Sixth Sunday of Easter: The Love and Peace of The Risen Christ

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16: 9-15 (NRSV)

During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.

Psalm 67 (BCP, p.675)


Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 (NRSV)

In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day-- and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

John 14:23-29 (NRSV)

Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."

Blog Reflection

I think all of us can pray Psalm 67 with some sincere pleading.  We need God to bless us with saving health for all nations.  The election campaigns, the anti-transgender bathroom bills, the racism, the experiences of those who rely on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid hearing politicians and business executives wanting to privatize them; tell us a lot about what is a priority these days.

Jesus is telling us to not let our hearts be troubled.  He also tells us to love Him and keep His word so that God can make a home in us.  Jesus promises the Holy Spirit who will remind us of what Jesus told us, and He offers us peace to be left with us.  So many tidbits, but a lot to meditate on.

Philip Heinze in Living the Lectionary wrote,

the peace that precedes the “do not let…” is not put on a happy face and the whole world smiles with you because the sun will come up tomorrow bet your bottom dollar solution to real life strife. In the same way, “believe in me” does not mean just get over it. Nor does it minimize trouble because it could be worse even if it clearly could be. That would be worldly peace. The peace of the world is temporary and illusionary as it denies sorrow, medicates pain with costly pleasure, or seeks solace by seeing to it that other hearts are equally troubled. The peace that Jesus gives embraces suffering and dies to destroy the power of death. Called to cling to the cross by which Jesus overcomes the world, and all the trouble in it, the people of Jesus’ peace believe that trouble is temporary while peace is eternal. 

It is difficult not to notice that at the very top of the Medal of Saint Benedict is the word Pax.  In case I have readers who have never read or heard that word, it is Latin for peace.  At the entrances of many Benedictine Monasteries in Europe are the words "Pax intrantibus", meaning "Peace be with all who enter here."  It is the same peace that Jesus offers.  A peace that embraces us in any and all situations of our lives, and draws us closer to God and each other.  It is that "peace which is beyond all understanding" that we can only lose if we give it over to something or someone willingly that brings us temporary pleasure in our false-sense of self; but deprives us of the Holy Spirit who longs to united us with our true selves.

Keeping the word of Jesus is not limited to Jesus alone.  It is the love of God that is not limited to human labels, our brokenness we inflict on each other and ourselves.  It is a love and a peace that invite us to listen to what Jesus is saying to us as we receive Him in the guest, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring us healing and reconciliation with those who are different from ourselves.    

I am having a very difficult year with many losses.  More than I can write about in greater detail.  I am experiencing emotions that are all over the place.  My Asperger's and many of my other personal challenges can make things pretty intense.  In the middle of all this, God has placed in my life two amazing individuals who understand me, and are helping me to just feel everything with no judgments or expectations.  They are loving me as I am, and making room for me be very kind and gentle with myself and provide a safe place for me in my grief.  They are determined to help me love God as others love me with that same love, and to search for peace at a time when it can be very difficult to feel let alone find.

I believe that what I have just described above is a great example of the love and peace the Risen Christ gives us through our Advocate, the Holy Spirit.  It is the love and peace we share with each other when life is cruel and harsh on ourselves and others beyond us.  Our Baptismal Vows call us to strive for this peace with justice and to uphold the dignity of every human person; regardless of who they are or what condition their lives are in.  In so doing God makes a home with us, and our home is made with God in this life and in the life to come.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good
things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such
love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above
all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we
can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgements, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 123).

  

 

Second Sunday of Advent: Who Will Prepare a New Way for God?

Today's Scripture Readings

Malachi 3: 1-4 (NRSV)

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

Canticle 16 (BCP., p.92)


Philippians 1:3-11 (NRSV)

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Luke 3:1-6 (NRSV)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled,

and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

and the crooked shall be made straight,

and the rough ways made smooth;

and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

Blog Reflection

John the Baptist is an important figure during the Season of Advent.  John the Baptist represents desert spirituality, strong social justice preaching and prophecy.  He is so close to God by what he has given up that he is absorbed in contemplative prayer.  John the Baptist can see so many injustices going on around him, and he can speak to all of them as a prophetic witness to what God is bringing in the Person of Jesus Christ.

These past two weeks have been so full of violent news.  The horrible shooting in San Bernardino is another statistic added to the growing number of horrific incidents of gun violence.  What happened not long ago in Paris, France and here in the States, has brought about a surge of islamophobia accompanied by stereo types designed to denigrate those who practice the Muslim Faith.  We continue to see attitudes of heterosexism, and sexism in many parts of our society.  Racism and the refusal to be a welcoming country for those seeking refuge from oppression.  All of these things and many more that we could mention suggest a deep hunger for a vision of God that is not violent, judgmental; but, full of compassion and grace.

St. John the Baptist arrived on the scene with a call to prepare for the new way that God wanted to bring in Christ's Nativity.  It is an era in which every human person's dignity is upheld and the Reign of God is one that is inclusive; while seeking healing and reconciliation.

As Christians today, we are called in the here and now to make a new way in which God will speak to a different generation of how the Holy Spirit anoints all of us to the tasks that are before us.  We can no longer pretend that the Christian Faith is nothing more than quoting Bible verses to prove a political point.  Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the love that He brought at His Nativity, is about being present in all of the messiness of the world as it is, and being the prophetic witnesses that call for real change in the Church and society.  We do not call for it by words and good speeches only, but by living with a genuine devotion to the work of God that shapes how we live and relate with each other.   If Christians will only share the message of Christ by our actions and interactions with God's people that are beyond the doors of our churches; the Christian Faith would inspire people of all generations to become Christians, as opposed to turning people away by nonsense that does no one any good.  It will highlight the goodness of all human kind by disarming oppression, violence and prejudice.  The world will see the Word made flesh, because God impacts the world through Christ present in us and each other.

What does John the Baptist represent for you?

How do you see your role in preparing a way for God?

In what way are you being called and empowered to be a prophetic witness in your daily life?

St. Benedict offers his thoughts in the Prologue of The Rule, while borrowing from Sacred Scripture.  "Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you. (RB 1980, p.16, John 12:35).

Amen.


Prayers

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 211).

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

Twenty Fifth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 18: Stability, Change and Letting Go

Today's Scripture Readings

Daniel 12:1-3 (NRSV)

The Lord spoke to Daniel in a vision and said, "At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

Psalm 16 (BCP, p.599,600)


Hebrews 10:11-125 (NRSV)

Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

"This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds,"
he also adds,

"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mark 13:1-8 (NRSV)

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs."

Blog Reflection

As I read the Scripture Readings for this Sunday, I feel as though I can identify with them personally. 

Over the past two weeks, I have been very busy as my Mother's personal caregiver.  My Mother has been in an assisted living facility since May of 2014.  She had to live there due to issues she has been having with vascular dementia.  Up until a month and a half ago, Mom was very active.  She went out with the activities director to the store once a month, out to lunch or dinner.  She came over to our home for Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner in 2014.  I drove her to doctors appointments, and watched over her health care programs.  In early September of this year, my mom called me to say that she was not able to hold food down, and lost interest in eating.  I took her to doctor appointments, as well as to get x-rays of her throat and esophagus, and she saw an ear, nose and throat specialist.  They all found nothing to explain what was happening.  On Monday, on November 2nd, my mother made the choice to not go to any more doctor appointments.  She did not want to go to the ER for an evaluation of her condition.  She made the conscious choice with a sound mind, that she wants to die.  She is not eating and drinking just enough water to keep her hydrated.  Mom confessed to me, that she has been doing all of this to herself, because she is tired of being sick and wants us to let her die.  In as much as I wanted to do everything I could do to change her mind, I do not have the power to over ride her decision.  My only course of action has been to arrange hospice services to care for her needs and honor her decision.  Not only is hospice doing a really great job with providing comfort care services for my Mother, they are also very helpful to my husband, myself and other members of my family as we are grieving what is inevitable.  

This is a period of great difficulty as you can imagine.  I am having to allow myself the room to grieve that my Mother will be leaving us to enter into her Eternal Rest.  Everything that I may have thought I had in its stable place is changing. 

I think that is what Jesus was telling those who were listening to Him as He talked about what was to come.  Jesus was not so much as telling His listeners about the ending of the age, as Tradition has concluded.  Jesus was prophesying about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.  In a moment like that, no wonder they would hear of nation against nation and as if there were earthquakes.  It would seem like birthpangs as one age would give away to another.  Not knowing about what has to come must have been very frightening and unsettling.

By now, we have all heard about the horrible shooting in Paris, France.  We have also heard about the horrible accusations that just because a fundamentalist Islamic group has claimed responsibility for this horrific act of violence, so it is automatically assumed that all Muslims are violent.  It is an interesting analogy, given the many who assume that just because fundamentalist Christians are quite violent with their rhetoric and activities, all Christians must be as well.  I am proud to say that such is not the case with Christians anymore than it is with Muslims.

Whether we are talking about aging parents and siblings, violence, oppression and religion; the heart of the matter is that change is inevitable.  How do we find stability in the midst of that change?

As Benedictines, our Vows are Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience.  Our Vow of Stability is about finding stability in Christ and our Community.  Conversion of Life is about allowing God to change us through prayer, work and our relationships within our Community.  Obedience is about obeying our Superior out of love, not fear so that we may find a greater Stability in God with purity of heart, submit ourselves to the Conversion of Manners, in Obedience to God's will. 

Whether God does or does not change, whether the Scriptures are the Word of God or not, regardless of the changes the Church and each of us experience; God desires each of us to search for union with God so that whatever changes come our way, we know that God alone is our stability. 

Our world, our country, the Church is changing.  We have been walking and learning together that God wants all of us to strive for peace and justice for all people and to respect the dignity of every human person.  God knows we cannot do this on our own, which is why we respond to the Vows of our Baptism; "We will, with God's help."   We need God's help and the help of one another to find our stability in God as we are changed through obedience to God's will. 

All of this comes down to the point of letting go. 

As I am witnessing my Mother's deep faith, with her finding peace in letting everything as she has known it, by letting everything go; she is teaching me about letting go. 

All of the things we tend to hold on to including the arguments we may have had with our parents while they were with us, our spouses, and one another; as we all journey towards being with God in Eternity, what are they all worth?  

As we acquire wealth and political power, spreading prejudice and the divisions because of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, language, health status, religion and much more; what is it all worth when we have to let it all go to meet God face to face? 

The answers to these questions comes by way of what we read in Matthew 25:40: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' "

The things we take with us from this life into the next is love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, goodness, that which we did for others in the Name of Christ, and of course faith through God's Grace.   We receive all of these in this life to take to the next by letting go.

As we hear the Holy Scriptures this week, "mark, learn and inwardly digest them" let us also ponder with the heart of Mary (Luke 2:19), ask the Holy Spirit to help us to let go.  All we really have to gain is the love and mercy of God, if we will all only let go.

Amen.


Prayers

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

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

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy
never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come,
knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we
can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those We Love.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 831).

Second Sunday of Easter: Thank You Thomas

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 4:32-35 (NRSV)

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Psalm 133 (BCP., p.787)


1 John 1:1-2:2 (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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

Imagine what a great world we would have if all of us lived like those first Christians in Acts 4:32-35.  Everything was truly held in common.  Those who had property sold it and gave the proceeds to those who needed it.  If such a community in the times in which these events occurred was not all that well received by the power structures then; they certainly are not a draw for popularity now.  Every politician and religious based organization would be put to shame.  Such is mostly the case now.  Is it any wonder why many see the Christian religion as a stage act full of soap box speeches?  

A Christian community such as what is described to us in Acts needs witnesses to the redemption of Christ.  It also requires those who profess a belief in the Incarnation and Paschal Mysteries to give evidence of what they believe in how they live.  How can we give evidence of what we believe those first Apostles saw if we ourselves have not seen Jesus alive after the resurrection? 

This is where Thomas comes in.  Speaking to the Soul: Touching Faith an article in The Episcopal Cafe says it well.

Lucky Thomas, he literally got hands-on proof to bolster his faith. We will have to wait a little longer for that awesome experience. Until that time, Jesus tells us we are blessed because we believe in what we do not see. But before we congratulate ourselves on a pious achievement, we should understand that our faith is entirely a gift from God. It is his grace infused in us, not a virtue generated by us. Our job is to cooperate with God’s grace… to nurture, protect and share it. That means our faith cannot be rationed, hoarded or hidden. Jesus did not go to the cross so that closet Christians could slink under the radar of an increasingly cynical, secular world.

In a world in which hospitality, reconciliation and healing are less appreciated unless their is a large sum of money is on the other end of achieving it; the experience of those first Apostles and especially Thomas seems like a long shot.  On the contrary, the opportunity to witness the power of Christ's resurrection and a faith like that of Thomas is in our neighbor next door, our co-worker, the transgender person just beaten when a guy found out his date has different organs that what she/he appears.  The Risen Christ comes and says, "peace be with you" to the communities all around the world wounded by racism, sexism and religious intolerance.  Those who are tired of the Christian religion being used as an excuse for this ridiculous  argument of "religious liberty" to exempt public services from serving LGBTQ people, Muslims, Jewish people and more; the Risen Christ invites you to come and put your hands in the holes in his hands, feet and side.  The Common English Bible for John 20:27b reads that Jesus told Thomas, "No more doubting!  Believe!"  Such is what the Risen Christ tells us know.

We are able to doubt and find faith, because Thomas was a skeptic.  He was not satisfied with just being told that Christ rose, he wanted to see it for himself.  He questioned faith, and he found faith.  Because of Thomas' courage, we who have not seen the Risen Christ as Thomas did are blessed when we believe without seeing.  We are empowered to be witnesses of the Resurrection as we embrace the disenfranchised, the oppressed and  those living with injustice; and respect the dignity of every human being.

Thank you Thomas!

Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord in risen indeed.  Alleluia!

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday in Easter.  The Book of Common Prayer. p. 224).

 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).

Second Sunday after Pentecost: Peace, Obedience, Inclusive Love

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 21:8-21 (NRSV)

The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.  But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac.  So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac."  The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son.  But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you.  As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring."  So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes.  Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, "Do not let me look on the death of the child." And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.  And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.  Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him."  Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow.  He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Psalm 86 (BCP., p.709)


Romans 6:1b-11 (NRSV)

Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?  By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.  For whoever has died is freed from sin.  But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 10:24-39 (NRSV)

Jesus said to the twelve disciples,

"A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

"For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one's foes will be members of one's own household.

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."

Blog Reflection

Given how much the Bible is used to suggest the subordination of women, the reading from Genesis is a  bit refreshing.   Here we have the Lord God telling Abraham to do as his wife Sarah wishes with regards to Hagar's son who was also a son of Abraham.  The narrative also gives us a glimpse into a non-traditional marriage.   Abraham has not one wife and son, but two.  So much for the one man, one woman thing.   Some additional background into what is going on in this reading from Genesis is good for us to consider.

Isaac the son of Abraham and Sarah, and the son of Abraham and Hagar have a symbolic meaning.   Hagar the slave and her son are symbolic of Israel being held in the bondage of Egypt later in Exodus.   Isaac the son of Abraham and Sarah are symbolic of Israel being free from slavery in Egypt and wondering through the desert for forty years being led by Moses and Aaron into the land promised to Abraham and his offspring.

As I  read through the story in Genesis, I was struck by a profound and powerful thought.  God looking after Hagar and her thirsty son without distinction or bias.  God gave of God's abundance to the mother and son born in bondage, as God does to those considered free.   Whatever human made label that can be given to any person or group of people on any basis, God sees all persons through the eyes of loving care.  God has just as big of a plan for salvation and prosperity for those the Church and society considers unwanted or unlovable as God does for the so called "privileged".   Such may be privileged by humankind, but are no greater or least in the mind, heart and eyes of God.

The relationship of parents and their children who come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or questioning continues to be of tremendous concern.   Young women and men who contain within themselves a deep desire and capacity to love their parents and others as they truly are, seek acceptance and the opportunity to mature in a healthy home, church community and neighborhood free of violence, bullying and bias.   However, for way too many even in 2014, that is just not what happens.   Parents still attempt to commit their LGBT daughters and/or sons to self-abusive ex-gay or "reparative" therapists to "change" what is beautifully natural.  There are parents who threaten their children who are LGBT with the horrors of hell if they do not repent, loss of their homes, inheritance and/or participation in the family business.  

Whether a woman or man is LGBTQ or straight or cisgender, she or he is someone valued by God without distinction.   Who they are, who they love and whatever their true gender is, such to those belongs God's unconditional love and transforming grace to change society and the Church into a more just and inclusive existence.   God offers to them the waters of freedom,  hope and possibility.   For they are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:15).

At first glance our Gospel Reading sounds as if Jesus is talking nonsense.  He is talking about a servant and the master, what is hidden, the relationship between parents and children.   I would suggest that His words to us today, suggest our willingness to listen more intentionally to the Holy Spirit and what our relationships with others around us need to look like.

It is important to take note that in the time in which this Gospel narrative would have taken place, children had no rights.  They were often committed to slave labor once they were old enough.  They were owned by their parents as property, and could be sold by a local governor if one could not pay their taxes or debts.  A fair majority of children lived in poverty with their parents.  Life for parents and children was anything but family bliss.

As Jesus tells us about the relationship of the master and the servant, He is talking about the relationship of God with us to respond "for the love of God" (See The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 7:34) in obedience to the will of God.   In this is a truth that many of us in our time of "do as you please without limit" do not like to hear.   Yet, the contrary is more true than we would like to admit.  When we see ourselves as free to do what we want with no guidance or accountability to another, we are in fact in slavery.   When we submit ourselves to be obedient to God through the wishes of another, we find real liberation from our false-selves to a true knowledge of who we really are.  

Jesus is not saying here that we are not to value our relationships with our parents or others in authority.   What He is saying is that to the extent that we rely on any relationship apart from the reverence and/or consciousness of God who is present in all relationships; is the point in which we have surrendered our true peace for something that cannot fulfill or complete us.   If an LGBTQ child is so bound to her/his parents Christianist faith that she/he cannot be who God made her/him to be, there can be no peace for the child.   Closets are places of death, not life.   Keeping oneself enclosed in a false shame to be self-abusive and suppressed can only lead to a death of one's true identity and being.   When we live openly and faithfully to who we are, and are able to mature in a healthy way into who we are and who we love, we can find God and be obedient to God's will.   There is no obedience to the will of God, without self-knowledge and the freedom to be who we are lovingly created to be.  When we are, we can be obedient to God, because we will be surrendering our true-selves freely and without coersion.

As Christians who have received the Holy Spirit by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must surrender ourselves to the peace that God gives to our lives through Christ.   That peace that the world cannot give, can be ours when we experience that true love that casts out all fear has been our experience to know and share.   In being open to the conversion of the Holy Spirit through our daily life experiences, relationships and failures, we can discover anew the merciful love and grace of God again and again.  It should not only help us experience a new freedom in Christ for ourselves, but it should transform our biases into loving acceptance of others who are different from ourselves.   The notion of sacrificing our prejudices to be inclusive of others, is something we give over freely and without reserve.   Because the love of God is so wonderful an experience in our own lives, we would not dream of  not sharing it with others around us.

Amen.

Prayers

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your
holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom
you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 7, Book of Common Prayer, p.230).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).

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

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Whom Are We Ignoring?

Today's Scripture Readings

Amos 6:1a, 4-7 (NRSV)

Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,

and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,

and lounge on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock,

and calves from the stall;

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,

and like David improvise on instruments of music;

who drink wine from bowls,

and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,

and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

Psalm 146 (BCP., p.803)


1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NRSV)

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time-- he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Luke 16: 19-31 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Blog Reflection

In her book The Monastery of the Heart: An Invitation to A Meaningful Life, Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB writes:

We are all Seekers of the God who is here but invisible to the blind eye; who calls to us but is unheard by those who do not listen; who touches our lives wherever we are, but is unfelt by those whose hearts are closed to the presence of God-- who is everywhere, in everyone at all times (page 21).

The parable in today's Gospel Reading contains some fascinating images.  It is not unlike the image in the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55.   The rich are brought down, while the poor are raised up.  Yet, in  Luke 16:19-31, Jesus is taking us a step further. It is another timely message for the events we are currently living through.  

The United States House of Representatives is prepared to shut down the government which includes services to the poor and disadvantaged, Education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and more.  They are prepared to close the government to keep that many more people from purchasing health insurance this year.   What is wrong with this picture?  Our Gospel has some thoughts about that for us.

According to William Barclay in The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, the problem with the rich man is that he is so blinded by all that he has that he does not even notice poor Lazarus hungry and in need outside his gate.  In those days, people ate with their hands and not silverware.   They did not have napkins either.  They wiped their hands on pieces of bread that was later thrown out.   Lazarus longed to eat the bread crumbs that fell from the rich man's table.  The rich man was so absorbed by what he had, that he could not see past them to see his suffering brother at his gate.   He ignored Lazarus.  He chose to forget about Lazarus.  He had everything.  He had nothing to lose, or so he thought.

Before we get too lost in the judgement rendered, I think we need to look at it from the stand point of what affects one person, affects us all.   What goes around, comes around.   When the rich man having to face the reality of what his actions did to one man, he now has to face what they meant for him too.  Not only has his choice to ignore Lazarus brought him an eternal hell, it has also affected others whom he left behind.   Now he finds himself in the place of need, only to learn that the man whom he ignored now serves a greater master.  A master who did not forget his suffering, but shared in it with him and rewarded him for his faith in God, despite his poor state in life.   For the rich man, ignoring Lazarus meant he ignored God.

When we ignore others around us, we are ignoring Jesus.  The Jesus who is present and calling out to us from those places where He has been forgotten.  In the immigrant seeking to be welcomed into a country where she/he can find a peaceful place to raise a family.  Jesus is in the lesbian teen being bullied in school. Jesus is in the transgender homecoming queen who has gotten hate messages from all over.   Jesus is in the LGBT people being terrorized in Russia.  Jesus is in the millions of Americans who cannot get health insurance, who need food stamps, the women who need reproductive health care.   Jesus is present in the mother of an African American son who was gunned down, just because of his skin color.  When we ignore these, we ignore Jesus.

Who and where do we hear Jesus calling out to us to recognize him?

Are our ears open to Jesus as He calls to us?

Are we walking past Jesus as He cries out for help?

What would make us listen better?

I would suggest that if we are not taking time to spend in silence with Jesus in our hearts and lives, we will become deaf as He calls us elsewhere.   If we do not open our own hearts to Jesus who wants to share room in our hearts and lives, to nourish us in the Eucharist, we will not hear Jesus in those who are in need.   Our hearts become cold.  We become complacent.  We ignore the call of Christ in our sisters and brothers.

Jesus is calling us today.   Are we listening for Jesus?


Prayers

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 21, Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

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, Book of Common Prayer, p.826).




Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p.826).

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Humility is Key to Hospitality and Reconciliation

Today's Scripture Readings

Sirach 10:12-18 (NRSV)

The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;

the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.

For the beginning of pride is sin,

and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.

Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,

and destroys them completely.

The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,

and enthrones the lowly in their place.

The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations,

and plants the humble in their place.

The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,

and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.

He removes some of them and destroys them,

and erases the memory of them from the earth.

Pride was not created for human beings,

or violent anger for those born of women.

Psalm 112 (BCP., p.755)


Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 (NRSV)

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." So we can say with confidence,

"The Lord is my helper;

I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?"

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Luke 14: 1, 7-14 (NRSV)

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, `Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, `Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Blog Reflection

Whenever I read a set of Lectionary readings about pride, I have a hard time with them.   The word pride in the Scriptures means something very different than how we use it in the LGBTQ communities.  Yet, when I read about pride and humility in this Sunday's readings, my initial reaction is one of thinking that even my pride as a gay man is what the Scriptures are talking about.   That is why taking the Scriptures at face value, is usually not a good way to interpret them.  

The pride written about in Sirach (or Eccelsiasticus, as it is also called) is Wisdom Literature.  Wisdom Literature in the Bible is to help us take the word from the page and translate it into our actions as believers in God's gracious promise for our lives.  This reading from Sirach is taken from a time when it was thought that God visits calamity upon the human community because of sin.  The sin here is pride.   This kind of pride refuses to acknowledge that God is God and we are not.  It is the pride that seeks what is best for oneself, and not necessarily what is best for the other person.  While God does not visit calamity on anyone, a pride that wraps a person all up in themselves is one that is destructive not only to one's faith, but also to the sense of responsibility we should have for the community of humankind.  It is the same kind of pride that contributes to massive wealth, greed and the exploitation of the poor, the oppressed, the sick and those without the basic necessities of life, only to get wealthier and gain more power.   It is this kind of pride that forgets that every one of us is part of the human family, and that our dignity as God's beloved is based on the reality of our being created and redeemed by our loving and gracious God.   It is this pride that brings about it's own calamity to the point where God doesn't need to give us anymore.  It is also such, that God will intervene when we turn in repentance towards God and seek reconciliation for ourselves, and our neighbors.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us that it is because of Jesus Christ and his self sacrifice on the Cross, that we should extend hospitality to each other.  The judgement of God is brought upon us, by ourselves when we neglect our responsibilities to one another.  This reading from Hebrews is one of those rare moments when the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Testament are well connected in context.  The connection is our love of God, our neighbors and ourselves. When we welcome one another, we are welcoming Christ and His Paschal Mystery and  we live it's meaning in our lives.   It is a difficult message for all of us, because we have our secure comfort zones that we do not like disturbed.   We would like to arrange our lives in such a way, that no one who is different from ourselves can cause us displacement.  But, the Christian faith is about just that.  Our Christian faith is best expressed when we allow God to move us by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we are never idle in terms of spiritual maturity.  

Jesus tells the parables in today's Gospel Reading to call those he is with to seek God in the place in which they already are.  To recognize that the place where God has us, is where God wants to converse with us, and through us.  St. Benedict had such in mind when he wrote his longest and most in depth chapter on humility in The Rule.  In Chapter 7: On Humility, Benedict tells us that the first step on the ladder of 12 leading up to humility is to always keep the consciousness of God before us.   In Benedict's Rule, self-exaltation means we decline in humility.  While becoming more humble, means we ascend on the ladder.   The very first step means that we should remember that God is God and we are not.   When we keep this in mind and heart then we have reverence for God in worship and in our relationships with others around us.  Our last wish, would be to show a lack of reverence for God who is present in all things and people.  

This awareness should make us take a good hard look at the importance of securing the freedom to marry for LGBT people nationwide and world wide.   In showing reverence to God, we should be very concerned about the massive chemical weapons that have killed thousands of people in Syria, but not even think of a military strike in their country as a solution.   More military style weapons that become the cause of more massive destruction, violence and civilian casualties is not a solution.  Our reverence for God should make us pause and look at our policies towards women, children, education, health care, the poor and the immigrants.   To view and behave towards such people in a way that denigrates them, is to fail to give the reverence for God in all human persons.

As we celebrate Labor Day, may we also do our part to support those who work to provide for themselves, their families and society.  May we spend our time, resources and political capital so that every person who is able to work receives a livable fair wage, and those who cannot receive the assistance they need to be functional and productive in whatever capacity they can.  

Humility is an important key to hospitality and reconciliation.   May we take the key and start the engines of compassion, inclusion and hope for our world that is so in need of God's Providence.

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, Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).

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).


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. (Prayer for Labor Day, Book of Common Prayer, p. 261).

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Who Said Anything About Peace?

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 23:23-29 (NRSV)

Am I a God near by, says the LORD, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed!" How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back-- those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Psalm 82 (BCP., p.705)


Hebrews 11:29-12:2 (NRSV)

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Luke 12:49-56 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:

father against son

and son against father,

mother against daughter

and daughter against mother,

mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

Blog Reflection

Well, Jesus' claim to fame for bringing peace to the Church and world just went out the window.   Forget about all that talk of the God of peace or even justice, because, Jesus here is saying that is not why He came.  Whatever hope you had for peace through Jesus, I guess it is not going to happen.

Is the problem with Jesus, or is it our understanding of the word peace as Jesus uses it means?  What kind of peace is Jesus talking about that appears to be suggesting that we will be in conflict with even our own families because of Him?

My husband Jason and I have many interesting conversations.  Just this afternoon on our way home from attending Mass, we got into a conversation about what are some of the most tiny matters of faith that have played their role in the divisions within the Christian Church.  We can go back as far as the Book of Acts and see that even then, the Church had disagreements with regards to whether the new Christians should have to live by the tenants of the Jewish law (See Acts 15).  Peter and Paul had their disagreements over what was to be the response to faith in Jesus Christ, and the requirement of circumcision to be included in the Church (See Galatians 2).   The Church has seen divisions over issues such as whether Peter is the first Pope and left successors.  Another example is the centuries old debate between the Western and Eastern Church concerning how the Filioque clause in the Nicene Creed should be worded.  The matter of whether the elements of Holy Communion become the actual Body and Blood of Christ by transubstantiation, consubstantiation, are the Real Presence, or they are only symbolic remains a strong point of conflict for Christians.   While there has been much heart ache and bloodshed over many of these matters, none has brought nearly as much as the debate over whether the Bible is the "infallible Word of God,"  the "inerrant Word of God," the "inspired Word of God," or none of the above.   The present debates over everything from women's ordination, marriage equality, health care, climate change, the role of the secular government, and even weapons regulation are being argued on the grounds of how each side of those arguments interprets the Sacred Scriptures.  

Yet, there is one argument that is missing from them all.  A point that is so crucial to what it means to live a Christian life, that it has yet to be brought up, let alone listened to.  Let me see if I can make that point while giving some thought to "who said anything about peace?".

There was a man born about the year 480.   He was born of a noble family, and had many prestigious opportunities before him.  Yet, during his college education, he found the life around his friends and culture so falling apart, that he abandoned everything and fled to a cave in Subiaco, Italy.  There he spent 3 years mediating on the Scriptures, and how he should respond to what the Holy Spirit was saying to him, and his life.  He was soon found, and many became so interested in what he was doing, that they wanted to follow his way of life.  His only close companion at that point, was a Priest named Roman who made sure he had food, water and basic needs.  He established a monastery there at Subiaco, and eventually went on to make a new community at Monte Cassino.  There, St. Benedict wrote his Rule that was a combination of the works of St. Basil the Great, St. John Cassian and others, and became a document that would last over 1500 years as Rules and other Monastic and Religious orders came and went.  Through the influence of communities established under the Rule of Benedict long after his death, through out Europe, came not only monasteries, but school, universities of higher learning, houses, infrastructure and among many things, the Anglican Communion.  Yet, for Benedict and those who still live by The Rule in whatever kind of community they observe it in, there remains his one motto: Peace.

What Benedict did, and what Jesus Christ called people to, was a life of searching for union with God through prayer and relationships with one another, to the point, that all people are to be honored as Christ, Himself.  What is missing from the many discussions around politics where religion is playing a key role in the debate, is how do we help, treat and meet Jesus Christ in those around us who are different from ourselves?  One thing that Jesus never said in all of His many sermons and prayers, was that His followers were to proselytize, to the point of destroying every other religion, sexual orientation, culture, gender, gender identity/expression, government, etc, so that it mirrored the Caucasian, Western European, male, straight, Christian dominionist model.  That was not the peace or the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached or practiced.    

Jesus said that we know how to read signs in the earth and sky, but we do not read the signs of the times.  God's Reign, is about having a peace in our lives, that is prepared to give everything up and follow Jesus Christ in His way of extending hospitality, reconciliation and healing among the lost, oppressed, hopeless and those pushed aside by violence and prejudice.  Jesus says that His way will cause conflict, because we will need to be ready to decide if setting aside our own biases to respond to the needs of the poor, sick, needy, friendless to find Jesus Christ there, and serve Him there with complete abandonment to our own will. We are called to serve in loving obedience, by serving God in all people, in all places and in all situations.  At times making such decisions will cause us conflicts within our own family and/or circle of friends.  It will stretch our comfort zones and those of others as we reach out with compassion and understanding, those whom many would prefer to remain anonymous and helpless.  Sometimes that someone will be a member of our own family, other times it will be someone we have never met before.

The decision to come out as someone who is lesbian,gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer is one that is about following the will of God.  Many of us who have come out, experienced the loss of relationships with parents, relatives and our closest friends, because we found God's peace in being who we really are, while their understanding of the Bible says that we should be changed.   Yet, for many of us, continuing to lie to ourselves and others we love, was no longer an option.  As we developed our relationship with God, others and ourselves we discovered that what people understood the Bible to mean about being LGBT, was not only untrue, but it was down right wrong.   To lie to ourselves and others, was to do violence to ourselves, our families, but also to others who are experiencing prejudice and cruelty because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.

What are some ways in which Jesus might be calling us to live His meaning of peace?

A couple of suggestions that I would give include being very concerned and raising our voices over the horrendous violence to LGBT people in Russia, Uganda and many countries and States.   To pray for and to call for an end to the violence that is killing Christians in Egypt.  To pray for, and call for an ending to religious based violence towards women, Muslims, Jews and people of other religions, or those who chose no religion.  That we do our part to work for justice for the disabled, the sick, the unemployed, those experience economic hardship because of the sequester, and facing the issues around racism and immigration reform.  

As long as these and others live with injustice, oppression and exclusion, who said anything about living in a world of peace?    May those who claim to be Christians never be at peace with such oppression, until we have with the help of the Holy Spirit done our part to change the world to truly be God's Reign of peace for all humankind.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a
sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us
grace to receive thankfully the fruits of this redeeming work,
and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen. (Proper 15, Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).


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).


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

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Hospitality, Peace and St. Benedict

Today's Scripture Readings


Isaiah 66:10-14 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:

"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy,

all you who mourn over her--

that you may nurse and be satisfied

from her consoling breast;

that you may drink deeply with delight

from her glorious bosom.

For thus says the LORD:

I will extend prosperity to her like a river,

and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;

and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm,

and dandled on her knees.

As a mother comforts her child,

so I will comfort you;

you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;

your bodies shall flourish like the grass;

and it shall be known that the hand of the LORD is with his servants,

and his indignation is against his enemies. "

Psalm 66 (BCP., p.673)


Galatians 6:1-16 (NRSV)

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.
Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised-- only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule-- peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 (NRSV)

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

"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Blog Reflection 

One of the meanings of the name: Jerusalem is "City of Peace."  One would never know that by all of the things that happened to Jerusalem in the Bible, and even to this day.  No city in the world is more popular than Jerusalem for various reasons, not the least of which is religion. Three of the world's best known religions have their heritage in Jerusalem.  Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  If religion itself is not the cause of much of Jerusalem's troubles, politics and who actually gets to claim ownership to it never quite seems to be an answered question.

Despite all her troubles, God is never absent from Jerusalem.  The affection God feels towards the people of Israel is always present in one way or another.  Time and again, God has sent prophetic witnesses and others to bring comfort to her, so that others may receive consolation from this historic city.  God gives those who come to find solace in Jerusalem will experience God claiming them as God's own, whom God will care for.  They will not grow hungry, nor will they be without healing.  God will always extend welcome and give hope.

We are all living through times when things are changing so rapidly wherever we are.  The economy continues to be sluggish.  Jobs are not all that numerous, and the problems of poverty, prejudice and violence continue to fill the airwaves of radio, television and the internet.  God is calling all of us to become part of the ministry of hospitality, peace and reconciliation.  God encourages us to embrace one another as we face the challenges of daily life, and find consolation in the Holy Spirit.  The most visible form of God's compassion for all people, is when those who know God in their personal lives reach out to others who are hurting to offer them support and friendship.  We don't have to have answers to their problems.  All that is often needed is someone to listen, and give them a sense that there are those who care about what is happening in their lives.  

In today's Gospel, Jesus sends out the seventy without purse or anything to lean on.  Anything that they might have clung to for their personal security was to be given over so that they may find their needs met by God reaching out to them through others, so that they could be part of the ministry of hospitality and peace.   They are told to go where they are welcomed.  Notice here, that Jesus tells them about those who will not receive them in hospitality.  Sodom and Gomorrah that was destroyed for their lack of hospitality and not homosexuality, is judged to be better off than a city who will not welcome His followers.   What kind of peace then, might Jesus be asking the seventy to share?

The disciples are to share a peace (Latin word: pax) that is not just a matter of the absence of conflict.  The people of that time were living in an era of constant violence and economic oppression.  The peace that Jesus tells them to offer is that peace that comes with the ability to trust oneself into the care of God, so that even if one has to give up everything for the sake of the other, they are at peace within themselves to do so.  Hospitality is not about airplanes, hotels and fancy restaurants.  I know they call that the "hospitality industry."  That is hospitality by way of what one is willing to pay for the convenience of being pampered.  Hospitality in this sense, and also what St. Benedict mentioned in his Rule is to receive another as Christ, Himself and to show reverence for God within the other person.  This kind of hospitality is not about convenience for the one extending a welcome, it is for the benefit of the one(s) receiving the hospitality and peace.  It is not based on our preconceived notions and negative stereotypes.   It is based on the understanding that God creates and redeems everyone through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And that, we too are called to share in the work of redemption by giving of ourselves for the benefit of others.

I would suggest that one of the points that needs to be made in favor of marriage equality for LGBT people, is that to give them the opportunity for the rights and responsibilities that come with marriage is a great work of hospitality.  To allow LGBT people to strengthen what marriage means by demonstrating that it is about love, commitment and responsibility so that everyone in society benefits from this holy institution.   Bishop Gene Robinson makes an outstanding case for such an understanding in his book: God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage.

Far from undermining marriage, gay and lesbian couples seeking marriage for themselves are perhaps the institution's best friends.  At a time when marriage is seen as less desirable and less necessary for straight couples, gay and lesbian people are lining up at town halls and church doors to participate in this traditional and long-standing institution.

Gay Marriage not only doesn't undermine the institution of marriage; it actually lends credence and support to marriage at a time when it is threatened and undermined by a wide range of circumstances.  Champions of marriage should be delighted at the prospect of gay men and lesbians seeking to join in the tradition and practice of marriage (p. 136).

The matter of hospitality and peace should be our encouragement to work towards effective and comprehensive immigration reform.  

As Americans we should be appalled by any law that would restrict the rights of any woman or man from exercising their right to vote due to race or any other reason.  

Hospitality as understood by the Gospel means we give up our comfort zones and allow others to share in that which we so often take for granted.   It means that we commit ourselves to taking better care of the environment, because we are not the only ones who benefit from what we enjoy now.  Nor are we the only ones who suffer the consequences of what we fail to do to take better care of God's earth than we are now.  

Hospitality also means we take better care for people who are affected by mental illness, and regulate dangerous weapons. 

Hospitality means that we care about the health care rights and opportunities for women, and seek a greater accountability from men who exploit women by gender discrimination exemplified in our present politics.   

As we continue to celebrate our Independence Day Weekend, may we take seriously our responsibility to be a welcoming people, who give peace to those who still long for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments
by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your
Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole
heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 9, Book of Common Prayer, p.230).


Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the
earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace:
Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the
strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in
accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Prayer for the Nation, Book of Common Prayer, p.258).


Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p.826).