Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 20: Silence, Listening and Community

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 11:18-20 (NRSV)

It was the LORD who made it known to me, and I knew;

then you showed me their evil deeds.

But I was like a gentle lamb

led to the slaughter.

And I did not know it was against me

that they devised schemes, saying,

"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,

let us cut him off from the land of the living,

so that his name will no longer be remembered!"

But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge righteously,

who try the heart and the mind,

let me see your retribution upon them,

for to you I have committed my cause.

Psalm 54 (BCP., p.659)


James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a (NRSV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Mark 9:30-37 (NRSV)

Jesus and his disciples went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

Blog Reflection

Two of the most important hallmarks of Benedictine Monasticism is silence and listening.  If we take the word silent and change the letters around we will arrive at the word listen.  The purpose of silence and listening is not just for that sake of our personal selves.  It is also for the good of the whole Community.   In Chapter 6 of The Rule of St. Benedict, he writes about that just as it is important to keep silent about many good things, it is that much more important to keep our silence with things that are not so good.  After reading the above sentence, we can easily ask ourselves the question, "By what measure do we decide what is good and bad?"  It is easy to say that we use the Gospel alone, but each of us has a different understanding of what that means.

There is another author who wrote a lot about silence, speech and community.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his famous book Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community, wrote about what we say within community can be a reflection of who thinks they are the greatest or the least.  He also points out, the impact on community when when speak to one another, without listening more deeply to each other.   If we are not listening to one another, what kind of a reflection is it on how well we are listening to God?

Jesus finds Himself with these very issues and more in the exchange between the Disciples argument about who is the greatest or the least.  This argument is all tied up in not so much of who they are, but how they see themselves in relationship to God and each other.  Jesus' answer to all of this; is that as He did not come among us to declare Himself to be the greatest of all, only because of who He is; then those who claim to follow Him must be ready to serve others with the the same humility.  To give of ourselves in serving others, we become the Presence of Jesus in our world.

Christians of all sects, theological and social positions are in a battle of who's version of the Christian Faith is the greatest.  While Christians are doing this, those who really need to see the goodness of Christ in their lives are being left to wonder if it even exists.  The heart of who Jesus was/is is about serving the least among us so that the mercy and love of God can be a living reality for all Humankind.  These include the confused, the sick, the lonely, the marginalized, the dying, the ignorant and the arrogant.   It is about our relationships.  It is not about what we achieve for ourselves.  It is what we give to and for those who are wanting what others have in excess, while they can barely get their hands around a morsel.

Jesus challenges each of us to see and serve each other with respect for the dignity of every human person, and the nurturing of the Community of God's people.  This is a very difficult task.  It means that we must allow ourselves to be displaced by The Holy Spirit and redirected again and again in ways that are not completely comfortable, yet lead us through our opportunities for growth; to the ministry of healing and reconciliation.  The world needs Christians who live this life of Jesus. 

As politicians focus more on their campaigns, their billion dollar donors, and patronizing those who side with them and trashing those who don't; the real people and their needs for equal rights, personal safety, and a sense of belonging get brushed aside.  Today's Gospel invites all of us to be where the need for the unconditional and all-inclusive love of God brings hope with life-giving potential.

Are there any among us ready to fulfill the call of Jesus to serve the community, because we were silent long enough to listen for that call?

Amen.


Prayers

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 20, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

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 and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for The Poor and Neglected.  the Book of Common Prayer, p. 825).

Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 17: What Comes from the Heart?

Today's Scripture Readings

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 (NRSV)
 

Moses said: So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God with which I am charging you.

You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!" For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?

But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children.

Psalm 15 (BCP., p.599)


James 1:17-27 (NRSV)

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (NRSV)

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

'This people honors me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me;

in vain do they worship me,

teaching human precepts as doctrines.'

You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition."

Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

Blog Reflection

I have had many times during my life in which I found myself in a place of confusion about what was going on inside of me.  No time was more confusing for me than when I was in the process of moving from my Protestant Evangelical way of thinking/believing and practicing to become a Roman Catholic.  The Late Father Ralph D. Tetrault would often listen to me as I struggled with this and that.  At one point I was talking to him about something that was very deep in my heart.  As I tried to explain it, Fr. Tetrault said to me, "No! No!  Only God knows what is truly in your heart.  I cannot tell you what is there.  No one else can tell you what is there.  Only God knows what is in your heart.  You must learn above all else to trust what God is doing within your heart."  These words have proven to be true on many, many occasions.

In our worship of God, there is the tendency for us to pay so much attention to whether our rituals are just right, and movements are what they should be; so that we can justify ignoring what is going on in the heart.  I write this blog post full of guilt of any number of times I have done so.  "Did I bless myself during the the Sanctus at "Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord.."?  All the while, the One I pronounce blessed with my lips is drawing me closer to God's Self through God's Holy Essence from within.  God does not require that I be someone I am not, nor someone other than who God has made me.  God only asks me to do what Saint Benedict wrote in the beginning of the Prologue to The Rule.  "Listen my child. Incline the ears of your heart."

We also need to give those questioning Jesus about what His Disciples are doing a little slack.  They have been following a particular set of rituals for as long as they could remember.  Whether the ritual is just that, or flows from their hearts, it is a deep part of their worship of God.  Who are we to second guess them?  

Jesus is saying to us, what James is telling us in our Second Reading today.  If we think our rituals are ends in and of themselves, and do not allow the grace of God to transform us, and through us transform the world around us; we are the ones who limit what God can do. 

The Christian Religion is chock full of Christians who pay God lip service.  We certainly do not need to be telling other religious traditions such as Judaism and Islam to turn to Christianity for a more redeeming faith.  If Christians continue to present our Faith as if it is nothing more than a wealthy enterprise of political agendas and the marginalization of others; what makes the Faith so attractive to anyone else?  

While so many Christians are so determined to make abortion, gay marriage the infallibility of the Bible and winning elections as the only reason as to why our Faith means anything; Christians are allowing ourselves to miss many important things that are far more damaging.  Frank Powell wrote a very compelling blog post entitled 9 Sins the Church is Okay With.   Those sins Powell focuses on are fear, worry, gluttony, apathy, flattery, comfort, consumerism, patriotism and lying.  These certainly fall under the category of things that come from within.  They suggest that we are not satisfied with trusting in God to feed our hungry souls.  This alone makes our meditating on Jesus as the Bread of Life over these past five weeks very important. 

Jesus challenges us to worship God from our hearts and allow the love and mercy of God to flow out and in.  As we gather as worshiping Christian communities, we do not do so alone.  We do them with other Christians near and far.  We celebrate the life of Jesus in Word and Sacrament from within our often wounded and weary hearts; longing for God to refresh, bless and re-energize us for the work of hospitality, healing and reconciliation with our neighbors and families.  We receive from God as we engage in worship, prayer and celebration; the confirmation of God's love in our hearts and the mission to speak to the lonely, the prejudiced, the oppressed and the hurting.  We are given direction to listen intentionally to the stories others tell of how they are searching for and finding God in those places where it is so difficult for us to see God and listen to the Spirit.  We discover that we are not walking the course alone, but with the help of others that are going our way.  Trying to follow the Way of Jesus to learn compassion for the suffering, the poor, the sick and those who are thirsting just to be included in the Church and society.

May our worship of God bring us clarity to what God is saying within our hearts, so that we may together serve Christ in others who are different from ourselves.

Amen.


Prayers

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

O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the
spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw
near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind,
that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may
worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.  (Prayer Before Worship.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 833).

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

Third Sunday After Pentecost: Listening From the Heart and the Mustard Tree

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 (NRSV)

Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.

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


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

Psalm 20 (BCP., p.608)


2 Corinthians 5:6-17 (NRSV)

We are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.  For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Mark 4:26-34 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come."

He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Blog Reflection

I have written the words before.  They are such powerful words.  Yet, even after they have been read, written and/or heard; they still move people.  Well, here they are again.

"Listen, my son, to your master's precepts, and incline the ear of your heart. (Prologue of The Rule of St. Benedict).

God is so often trying to get our attention through life, through our relationships and experiences.  God seeks to speak with us from within the depths of our whole selves.  When we listen with the ears of our heart, we can enter into the laughter, tears, joys and fears of God through one another.  Most likely God is telling us through the ears of the heart of our stories that basically say,  "Hey, I am here.  I want you to know that I am here."

In their book, Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love, Second Edition, Lonni Collins Pratt and the late Fr. Daniel Homan, OSB tell us, 

"To Benedict, listening is not the same as intellectual comprehension.  Listening, as Benedict understood it, is a special kind of deep attentiveness to all of life.  Benedict understood that we can live in ways that either dull or sharpen this attentiveness.  Benedict's Rule is a guide to sharpening the ears of the heart." (Page 259).

To listen for God within the ears of the heart is about allowing them to be moved by God in such a way, that there is no analyzing or classifying.  All that is there is God loving us and calling us to love one another.

The Reading from 1 Samuel about Samuel anointed David, and God "knows what is in the heart" is the kind of listening that St. Benedict had in mind.  It is enough to allow ourselves to be open to hearing what God has to say to us through one another, and to respond to the presence of God with love and faith as we embrace each other.  When we listen, God does amazing things in our lives.  We can do more than hear of how people are affected by oppression and prejudice; we can actually experience what that is like from within the depths of ourselves and seek God's will to be part of the solution.

When we listen from the heart, the seed of God's word gets sown into us.  That seed can be very small, but as we listen and contemplate God's presence, that seed can grow in to something that becomes attractive to everyone and brings hope where it appears that hope is lost.  When we actually listen to peoples' stories and respond in love, God's word gets planted in new hearts for potential growth.

Just look at what happened in the mid 1970's when The Episcopal Church began opening up the small seed of inclusion for women to be ordained, and LGBTQ people to be recognized as holy people.   Though that tree has grown and been cut, and new branches added, it is something that many others look to for an example of how individuals can believe in the Gospel and live it in everyday life.  We now accept LGBT people as Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and we have a Rite to bless same-gender relationships.   In a couple of weeks, at General Convention, The Episcopal Church will once again gather to share our stories of why (or why not) we should take the next step and change the Canons in The Book of Common Prayer so that same-gender couples can be recognized as being married in the Church.  People will come with their stories about why the Canon should be changed, and why it should not be changed.  As difficult as it is with all of our hopes and emotions about the subject of marriage equality, we will need to listen deeply as people tell their stories and seek the Holy Spirit as to how The Episcopal Church should respond.  There will be those who will agree with what is decided, there will be those who will disagree.  In the end, the important thing is that we listen to each other tell their stories and remember we are responding to God's presence in them as to where the Spirit may be leading us.

As marriage equality has been becoming the law in many States, individuals have been telling us their stories about what it means to be able to marry the person they love with the full approval of their civil government.  We have also been listening as LGBTQ people continue to struggle with the issue of religion.  Yet, we have seen the Presbyterian Church USA decide that their same-gender couples will be married.  The Scottish Episcopal Church is beginning to study their Canons to see if they can make a change.  The Spirit seems to be moving, not only for the sake of marriage equality, but so that those who are telling their stories of what it is like to have their relationships on a second class status can finally feel that they have been heard.  The tree of an inclusive Episcopal Church, continues to grow, and that too is God speaking to the ears of our hearts so that the Reign of God expands and embraces all people.


Amen.


Prayers

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast
faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim
your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with
compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen.  (Proper 6.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.230).

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

Second Sunday After the Epiphany: Listen and Follow

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (NRSV)

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Psalm 139: 1-5, 12-17 (BCP., p.794).


1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NRSV)

 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food," and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, "The two shall be one flesh." But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

John 1:43-51 (NRSV)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Blog Reflection

A good contemplative loves the story of Samuel and his experience of hearing God's voice.  He is awoken by a voice calling his name.  He thinks Eli called him, but, it was not Eli.  Eli told him what to do the next time Samuel heard a voice calling him.  When God calls on Samuel, he answers with, "Speak for your servant is listening."

These words of Samuel, are among a good set of words to say as we begin the prayerful reading of Scripture (also known as Lectio Divina).   When we say such words as we enter into a prayerful conversation with the Word, we are able to redirect ourselves away from our inner noise and listen more intentionally to God.

Just in the first three weeks of 2015 we have heard about violence in various corners of the world.  The horrific episode in France along with the equally awful responses with rhetoric that stirs up more violence towards Muslims and/or Atheists.   Is there anyone who is willing to listen to God?

This past Friday, the Supreme Court announced that they will hear and decide freedom to marry cases for the States of Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.  On a building in another state was written the words: "No gay marriage, kill them all."  Oh, so charitable.  Is there anyone who is willing to listen to God?

In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus calls His first Apostles.  Nathanael is skeptical of Jesus because of where He comes from.  It is only when Jesus tells Nathanael that He has known him on a deeper level, that Nathanael acknowledges who Jesus is.  This exchange of conversation suggests to me that knowing who Jesus is, is intimately personal and communal.  God is seeking a closer union with the Christian through a relationship with Jesus Christ that is known in the depth of one's heart; while being expressed in the love of our neighbor as ourselves.

Why is it so much easier to live into a personal relationship with Jesus within ourselves, than to also live it in community?   Because each of us (myself including) thinks either too highly of ourselves; or, has such a low self-esteem that we try to cover up our inferiority complex by putting others unlike ourselves down.   We identify ourselves and our relationship with God because of how much we pray, what we know, our age, education level, Church vocation, psychologically nice vibes in prayer, etc. 

I have begun to read Thomas Keating's book, Open Minds, Open Hearts.  I am reading the book as part of my formation.  The book is about centering prayer.  Keating suggests that among the reasons that we drift away from God within ourselves and in our relationships with others, is because of how we identify ourselves.  Our thoughts, feelings, labels, images, ideas, etc which are good by themselves; but, when we begin to identify ourselves and our relationships with God through them, we lose touch with God as our personal center.  When we lose our touch with God in our own center, we can so easily begin to become tone deaf to God's presence in others around us.  We place obstacles in our relationships, and we become too self-centered.

Jesus is calling each of us into a deeper relationship with Himself, through our relationship with that spouse who is struggling with addiction issues.  God calls us to follow Jesus in that job that frustrates us to no end.  We are being called by the Holy Spirit to respond to the call of Jesus through the house project that seems to never get done.   If we respond to God calling us in that individual who is poor, sick, labeled beyond second class citizenship, disabled, lonely and without the bare necessities that we take for granted; we need to respond to God with reverence, respect and humility.  A humility that knows we make mistakes, but are willing to learn how to trust God through them to make things right.   What we are unable to do ourselves, we can always ask God for help, and/or for the assistance of others who can better help than we can.

Jesus calls us to listen and follow Him.

What will your response be?


Prayers

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word
and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's
glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the
ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Second Sunday After The Epiphany.  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.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Silence, Listening and Faith

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Kings 19: 9-18 (NRSV)

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

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Psalm 85: 8-13 (BCP., p.708)


Romans 10:5-15 (NRSV)

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by them." But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?

"The word is near you,

on your lips and in your heart"

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Blog Reflection

The experience of Elijah in today's narrative from 1 Kings is a favorite among contemplatives.   The experience of Elijah finding himself at a point of being unable to do anything more is the basis for an attitude of prayer.   Michael Casey writes about this in his book Toward God: The Ancient Wisdom of Western Prayer.

Once I have confronted and accepted -- as far as possible--that I am a needy person, the act of turning toward God is relatively easy.  It is not faith in God that is hard, but the renunciation of illusory faith in myself.  To turn toward God means, first, turning away from whatever is untrue or delusory -- no matter how much comfort it brings. (Page 5).

Elijah accepted that he was at the end of his rope.  He needed an experience that would set him free from the fear and lack of faith he had.   He also had a heart that was open to what God wanted from him.   When he was finally on the mountain with the wind, the earthquake and the fire, he did not find God there.  God was in the silence, speaking to him with the truth about what was happening around him and giving him a sense of direction.

Our world is full of all kinds of noises.  The brutal massacre in Iraq by ISIS and the further threat of violence in that part of the world terrifies us right our heart strings.   Our hearts are already broken and frightened by the images of the killings in Gaza because of Israel's attacks there.   This coupled with the news of rising violence in Ukraine and Russia can be compared to earthquakes, fires and violent winds.   The national news media over excites our sensations and rings the compassion out of us like one squeezes water from a wet sponge.

What is most important during times like these, is to withdraw from the news media on the television, radio and computer and listen to God in the silence of our hearts.   The more we talk and debate and try to analyze what is going on, the more our hearts are drawn from what is most important.  What is most important is that we listen for God in silence and continue to be drawn into a deepening relationship with God within.   We must also surrender any prejudices we may experience, such as assuming that because ISIS is a group of terrorists based on fundamentalist Muslims, all Muslims must be the same.  That is simply not true, anymore than thinking that all Christians are fundamentalists.   The more we are able to listen to the truth about who God is within ourselves, the more we can improve how we respond to God's presence in others. 

Peter experienced that same kind of fear that I think all of us are at this point in time.  The storms are shaking the boat of our faith all around us.  We feel as if Jesus is distant or non-existent.   When we read blog articles about the experience of a Baptist church in Florida, canceling the funeral for a man because they learned that was gay; our hearts are tossed by the stormy winds of anger, frustration and wondering where Jesus is.  We may feel as if we are sinking when Jesus tells us to walk on the water.  Our faith is shaken.

In response, Jesus says: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."   When we cry out in faith, Jesus reaches for us and calls us to put our faith in Him to bring us healing and reconciliation.  We need to do more than just pray for Jesus to get us out of the danger.   We need to listen more closely to the Holy Spirit draw our hearts back to Jesus to grow closer to God in a bonded relationship that includes the reparation of our community. 

When we are feeling the rising tempest around us, how do we call out to Jesus?

When we are confronted by what we must do to overcome an addiction, communicate in a relationship where we have been quiet too long, or get help, do we lose faith and just sink?

How are we responding to Jesus calling out to us?

If we are going to make an impact on the Church and society to address the needs of the marginalized and the needy, we need to give ourselves the time to withdraw and let Jesus heal us to continue on.   We have to see the storms inside us and around us as they really are, and listen intentionally to what Jesus may be saying to us in through them.  If we are going to call out to Jesus, we need to let go of our fear and trust that what God does in our lives will be for our good.   We may have to confront our false sense of self, and allow Jesus to teach us humility through His Death and Resurrection.  But, Jesus calls out to us saying: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

May we all take some time to be silent and listen to God the Holy Spirit and in faith trust God to help us with all our fears and concerns.


Prayers

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

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for Peace, 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.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Listen to God

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 18:1-10a (NRSV)

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son."

Psalm 15 (BCP., p.599)


Colossians 1:15-28 (NRSV)

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him-- provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

Blog Reflection


I have been enjoying a great vacation with Jason in Provincetown, MA this week.   Tomorrow, we will be flying back to Minnesota to resume our lives in their usual working order.   The sight of the beautiful beaches here, the delicious food, meeting so many wonderful people and sharing our stories together, have been part of this sabbath time away from home.


It is interesting that as I prepare to return home tomorrow that I am presented with these readings from the Lectionary.  In these readings I get a sense of the theme of listening.   Listening is an essential part of Benedictine Spirituality.   In praying the Divine Office, Lectio Divina, in the Vows of Obedience, Conversion of Life and Stability, we are told to be "listening and inclining the ear of the heart." (Prologue, Rule of St. Benedict).   We are to be listening for God to speak to our hearts in all the various ways in the day and throughout life.   One of the great things a vacation does is it helps to clear out the brain a bit, so that one can listen better, differently for a while and find other ways of responding to God.  

Another sense I get from the readings today, is that God has awesome things in store for us.  God desires the very best God can give us.  The question is, are we open to what God has to say or do?   This too, is why listening is so important.  

It is very important to not look at Martha as some kind of prude.  Her work to prepare the meal for her guest is in and of itself a wonderful deed.  Looking at what is going on from the human standpoint, Mary is leaving all the work to her sister.  Martha is just expressing her feelings.  Good for her.   Jesus' response to her is also not Jesus being difficult.  He is simply suggesting that Martha balance herself a bit, and be sure that she takes time as Mary is doing to spend time listening to God.   Jesus is reminding Martha, that she will always have her work to do, but she also needs to take time to listen more closely to what God has for her life.

This past week while I have been on vacation, I have also been listening to the news about the not guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case.   Between that acquittal and the Supreme Court destroying a very important part of the Voting Rights Act last month, the issues surrounding the violence of racism have been made very real and destructive.   While we celebrate the momentous movements forward for marriage equality for LGBT people. we must not become deaf to the reality that racism is a major issue in our time.   I believe that the Scriptures today tell us that God desires a society and a Church where everyone can find a sense of solidarity and community without racism, sexism, heterosexism and others issues being the barriers to peace and friendship that they are.  If we take time to listen carefully to God in the Scriptures and see how the history of violent prejudice on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation and/or gender, gender identity/expression, immigration, etc, we can see the destruction of communities, and the message of the Gospel being violated.  

I think we need to spend some time being quiet with the Lord in the days and months to come, and search for union with God, by seeing how we can improve our relationships with others around us.  In particular, those who are different from us.   God will challenge us to face our biases, ideals, and even beliefs, but only to help us become Christians who live what we believe, instead of just talking about it so much.   We can give ourselves to whatever work we wish, but if we fail to be part of the work of hospitality and reconciliation, then our Faith becomes too much of an abstraction, and not a way of life.

May all of us listen better to God today, tomorrow into everlasting life. 

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our
necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have
compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those
things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our
blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 11, Book of Common Prayer, p.230).


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