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).

Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday. The Languages of The Spirit Guiding Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' 

Psalm 104:25-35, 37 (BCP., p.736)


Romans 8:22-27 (NRSV)

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

John 15: 26-27, 16:4b-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Blog Reflection

This past January a professor from Luther Seminary in St. Paul by the name of Eric D. Barreto gave a very informative lecture.  It was part of a series on racism and our response to it as Christians.  Professor Barreto spoke about those languages that the first Apostles were speaking on Pentecost.  As we read the account in Acts, The Holy Spirit impacted the Church so that the message of the Gospel was heard in the languages of everyone within hearing distance.  Professor Barreto then asked his audience this question.  Is the Church of today speaking the various languages of those who are listening to what Christians have to say?

As Christians who are Caucasian, well educated, wealthy, living without much persecution, straight and male dominated; we have become so comfortable with thinking we know it all.  Many of the English settlers who came to the shores of the United States felt that they had the answers to improve the lives of the Native Americans who were already settled.  Long before that, there was the assumption that those who lived in Africa just couldn't make anything of their lives because of the color of their skin, their living conditions and their religious practices.  What contribution did white Christian men make to improve such societies?   Slavery, the demolition of those cultures and documents such as the Doctrine of Discovery.   Others included offering "inspiring" Christian worship that left many illiterate and without the means of communication and/or interpreting in a language they understood.  Much of this came about, because Christians assumed they had the whole truth about Christ and the Church based on what they understood to be truth.

On this Pentecost Sunday, Jesus invites us to the experience of those first Apostles to open ourselves to being led into a fuller understanding of truth.  A truth that is never complete and always evolving and open to being led into all truth by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus knew that those first Disciples were limited by their culture and surrounding environment that they could not possibly understand the fullness of truth.  He knows how limited we are now as we learn to confront the racism, sexism, heterosexism and the neglect of the poor and immigrants we are facing today.  Jesus does not leave us in our present state of mind to just "take it as it is" and leave it.  Jesus sends the Holy Spirit here and now to lead us into a deeper truth of God and one another, so that the Church may grow and evolve.  The Church needs to let go of the dark and horrible images of God that continue to tell our children to be afraid for their lives.  If they were to wake up one day and realize that they are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, or political position on climate change or health care; Lord only knows what their parents or grandparents might say. 

The Holy Spirit prays for the Church now more than ever.  We face a time in which the Church continues to be divided by the languages of prejudice, elitism, and legislating things like "religious freedom" to allow discrimination on the sole basis of religion.  Not just any religion, but only the conservative branch of Christianity that breeds fear, hate and misunderstanding in the Name of Christ.  The kind that labels marriage equality as a threat to the family; even as thousands of LGBT families and couples nurture homes for adopted children that are happy and healthy.  The type of Christianity that calls immigration reform "amnesty" as if everyone who is Latino or Eurpean, etc. only seeks a better life for crime.  The same Christianity that blames women for being raped yet opposes abortion, health care, and job training for all women.

The Holy Spirit prays that the Church will be guided into the truth that Jesus is about compassion, love, inclusion, justice and hope for all people.  The Holy Spirit longs for a Church that is about all of us being Baptized into a covenant relationship with God and one another that seeks peace and justice for all persons, and works to respect the dignity of every human person.  If Christians will only listen for the Holy Spirit's call within their hearts individually and collectively, the Church will truly be a house of prayer for all people.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Pentecost.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).

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).  

Seventh Sunday of Easter: Jesus Prays for Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (NRSV)

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Psalm 1 (BCP., p.585)


1 John 5:9-13 (NRSV)

If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 17:6-19 (NRSV)

Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed, "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth."

Blog Reflection

Those who will be attending the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church might be feeling what those first Apostles did.  We have four very viable candidates to be elected as the next Presiding Bishop.  Whoever is elected to the task is the Primate for Episcopalians throughout this branch of the World Wide Anglican Communion.  There is a lot more on the plate for The Episcopal Church than just the election of the next Presiding Bishop.  Whoever is elected will be TEC's leader of the House of Bishops who helps guide us into the joys and struggles of what the General Convention decides with regards to any number of issues.  Let us all be in prayer for the Bishops and Delegates to the General Convention as they prepare for this important Convention.

As Christians, the other readings present us with some troubling words.  As Christians we profess our belief in Jesus as God's Son and the one who brings salvation to the world.  However, these many words present us with proclaiming the love of God through Jesus in a climate that still marginalizes other religions with their diverse beliefs and practices.  What we must take into account is that the writings of 1 John and this section of John's Gospel are written by Johannine communities.  The Gospel of John in particular represents a very highly intellectual view of Jesus as opposed to the narratives of the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.   It is strongly believed that there were three contributors to John's Gospel; one of whom could have been St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Evangelist.  Having written that, it is important to be careful about reading too much into what Jesus says during what we call The Last Supper Discourse with a literal, face value interpretation.  We must be very careful of what we call the "Jesus only" references, especially John 14:1-5.

We can interpret 1 John and the reading from John's Gospel today from a similar view point of last weeks readings.  Jesus is praying that Christians will go beyond what we see the world is about; and respond with a reverence and respect for the dignity of every human person.  Throughout the Gospels, Jesus gives to the Disciples and to all of us the means of how we can follow Jesus in word and example.  Jesus showed us how to welcome the stranger.  He was the example of how God values every human person so that no one is left on the fringes of society and/or the Church as if they do not matter.  Jesus loved those whom others considered unlovable and received them with radical hospitality with the intention of reconciliation.  Jesus not only told the Pharisees how to purge themselves of hypocrisy and relying on visible religious piety for the sake of being seen and celebrated; He taught all of us in our own hardness of heart.  In the reading from John, Jesus is praying with earnest desire that those He has shared the Goodness of God with, will be the outstanding example of what He taught them.   I truly believe that Jesus continues to pray that prayer for all of us.

I need this prayer as a Benedictine Novice as much as anyone else who follows Jesus.  I continue to be inspired by The Rule of St. Benedict, in particular Chapter 53 about receiving guests.  However, I have to confront within myself every day those attitudes and behaviors by which I am not open to welcoming Christ in others.  I can get so wound up in what is on the outside that I forget what real Benedictine hospitality is truly about.

Ultimately, hospitality is not about the table you set, or the driveway you plow. Hospitality is about the holiest of holies. It is about the heart you make ready. Yours. (Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love. Lonnie Collins Pratt and Fr. Daniel Homan, OSB p.169).

Whether our particular practice of hospitality is a ministry of receiving the countless individuals affected by racism, sexism, heterosexism, gender bias, the poor, the sick, the lonely, the Muslim, Jewish person or Atheist.  Jesus is praying for us to be protected from the blindness that keeps us from opening our hearts to His presence with reverence and respect for every human person.  Jesus did not leave us without God's help.  Jesus sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit which we will celebrate next Sunday on Pentecost.   When we allow the Holy Spirit to help us surrender ourselves to God's will, all of us can be an answer to the prayers of Jesus in our world.  God knows how much our world needs us to be the answer to those prayers.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.226).

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. The Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

Ash Wednesday: Do Something More for God in Lent

Today's Scripture Readings

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 (NRSV)

Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near--
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
nor will be again after them
in ages to come.
Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the LORD, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the LORD, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her canopy.
Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD,
and do not make your heritage a mockery,
a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
`Where is their God?'"

Psalm 103 (BCP., p.733)


2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (NRSV)

We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,

"At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you."

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Blog Reflection

New England and the Northeast part of the United States has record snow fall.  The tensions concerning the horrific violence of ISIS are escalating.  We continue to witness more grand standing on the part of the Judges in Alabama about the freedom to marry.   Our Congress is at a stand still over whether or not to fund Homeland Security that protects Americans at home and abroad.  The regular assaults on those who are disabled and retired haunts our consciences when comments are made that those receiving Social Security benefits "are gaming the system." A judge in Texas has made a ruling on Pres. Obama's Executive Action to improve our broken immigration system.  Turmoil, prejudice and oppression are all around us.

Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent are God's gift to us today.  As the events of the world present us with the inescapable reality of human suffering, the Church invites us to journey with Jesus for the next forty days beginning with a stark reminder of our mortality.   The imposition of ashes on our foreheads accompanied by the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" bring us face to face with how quickly life as we know it is passing away.  St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians tells us that now is the time of salvation.  There is a sense of urgency in those words; an almost military style wake up call.  There is a lot to do.  We have so much to celebrate.  As St. Benedict wrote in The Rule, "the Lord waits for us daily to translate into action, as we should, his holy teaching." (Prologue vs. 35).

Regarding the observance of Lent, St. Benedict wrote,

"The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent.  Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times.  This we can do in a fitting manner by refusing to indulge evil habits and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial.  During these days, therefore, we will add to the usual measure of our service something by way of private prayer and abstinence from food or drink, so that each of us will have something above the assigned measure to offer God of his own will with the joy of the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:6).  IN food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing" (RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict in English, Chapter 49:1-7, p.71). 

My Superior, Abbot Robert Cotton, OSB remarked in our CSL Newsletter for Lent, that while others focus on what to give up in the next forty days; St. Benedict wrote about "adding to the usual measure."  Abbot Robert suggested that,

"Lent is not a time of “giving up” so much as it is a time of contemplation, preparation and a time to move forward in our quest for a more perfect union with God. It is a time to make sure our priorities are right and aligned with  our goal. As monastics, we are called to do this not just once a year, but daily. In keeping Christ at the center, a life of Lent becomes the natural expression of our desire to become Christ like. This is not privation; this is Life itself."

Whether one is a monastic, a Priest, Lay Member, Bishop, or Deacon, whatever our path of life might be; we are all hungering and longing for more than the food on our tables or that something we are setting aside.  Lent is our time to do something more in our relationship with God.  We are to do more than pay the usual lip service of going through the rituals and motions.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel today, to do more not for the sake of being seen by people so as to gain human respect or for notoriety's sake; but, so that we grow closer to God in a bonded relationship of love, faith and trust.

It is important that whatever we may be setting aside over the next forty days, that we replace it with doing something for God and others.  There is always a tremendous need to be fulfilled by the work of Episcopal Relief and Development.   IntegrityUSA needs the support and prayers of everyone as they continue their work for a greater inclusion of LGBT people in the Church and Society.  David R. Henson wrote a terrific post in Pathoes about spending Lent in which Black Lives Matter to address the racism that is around us.  It is also important to do things such as turning off the TV and/or the computer to communicate (not just talk with, but actually communicate) with our spouses and families.  Spend some time thinking about our prayer life, our attitudes towards others and addressing those things in our lives that make union with God a bigger obstacle than it needs to be.

Whatever we do this Lent, may we all take time to meditate on the reality that God is so madly in love with all of us, that God gives us the next forty days to draw closer to us.  As we rediscover the wonder of God's love that includes the suffering and death of Christ; may we also grow in a deeper bond with God's presence with reverence and respect for our neighbor.  May our hearts and minds bow in worship as God makes God's being visible to us those relationships in which God wants us to respond in love, self-sacrifice and the hope of resurrection.

May God bless us all in our journey of Lent this year.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Ash Wednesday, The Book of Common Prayer, p.217).

Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony
and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to
take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer Of The Cross, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 252).

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

All Saints Sunday: What Is Holding Us Back?

Today's Scripture Readings

Revelation 7:9-17 (NRSV)

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,singing,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.

"Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? "I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows. " Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Psalm 34:1-10, 22 (BCP., p.627)


1 John 3:1-3 (NRSV)

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

 Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Announcement

 

I have begun a new daily blog entitled Simple Reflections for A Deeper Spiritual Life.  My readers are welcome to click on that title and read the new blog.   I will continue to write this blog for Sundays and Holy Days.   Thank you for reading.   I hope you will continue reading here and at Simple Reflections.

 

 

Blog Reflection 

 

Thomas Keating in his book: The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience writes the following.

The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount contains a number of affirmations called the beatitudes that summarize Jesus' teaching about the truth nature of happiness. 

Hence, the emphasis in Jesus' ministry on repentance, which means "change the direction in which you are looking for happiness."  The beatitudes came out of the heart of Jesus when he looked at the multitudes  that were following him and realized with infinite compassion that "they were like sheep without a shepherd,"  all going their own way - that is, nowhere at a great rate.  "Jetting to nowhere" summarizes in modern language the projects of the first three energy centers.  The beatitudes give us some insight into how to dismantle them and to move toward true happiness (pages 94-95).

As Anglicans and Episcopalians, we believe in the world wide Communion of Saints.  Our believe is that "all saints" means exactly that.  All are saints with the potential for sainthood in the Reign of God in the here and now.  We are all part of that multitude that is beyond count in the Revelation of John. What makes us saints is the work of the grace of God in our lives.  As God's holy people, we are empowered by God's Holy Spirit live into an authentic expression of our Baptismal Vows to make a difference in the Church and society.

 

The Saints that have made up the Tradition of the Church were imperfect women and men just like we are.  They faced insurmountable challenges to live their faith while making many mistakes due to their own biases because of misinformation.  Yet, Jesus Christ was their Lord and Savior as He is ours.   It was because of the redemption brought by the Paschal Mystery of Christ that they contributed to the evolving truth about Jesus and the Church.  That same mystery of salvation empowers us today, in this moment, in this place, for the purpose in which we are right now; as we are enriched by "the great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) that continue to give us an example of how to live holy lives.    

I believe the readings for All Saints Day point us to what being a Saint is about.  They tell us that the path to true happiness so as to follow Jesus; is about recognizing our need for God if we are to find fulfillment in our lives.   It is about recognizing the presence of Christ in all persons, and surrendering ourselves to God's will by trusting in God even when nothing in life seems to make sense.  It is in those moments that the unconditional and all inclusive love of God is never far away.  God is always reaching out to and for us through others.   How ready are we to respond to God?

Our world is riddled with violence, depression, darkness, prejudice and injustice.  None of it is of God's doing or making.  I do not agree with those who interpret Job 1 to suggest that "nothing evil happens to us that has not first passed through the throne of God."   Yet, God works God's will for our best interests through all of these things.  

 

Through the evil of racism for example, God inspired individuals like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King to rise up in civil disobedience to make the case that African Americans should not be regarded as second class citizens.   The families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown and those who want justice for their deaths carry on the legacy of the civil rights movement today.

 

A few individuals at Stonewall in 1969 rose up to say no to the police brutality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; and so began the movement towards a greater equality under the law.  Their historical work gave rise to the work of Harvey Milk, Louie Clay, Bishop V. Gene Robinson and more.

The parents of Matthew Shepard would not allow their grief of the brutal beating that caused his death to keep them from doing something to benefit others.   Judy Shepard's devotion to Matthew helped her to speak up for the safety of LGBT People to be kept safer through the Hate Crimes Bill signed into law just a few years ago.  She continues her advocacy today.

 

One woman who's child was killed because of a drunk driver put herself forward to begin Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).  

 

Individuals who are tired of the injustice of "illegal" immigrants being deported out of our country, are continuing to call for immigration reform.   

 

Episcopalians who have had it with schools and communities going through the horror of violence out of control at gun point have organized Episcopalians Against Gun Violence.  We do not rejoice about the violence, but we can embrace the transformational grace of God and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to bring about God's Reign of justice, equality and peace for all people.

Today, in this moment God is calling upon us to make a difference in the Church and society.  All of us have the opportunity to do our part as members of the Communion of Saints, by responding to God's movement in our lives.   Let us all pray for each other that we will have the strength to respond in obedience out of love for the honor and glory of God.  

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one
communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son
Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those
ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for All Saints.  The Book of Common Prayer.  p.245).

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

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Living Our Faith from the Heart

Today's Scripture Readings

Exodus 17:1-7 (NRSV)

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"

Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 (BCP., p.694)


Philippians 2:1-13 (NRSV)

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

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.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Matthew 21:23-32 (NRSV)

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, `Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, `I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."

Blog Reflection

I am going to be blunt in this blog post.  We Christians can be among the most selfish of all the worlds religions.   It is easy to dismiss how much Christians think only of ourselves with ISIS murdering individuals of various faiths, in particular Christians who in fact are martyrs.  Christian Church history is full of real martyrs and self made martyrs.  Christians in the here and now, can make martyrs of ourselves, whether or not there is a persecution of Christians.  A great example of such is the whole "Religious Liberty" argument to stop marriage equality.  When we stop listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit within ourselves and in others, that we become so self absorbed, that we cannot see what is really happening.

God showed the people of Israel how powerful God was in delivering them out of the slavery in Egypt, and crossing the Red Sea on dry ground.   God supplied them with manna from heaven so they would not starve.  Now they are thirsty.   Just like they did before they went through the Red Sea, and finally got the manna, they grumbled against Moses because they had no water.   In both situations, they pleaded for the life they had in Egypt.   A life of oppression, forced labor and the killing of all the male children which were thrown into the Nile River.   In the end, God grants them what they wanted.

There are many things that St. Benedict shows his dislike for in The Rule. The one that he expressly forbade, was murmuring or grumbling.   His reason for that, was that murmuring or grumbling has the power to disrupt the life of the community.  When a member begins to grumble, the focus of the community is taken away from silence, prayer and searching for union with God.   Instead, the focus is the grumbling member.   On one hand, St. Benedict had the flexibility in The Rule so that such grumbling can be avoided.  On the other, if a member is endlessly murmuring, it is difficult for the member to pay attention to God in the heart.  In addition, she/he can distract others.    The best way to keep the focus on our prayerful vocation, is to eliminate as many distractions as possible.   St. Benedict wants the members of his communities, to focus on what God is doing in the life of the community.  To seek union with God through a continuous life of prayer and work.

The reading from Paul's Epistle to the Philippians and the Gospel of Matthew ask the reader to take our Faith to our hearts and live it from there.  Those who were challenging Jesus wanted to know where He got the authority to do what He was doing.  As Jesus challenges them with the question about John the Baptist, they are missing the point.  John the Baptist and Jesus are doing the work of God, because people who were thought to be on the margins of society are coming forward and experiencing a deep conversion that awakens in them, a heart felt living faith in God.   How far does that go?   The conversion experience means that people are feeling the call of God to be obedient from the heart, even after they have said no, like the first son in the parable.    The other son may have said yes, but in his heart, his faith was dead.  

This past week, many of us in the Twin Cities area received the distressing news that Archbishop John Neinstedt of the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, requested the resignation of a music director.   He was asked to resign, not because he is gay.   He was asked to resign because he married his same-gender partner.  Jamie Moore has held the job for 17 years.   Those who have worked with him all these years were aware that he is gay, and has a partner.  So long as he lived as a second class citizen without the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a married man, his job was safe.   As soon as he married his partner, his job as a lay employee was considered a matter that could "confuse Catholics about the teachings of the Church."  That is a paraphrase.   As if the blatant hypocrisy was not enough, a Priest who has been accused of inappropriate sexual contact with children, has been promoted to the Archdiocesan marriage annulment panel.   

Things like what I just wrote about above are why the Christian Religion in all of it's various denominations, including the Anglicans gets a bad name.   When people who are wondering whether or not God really exists, or if Jesus Christ really is the loving Savior read about things like this; they just find our Faith so difficult to believe in.   The same conclusion might be reached by people who just cannot understand why the faculty at General Theological Seminary in New York is on strike.   There is an impasse that cannot be over come between the faculty, the Dean, President, and Board of Trustees in an Episcopal Seminary?   Disagreements are one thing.   This kind of thing is a disgrace.

As I began this blog post, Christians can be very selfish.   We would like to believe that we own all the religions in the world, along with all the governments and provinces.  The fact is, we do not.  As Episcopalians, our Baptismal Covenant asks us to answer "We will, with God's help" to "Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human person" (The Book of Common Prayer, p.305).   When we make these promises with a sincere desire to be open to how the Holy Spirit leads us to live into that vow, and do our work even though we may say no with our voices, our Faith is lived from the heart.   When and if we do otherwise, our yes is lip service only.  

That is why the Epistle from Paul is so important for this Sunday's lectionary.   Jesus Christ did more than pay lip service to God and humankind.  Jesus made becoming a servant to humankind so important, that not even equality with God was something He exploited.  If doing so meant that he had to die the horrible death on the Cross, that's what He did.   Because of that, the Name of Jesus Christ is exalted and glorified.   How much more exalted and glorified is the Name of Jesus Christ, when Christians work for equality and justice to end oppression due to the sin of prejudice?  Is there any greater evidence of how real living the Christian Faith from the heart can be?

How are you being called to live the Christian Faith from the heart?

In what ways do you say no and do what you must do to live your Faith from the heart?

In what ways do you say yes to living your Faith from the heart, but do not do it?

This weekend, Jesus is calling on us to see the work of God's redemption in our lives, and to live from the heart the Faith we proclaim.    Now is a good time to respond to that call.

Amen.


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, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).

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

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, The Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Addressing Conflict in the School of the Lord's Service

Today's Scripture Readings

Ezekiel 33:7-11 (NRSV)

You, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?" Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Psalm 119: 33-40 (BCP., p.766)


Romans 13:8-14 (NRSV)

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.


Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Matthew 18:15-20 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Blog Reflection

Therefore, we intend to establish a school for the Lord's service.  In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome.  The good of all concerned, however, may prompt us to a little strictness in order to amend faults and to safeguard love.  Do not be daunted immediately by fear and fun away from the road that leads to salvation.  It is bound to be narrow at the outset.  But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.  Never swerving from his instructions then,  but faithfully observing his teaching in the monastery until death, we shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom.  Amen.  (Prologue 45-50. RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict in English, p. 18, 19).

This Sunday's readings are full of tough stuff for Episcopalians and Anglicans.  We are not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox.  We are also not Lutherans, Methodists or Presbyterians.  We are not Unitarian/Universalists.  Episcopalians/Anglicans are the via media between them all.   So, to give an adequate reflection on the subject of conflict is quite challenging.    It is often said that if there is one thing that all Episcopalians and Anglicans can agree on, is that we disagree about many things.   Our one common element that unites us is The Book of Common Prayer.

There is also another element that is a uniting factor.  We are Christians who share the mission contained in the words of our Baptismal Vows.  We are to be guided by the Gospel call to the love of God, neighbor and self in all seasons and situations.  It is hardly possible that we will get it exactly right in all situations and moments.   Today's Lectionary Readings provide some important points for us to consider, that will be very helpful.

In today's reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, Ezekiel has been appointed by God as the sentinel for God's people.   A sentinel is placed at the watch gate, so that he can give a warning to the community of the coming of evil.   While it appears that this message for Ezekiel is full of doom and gloom, the essential meaning is that God wants to bring salvation to God's people.   The sentinel being appointed by the Lord God, is to be God's messenger so that the people will know what their choices are.  The burden of what the people choose, is the responsibility of the sentinel.   If the people are not told by the sentinel, then he bears the responsibility for the choice they make.  If the sentinel gives the word of the Lord and they still do not listen, the consequence is on them.  God's sole wish is for God's people to follow God's desire and find salvation.

Christians are given the immense grace of God's unconditional love.   In whatever capacity of ministry we are in, we are the sentinels of that message.   If all that people hear is the Christianists version, which supports oppression and prejudice for a less diverse Church and society, then as Christians, we bear the responsibility of that message.   The actual message of the Gospel of Christ, is one of inclusive love, healing and reconciliation.   The Christian Gospel is about justice and equality for all people.   Our human made labels that define our gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, religion, financial status, political party, language, etc are not part of God's language.   God knows each of us as beloved daughters and sons of God, and with us, God is well-pleased.

The Readings from Romans and Matthew's Gospel, are there for us to meditate on how we as individuals and the Christian Community deal with conflict.   I used the quote from The Rule of St. Benedict to begin this reflection, because I wanted to convey that whether we are Monastics in the Monastery or not, we are all in the process of learning how to follow the Lord in our own lives.   Each spirituality within the Church from the Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, the Ionians and so forth are all pointing us in their unique fashion to live the Gospel in our lives.   We each come to understand and live the Gospel from our particular background and social location in a way that is unique and blessed.   The issue in today's Gospel is not whether or not there is conflict, but, how we address conflict so that we all lead each other to an authentic and transparent living into our Christian vocation.  

The final meaning of this Gospel text, has nothing to do with a church bodies' authority to excommunicate or refuse service to someone.   It is about how we as people who proclaim belief in a God of inclusive love, live out what we say we are about.   Even when the going gets tough.  Even when we will disagree with each other.     If in our disagreements with each other we can do so in a way that leads all of us into a deeper and life-giving relationship with God and one another, with love and compassion as our goal; we will accomplish great things in the Name of the Lord.  On the contrary, if we deal with conflicts in a way that seeks to serve only our selfish desires, prejudices based on ignorance of one another; the life-giving message of the Gospel becomes another fairy tale that is a nice story, but it is hardly real.  A Christianity that has a lot of nice sounding adventures, but, did it really change people's lives, or was it just a passing history novel?

May we enter into a deeper relationship with God in our prayer and work this week, so that as we encounter conflicts that will at times shake us up, we will recognize the presence of Christ in one another.  Let us respond to God's presence in others with a reverence and respect that translates what we pray and believe into the reality of who we are, and how we love others.

Amen.


Prayers

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

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for our Enemies, The 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, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Silence, Listening and Faith

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Kings 19: 9-18 (NRSV)

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

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

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


Romans 10:5-15 (NRSV)

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

"The word is near you,

on your lips and in your heart"

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

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

Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)

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

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

Blog Reflection

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How are we responding to Jesus calling out to us?

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

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


Prayers

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

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

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