The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple last Sunday, we missed the wonderful Reading from Matthew 5:1-12 which would have included the Beatitudes.   The central message is that Blessed are those who recognize their need for God. God will satisfy such a need by God's abundant grace.  Being poor in Spirit, means relying on God's mercy and faithfulness.  Recognizing that all that we could hope for, or need, can be found in God.  God's mercy, righteousness, a peacemaker, and those persecuted in Jesus' Name.

Today, we are presented with three interesting images.  We are told that we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world and that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law of God.  

Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth.  A good interpretation is that we are the seasoning for the Gospel in the world.  The Gospel without being transparent in the lives of Christians, can become pretty useless.  The Gospel may be full of beautiful stories, sermons, parables and events.  But those words alone are not enough to transform the world, if they are left abstract on the page.  Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God made real in the world.  There is not just a stone that tells us what God has done, or a parchment with a lesson.  In Jesus, that which God speaks, lives, breaths, walks, talks, heals and changes the lives of those around Him.  Jesus invites us as Christians to live what we are hearing Him teach us.  If what we hear Jesus teach us does not become the seasoning that adds a fantastic aroma to our lives, we become tasteless and useless.  We become unable to do more than tell a good story, and become a loud mouth know-it-all.  

Jesus who is called in St. John's Gospel as the Light of the world, tells us that we are the light of the world.  In other words, we are the image of Christ in the world around us.  If we take what Jesus teaches and does to heart, and give it life by how we live and worship God in our families, jobs, communities, and homes, that light shows the glory of God.   If we allow Jesus to be darkened by our personal prejudices, arrogance and a false sense of self, it is the same as putting a lamp underneath a table where it is of little value to those who need to see light in their lives.

Jesus then identifies Himself as the fulfillment of the Law.  The Law of God, is love of God, neighbor and self.  Jesus is telling us, that He Himself fulfills this as He is closest to God as God's Son, and that we are also to draw closer to God through Jesus.   Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.  To live the meaning of the love of God, neighbor and self, not just from an exterior experience, but from the inside out. 

A month or so ago, I had the opportunity to do Lectio Divina on the beginning of Chapter 4: On the Tools for Good Works, from The Rule of St. Benedict.

First of all, love the Lord God with your whole heart, your whole soul and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27) (RB 1980, p. 26).  

My experience of actually spending time meditating on these words in my heart, changed my life.  Instead of reading it, or hearing it in a Liturgy, the words become part of me.  I am able to meditate on what God expects of me, when God asks me to love God, my neighbor as myself within my own heart.  When what we read goes from the head to the heart, it can transform our relationship with God and others.

What St. Benedict is telling us, that the beginning of our doing good in the world, begins with God's commandment to love.   To recognize God as the beginning of all love, as well as the purpose and destiny of love.   Whatever good we might wish to accomplish, if we are not able to love, we will do so with no good reason if love is not the driving energy of what we do.  (See 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 NRSV).

When Christians make the choice to preach a gospel of hate for people of different races, cultures, abilities, the poor, LGBT people, women etc, it is a gospel that is tasteless, dark and contrary to the Law of God's love.

When Christians suggest that gun owners are being persecuted by a movement such as Episcopalians Against Gun Violence, what is happening is that the Holy Spirit is moving upon people to change their ways with regards to justifying horrible violence as a way to make a political point, and those who are resisting, are running to the "we are being persecuted" as a defense mechanism.   The Gospel in this instance, because useless salt and lights that are burning out.  Because violence in any form is never the will of God.  Not even to defend a particular belief of Christians, or to suggest that all other points of view in Christianity are wrong, while others are completely right. 

If Christians are to make a difference in the world, where justice is regularly watered down by corporate dollars for political campaigns, and missionaries of hate transport homophobia to countries like Uganda, Nigeria and Russia, it is so important for us to be true to the Jesus who is compassionate, inclusive and merciful. 

In our prayer and work, if we can support a diverse Church and society, the Gospel will be transparent and living, giving salt, light and fulfillment to all who observe and interact with Christ in us.

Amen.


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
to 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.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.216).

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the
earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those
who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people
everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations
into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten
the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.257).

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).

Third Sunday after the Epiphany: The Light is Calling Us

Today's Scripture  Readings

Isaiah 9:1-4 (NRSV)

There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness--

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Psalm 27 (BCP., p. 617)


1 Corinthians 10-18 (NRSV)

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For 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. 

Matthew 4:12-23 (NRSV)

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:


"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--
the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."


From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."


As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.


Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Blog Reflection

If the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures gives you the feeling of having heard that not too long ago, that means you have been paying attention particularly well.   If your response to it is "Oh that again!"  It could mean that you might want to look at how you are inclining the ears of your heart to God speaking within you.  It is all too easy for any of us to ignore the Spirit calling us again and again.  All of us do it.  It is the Holy Spirit asking us to open our hearts just a bit more to hear Her speak more to the ears within us.

I think the times we are living in, could be compared to living in a darkness. 

The frigid temperatures all over the United States are brutal for everyone. 

Unemployment insurance has been left unattended to, many are without funds to care for their needs. 

Coptic Christians in Egypt continue to face persecution. 

The people in West Virginia and Ohio are living with polluted drinking water.  Had the water been polluted as an act of international terrorism, we would be at war with what ever terrorist organization was responsible within days.   We wouldn't get a word in edge wise with Congress or even perhaps our President to stop it.  However, getting our government to respond with a sense of urgency to hold a multimillion dollar corporation accountable, and deliver clean water and health care, is just held up by politics and corporate lobbyists.  

The violence towards LGBT people in Russia, Nigeria, Uganda and in the media in the US continues to be brutal.  An amendment to limit the freedom to marry is being debated in the State of Indiana, with all the venum of heterosexism, with all the fury of Biblical literalists continuing full of smear campaigns with false information about LGBT people.

All of these, and others that I cannot list, speak to us of people walking in darkness, needing to see a light in their own hearts and in the world around us.  You would think that we never celebrated Christmas a month ago.  What has happened?

The Israelites were under assault from surrounding countries in the reading from Isaiah.  It was believed that they were being punished by God for not following Yahweh.  In many ways, I think then, and now, God really does not need to do too much to punish us for much.  We punish ourselves all on our own.  God simply watches, cries, and won't intervene so long as we refuse to put our trust in God to lead us to better ways of being, loving and caring for one another.  So long as we give ourselves over to attitudes of prejudice towards others, and abuses of ourselves, without reaching out for God for healing and reconciliation, God calls, but God waits for us to answer and walk with the Most High to a time and place, where those of us who walk in darkness, see a greater Light and respond in faith and hope in that Light.

The reading from 1 Corinthians is a bit difficult for us Anglicans.  We are the via media. The middle way.  Our practice is that we pray in common, even if we do not believe in common.  Yet, Paul is calling us to a unity of some kind that is not so much based on what we believe or think, but, Who it is we are responding to.  As people who gather for worship with the Eucharist as our center, we recognize that Jesus Christ is the point of our unity.  All of us have been baptized into Christ, and we come together as one people in Him.  Jesus Christ is the focal point of our prayer, worship and Holy Communion.  Through Him, we welcome each other, and that is every one, to join us in praise, supplication and the reception of the Real Presence of Christ in the Bread and Wine that is the Holy Eucharist.  Paul is telling us to listen more deeply to Christ within ourselves and one another.   So that we may grow in Charity and community in Christ, and serve others in His Name.

We continue in this Year of the Gospel of Matthew who focuses us on the connection of Christ with the prophesies of the Hebrew Scriptures.   As Christians, we believe that Christ is that Light that we have seen in the darkness.  St. John in the prologue to his Gospel describes Jesus as the Light that came into the world, and the darkness did not overwhelm it. (See John 1:1-5, NRSV).  

It is not enough that the Light came to deliver us.  In the calling of those first disciples, we see that Christ came on the scene to ask us to follow Him.  Like many of us, the disciples received their call to follow the Lord while they were busy at the work they were doing.  This in and of itself gives us a very important insight.   God often calls us to serve Christ in one another, in the ordinary circumstances of our lives.  It is up to us to be listening for the Lord's call in our lives in the here and now.  The response of those first disciples to drop what they had in hand to follow Jesus, is indicative of what obedience is about.  When the Lord calls us in the midst of our ordinariness of life, are we listening for Christ, and are we willing to follow Him with a willing and joyful heart?  

I can tell you that from the point of being a Novice Monastic, this is as much a struggle for experienced Religious as it is for Novices and those who are ordained clergy.   In The Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 5, he emphasizes the importance of obedience with a cheerful and joyful heart.  Well, all of us at one point or another, receives a request from a superior of some kind to do something that makes us anything, but joyful.  Most of us are much too weak in the soul, and require a lot of work with the Spirit to reform our hearts and attitudes.   In the book entitled The Rule of St. Benedict: Initiation into the Monastic Tradition 4, by Thomas Merton and edited by Patrick F. O'Connell, Merton emphases the importance of using a weakness of our souls as an opportunity to encounter the transforming grace of God.   While doing what we are told fulfills the Vow of Obedience, it is important to be  honest with God about our "poverty of spirit" that keeps us from following the Lord's will in a spirit of generosity and gladness.  And to allow the grace of God to convert and change our hearts to follow Christ willingly through the instructions of another who is appointed above us. (See page 113).

Here is the challenge for Christians, the Church and society in this Year of 2014. 

Christ the Light comes to call all of us to serve Him in the poor, the neglected, the unemployed, the LGBT person, the pregnant woman, the person experiencing racism or immigration issues.   Christ calls us to serve Him in these, others and each other with gladness and readiness.  He also calls on the poor, the LGBT, the pregnant woman, people of different races, religions, languages, etc to serve Christ in the Church and society.  We may be tempted to just be doing business as usual, which for some of us is making the Church an exclusive social club.  But Christ is most often calling us to make the Church and society into an inclusive and receptive place for diversity.  Christ is challenging us to be a voice for those who feel that they have no voice, to pray and act on behalf of others who cannot for themselves.  For whatever reason.  We are not called to make their burdens greater and heavier.  We are called to serve Christ, by walking with them, as He walks with each one of us.

Are we listening for Christ to call us, to be a light for others in the world?

What fears might we be clinging to that keep us from responding to Christ's call in our lives?

Today and the days going forward from this cold, dark, January of 2014, may we answer with the prayer of the Psalmist in Psalm 27.

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then, shall I fear?

Amen.


Prayers

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.215).

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

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

The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ: The Light that Shines in the Darkness

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 60:1-6 (NRSV)

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

Psalm 72 (BCP., p.685)


Ephesians 3:1-12 (NRSV)

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

`And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Blog Reflection

The Christmas trees have been taken down.  The holiday light displays have been turned off and put away for another year.   How interesting that our Scripture readings for this feast of the Epiphany begins with the canticle about light, which we pray whenever we use Canticle 11 on page 87 in The Book of Common Prayer.  The Light that has dawned upon the world is Jesus Christ. 

This yearly Season of the Epiphany, celebrates the manifestation of God in Christ to all of humankind.  The visit of the Magi, and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh is just one of the mysteries through which Christ revealed the glory of God.  The Epiphany also includes the Baptism of Christ which we will celebrate this upcoming Sunday, and the miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine at the marriage of Cana found in John 2:1-11.  The Season of Epiphany will conclude eight Sundays later when we recall Christ's Transfiguration.  The antiphon we use during Matins for the Invitatory Psalm is: The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him. (BCP., p.81).

Br. Mark Brown of the Society of St. John the Evangelist comments today.

The Magi have an epiphany of Jesus—they see an infant that is more than an infant. The disciples have epiphanies of Jesus—they come to see a man that is more than a man. We might call the entire New Testament a book of epiphanies and the Christian religion a religion of epiphanies.

This Epiphany for many of us in the northern Midwest of the United States occurs on the coldest days in many, many years.  Minnesota right now has a temperature of -20 degrees outside, but it feels like -42.   Many places all over the US are feeling colder temps than normal.  Yet, a greater injustice still, is that the U.S. Supreme Court has just put a stay on marriage equality in Utah.  The cold weather brings with it more heterosexism.

The good news of Epiphany is that Jesus Christ is that Light that shines in our darkness.  He comes bringing the manifestation of God's glory, so that all people every where may come to God and find salvation and hope.  Jesus is not just for us Christians, and His revelation of God reaches far beyond our prejudices and sins.  The Light of Jesus, illuminates the darkness in the bitter cold of our hearts and lives, as God reaches out to humankind in unconditional and all-inclusive love.  

Like the Magi, it is important that as we leave the Manger, that we too return home by a different route.  Let us not return to our homes by the way of the tyranny of oppression, injustice and discrimination towards any person because of racism, sexism, heterosexism or any other reason.  All of those, lead us into a deeper darkness.  In the Magi's visit with the gifts, we have seen an immense Light revealing the glory of God as shepherds were welcomed, the poor and those considered outcasts found a place to welcome the Christ Child.  Therefore, let us leave with our eyes opened to others around us who are in need of community, friendship and an inclusive Church and society.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son
to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by
faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to
face; 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.214).

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 Day of Christmas: Love is of the Light. Hate is of the Darkness

Today's Scripture Reading

1 John 2: 7-11 (NRSV)

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness. 

Blog Reflection

There are some theologians who think that we should set aside the language of darkness vs. light.   They suggest that both are terms that are much too outdated.

I tend to both agree and disagree.  I think many things like this are not a matter of either/or, but, both/and. 

To suggest that God is not able to deal with darkness because it is the evil one's "territory" so to speak, is much too limiting of who God is.   There are also those wonderful verses in Psalm 139:10,11 that read:  "If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night," darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike."

Whatever our opinion of darkness vs light might be, I think there is room to agree that hate is the product of some kind of darkness.  A darkness that can be compared to the inability to see clearly what our attitudes are producing when hate is at work in and through us. 

Just recently I had a conversation about the words people use when discussing minorities.  An individual who has her/his prejudices towards a non-white person, but does not want to be exposed for such, will say something like: "I am not a racist, but I just think black people want too much from us".   Someone who has issues with sexism will say: "I really love women, but, they belong in the kitchen or at home with the children."  I heard someone say of a transgender woman once: "I am not against someone having gender reassignment surgery, but she still looks like a man."   It is so common to hear someone say of lesbian and gay people: "I have nothing against lesbian or gay people, but, I just do not think they should be allowed to get married."

When Jesus was born of Mary, he was not born of a couple who conceived him in wedlock.  He was not born in the middle of Canterbury Cathedral in England, or St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  He was not Caucasian.   He was born in a middle eastern country of Jewish origin, and definitely was not white.  He and his parents were refugees in Egypt during the slaughter of the Holy Innocents.  He was welcomed by shepherds and given gifts by wise men from the east.   He was baptized by a man who was dressed in camels hair, and ate locusts and honey.  He loved people that were so often unloved.  This is how Jesus brought the light of God into the world, in the midst of the darkness. 

As Christians celebrating the arrival of Christ, we are called to do nothing less than to welcome the stranger.  We should look to the example of Christ to receive the refugee and love the unlovable. Whether someone is black, copper skinned, brown or white, female or male, LGBT or straight and/or cisgender, sick or healthy, poor or wealthy, Christian or some other religion, it doesn't matter.  What matters is that we are all created, redeemed and sanctified by God's work of salvation in Christ.   That is why we must love one another and live in the light of Christ.


Prayers

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth
of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully
receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Nativity, Book of Common Prayer, p. 212).

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

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ: God Came to Us In Christ

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 9: 2-7 (NRSV)

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness--

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,

and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Psalm 96 (BCP. p.725)


Titus 2: 11-14 (NRSV)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Luke 2: 1-20 (NRSV)

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

John 1: 1-14 (NRSV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Blog Reflection

What is the difference between an acquaintance and a friend?

An acquaintance will show up for dinner or afternoon tea.  We will meet our acquaintance(s) for the occasional drink at the soda pop case or coffee shop.  An acquaintance is often present to us in our great moments, and will often give you compliment after compliment.

A friend knows and accepts who you are on  the inside and outside. A friend shows up for the moments of your most cherished of celebrations.  But, a friend will also tell you not only what you might want to hear, but also things you probably do not want to hear.  Nevertheless, you trust what your friend has to say.  Your friend shows up when you are most vulnerable and feeling at your lowest.  Your friend arrives and lends the greatest help in the midst of your messes and makes herself/himself vulnerable to you when they know you need them the most.

On this Christmas Night/Day God came to us in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son.  In the Word made flesh, God does better than to be the best friend to humankind, God shows God's friendship with humankind by becoming human and kind at the same time.  Despite our continued refusal to try to get along with each other, and even though we cannot seem to make up our minds as to whether we want to mature in grace or not, God does not wait around for us to decide without giving us that sign of how much God loves each and every one of us.  God comes to us, in the midst of our mess.  God comes to make God's Self vulnerable and helpless.  "Take care of me" God says as the Christ Child lays there in the midst of a cave full of animal mess, without even a bed to sleep on.  Only a manger is able to be a resting place for Jesus.  But, God is no the least bit concerned about that. God only knows that in Jesus, he is helpless and must rely on Mary and Joseph to provide him with a place to sleep and safety from a cold winter's night.  Jesus does not have a royal bed chamber to sleep in, with servants waiting to bring him the best of the best.  Jesus has shepherds come and pay homage to him, with a chorus of angels singing "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God's people on earth."  Jesus has come to us as the friendship of God, to bring with him God's unconditional love made vulnerable and available in our own helplessness.  God comes in Christ, to share with us the news that by God's friendship, approaching God through Christ is not only possible, it is real, it is life-saving and redeeming.

Here on this holy night/day, we can stop here for a while to rejoice and celebrate this amazing event.  God came just when we needed Jesus to arrive.  We are invited to come and adore Jesus to welcome him into our hearts, families and communities.  It is okay if you are not properly dressed.  It is okay if you are not white, wealthy, employed, straight, a man, a powerful person or some person who is most privileged in society or the Church.  You are welcome into God's presence as Christ becomes one with all humanity, in all of our circumstances with the opportunity to find healing and wholeness, in the power of God's peace.

In a recent article about the horrible shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Bishop Ian T. Douglas wrote:

And this God who is with us, the Christ-child, is not a God insulated from the hurt and pain of the world. No, Emmanuel is a God who knows suffering; who was born to a homeless teenage mom and whose birth was attended by barn animals and marginalized sheep tenders. This God-with-us and his parents would then become refugees in Egypt to escape the slaughter of other innocent children at the hand of King Herod. And the same God-with-us, Jesus, would die a torturous death upon the cross as a religious and political revolutionary. We Christians, however, hold onto the truth that three days later Jesus rose from the dead. When confronted with the question "How could God let this happen?" we can proclaim that God is a God who is with us, who suffers with us, and who embodies the promise and reality of new life in the face of death.

The Christ event at Christmas is not going to change our world from violence to complete peace.  Injustice, oppression, inequality and bias will still be here with us, as long as we think Christ is our free pass for doing nothing.  God came to us in Christ, to help us know that doing world changing things in the Name of God for the benefit of all humankind is possible, with God's help.  What can change is our own personal sense of peace with God and asking God to help us to discern what role we should play in renewing the face of the earth by the power of the Holy Spirit.   Each person will do some thing that God has kept hidden from the world, only to be carried out by each one of us, individually and in community with others. 

In his Christmas message to the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, Rt. Rev. Brian Prior IX Bishop of Minnesota wrote:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it . . ."

So proclaims the Gospel of John.

Those searchers, who undoubtedly traveled through challenging landscapes and situations, pressed forward — because of the promise of a star in the sky.

Amidst cold dark days or deep personal tragedies, we are reminded by these sacred words that the light of Christ will shine through. As such, we must press forth toward the light.

But this light is not out in some distant galaxy — it is within each one of us. As John of the Cross writes in the "Living Flame Of Love:"

How gently and lovingly
You wake in my heart,
Where in secret you dwell alone;
And in your sweet breathing,
Filled with good and glory,
How tenderly You swell my heart with love.

As we celebrate Christmas with friends, family, Church communities and ourselves, may the Light of Jesus Christ shine through us to renew God's friendship with all people.   May our spending time with the Christ Child, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the angels, give us the joy to sing Gloria in excelsis Deo. 

Amen


Prayers

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth
of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully
receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, p. 212).


O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the
brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known
the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him
perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he
lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, p.212).


Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to
take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure
virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made
your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed
by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and
for ever. Amen. (Collect for Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, p. 213).