Tenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 13: Jesus, the Bread of Life

Today's Scriptures

Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 (NRSV)

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not."

Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, `Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.'" And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. The LORD spoke to Moses and said, "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, `At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"

In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat."

Psalm 78:23-29 (BCP., p.696)


Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV)

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said,

"When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;

he gave gifts to his people."

(When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

John 6:24-35 (NRSV)

The next day, when the people who remained after the feeding of the five thousand saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Blog Reflection

Our meditations on Jesus as the Bread of Life continue.  Last Sunday, we looked at Jesus feeding the five thousand, and the hunger we all experience.  This Sunday, we begin to hear Jesus proclaim Himself as the Bread of Life.  Jesus tells us that He is the One whom if we come to, we will not be hungry or thirsty.

I think we have to confront our problem with this Scripture.  So many of us Christians believe in Jesus as the Bread of Life in one way or another.  Whether it is Sacramental in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, or symbolically through out the various signs of life.  Christians can see in Jesus, One who feeds and fulfills.  Yet, we all remain hungry and thirsty.  Each of us experiences loneliness.  We all experience rejection through which we hunger for companionship.  We long for that special friend who will lead us into a sense of self value to be among others.  Aside from this, there are Christians all over the world who physically hunger and thirst for an experience of God that is beyond a mere emotional lift.  They long to be part of Christ through His Body the Church.  Instead they find division and value judgments on those different from ourselves.

Jesus Christ comes to all of us in this Gospel, and in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  He comes to us regardless of who we are, and where we come from.  Jesus comes to all that is broken and hurting.  Jesus approaches us in Word and Sacrament to mend, feed, nourish and offer solace.  Though each of us will disagree with each other about something, Jesus offers Himself to us in the form of Bread and Wine to invite His Real Presence to become real in those of us who receive Him.  Jesus does not come to us and ask who is for or against abortion, same-gender marriage, a democrat or a republican.   He comes to unite us one to another, in all our differences to experience God's unconditional and all-inclusive love.

We are often suspicious to believe in this experience of Jesus as the Bread of Life because of all the injustice and oppression in the world.  Jesus comes among us as the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation to empower us to be the change we want to see in the world.  Where individuals become scapegoats for political and social campaigns, Jesus gives us the grace of God to embrace one another as part of that One Body.  We are given the grace to recognize in each other a Eucharistic vessel worth handling with great care, and wanting to preserve in the spaces within our hearts.

Jesus comes to us in the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, and asks us to discern how God the Holy Spirit may be calling each of us.  We are invited to commit ourselves again to Christ in prayer, so that the Spirit can call us to feed the hungry among us and to become the wine that turns sadness into joy.  As Christ is known to us in the breaking of the bread, so we are called to bread bread with one another.  As we break and share the bread, we listen to each others stories and enter into the life of Christ with each other.  We enter into the greatest gift of hospitality as we meet Jesus in them through that Bread that gives life and that Cup salvation. 

Perhaps Reginald Herber said it best in Hymn # 301 in The Hymnal 1982.

Bread of the world, in mercy broken.
Wine of the soul, in mercy shed,
by whom the words of life were spoken,
and in whose death our sins are dead:
look on the heart by sorrow broken,
look on the tears of sinners shed;
and be thy feast to us the token
that by thy grace our souls are fed.

Amen.


Prayers

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your
Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without
your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 13, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).

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

 

Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost: Show Thanks for Mercy

Today's Scripture Readings

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c (NRSV)

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me."

But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, `Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel."

Psalm 111 (BCP., p.754)


2 Timothy 2:8-15 (NRSV)

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-- that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful--

for he cannot deny himself.

Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Blog Reflection
 
There are very few experiences that can make a person isolated from one's community like a debilitating illness can.  To find oneself sick with something that disgusts other people.   The way they look at the color of your skin when pale.  The private conversations at a restaurant dinner table across the room.  The feeling that every where you go, there is talk about you and your health condition.  The feeling of the loss of dignity.  Where is there relief?

The readings this weekend from the Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospel tell us the story of people with leprosy.  Not only was such a person sick, they were cut off from their community.   It was thought that if they got the disease, they did something to bring it on themselves.   Not only were they considered not "fit" to participate in society, they were also to be excluded from worship, because they were viewed as unclean.

The Scriptures this weekend show us how God looks past our health condition, our social status, skin color etc, to see the person and her/his dignity.   Regardless of whatever our state in life is, we all are in need of God's mercy.  Unlike many of the laws and thoughts of how God applies God's law, the Holy One does not see things as we see them.  In Canticle 10 in The Book of Common Prayer, we pray the words from Isaiah 55:6-11 that include the words: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways says the Lord.   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."   God is not about punishment and destruction.   The heart of God is mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love for every human person.

Jesus showed God's love when He healed the men with leprosy. Yet, after each experienced the healing power of God through Jesus, only one returned to give thanks.  The one who returned to give thanks was the foreigner.  The one who was thought to be the outcast among the outcasts, is the one who returns to give thanks and praise to God for the healing he experienced threw Jesus.  Jesus affirms his faith and sends him away a whole person.

How do we show thanks to God for the mercy we are experiencing because of Jesus Christ?

Do we welcome all of God's people in hospitality to bring about reconciliation?

Whom are we keeping outside of our communities because of some preconceived notion?

As our Congress continues to hold the poor, disabled and others hostage to the demands of the wealthy and powerful, we need to stop and think about what it is we are doing to each other in this debate.  What affect all of this is having on those who live with oppression, sickness, injustice and prejudice, and what are we doing to alleviate their suffering, or make it worse.   The worst part of this crisis is not felt by those who have nothing to lose.  It is experienced by those who have already lost everything, and have the last of everything left to lose, including but not limited to their dignity.   How can we as Christians turn a blind eye to what is happening, and not call on our government and it's leaders to get their act together?

We have the opportunity to show thanks to God for God's mercy by working for peace, justice and equality for all people.  Through our prayers, actions and coming together as the community of faith, we can fulfill our Baptismal Vows, by doing our part to bring hope to where there is despair.

May we give thanks God, by being merciful as God is merciful to us.

Amen.


Prayers

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and
follow us, that we may continually be given to good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 23, Book of Common Prayer, p.234).

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, p.826). 

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen. (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, Book of Common Prayer, p.831).

 

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

Today's Scripture Readings

Sirach 10:12-18 (NRSV)

The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;

the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.

For the beginning of pride is sin,

and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.

Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,

and destroys them completely.

The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,

and enthrones the lowly in their place.

The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations,

and plants the humble in their place.

The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,

and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.

He removes some of them and destroys them,

and erases the memory of them from the earth.

Pride was not created for human beings,

or violent anger for those born of women.

Psalm 112 (BCP., p.755)


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

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

"The Lord is my helper;

I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?"

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

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

Luke 14: 1, 7-14 (NRSV)

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

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

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

Blog Reflection

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.


Prayers

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good
things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in
us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth
in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 17, Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).

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


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

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Looking to the Furture, Paying Attention to Now

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 15:1-6 (NRSV)

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Psalm 33 (BCP.,  p.626)


Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 (NRSV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Luke 12:32-40 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

Blog Reflection

I am sure all of us at one time or another have had the experience of looking too far ahead, and not seeing what is directly in front of us.  How many of us have bumped into someone because we had our eyes fixed on a different person way off in the distance.  In our excitement to get to that person before they leave where they are, we ignore who might be right in front of us.  Perhaps we've accidentally caused such a person to trip or lose their own shopping bags, because our regard for her/him is far less than the person in the distance.  What is far away is important, but if we are not careful it is we carelessly neglect or damage what is right in front of us.  God has us in the here and now for the time being.  Our responsibility and charity in what we have at the moment is God's gift to us, how we handle it, demonstrates whether we are paying attention to God, or ourselves.

Abram (who becomes Abraham in the future) is symbolic of all of us.  In this first book of the Bible, not only are we told the story of Creation and God's goodness to all people, humankind's immaturity that results in our fall from grace, the flood and Noah's Ark.  Genesis, also gives us a look at the behaviors of all humans.  Abram is a man of wealth.  Here he is depicted in a situation that many of us find ourselves in at one point in our life or another.  Like those who have much, he is concerned what happens to his wealth after he dies.  He is wanting a child so that he will know that he has an inheritor. God answers Abram's prayer by telling him that his descendents shall be as numerous as the stars of heaven. God is telling Abram about the future, and giving him a peace of mind.  Abram could not see what God was going to do in front of him, he had to have faith in God's promise, and trust God in the moment.

God's answers the prayer of Abram by telling him that not only will he have one who inherits the blessings God gave him, but that many, many others will also inherit God's blessings from him.   One important aspect of God's answer to Abram's prayer, is that our prayers are not answered for only us, but also for the wider community of humankind.   When we see our prayers and the answers we want as only being about us, God is then concerned about the wider picture.   The answer often comes in a way that benefits the community, by responding to us individually as part of a greater community of people.  What God gives to us as a result of prayer, is given to be shared with others beyond our own walls.

Sometimes in our prayers we are so worried about so many things, it seems like we can never quite communicate with God in the way we would like.  We do not seem to understand how much what is in our minds weighs us down.   In the Ninth Conference on Prayer by St. John Cassian, chapter 6, he describes the experience of an elder who saw another monk who was suppose to be at prayer.  Instead what the elder saw was the monk hitting a rock with a sledge hammer, while another watched and edged him on.  In the end, the monk was not able to do anything to affect the rock,  His over exerting himself over the rock not only left him empty in terms of taking care of the rock, it also left  his relationship with God experiencing a spiritual famine.  His prayer life suffered greatly.  He was so infatuated with being able to break the rock, that he abandoned his relationship with God.   It is so important to be able to put all things into God's hands and leave them there.  The rock can easily symbolize anything that we place between ourselves and God in prayer and allow it to have the important place in our lives that only God should have.  Only when we trust things into God's hands and work with God's commandments might we be able to successfully break those rocks in our lives.   At end of the chapter, Cassian writes:

And when the soul has been established in such a peaceful condition, and has been freed from the meshes of all carnal desires, and the purpose of the heart has been steadily fixed on that which is the only highest good, he will then fulfill this Apostolic precept: "Pray without ceasing;" and: "in every place lifting up holy hands without wrath and disputing:"[510] for when by this purity (if we can say so) the thoughts of the soul are engrossed, and are re-fashioned out of their earthly condition to bear a spiritual and angelic likeness, whatever it receives, whatever it takes in hand, whatever it does, the prayer will be perfectly pure and sincere.

In the Common English Bible, Hebrews 11:1 reads this way. "Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see".

Following the first verse, the writer to the Hebrews writes of the faith of Abraham.  The faith written about in Hebrews is not as much about what we believe in, or proclaim in the Creeds.  The faith that Hebrews' author writes refers to trust.  The same trust I wrote about in conveying St. John Cassian's Ninth Conference on Prayer.  It is the trust that lets go of all our securities and things as we think they should be, and walks with faith in God.  This is one way by which we move into the future, while taking care of the here and now.

This version of faith is not about looking for a comfortable set of words or thoughts that give us the warm fuzzies.  This faith is about following submitting ourselves to God's guidance, even when the path we are led to, seems like it is all wrong.  Though the dots are not all connected, nor do all things look like they belong together.  God is still in the chaos, guiding us now into where God wants us later on.

In many ways there is a faith that occurs in a woman or man who comes out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer   When Christianists continue their crusade of misinformation about same gender love, and the effects it has on children, families and individuals, someone coming out faces all of them and says: "No, I am someone loved by God as I have been created", that takes a great act of faith.  Whether the individual puts the Name of God on the experience or not.  Faith gives us the strength to face all of the obstacles before us, and do what we know is true and good for ourselves and others.  At the same time it is that great love of God that fills us with hope that we can trust in God and be whom God made us to be.

As more States are passing marriage equality laws, the couples who have faced the many obstacles in their way have demonstrated an incredible faith.  The faith that tells them that what they and others like them are experiencing is an injustice, and must be challenged.  They face their lives being opened by the media, and many groups both supportive and opposed, yet, they keep their sight on achieving equality for LGBT people near and far.

Jesus challenges those hearing him in the Gospel today to keep their attention on the poor and those experiencing oppression right in their midst.  While they want to be sure to keep their lamps lit and their doors open for the return of the master, it is important to remember that the master comes in those who are already knocking and looking for relief.

As immigrants seek justice and inclusion so that they can have the opportunity at a decent life for themselves and their children, are Christians keeping our lamps lit for them, and their doors open?    Are we ready to receive them in hospitality, and to be a source of healing and reconciliation where racism, and class discrimination continues to suppress and discriminate?

Are we concerned enough about the anti-LGBT violence in Russia to work with the leaders of our own government to take the stand that no violence because of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is worth being sure we get all the gold medals in the Winter Olympics? 

Are we too busy thinking about Jesus Christ coming back at the end of time, that we fail to be concerned about Christ growing hungry because of jobs being lost because of the sequester, or becoming sick because of our still corrupt health care system? 

Jesus Christ is not only the hope of our salvation into eternal life at the end of our lives or the end of time, He is also the Holy One who works with and through us today, at this moment.  Using the same faith that Abraham had, to know that God would do the right thing when Abraham almost sacrificed his son, Isaac, God will also help us with whatever we are facing at this point in time.  Even if it means we must sacrifice our very selves for the sake of others, as Jesus did on the Cross, God will still be with us and reward us, because of God's faithfulness to us. 

May God help us to trust God, and to follow Jesus as He leads us from this point in time, to whatever and wherever God's will wants us to go.

Amen.


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).


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

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: Hospitality and Persistance in Prayer

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 18: 20-32 (NRSV)

The LORD said to Abraham, "How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know."

So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake." Abraham answered, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." Again he spoke to him, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." Then he said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." He said, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." Then he said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

Psalm 138 (BCP., p.793)


Colossians 2:6-15 (NRSV)

As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

Luke 11: 1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.

And do not bring us to the time of trial."

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Blog Reflection

On this 10th Sunday after Pentecost, we begin with one of the most popular clobber passages used to justify the cruel denigration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.   The story about Sodom and Gomorrah.   It is suggested that Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of homosexuality.   Yet, scholarly research into the details of the Cities' activities suggest that homosexuality itself was not the reason for it's destruction.

It is not one hundred percent certain that such a city actually existed.  It's approximate location is questionable.  At the same time, there is no direct evidence that the city did not exist.  What we do know is that according to the information in the Hebrew Scriptures, it was a city of great wealth and prosperity.  They had an enormous economic security.  It was quite unusual for a city located in the middle of the desert.  The desert was a terrible place to find oneself.  The dry heat, and the dangerous animals that threatened a traveler, to not take someone in from the desert and provide them with hospitality was cruel at the worst.  The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were afraid that someone would come and take their wealth from them, so they canceled the laws of hospitality.  Many of the wandering strangers were humiliated and tortured by the soldiers of the city.  Many of them were tortured by rape.  The sin therefore of Sodom and Gomorrah was lack of hospitality, while they used excessive violence toward strangers.  

As Abraham was conversing with God, his concern was for those who might be righteous who would also face destruction.  Abraham's prayer of reasoning with God demonstrates God's mercy and willingness to have God's heart moved for those who serve God with sincerity.   What we do know from this reading in Genesis, is that God's desire for those who serve God, is to receive others with hospitality and be free from violence and prejudice.   God gives us the good things we enjoy, to share with others.

As the United States continues our debate over immigration reform, we see the continued denigration of individuals based on race and nation of origin.  Individuals who come seeking to escape a tyrannical way of life, come to find out what this "land of liberty" is all about.  What they find, is a place where they are unjustly accused of crimes, and suspected of the worst, because of where they came from.  Some States have passed laws that requires immigrants to be profiled, while they are forced to live in poverty without adequate housing, jobs and health care.  Many are subjected to horrific violence.   Might this kind of thing be a greater example of what Sodom and Gomorrah was doing?

In Paul's letter to the Colossians we read the hymn that celebrates that in Christ is the fullness of all humankind.  What matters is not the following of physical rules per say, but the changing of what is in our hearts.  The Holy Spirit has been sent to guide the Church "into all truth"(Jn 16:13) through Christ, so that those things that keep us from loving God, our neighbor and ourselves may be stripped away, so that we can serve others with compassion as freely as Christ has accepted all of us.  We cannot serve Christ in others freely, if we maintain our prejudices towards people who are different than ourselves, and justify divisions in the human community.

Over these past few weeks, we have been learning of increased violence in Russia towards LGBT people.  Click on this link to see the pictures of what LGBT people and their advocates are facing as they work for equality.  As Christians who have been Baptized with the promise concerning the dignity of every human being, it is wrong of us to keep an empathetic silence about this issue.  I urge my readers to contact John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State and tell him to speak up and tell the Russian Government to outlaw the violence being experienced by LGBT people and their supporters.

Jesus tells His disciples how to pray in this Gospel reading.  The request of the disciples tells us that John the Baptist taught his followers to be devoted to prayer.  As the disciples are continuing to learn who Jesus is, they want to know from His perspective what it means to pray.  After Jesus gives them the words of the Lord's Prayer, He tells them about the Father's graciousness in answering prayers.   It is very important to avoid seeing prayer as a means of getting something.  Prayer is about growing closer in relationship to God.  As in a relationship and/or friendship, if it is to develop, good communication is a necessity.  Even if our spouse of friend is not able to give us exactly what we need and/or want.   Such is the same with prayer and our relationship with God.  Sometimes the greatest grace we get from God, is the grace to keep trusting in God, even when what we want or hope for, doesn't quite happen that way.

Jesus tells us that God is better than the neighbor who gets up in the middle of the night to give us bread.  God is always listening for us.  In the Rule of St. Benedict, he writes: "And let us ask God to supply by the help of His grace what by nature is hardly possible to us" (Preferring Christ: A Devotional Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict, by Norvene Vest. p.13).   When it seems like it is impossible for us to wait upon the Lord another minute, God supplies the help of His grace to turn ourselves over to God's will. It is often impossible for us by nature to be obedient to God.  But, God's grace can help us to discern how best to live in loving obedience to God's will.   Jesus tells us to "ask and it will be given you, search and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened."   If we are open to loving God, neighbor and self, and live in openness to God's presence in others, God will show us how to live holy lives. 

One thing is quite clear, we cannot live in obedience to God in prayer only, without being obedient to each other.  Persistence in prayer finds its fruit as we practice hospitality, and obedience to another out of love for God.  Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB in her book The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century writes about this.

"If this is a life centered in the call of God, then why so much attention to the human?

The answer, of course, is that the human is the only place we can really be sure God is.  It is so easy to love the God we do not see but it is so much more sanctifying to serve the God we learn to see in others" (p.69).

Is it possible that God is continuing to allow States to pass marriage equality laws, because it is God's answer for the Church to be renewed in mission and ministry?  

Could it be that as the Church continues to knock on the door of the Lord for more people to serve the Church in it's ordained ministry, the answer is to accept women, LGBT people, and people from other countries and cultural traditions?

As people continue to pray for the conversion of others to follow God's Word, might that prayer already being answered as people begin to see women, LGBT people and individuals of other religions, languages, abilities, etc, in a more inclusive way?

Sometimes the answer to our persistence in prayer, comes in what is taking place right in front of our noses.   Are we paying attention?

May we be open to becoming a Church and society of greater hospitality, and be persistent enough in prayer, to be open to God's answer by way of a changed heart.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom
nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon
us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so
pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.  (Proper 12, Book of Common Prayer, p.231).

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

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

Today's Scripture Readings


Isaiah 66:10-14 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord:

"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy,

all you who mourn over her--

that you may nurse and be satisfied

from her consoling breast;

that you may drink deeply with delight

from her glorious bosom.

For thus says the LORD:

I will extend prosperity to her like a river,

and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;

and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm,

and dandled on her knees.

As a mother comforts her child,

so I will comfort you;

you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;

your bodies shall flourish like the grass;

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

and his indignation is against his enemies. "

Psalm 66 (BCP., p.673)


Galatians 6:1-16 (NRSV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blog Reflection 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.


Prayers

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


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


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

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Accountability, Forgiveness and the Dignity of the Human Person

Today's Scripture Readings

2 Samuel 11:26-12:10,13-15

When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.

But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him." Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife."

David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan said to David, "Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die." Then Nathan went to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.

Psalm 32 (BCP., p.624)


Galatians 2:15-21

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Luke 7:36-8:3

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him-- that she is a sinner." Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "Speak." "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Blog Reflection

King David is an interesting figure in the Bible, is he not?   The youngest son of Jesse who was a shepherd, chosen by God and anointed by the Prophet Samuel as King of Israel.  His monarchy name is such that God had plans for David's descendants for many generations.  So important to Salvation history is David that in Psalm 89 is a whole litany of promises by God to and about David.

I have found David my servant;
   with my holy oil have I anointed him.

My hand will hold him fast
    and my arm will make him strong.

No enemy shall deceive him,
    nor any wicked man bring him down.

I will crush his foes before him
   and strike down those who hate him.

My faithfulness and love shall be with him,
and he shall be victorious through my Name.  (Psalm 89:20-23, BCP. p.715).

So, one can imagine how David must have felt being confronted by Nathan and told exactly what he did to Uriah.  What he did was so evil, so wrong.  His deception resulted in lives lost, a family destroyed, and the use of people for his own gain.  Yet, what makes David a greater person and leader, is that once confronted about his sin, he admits and seeks forgiveness.  He recognized through Nathan that he cannot run from the weight of his sin, nor can he hide from God who gave him as much as he got.  So, David seeks forgiveness.

In our time, how do we hold our leaders both civil and religious accountable?  

Are we willing to do our part to hold those who approve of drone missile attacks on innocent Americans and families in Pakistan accountable for their heinous actions?   Are we going to just sit back and accept our President's defense of programs that kill in the name of so called "defense"?   Or, will we take action and demand that he hold himself accountable for the tax dollars that are spent on such violence?    As the concerns have been raised about American's privacy being violated with who might be listening in on our phone calls, emails and other forms of communication, what kind of accountability will we hold our leaders to?    How will we hold them accountable?  And why are we so angry about the Government listening and/or prying into our private business, but not so determined to do something about private owned internet companies that do the same?

As many leaders of church organizations and communities continue their assault on LGBTQ people, women, immigrants, Native American, individuals of other races, religions, etc, how will we hold them accountable?    How will we communicate our concern for the dignity of every human person affected by prejudiced rhetoric?

Our reading from Hebrew Scriptures suggests that if our leaders are really God honoring in their leadership, they will acknowledge their sins, and seek forgiveness and use the power of their office to make reparation.  We must pray for our leaders and hold them accountable.  Silence in prayer is good.  Silence in the face of injustice, is not. 

Our Gospel reading presents us with another picture of accountability and forgiveness. 

Jesus is invited to share a dinner in the home of a Pharisee   What we must understand some things about the picture being made for us.  Luke would have recorded his Gospel account about 85 A.D. At that point in time, the Pharisees were the only major tradition that survived the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.  Luke often paints a picture of the Scribes and the temple bureaucrats being Jesus' enemies.  Not the Pharisees. Yet, we see here that the Pharisees in this setting are having quite the issue with the woman who comes to weep at Jesus' feet.

The woman in this narrative has violated some major cultural rules here.  Given that women were seen as the weaker of the human species, she is already on the lower end of the social classes.   Secondly, given her economical condition, she was most likely driven to prostitution as a means of financial survival.   In her "work" as a prostitute, she would have had Gentile as well as Jewish clients.  Those two issues, would have made her as close to the social dirt as one could get.  So, for her to just come into the house of a Pharisee and come near the table where Jesus was reclining, weep at his feet and so forth, she was really crashing the party.   So, the Pharisees here, see the woman as a weak, dirty, sinner.  The fact that she is there at all means she has defiled the house.   The fact that Jesus is letting her do what she was doing, means she has defiled Jesus, and he said very little.   Not only is the woman on a lower social class, but now, so is Jesus.  That is why this is so difficult for the Pharisees to wrap their head around what is going on.

As Jesus challenges Simon and the others in the house, he is not looking at them.  He is looking directly at the woman.  The Pharisees see a woman who is a sinner.  Jesus sees the woman as a daughter of God, who is paying him a really great act of faith in repentance, accountability and thanksgiving.  Jesus sees that the woman recognizes where she is socially, but her primary concern is the salvation of her soul.  Even if she has to break all of the other cultural rules to find the mercy of God in Christ, she will do it.  Jesus sees the sincerity of her faith, and imparts God's mercy upon her life.  His words to Simon and the others challenges them to look past all the cultural norms of who the woman is not, to see her as she is.  A daughter of God, in need of God's transforming grace.  Jesus calls those watching in dismay to recognize their own need for God's mercy, by seeing the faith found in the woman who holds herself accountable before God, and receives from Jesus, God's forgiveness and restoration.   In so doing, Jesus has upheld her dignity as a woman, and raised her up as redeemed by God's grace to given thanksgiving for the rest of her life.

In Fr. Andrew Dysinger, OSB's version of The Rule of St. Benedict, as used in Preferring Christ: A Devotional Commentary on The Rule of St. Benedict, by Norvene Vest,  he writes verses 4 and 5 of the Prologue using these words.

In the first place, whenever you begin any good work, beg of him with most earnest prayer to perfect it; so that he who has now granted us the dignity of being counted among the number of his children my not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds (p.3).

Almighty God who has created us out of the fullness of God's love, has now restored our dignity, and counted us among those who are God's beloved, through our redemption in Christ Jesus.  Everything that is good in and about each of us is there because of the dignity we each have, by the very fact that we are God's beloved people.  In the Gospel today, Jesus recognizes and upholds the dignity of this sorrowful woman.  Not because she is a woman, or because she is all of the other things that her society have placed upon her, which diminishes her dignity.  Jesus recognizes her dignity because of who she is.  That is why Jesus became her merciful Savior.  He upheld and restored her dignity.  And counted her as among God's beloved.  That was something the contemporaries of Jesus' time could not do.  That is why He corrected their self-righteousness and imparted God's compassion and forgiveness on them, as well as the woman.  Even if they did not see things that way.

What about us?

Do we see ourselves and others as having our dignity in who we are as daughters and sons of God who need to hold ourselves accountable for our sins, seek God's mercy and forgiveness?

In the third and fourth verses of hymn number 603 in The Hymnal 1982 we read and/or sing these words.

Where generation, class, or race divide us to our shame, he sees not labels but a face, a person, and a name.

Thus freely loved, though fully known, may I in Christ be free to welcome and accept his own as Christ accepted me.

Such labels include sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. They include individuals of various religions and more.  Each of us have been created by God and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  We have our dignity by who we are, not what we do in or out of the sheets, who we love, our skin color, associations, etc.   Among the many reasons why inclusion is such an important matter for Christians, is because the sooner we learn to look past the distinctions we place on people and see them as God's people, the sooner we can get down to the real business of why Christians do what we do.   Lead people by our example to know our awesome God and the love God has for every human person, to the point of redeeming them in Christ, and sanctifying them by the Holy Spirit.  We can be a voice for justice, equality and bring hope to those who live in despair.    That is what Jesus came to do, and what He empowers His Church to do by the power of the Holy Spirit.

St. Wulfstan of Worcester in Portifolium prayed these words:

O God, you visit the humble and you console us with mutual love.  Stretch forth your grace to our community so that we may become aware of your coming into our midst through those in whom you dwell.  Amen.  (Essential Monastic Wisdom: Writings on the Contemplative Life.  Hugh Feiss, p.58).

May we all be in prayer for the Church, society and ourselves that we may be a people who draw people to Jesus Christ by word and example.  So that we can greet everyone with Benedictine hospitality and provide the way to reconciliation and healing for all who are wounded, and there may indeed be peace in God's kingdom on earth as well as in heaven.

Amen.

 

Prayers

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast
faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim
your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with
compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen. (Proper 6, Book of Common Prayer, p. 230).


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


O 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, Book of Common Prayer, p.818).