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

Today's Scripture Readings

Malachi 3: 1-4 (NRSV)

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

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

Canticle 16 (BCP., p.92)


Philippians 1:3-11 (NRSV)

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

Luke 3:1-6 (NRSV)

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

"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled,

and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

and the crooked shall be made straight,

and the rough ways made smooth;

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

Blog Reflection

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

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

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

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

What does John the Baptist represent for you?

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

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

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

Amen.


Prayers

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

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

The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple: Humility, Prophecy, Obedience

Today's Scripture Readings

Malachi 3:1-4 (NRSV)

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

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

Psalm 84 (BCP., p.707)


Hebrews 2:14-18 (NRSV)

Since God's children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Luke 2:22-40 (NRSV)

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Blog Reflection

The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple has always been a significant one for me.  I was first introduced to this glorious Feast at Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1994.  The Benedictine Monks there observe The Presentation with an actual Candle Mass of lit candles as part of the celebration of the Eucharist.  The candles symbolize the Light of Christ that comes to the House of God in obedience, humility and prophesy.  The experience is similar to what many Christians will celebrate at the Great Vigil of Easter when the new Baptismal Candle enters the church.  The light that came into the world, brings with Him a new era.  The darkness of sin is extinguished by the Light that is Christ by His death and resurrection.   We celebrate the Light of Christ's Redemption in the Paschal Mystery, and participate in it, through the waters of Baptism.   Hence the commitment of Christians to live in that Light of the Easter event, because of God's grace through Christ

One of the meanings of the Presentation is to recognize that we are now between the Nativity at Christmas, and Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent.   Here the two meanings of the coming of Christ as the Word made flesh, from the cradle to the cross find their crossover point.  

There are three main points about the Presentation of Christ in the temple that have meaning for our spiritual lives.  They are humility, obedience and prophecy.   Mary, Joseph and Jesus fulfill these by their humble submission to the law of Moses, and is confirmed through the Prophets Simeon and Anna.

In this 21st Century, the very idea of humility and obedience seem archaic, useless and things of the past.  However, the necessity of them could not be more real.

In humility, we acknowledge that we are not an entity unto ourselves.  Nor can we save ourselves without God's help.  Mary, Joseph and Jesus come to the Temple in humility, recognizing their humanity, and need for the God of their salvation.  We too, must return again and again to the God who has redeemed us in Christ, confess our sins, and accept God's mercy.   We cannot do this if we cling to a false sense of self.   Humility means we accept that God is God, and we are not.  Our true selves are found in Christ, who humbled Himself to the point of death on the Cross. (See Philippians 2:1-11).

Obedience says that we respond to God's mercy, by placing ourselves in God's hands, and serve others in the Name of Christ.  The humility of Jesus was such that the God who created us, became one like us in all things, yet did not sin, became a servant of all of us.  Even those of us who will not get up and wash our neighbors feet, or accept others who are different from ourselves.  The humility and obedience of Jesus, is our example of how to love one another, and be reminded that none of us are really above anyone else in any way.  We are all sinners, saved by God's grace.  In faith, our response needs to be one of obedience.

Lastly, is prophesy.  The Prophets Simeon and Anna greet Christ, recognizing that He is the hope that they have been awaiting.   As they both declare to have received the answer to their prayers, they also prepare Christ for the fulfillment of His life.   He has come to be the rise and fall of many.  He is the Light revealed to the nations, as God's perfect revelation of Self.   He has come to set free the marginalized, the oppressed and to give a sense of purpose to those who are left on the sidelines to fend for themselves.  Jesus has come as God's love embodied in the human person; living, serving and dying.   In God's revelation that there is no such thing as one so lost, that God is not concerned or reaching out for us.

These past couple of months and weeks, Christians have been called to a new era of humility, obedience and prophecy.  The momentous event of the ordination of the Rt. Libby Lane that continues the movement of women becoming more active in the ministry and leadership of the Church; suggests that God is calling us in humility, to be obedient and to be prophetic witnesses for an evolving faith.   

 

The violence that continues because of sexism, racism, heterosexism, gender discrimination; as well as those who are poor, sick, lonely, discouraged and/or live with mental illness; are symptoms of a deeper problem.  It is a problem of self acceptance, and a willingness to not only tolerate, but to accept and work towards living in peace with others who are different from ourselves.  It is a work we must give ourselves to in humility, and loving obedience as prophetic witnesses for a Christianity that is ever changing and continually renewing itself with each generation.

Humility, obedience and prophecy on this Presentation of Christ in the Temple, calls on us to see the Light of Christ in others around us.   To honor Christ's presence and to serve others in His Holy Name.  Without distinction, exception or excuse.   After all, which one of us is truly worthy of God's love in Christ?   Which one of us is so humble and obedient to not need God's grace to save us, so that we have the hope of everlasting life?    Therefore, who are we to withhold it from others?

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your
only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so
we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by
Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.239).

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully
restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may
share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our
humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.260).

Second Sunday of Advent: Will You Be The Voice in the Wilderness?

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 40:1-11 (NRSV)

Comfort, O comfort my people,

says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her

that she has served her term,

that her penalty is paid,

that she has received from the LORD's hand

double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:

"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

and all people shall see it together,

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

A voice says, "Cry out!"

And I said, "What shall I cry?"

All people are grass,

their constancy is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;

surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades;

but the word of our God will stand forever.

Get you up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good tidings;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,

lift it up, do not fear;

say to the cities of Judah,

"Here is your God!"

See, the Lord GOD comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms,

and carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead the mother sheep.

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (BCP., p.708-709)

2 Peter 3:8-15 (NRSV)

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Mark 1:1-8 (NRSV)

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way;

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

`Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,'"

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Blog Reflection

I am listening to a recording of Handel's Messiah as I write this blog post.  The words of Isaiah 40:1-11 are written all over part one of the historic oratorio.  The music that is played and sung to those words, "Comfort ye, my people" is so wonderful.  It sounds victorious with a lot of hope.  It is full of expectation and prophesy of the amazing things God will do.  Yet, it is clear from the text that not all is well at the moment.  God promises through Isaiah that a new prophet will come who cries in the wilderness to prepare a way for God to come, bringing justice and holiness.  So many more amazing things are on the horizon, that the Canticle is full of symbolism of the sky, the rain, the grass, the sheep to make the point that everything will be different than how they were.

This past week, the issue of institutionalized racism got another opportunity to become more visible.  The grand jury in NY deciding not to indict a police officer for killing unarmed Eric Garner by the means of a choke hold.  The raw emotions over the issue of racism in Ferguson, MO became only that much more viral with the Eric Garner case.  Before the ink dried in New York and we got a chance to breath after Ferguson, an unarmed black man in Arizona was shot and killed by a police officer.  The racial injustice is growing and destabilizing with every passing day.  The fact remains that those who are not white and/or Caucasian are the underprivileged on the basis of the color of their skin.  Even after a prophetic witness named Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was shot forty six years ago; African Americans, immigrants, Native Americans and so forth remain disadvantaged even more so than lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer people.  Such is the case in the Church and even more so in society.

On this Second Sunday of Advent, we traditionally remember St. John the Baptist as that "voice in the wilderness" calling out for the people of his time to prepare for the coming of Christ.  St. John the Baptist was not the typical prophet.  He was dressed in camels hair, had a leather belt around his waist, he ate locusts and honey.  In his time, St. John the Baptist would have been the outcast of outcasts.  He was the loud outsider calling those on the inside to recognize the need for repentance.  Repentance means to turn away from one's current direction in life and live for God in righteousness.

As soon as I wrote those words, I am immediately in trouble.  I am in trouble because, there is this part of my life that seems so contrary to the "Infallible Word of God" that when I write about repentance, I am considered a liar or even a fake.  That part of my life gets me and others like me a label and a stereotype that classifies me as a second class citizen.   A second class citizen who should not have the right to be married to my husband as I am, serve in the Church as a Benedictine Monk, write about the Scriptures or any other such thing.  That is all because fundamentalist Christians with a one sided view of the Bible cannot see in that view a bias based not on actual Biblical fact; but based on ignorance and fear driving their hate.  Thankfully, over these many years members of The Episcopal Church and other church bodies, along with those who began The Companions of St. Luke/Order of St. Benedict opened themselves to the Holy Spirit and the possibility that their previously held understandings of homosexuality and the Bible were not correct, or sustainable.  They allowed themselves and others to experience conversion that led to a new repentance; and allowed the Spirit to breath a whole new air into the lives of LGBTQ people and the Church. That air continues blowing through all of society as in one state after another marriage equality bans are being overturned by the courts. All of this happened because of the prophetic witnesses that raised their voices in the wilderness of their time.  Yet, for all of these many strides, the same heterosexism that is driven by Christianists with their own version of who Jesus is, continue their reckless violence in rhetoric and action.

The same racism that lived through the days of the enslavement of African Americans and other racial groups is still living and goes on burning through what is good about America.   It still rages on in many states, in the courts, in our police departments and sadly in the LGBTQ communities, and the Church.  The same can be said for sexism, religious discrimination, bias on the basis of disabilities, languages, economic classes and those who live in poverty.

We need prophetic voices who will continue to cry out in the wilderness through prayer, work, activism and/or other peaceful, yet effective means.  We all need to continue to educate ourselves and others around us about people we are ignorant about, and learn how to respond to their needs with compassion and respect for their uniqueness that brings vitality to any community.  Among the ways we can do this is to express our concern either through letters to newspaper editors and/or legislators, and/or talk with our neighbors in respectful, but candid ways.

It cannot be said enough, apparently, that our Baptismal Covenant as Episcopalians (and all Christians for that matter) places on us the responsibility to respond with a strong sense of commitment and urgency to these issues.  Every human person is created as an image of the Holy Trinity, that is the relationship of God's oneness of Community with all persons.  When the human community in any particular community experiences violence, neglect and oppression; all communities are equally affected.  No community is completely safe.  That is because God has given each of us our place in the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of the human family, to be a voice crying in the wilderness that calls us all to prepare for a place for Jesus Christ to be born and reborn in all of us.

Will you be a voice in the wilderness to prepare that place for Jesus?

Amen.


Prayer

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

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).

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

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Are We Pesky Prophets for Our Time?

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 1: 4-10 (NRSV)

The word of the LORD came to me saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the LORD said to me,

"Do not say, 'I am only a boy';

for you shall go to all to whom I send you,

and you shall speak whatever I command you,

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you,

says the LORD."

Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me,

"Now I have put my words in your mouth.

See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,

to pluck up and to pull down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant."

Psalm 71 (BCP., p.683)


1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 (NRSV)

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Luke 4:21-30 (NRSV)

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, and began to say, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Blog Reflection

At the Sunday Eucharist at Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church in New York City, Dr. Renita Weems preached on January 20th of this year.   During her sermon she said that not all of us will be called to be prophets, but all of us will be placed in moments when we have the opportunity to be a prophetic witness.  We will all be given an opportunity to say or do something that will give just a little bit of clarity to those who are in darkness.  We will undoubtedly find ourselves in a moment when we are confronted by something going on, or a word someone said.  At that moment, we will have the chance to decide if we are to go with the flow, even though we know otherwise, or challenge the status quo.

When we find ourselves in a moment by which we can make a difference, we may be faced with our own limitations.  We just can't say the right words.  Our personal fears get in our way.  We might feel like Jeremiah or Moses.   The point is, God created and redeemed us for this moment in which we find ourselves.   God planned for each of us to be here from before the foundations of the earth, to accomplish great things.   If God is calling us to do awesome things, it is because, God is equipping us to proclaim the Gospel in our time.

The hard work of prophesying will be that we won't be well received.  Prophets often bring with them news that is good for some, but not for most who like things the way they are.   All of us like to be much too comfortable and complacent in our lives.  The last thing we want is for someone to come along and tell us that the way we have been doing things was all wrong.   When they do, we like to resort to our "old time religion." 

As things in the world and the Church change to be more inclusive of LGBT people, immigrants, individuals of different races, religions, etc., those who want the old comfortable religion that is only for straight, white, male Christians to settle them.  However, God never wants us to be complacent or settled.  God is always challenging us to open our hearts even more.  To receive those who have been labeled by negative stereotypes or kept in the back of the bus into our company.  So God sends individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr or Bishop Gene Robinson to open our hearts.    We have elected and re-elected at outstanding man such as President Barack Obama in the midst of the most vicious of racial hatred and homophobic rhetoric.  The work of being prophetic witnesses in our time, could never be more important. 

The reading from 1 Corinthians 13 has been stripped of much of it's meaning by being over used at weddings.  Michael T. Hiller in Break Open the Word tells us that the love Paul writes about is not a romantic love.  It is the love of God by which there is no mystery that can explain it.  God's love is so awesome and is given so freely for the benefit of all human beings, that no one of us has any business thinking that we are so deserving of such love, that we can treat those different than ourselves as less lovable.  God's love has given us our dignity and integrity by redeeming us by the blood of Jesus Christ.  So that we can be the people of God who share that love with all who are marginalized and hurting.   We can be a source of strength for those who are week.  We can serve the poor and the sick, and be there for those who are dying.  Why?  Because of all of the greatest gifts that God gave us, the most awesome and wonderful is love.

In our Gospel today, Jesus has just proclaimed that the awesome prophesy he read from Isaiah 61 is fulfilled in their hearing.  Those hearing him were amazed, as in there was some acceptance of what they heard.  But, with every wonderful piece of news comes the usual questions.  Where is he from?   Who are his parents?   What did he do for a living?  Suddenly the wonderful news of God coming to liberate the oppressed is clouded up by negative stereotypes.  What do they do in response?  They want to silence the messenger.

As people in our time are coming to the awareness that now is the time to do some thing about the out of control violence by guns, those who want things the way they have been are rebelling.  The desire to help those who suffer from mental illness, gets stifled by those who want to protect billion dollar profits for gun manufactures and health care companies.  Protecting the wealthy and powerful, becomes more important than assisting the innocent and weak. 

As opportunities for reproductive health care for women increase because of science, Christianists are determined to shut down clinics that provide health care for women.  They invoke violence of the worst kind, and encourage even more.  Christian charity goes out the window, but misguided zeal becomes the basis for violence and destruction.

The message of the Gospel, and our Baptismal Covenant call us to work towards peace and justice for all people and to respect the dignity of every human person.  We have the awesome responsibility and opportunity to witness to the prophetic message of the love of God and neighbor.   By our daily prayers on behalf of those who are disadvantaged, and our generosity of treasure and talents we can be part of the transformation of the Church and society.   Even in the face of opposition by those who don't want to be disturbed.

As we embark on the last full week before Lent begins, we can spend time in the silence of our hearts and ask God how we can be prophetic.   We can also pray for the courage that the opposition to our prophetic witness, will not deter our faithfulness to what God empowers us to do.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in
heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of
your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215)


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