Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Jesus said: You give them Something to Eat

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 55:1-5 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:

"Ho, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you."

Psalm 145 (BCP., p.801)


Romans 9:1-5 (NRSV)

I am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Matthew 14:13-21 (NRSV)

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Blog Reflection

A few of my readers are going to think I have flipped my lid when I share with you an experience I had over the past two weeks.  

A dear friend of mine who is a new Episcopalian began a group on Facebook called Progressive Christian Mysticism.   I joined the group with much enthusiasm, and I do applaud his efforts.   As time went on, the owner of the group put up regular posts by Marcus Borg and other progressive Christian authors, along side works by Thomas Merton.   I also saw a post entitled "Are you one" that had a list of the things that the particular progressive Christian man holds.  I deeply honor the faith of the individual and believe his intentions and purpose is good.   At the same time, I began to have a bit of an issue within my own heart.

I continue to be a progressive when it comes to politics.   I can also be labeled a more progressive theologian in some ways.   Yet, there is another side of me that remains very conservative when it comes to things like what is written in the Apostles and Nicene Creed are things I do truly believe.   I make no bones about being very Anglo-Catholic when it comes to worship, spirituality and the like.   At the same time, I do and have embraced Universalism in that I believe whether one is a Christian or not, there is still hope for salvation.  

When it comes to basic Christian spirituality in terms of contemplation, mysticism and prayer,  I believe whole heartedly they are neither political, nor are they based on one's theological opinions, arguments or school of thought.   When it comes to the movement of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and how we respond to the Spirit's gentle nudging, all that is important is being open to hearing what She has to say.

I think the message of today's Gospel reading is that what mattered most to Jesus in the feeding of the five thousand, is that they were hungry.   They were physically hungry and spiritually hungry.  They heard about this man who had been preaching the news of God's reign, healing the sick and casting out evil spirits.  They wanted to see this man, but they also needed Him to give nourishment to their bodies and souls.  They wanted to know if God was truly listening to the hunger in their stomachs and hearts, and they wanted a reason to respond.  

Jesus' response was not to ask them about their theological or political opinions.   Jesus was not concerned about whether they were illegal immigrants, or baptized or if they had gone to seminary and passed the General Ordination Exams.  Jesus fed them with the Goodness of God.  And I do believe if there had been a person who had a gluten allergy, or if the fish had mercury, or there was someone who was a vegan, the Goodness Jesus fed them with would have met them where they were, and healed them in body and soul.   I also believe that their hearts would have been changed, because everyone was welcome to eat, and receive God's blessing through Christ.

I think the message for Christians, is to see beyond what people think, or how they exercise their responsibilities as citizens, to show reverence and respect for the presence of Christ in all people.  This is a hard teaching for me to live by, as I am sure my many of readers find it difficult.   But, through the daily attentiveness to the Word of God who is Jesus the Christ in our hearts through the Holy Spirit; in that place where it matters not whether one is a democrat or a republican, a progressive or a conservative; God draws each of us closer to God's Self and one another.  The labels that are used to divide and permit prejudice and justify a first class and a second class of citizens are human made.   They may be necessary for us to know so that we learn to respect one another in some way, shape or form.  However, as far as God is concerned, with in each of us, is there room for the Goodness of the Lord to come, speak, heal and call?   Are we willing to "incline the ears of our hearts" enough to notice how much we each hunger for God's Word, with a need to respond in a way that brings healing and reconciliation us and the world around us?  As far as God's Word is concerned, the only label God is concerned about, is that we are Beloved of God, and with us, God is well-pleased.

Jesus said: "You give them something to eat."   We can only give from that which we have received.  If we are open to God's Word in our hearts, we will be able to give of, and share from that Word with in us, to others who are abandoned, war torn, and experiencing violence    We will respond to issues such as the second class citizenship of women, LGBT, African Americans, Native Americans, Muslims, Jewish people, Atheists and more, not because it is politically correct; but, because we are God's people giving reverence and respect to all of God's holy people.  We will feed them with what we have, because we have so graciously received with thankful hearts and open hands.    And the People of God will together say with one voice, one response:

Amen.


Prayers

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your
Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without
your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).

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

Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost: Faith and Service are Inseparable

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 53: 4-12 (NRSV)

Surely he has borne our infirmities

and carried our diseases;

yet we accounted him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions,

crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

and by his bruises we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have all turned to our own way,

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

By a perversion of justice he was taken away.

Who could have imagined his future?

For he was cut off from the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people.

They made his grave with the wicked

and his tomb with the rich,

although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain.

When you make his life an offering for sin,

he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;

through him the will of the LORD shall prosper.

Out of his anguish he shall see light;

he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.

The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;

because he poured out himself to death,

and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 91 (BCP., p. 720).


Hebrews 5: 1-10 (NRSV)

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

"You are my Son,

today I have begotten you";

as he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever,

according to the order of Melchizedek."

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Mark 10: 35-45 (NRSV)

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Blog Reflection

By now the political mudslinging has just about everyone fatigued from all the negativism and competition.  Whether on the television, radio, internet, just driving on the roads with bill boards, lawn signs and bumper stickers in our faces no matter where we go.   Billions of dollars being poured into the campaigns for President, Congress, State and local offices, on many sides of the political debates. 

In today's Gospel it appears as if Jesus found himself present for a political debate.  James and John wanted from Jesus the decision concerning who would sit on his right or his left.  They are seeing the Reign of God as a matter of power, prestige and a position of dominance.   Jesus replies to them with the reality of what God's Reign is really about.  Jesus is the Reign of God who came to give those who had been shut out, a place at the table.   Jesus not only called his followers to be servants and to give their lives, he was the very example of what he was calling others to do in his Name.   Jesus was not afraid to take off his clothing, wrap a towel around his waist, kneel down and wash the feet of the disciples.   Jesus reached out to the woman who wept at his feet, and dried them with her hair, and showed her that the mercy of God was greater than her social status and her sins.  Jesus saw the value of a tax collector called Matthew and invited him to be part of those who serve others so that God's Reign might be more present in the world.  Even though our sins put Jesus on the cross, he had the faith and selfless love to say: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to see that our faith and service are inseparable from each other.  What we believe, needs to be visible by what we do.  All of us are redeemed by the Grace of God.  We have been invited to partake of the Presence of God in worship, prayer and Sacrament, but we are also empowered to be an example of Christ in our world.  In our jobs, families, communities and relationships.   This means that our prejudices and violent rhetoric that could serve to exclude and oppress others who are different from ourselves, is out of line with what Jesus calls us to in the Gospel today.

This past Friday, we celebrated Spirit Day, when we take a stand against bullying of LGBT youth.  Too many young people who are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, find it so difficult to tell their families, friends, church community leaders and any one close to them.  This fear is not without its legitimacy.  In addition to these and many other challenges, they face being bullied for their actual sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, or even if they are perceived as LGBT.   While concerned parents and citizens seek to ask local school districts to create stronger policies addressing the bullying being experienced by LGBT youth, other individuals who call themselves Christians or even "true Christians" feel it is their duty to the "infallible Word of God" to allow bullying.   "If only they are bullied, the just might change or want to be changed."  Such is their attitudes.

Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are not the only issues by which people are bullied.  People of different faith backgrounds, or no faith at all, individuals of different races, cultural backgrounds, physical/emotional and developmental challenges, wealth status etc are bullied by politicians, religious folks and common people every day.  Hard working, middle class people are being bullied by corporate CEO's to vote for the candidate that best supports their CEO's billion dollar profits.   Veterans who have fought in our wars and come home with injuries, PTSD and multiple issues are ignored by our political and social systems.   People who are poor and in need of local social services are losing the agencies they need, because the public dollars are being spent on billion dollar ad campaigns and so forth.  

Jesus invites us today, to see beyond the rhetoric of what it means to be a Christian.  He calls upon you and me to know that our discipleship is about being willing to see past our prejudices and see an opportunity to serve Christ in others.  Whether by our vote, our worship, our volunteer services or even our occupations, as Christians we have been given an example of inclusive and unconditional love in the Person of Jesus Christ.  Rather than look for the greatest of glory by being God's Son, Jesus "does not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, and being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8, NRSV). 

How is God calling us to be servants?  

How are we answering that call?

What might we do so that others may know that our faith and service are inseparable?

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed
your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your
mercy, that your Church throughout the world may
persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen. (Proper 24, Book of Common Prayer, p. 235).


Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen. (Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, p. 101).


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).