Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 18: Jesus, the Woman and Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 (NRSV)

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

and favor is better than silver or gold.

The rich and the poor have this in common:

the LORD is the maker of them all.

Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of anger will fail.

Those who are generous are blessed,

for they share their bread with the poor.

 

Do not rob the poor because they are poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate;

for the LORD pleads their cause

and despoils of life those who despoil them.

Psalm 125 (BCP., p.781)

James 2: 1-17 (NRSV)

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

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

Mark 7:24-37 (NRSV)

Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go-- the demon has left your daughter." So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Blog Reflection

Today's Gospel is a difficult one to read and hear.  None of us likes to think about Jesus as having to confront a prejudice of His own, of which He would have gained from the culture He was in. Through out the Gospel accounts of Jesus, we read of His amazing compassion for the sick, lame, hungry, lonely, women and the marginalized.  This Gospel reading from Mark knocks the wind out of our sails if you will.  How could Jesus be so insensitive?

There are a variety of interpretations of this Gospel text, all of which have their merit.  One is that the the interaction between Jesus and this woman was not so much about prejudice of any kind on the part of Jesus, but about the faith of the woman who challenged Him.  Indeed, this interpretation is exactly the kind of thing that fits into what we are talking about when we bring up the matter of prejudice.  A woman would have had very little standing in her society to address a Rabbi in the way she did.  The fact that she was a Gentile woman in this time and culture and made her appeal and defended herself to Jesus, was that much more of a counter-cultural action on her part.  She would have become that much more of a social outcast than she already was.

Perhaps Jesus was not so much as dismissing her or even being biased towards her.  Maybe Jesus said what He said, so that the marginalization of the woman would be made so visible, that He was able to meet that prejudice of His culture and eradicate it from Himself and His culture.  I think what I am aiming for is some reverse psychology.  His appearance of rejecting her would have been good use of His adversaries to use against Him.  However, when Jesus recognizes her faith and her daughter is cured, the cultural bias is uncovered, as is God's mercy and grace that transforms her life and the culture around them.  The captive who is dehumanized is reclaimed as being God's own community and fellowship.

Jesus wants more than just the appearance of religion and its various requirements.  He wants the grace of God to move us beyond where we currently are.  Jesus wants to move us into a culture and faith that surpasses appearances, and brings the holiness of God to a living experience in our personal interactions with others.  A society and Church in which the message of the Gospel does not stop at our biases, but becomes a welcoming and healing place where God is present and moving among all of God's people with dignity and integrity.

This past week, the social media has been focusing on Kim Davis and her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples.  Her case has been presented before judges and even the Supreme Court, and refused asking her to obey the law.  She is making the claim that she is acting on "God's authority" and her rights are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution regarding "Religious Freedom."   Kim Davis was put in prison on a contempt of court charge.

I was both supportive of the pro-LGBT media that covered what was going on, yet, I also have a real concern.  I agree with those who are deeply disturbed by this County Clerk who under an oath, chose to ignore her duties to the people of the county and break the law because of a religious based bias.  I was also concerned that she chose to use her insubordination as a means of proselytizing others on the basis of her religious beliefs.  In addition, I am offended that she would be so arrogant as to suggest that she is acting on "God's authority" that is based on her understanding of the Bible.  Her actions suggest that no one who believes as she does has a right to receive what is lawfully and rightfully theirs, and she decides that as if she is the lone interpreter of God's will in that office.  Our magnificent Christian Faith is hijacked and Jesus Christ gets a bad Name once again.

I am also deeply concerned and disappointed however, that many progressive and pro-LGBT blog authors made their case for equality by using Davis' divorces and children as leverage to support their opposition.  While working to uphold the dignity and integrity of marriage equality for same-sex couples, Davis' dignity as a divorced woman who has multiple children was unjustly used to smear her.  In the effort to support equality, Mrs. Davis' and consequently others who married and divorced, with multiple children became a new chapter in sexism and degradation unnecessarily.  A most unfortunate example of favoritism by Mrs. Davis, the news media, and the political agenda of many.

Jesus desires even more than we do to heal our deafness to the needs of others.  Jesus' healing of the man who could not hear is symbolic of God's wish for us to be able to listen more attentively to the Holy Spirit within our hearts.  Jesus asks us to make room for others who are different from ourselves.  This is difficult for us to do because of our pride and our being so self-centered.  Jesus comes to call on us to confront the biases we all carry inside of us.  God's unconditional love and transforming grace wants to help us soften our hearts, and open our ears to the presence of Jesus in others around us.  It is God's opportunity for us to make our faith something we live, from the inside out and from the outside back inside of us in a continual relationship of community.  The breath of God can breathe new and refreshing air that brings with it healing and reconciliation to the hurting and broken world we live in.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou doest love,
And do what thou wouldst do.
(Hymnal 1982, #508).

Amen.


Prayers

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as
you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength,
so you never forsake those who make their boast of your
mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Proper 18, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).

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

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another
that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide
us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but
for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for
our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of
other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out
of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Labor Day.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 261).

Confession of St. Peter: Faith and Doubt Lead to Grace

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 8: 4-13 (NRSV)

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is

`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

it has become the cornerstone.'

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.

Matthew 16: 13-19 (NRSV)

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Blog Reflection

As an individual who is still very new to the Episcopal Church, I have to write that there is a part of me that struggles intensely with this Holy Day. 

As Anglicans and Episcopalians are we not the people who do not claim the authority of the said to be Successor to St. Peter?  Yes, we are. 

The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Tradition are the via media between what is Catholic/Orthodox and what is Protestant.  Our worship and spirituality are very Catholic. Our leadership and polity, combined with our appreciation for the great Protestant reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley make us very much like Protestants.  

So when I come to the date of January 18th and the Episcopal Church asks us to consider this Holy Day of the Confession of St. Peter, I find myself with a bit of confusion.   I have to spend some time in thought and prayer about what the Episcopal Church and our Anglican Tradition is really saying about Peter and his confession of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

Peter is not exactly the best guy to be considered as the first among the Apostles.   He is stubborn. He is arrogant.  Peter's faith is not too great.  Peter has difficulties with Jesus.   Right after the Gospel reading for today in the Bible there is the encounter with Jesus in which Peter tries to persuade Jesus to not go to Jerusalem to experience his death and resurrection.   The very same Jesus who in today's Gospel tells Peter that he is the rock on which Jesus will build the Church, will say to Peter: 'Get behind me Satan!"   Later on during Jesus trial, it is Peter who will deny Jesus three times after having sworn to Jesus that he would lay down his life for the Jesus that he loved so much.

So why is Peter considered the first among Apostles?

What is so great about Peter that Jesus gives him the keys that says whatever Peter loosens on earth will be lose in heaven and what ever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven?  

Does that really mean that when Pope Benedict XVI says that "Gay marriage is a threat to humanity" that the Holy Spirit protects him from any and all sin when he is promoting such prejudice?

Peter is not made a great man or the rock because of who Peter is. The rock of Peter on which Jesus Christ has been building his Church is not a super power structure where one person is the universal dictator of all who call themselves Christians.  That rock of Faith is not represented as the Bishop of Rome seeks through his Bishops to infiltrate National, State and local governments so that they can only accept their version of what is "true".

Jesus recognizes Peter's confession as an act of faith from a man who does not have all his ducks in a row, but listens to God with in his heart so that he can confess with his mouth that Jesus is the Messiah; the Son of the Living God.   Jesus calls Peter the rock because of Peter's leap of faith that recognizes his own limitations, and that his only hope for salvation is to believe in God's perfect revelation in Jesus Christ.  Jesus responds to Peter's faith making Peter's Confession that rock on which Jesus would build the Church. 

The Messiah, the Son of God comes to establish a new justice through the establishment of God's reign through the Apostolic Succession.  This Succession of the Apostolic ministry is one that is not driven by a dictatorship, but one that inspires people through that same leap of faith that was in Peter when he made his confession. A faith that is collaborative with diverse groups of people and seeks God through radical hospitality and the ministry of reconciliation.

Each Bishop knows that she/he is an imperfect person who will make mistakes and do wrong.   The Bishops who have succeeded those first imperfect Apostles still come with their personal baggage; addictions, hunger for power vs the willingness to delegate and finds themselves battling the age old issue of money vs doing the right thing.  

One individual once said: "The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of Saints."  Sadly, the worst sinners (and that can be any one of us) often spend much too much time worrying about others sins rather than taking care of our own.

Peter's confession is an invitation for all of us to ask ourselves about what kind of faith are we professing?

Keep in mind that professing and confessing our faith does not make us perfect, nor does that alone bring us salvation.  The challenge for all of us is to live out that faith that we confess and profess by making it more than an abstraction.   Our task is to make it real and visible through the ordinary moments of our lives.

Our faith moves from being an abstraction to being a live with the risen Christ when we reach beyond our prejudices and attitudes to help bring about God's reign of peace, justice, inclusion and equality for all marginalized persons.   This means recognizing in people of different races, genders, sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions, languages, cultures, religions health and wealth statuses etc, the image of God and the hope for salvation in Jesus Christ.   It means being willing to serve the poor and the disenfranchised through our prayers and being actively involved in making the Church and the world a better place for everyone.

We are invited today to meditate on this awesome confession; while still asking ourselves about how we are going to confess and profess our faith in the daily routine of our lives. 

What will be our response?


Prayers

Almighty Father, who inspired Saint Peter, first among the
apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God:
Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that
in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow
the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 238). 


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

O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that
thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men:
Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servant for whom
our prayers are offered. Remember him, O Lord, in mercy,
nourish his soul with patience, comfort him with a sense of
thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon him, and give
him peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Those in Trouble or Bereavement, Book of Common Prayer, p. 831).