Second Sunday of Easter: Doubt Is The Way To Faith

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 5:27-32 (NRSV)

When the temple police had brought the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

Psalm 118:14-29 (BCP., p.761-763)


Revelation 1:4-8 (NRSV)

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

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

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

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

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

Blog Reflection

Over the span of Church History, St. Thomas got a bad rap.  It was thought that Thomas doubting the Resurrection and wanting proof suggests that he was a man of weak faith.

Thomas is the one who wants more than just the words of the Disciples that Jesus rose from the dead.   Thomas wants to know it for Himself.  Thomas along with the other Apostles heard Jesus say on many occasions that He would go to Jerusalem, be put to death and rise again.  Thomas was not satisfied with the words alone.  Thomas did not want to believe on pure blind faith.  Thomas wanted his faith to be affirmed by the physical touch of Jesus and to know the words from Jesus to Thomas' heart were reliable.  Thomas wanted more than the literal translation.  Thomas wanted to see the truths he had been told become part of his every day experience.

The Rev. Barbara Mraz wrote these outstanding words in her blog for this Second Sunday of Easter, entitled "Got Doubt?"

"I don't think that doubt is the enemy of faith, but blind fanaticism is." 

Blind fanaticism can take the form of Biblical literalism to the point of lobbying for those crazy "Religious Freedom" bills, that really are no freedom of religion at all.  They are only the freedom of religion for over zealous conservative Christians to justify discrimination towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their struggle towards full equality.  The fanaticism behind the "Religious Freedom" laws is about control.  The ultra-conservative Christians want to be the voice and law makers as to how Christianity will be defined in American politics.  It does not stop with LGBTQ people, it extends to women's reproductive rights, health care, education, climate change and managing gun violence.

Thomas' encounter with the Risen Christ in our Gospel story today, tells us to doubt the fanatical and search for the faith that allows us to question how things have been, so that the Holy Spirit may "lead us into all truth."  This kind of faith questions on a level of deep trust, not in our certainties of what we think and/or do.  The kind of faith that Thomas' doubt leads to breaks the hard concrete, and makes it into a wonderful flowing stream of life giving water.   The same water that flowed in our Baptism and makes all of us in our diversity of beliefs and convictions part of the one family of Christ known as the Church.

May we with Thomas never dismiss doubt as an obstacle to faith, but embrace it with trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us towards the truths we have yet to receive and live by.

Amen.


Prayers

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

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. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 23: Leaving Behind, Moving Forward

Today's Scripture Reading

Mark 10:17-31 (NRSV)

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Blog Reflection

I do beg the pardon of my readers today.  I have been away from our home for a couple days, so I am writing this blog reflection at this very last moment.  As that is the case, I am choosing only one reading and that is the Gospel.  I pray that this reflection will be meaningful and inspiriting.

How do we leave behind all that is dear and important to us?  It is a question that many have had to answer.  When a member of the military has to leave her/his family to go on duty, she/he leaves everything else behind.  Spouse, parents, children, friends, etc.  Every holiday season, there are those moments on the news of members of the military wishing their relatives a happy holiday season, often with tears in their eyes.  A person who works a career of business that makes them travel a lot, have to say good bye for the time being, to any number of people on a regular basis.

The point that Jesus is making here is not so much the leaving of one's family in the literal sense.  It is the leaving of our false sense of self that is so tied to the things around us, that we never leave them behind to follow God's will in our hearts and lives.  We always carry those relationships deep with in us.  We can also carry them around in a way that we focus on those relationships for the sake of themselves.  Somewhere in all of those relationships is our God talking through them to us, and we to them.  God calls us through others, including those possessions we use, to remember that they all came to us because of God's graciousness initiative.

St. Benedict taught that "All utensils and goods of the Monastery are be regarded as the sacred vessels of the altar." (RB:1980: The Rule of St. Benedict in English, Chapter 31, p.55).  Handling anything in the mind of St. Benedict was about remembering our responsibility of stewardship for the things we handle, and the people we live in relationship with.  The challenge the Jesus gives to the wealthy person, is that riches in and of themselves are not bad, however, when we live as though it is all ours with no concern about anyone other than ourselves, we worship the thing rather than God.

We are not only attached to "things", we also tend to hold on to other things such as attitudes towards others who are different from ourselves.  We can hold wealth as if no one else should have a little of what we may have in abundance.  Those who exercise their wealth well, are those who may have a lot, but share it with those who do not.  The bottom line here is, we can hold onto our privileges at the expense of the underprivileged.  When we do that, everyone suffers.

Holding attitudes of sexism, racism, homophobia and heterosexism, religious discrimination and more, there are those losing as we gain benefits.  When we hold religious freedom for example, to applying to only one religious group, with a complete disregard to others, no persons belief system is really safeguarded.   When we safeguard those of us who are Caucasian too tightly, those who are of any other race can never find a place of equality for them, because they are the second class citizens.  When people hold too tightly to their guns, even while innocent people are being killed every second by a gun, no one is really safe in their neighborhoods, schools or homes. 

What is it that we need to leave behind?

What things are we holding so tightly to, that no one else can share in our happiness?

Where is God in our lives, also in the things we handle and the people we relate to?

May all Christians remember that all that God gives to us, is never really our own, but on loan by a loving God.  This includes our mortal bodies and those of others.  It is only by letting go, that we discover God's holiness in all that is around us.  May we all take time today, to look for, touch and listen to God in all things and people.

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

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).

Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 16: You Have The Words of Everlasting Life

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Kings 22-30, 41-43 (NRSV)

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, `There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, `My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.

“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name -- for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm-- when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.”

Psalm 84 (BCP, p.707)


Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

John 6:56-69 (NRSV)

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Blog Reflection

There are few relationships in the Gospel texts that are as fascinating as Jesus and Peter; no?   This particular reading from St. John's Gospel which concludes the discourse in which Jesus tells us that He is the Bread of Life; shows Peter the be the most faithful and trusting.  It is an odd, but wonderful display of the journey Peter has been on.  

Let us take a closer look at a few examples of the journey of Peter with Jesus in the Gospels.

We know from the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke that Peter was among the first disciples called. (See Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11).  We also read about the calling of the first disciples in John 1:35-42.   Peter is the one who has trouble with his faith during the storm in Matthew 14:22-33.  Yet, it is Peter's mother Jesus heals back in Matthew 8:14-17.  It is Peter's faith through which he says that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of the living God in Matthew 16:13-20, and not long after that in verse 22, Jesus rebukes the devil in Peter.  We can point to Peter's ups and downs in today's Gospel texts, and of course Peter's denial of Jesus in the Passion Gospels.  We also see Jesus's reinstatement of Peter in John 21:15-19.  Lastly, Peter is the Apostle in the Church after Pentecost, leading the other Apostles to evangelize and eventually send Saul; now called Paul to preach to the gentiles.  We also know that Peter was crucified upside down, claiming that he was not worthy to die right side up as Jesus had done.

Peter represents the reality in all of us.  We each have our moments of being called, being weak in faith, needing to be rebuked and corrected, having moments of very strong faith; even denying Jesus and needing Jesus' redeeming love to be restored in our relationship with God.  We each have our moments of courage and cowardice. 

In this passage from today's Gospel, Peter shines like a new penny in the midst of a trying time for Jesus.  Jesus has been teaching that He is the Bread of Life.  Those who would receive Jesus as the Living Bread that came from heaven, would have every lasting life.  Many of those who were following Him up to this point just could not take this teaching they were hearing from Jesus.  So, they turned and walked away.  When Jesus gives the rest the option to leave or stay, it is Peter who said those wonderful and famous words.  "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of everlasting life."

As I meditate on this Gospel text, I am lead to invite us to ask ourselves some important questions.

Who among us believes that Jesus is the Bread of Life?

Who among us is not so sure that Jesus is the Bread of Life?

How is Jesus the Bread of Life for us?

Who among us sees that people have a hard time believing in this Bread of Life that Jesus proclaims Himself to be?

Who among us is ready to help Jesus as Peter did, and proclaim him as our Bread of Life, and that He has the words of everlasting life?

What are the words of everlasting life that we hear in our everyday lives?

Jesus is having some hard times among us these days.  Jesus so wants to give of Himself again as the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation; not only through His Church, but from those who claim to believe in Him as the Bread of Life, and claim to follow Him. 

Jesus wants to work in and through the gifts and lives of Christians to relieve the lot of the poor, the sick, the disadvantaged, the underprivileged and those who are marginalized, surrounded by injustice and oppression.  

Jesus wants to be the Bread of Life that stops the violence used towards Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and other religious faiths often used by well meaning Christians, who just are not getting it.  The Christian Faith does not mean that all the others are to be reduced into Christianity to be viable faith communities.

Jesus is not the Bread of Life to be refused to or proselytized to those who believe differently than we do. 

Jesus is not the Cup of Salvation to be denied to LGBT people who are getting married, adopting children and seeking equality in the work place, financial institutions and public assistance.  

Jesus wants to be the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, to share His words of everlasting life, through real freedom and equality, without "protection of religious liberty" legislation being passed because of the paranoia of ultra-conservative Christians to continue their crusade against the rights of women to protect their reproductive health care, and marriage equality for LGBT people, and other religious traditions.   

Jesus seeks those who seek union with Him as the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, as having the words of everlasting life, through the ministry of hospitality, healing and reconciliation. 

Jesus Christ can be and is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation through independent thinking and a diversity of theology, philosophy and understanding of the Bible and Creeds.

Jesus is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, with the words of everlasting life; who is with us in our moments of illness, loneliness, addiction, loss, and difficulty. 

The summer is winding down.  Soon children will be going back to school.  College and Universities are already beginning orientation programs.  Sports teams are practicing to make that Superbowl touchdown, and win the Stanley Cup.  The violence and prejudice in the world is not going to slow down or stop, without Christians who know that Jesus has the words of everlasting life, living as faithful members of the Body of Christ. 

Let us all take our place in our work places, families, communities, activities and wherever we are, and do our part to help Jesus in these trying times.  May we live as believers in Jesus as the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation, with His words of everlasting life to guide us and encourage others to stay around and pay attention.

Amen.


Prayers

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered
together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your
power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 16.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 232, 233).

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).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 14: God's Table Without Barriers

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Kings 19:4-8 (NRSV)

 Elijah went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Psalm 34:1-8 (NRSV)



Ephesians 4:25-5:9 (NRSV)

Putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 6:35, 41-51 (NRSV)

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

Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, `I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

Blog Reflection

These Scriptures that we are presented with present some problems in between the good stuff.  Not the least of them is the "Jesus only" suggested that brings about a sour odor of antisemitism.   The common thread of the idea that Christianity supercedes all other religious traditions continues to this day from the earliest writings of the Christian religion.

As Christians, we also have one very important truth with regards to our own faith.  That which we believe and profess originates with the Jewish faith.  Rather than suggest that we are the "correct" religion, a better way to interpret Jesus in this Gospel reading from John is to know that He is from the beginning, is now, and every shall be.  We pray these words in the Gloria Patri all the time and they tell us that what we proclaim as Christians is true form our history and leads us on into the next great revelation about God.  The Holy Spirit continues to guide us into all truth (see John 16:13).   That truth within the context of an interfaith attitude is that Jesus for Christians is a beginning point from which we can trust in God that every religious tradition is expressed by people who are honestly devoted to make the world a better place to live by loving others.

In this Gospel reading today, Jesus invites us to something deeper than a quick fix ideology.  He wants those who wish to draw closer to God through Him to ponder how much deeper and closer we are willing to let God get to us.  As Christians, we tend to do a lot of good talking and arguing about theological points of view.  As Jesus unwraps this mystery of the Eucharist in John 6, He is telling us that a relationship with God through Jesus becomes the substance of life that feeds us and the world around us.

Father David Sellery in Speaking to the Soul wrote,
  

In this week’s gospel, Christ invites us to consume his love, to make it the bone and fiber of our being, to keep coming back for more, to purge the toxins of sin and fill ourselves with joy. No wonder his listeners are stunned. Jesus is telling us that our relationship with God has been completely transformed… from one of distant, awe-filled reverence to one of intimate, unconditional love. In our sins, in our doubts, Jesus invites us to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Now God has a human face. He is approachable. His love is consumable… ours for the taking.

From the loaves and fishes right through this ongoing discourse on the Bread of Life, the Sixth Chapter of John has a common theme: Trust in God. He loves you and will provide for you… not with the bread you want… not those tempting confections of self-indulgence… but with the Bread you need… the saving grace of our redemption. Come to the table of plenty.

Among the challenges for us, is to be careful of making (or masking) our table of plenty into a table for privileged gluttony with barriers all over it.  The Holy Communion in which the Presence of God dwells to feed and nourish any and all who come; is not the appropriate occasion to hold exclusive private meals.  The Sacrament has been used by other branches of our Christian faith to be part of political protests on any number of issues including but not limited to women's reproductive health rights and marriage equality for LGBT people.  I for one, take issue with the whole "all baptized Christians may receive the Holy Communion with us."  Will there come a time when even The Episcopal Church will have its own discussion about "baptismal papers please" to receive the Holy Eucharist?

The latest issue around the authentic worship of God, comes by way of the insane religious liberty argument.  Fr. Andrew Gerns shared an article in The Episcopal Cafe about religious liberty.  It is worth clicking on the link to read.  

Jesus invites all of us today to do the work of ministry for a table of plenty without barriers.  A table where there are no barriers set up to keep those who would like to get closer to Jesus though the ministry of the Church, in a communal way the feeds them with God's abundant grace.  They want to know that God is with them in their moments of difficulty and tragedy.  They also want to know for themselves if God is really interested in drawing closer to them.  The Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood is a beautiful and holy way for God to come close to us, as we draw closer to God.  Through The Holy Communion we can also receive the grace and strength to draw closer to each other, and others beyond our doors so that the Reign of God is welcomed among the oppressed and afflicted.  

May each of us play our part to make the table of plenty a living reality of faith without barriers to bring healing and reconciliation to a hurting world.

Amen.


Prayer

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 232).

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a
wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion:
Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and
Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit
of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect on the Holy Eucharist.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 252).

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).

Seventh Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 10: Martyrdom vs. The Christian Persecution Complex

Today's Scripture Readings

Amos 7:7-15 (NRSV)

This is what the Lord God showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said,

"See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by;

the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,

and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,

and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."

Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said,

`Jeroboam shall die by the sword,

and Israel must go into exile

away from his land.'"

And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."

Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, `Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'"

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

Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

Mark 6:14-29 (NRSV)

King Herod heard of the demons cast out and the many who were anointed and cured, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Blog Reflection

Benjamin Dixon wrote an article in Patheos entitled, Please Stop With The Christian Persecution Complex.  You're Embarrassing The Faith.  Dixon makes a compelling point that there really are Christians in places like North Korea, Iraq and Egypt being persecuted for being Christian.  In Iraq individuals believing in the Christian Faith were beheaded by ISIS.  The Coptic Christians are being murdered, calling out on the Name of Jesus just prior to being killed.  Yet, here in the United States where being Christian has no such consequence, we have fundamentalist and Catholic Christians claiming that their religious liberty is threatened over issues like contraception, abortion, and same-gender marriage.

Today in the Gospel reading according to Mark, we read about the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.  St. John the Baptist was a man who spoke truth to power.  He called for righteousness and repentance even from King Herod who married his brother's wife while his brother was still alive.  John the Baptist's preaching and popularity was perceived by Herod as a threat to his authority as king.  St. John the Baptist challenged the power of Herod, and for that John was arrested.   Herod, though he was troubled by John the Baptist could not bring himself to have him put to death.  Until a younger girl, namely the daughter of Herodias was asked to dance, with Herod promising her unto the half of his kingdom.  The daughter's request was the head of John the Baptist.  Now Herod is confronted by the consequence he would pay if he did not grant what he swore to give.  So, St. John the Baptist was beheaded.

Martyrdom is not the same thing as a persecution complex.  Martyrdom is what happens when one speaks truth to power and power responds.  Martyrdom does not have to be death, it can be the loss of one's reputation of the one who speaks truth to power by those who want to silence the messenger.  A martyr does not need to bring the martyrdom onto her/his self.  Such a person will experience martyrdom without being self-righteous or arrogant.  Martyrdom comes all too often on an individual who is not only speaking truth to power, but takes a leadership role in changing those who are effected by the corrupt power the most.  Instead of just calling those in power to change, the individual begins making the change from the bottom up.

The great martyrs of Christianity include individuals such as Dietrich Bonhoffer, Thomas Cranmer, the Martyrs of Japan and Uganda.  Individuals such as St. Boniface, St. Joan of Arc, St. Agnes and St. Agatha.  Lastly, Dr. Martin Luther King and Jonathan Daniels. 

Martyrdom can happen when Christians refuse to be captivated by politicians bought by billionaires.  We can experience rejection because we work to reverse the effects of climate change.  When we stand up against out of control gun violence, racism, heterosexism and the social and political exploitation and polarization of all human beings; we will experience all kinds of rejection that can lead to martyrdom. 

More important than martyrdom, however, is the expansion of God's Reign in this world and beyond.  It is more important to concentrate on following the example of Jesus Christ who was obedient even unto death.  Christ's obedience included seeking out the marginalized to bring healing and reconciliation to them.  Jesus calls us to be part of that ministry on His behalf in the here and now.  We are empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we all have a share in this ministry through our common Baptism.  We have every reason with every possibility of what God may do yet through our faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ.

We all know what Paul told us in the hymn he used in today's reading from Ephesians.  We have been redeemed and called from before the foundation of the world to be part of God's holy people and to rejoice in what God has done for us through Christ.  May each of us recommit ourselves to God's work, speak truth to power and let go of our persecution complex.

Amen.


Prayers

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who
call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand
what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Proper 10, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 231).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).

O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he
was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer
for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them
from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from
despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their
witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be
cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.  (Prayer for Those Who Suffer for the Sake of Conscience. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).

Third Sunday of Easter: Peace, Resurrection and Breaking Bread

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 3:12-19 (NRSV)

When Peter saw the astonishment of those who had seen the lame man healed, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out."

Psalm 4 (BCP., p.587)



1 John 3:1-7 (NRSV)

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

Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

Luke 24:36b-48 (NRSV)

Jesus himself stood among the disciples and their companions and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

Blog Reflection

The readings this weekend send a lot of messages.  One could easily be persuaded that "Jesus only" is among them.  The reading from Acts suggests the supercession of Judaism into Christianity with Peter's speech.  One miracle preformed by Peter, the same Peter that denied Jesus three times is suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaiming the resurrection.  The news of the resurrection and the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost has changed the landscape, but it is still the same God acting in various people in a variety of ways. 

As Christians, we are welcomed by the Risen Christ with the words, "Peace be with you."  It doesn't matter that we come as individuals who are not sure if the resurrection means the same to each of us.   Maybe we remember that the Prophets said that the Son of Man would suffer and rise again.  Maybe we heard Jesus tell us over and over before the Crucifixion and resurrection that these things would take place.  Perhaps we did not really understand it until now.  Maybe even now we do not know what it is suppose to mean.  Jesus the Risen One, is most concerned that each of us knows that He imparts God's peace to us, and wishes to share a meal with us in community with each other. 

How do we experience the Risen Christ in our lives?

Do Christians know and believe that through Christ every person is a child of God as is written in 1 John?   Do Christians know and celebrate that being children of God through Jesus, and that it is not just for us Christians who follow Christ in "our way"?

One of the major problems we are seeing with the "religious freedom" debate is who gets to define what "religious freedom" is for whom.  As soon as we can use "religious freedom" as a justification for discriminating against one group of people vs. another, it is no longer freedom for anyone.  It becomes an enslavement of one group to be able to bind the freedoms of others and take them hostage.  This is not the freedom that God intended through the Paschal Mystery we are celebrating.  If it is, is it any wonder why Christians look like such fools as the license to discriminate bills are making their way into the law books all over the country?

The Risen Christ continues to come to us in prayer, worship and the Eucharist to wish peace on all of us.  As we break bread and share the cup, the Risen Christ retells the story of His Resurrection through our own stories.  He calls on us to make that story in to a real life event through our own lives and relationships.  We do not have to get it right.  All we are asked is to be faithful to the resurrection event around us, and Christ will continue to raise us up as witnesses Christ's redemption.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his
disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith,
that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives
and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.223)

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)   

Easter Day: Christ is Risen! Christians, Live As Easter People!

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)

Peter began to speak to the gentiles: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Psalm 118 (BCP., p.760)


1 Corinthians 15:1-18 (NRSV)

I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

John 20:1-18 (NRSV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Blog Reflection

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Beloved Christians, today we sing Jesus Christ Is Risen Today and Hail Thee Festival Day!  We gather in large numbers to celebrate what the Scriptures, Tradition and faith have celebrated throughout the Centuries.  The choirs are singing hymns and anthems while the organ and other instruments are being played with brilliance and jubilation.  Easter dinners and parties with family and friends celebrate the arrival of Easter and the long awaited ending of Lent and Holy Week.  What a beautiful and wonderful day.

That first Easter morning must not have been a happy one in the beginning for Mary and the other women.  They came to the tomb to bring spices and fresh linens.  They must not have known that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had already done those things at Jesus' burial.  Imagine the horrified look on their faces when they found the tomb empty.   Imagine the look on their faces when they were met by the angels as is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke who told them, "He is not here.  He is risen!"

What about those disciples?  They were told on any number of occasions that Jesus would be crucified and on three days rise again.  The mighty Peter who said that he would follow Jesus wherever He went, denied Him three times.  Now, Peter is looking into an empty tomb, turned away and went home "for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead." 

As Christians who claim to believe in the Resurrection, where do we find the evidence of such around us?  We celebrated Lent and Holy Week.  Here we are on Easter Day.  It is hard to find evidence of the Resurrection in our politics and news.  Gun violence still runs rapid with no additional legal protections.  Racism is a wild animal that preys upon teenagers, women and men in our police departments, schools, colleges and churches.  Bills are written, debated and fast tracked to give a license to discriminate on the basis of "religious liberty" to deny basic human services to LGBTQ people, Muslims, Jews and others who do not fit the criteria of Christianists.  "Religious Liberty" is worth defending if one agrees with their version.  If one does not, then Christianists and Dominionists are being persecuted by making martyrs of themselves only.   Is it any wonder that Christians are viewed as standing at the empty tomb with the disciples and wondering what really happened?  Is it any wonder that many just cannot believe in the awesome Christian Faith that many of us embrace and love?

Thankfully, the Easter story did not end with the disbelieving disciples.  It took a woman of faith to weep in the garden, symbolizing the cries of Eve.   A woman who still believed in the hope of the Resurrection, finds her faith rewarded in her helplessness and despair as the Risen Christ comes and calls her by name.  The Risen Christ identifies Mary who is given the greatest of contemplative visions.  The Risen Christ didn't blame the woman for not believing, as Adam did.  The Risen Christ affirms the faith of Mary and ends all sexism and doubt that God restored humankind to it's Divine origins with our brokenness exposed, in a perpetual embrace in radical hospitality and reconciliation.  "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1).  As an Episcopalian and a Christian, I believe there is also no condemnation for those who are not in Christ Jesus as we Christians understand it to be so.  The Jesus that I believe in who rose bodily from the grave, embraces every person with dignity and unconditional love.

On this Easter Day, we renew our Baptismal Vows in communion with other Christians around the world.  To the questions, "Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?", and "Will you strive for justice and peace among all persons, and respect the dignity of every human being?" we collectively and individually answer, "I will, with God's help."

Today, as Christians we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead.  Now, let us celebrate by living as Easter People.  May we be an Easter People calling for an end to violence, prejudice, oppression and become ambassadors for the Risen Christ by doing all we can to make it so.

Amen.

Alleluia!  Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

Prayers

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus
Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of
everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the
day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death
of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Easter Day.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.222).

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

Maundy Thursday: Who Would Jesus Refuse to Serve?

Today's Scripture Readings

Exodus 12:1-14 (NRSV)

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

Psalm 116:1, 10-17  (BCP., p.759)



1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NRSV)

I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

John 13:1-17, 31b-35 (NRSV)

Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, `Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." 

Blog Reflection

There has been a lot of news these days about "religious liberty" and who business owners should be able to serve or refuse to serve.  Legislative bills are being introduced, fast tracked, passed and signed into law to give individuals the "right of their religious beliefs" to service those whom they believe most conform to their ideology.  While we can speculate about what is and what is not the best approach to these bills, they do give Christians a lot to think about.

The words Maundy Thursday get their meaning from the Latin word mandatum, which contains the English root word, mandate or commandment.  The focus of Maundy Thursday in addition to the institution of the Holy Eucharist is the new commandment of Jesus to love others as He has loved all of us.  Jesus, in His Paschal Mystery loved all of us without distinction or exception.  As John records for us, Jesus took the form of a servant and washed the feet of His Disciples.  Jesus gave us an example of what it means to love and serve others in total self sacrifice.  Jesus held nothing back.   Jesus gave Himself to us in His Body and Blood, and stooped down in humility to wash our feet and commanded us to love one another in His Name.

What Jesus did seems to be a stark contrast to what those license to discriminate on the basis of "religious liberty" bills are about.  I have a hard time believing that Jesus would put up a sign to the window of the upper room that says "We do not serve gays" or "Muslims" or "Jews"  or "Athiests" or "only Baptized Christians".  While the sexism given to us in the Scriptures suggests that the only Disciples of Jesus were men, I tend to believe that women must have been present in that upper room moment, and that Jesus washed their feet too.  In the very act of serving by the washing of feet, Jesus assumes a very feminine role.  Jesus really does lay down His life, by giving over even the appearance of what His gender stereotypes would be, to serve the least among us with the greatest of humility.

In The Rule of St. Benedict Chapter 53 On the Reception of Guests, he instructs the community to wash the feet of His guests.  St. Benedict wanted his monks to remember what he wrote in Chapter 7 On Humility.  Humility means "being earthed".  St. Benedict wanted those who observe his Rule to live into the Christian life with authenticity and transparency.

On this Maundy Thursday, Jesus commands us to love one another as we are loved by Him.  Jesus gave us this commandment while living into what it means.  As Jesus lived into the greatest acts of love, humility and service of everyone without distinction, so He commands each of us to do for others.  Including and especially those who are different from us.   Lord, have mercy on us all.

Who would Jesus refuse to serve?

Who will we serve or refuse to serve in the Name of Jesus today?


Prayers

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he
suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood:
Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in
remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy
mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Maundy Thursday.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 221).

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a
wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion:
Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and
Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit
of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect on the Holy Eucharist.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.252).

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).

Fourth Sunday in Lent: The Greatest Challenge of Christian Relationships

 
Today's Scripture Readings

Numbers 21:4-9 (NRSV)

From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 (BCP., p.746)


Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

John 3:14-21 (NRSV)

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

Blog Reflection

This Sunday, we are brought face to face with the greatest challenge in Christian relationships.  How are we to be a good reflection of those relationships in a world where the very word Christian brings a whole array of meanings?  Some are conclusive while others are elusive.

If you say the word Christian to a person who is of a particular group of people who have experienced that word as being hurtful, their response could be very negative.  It could also be very neutral.  One might hear similar to what Mahatma Gandhi said.  "I like your Jesus, but I do not like your Christians."  I remember a woman once sing out loud over a microphone, "Jesus, save us from your followers."  What in the world is wrong with the word Christian?  Why does it bring such responses?  I am not the only one asking these questions this weekend.  The Rev. Barbara Mraz the Writer in Residence at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in St. Paul, MN is also asking this question.  You can read her blog post here. 

I have been writing a lot this Lent about words such as The Holy Essence of God, and facing the best and worst of ourselves and others.  These words are a special part of my own personal journey with God, because the more I have studied about the word Christian and asked the question of what is wrong with that word; I have realized that there are so many things in my own life that are a contradiction to that word.  One of the things a Benedictine Novice such as myself learns very quickly is that I am not the nicest guy on earth.  I think way too much about myself as opposed to my neighbor.  I struggle every day with my own ego and brush up against my false-sense of self that gets all wrapped up in words and labels.  In as much as I write about the issues of injustice and prejudice, I know that I too hold attitudes within myself that are part of the problem, not the solution.

As I read through the readings for this Sunday's Liturgy, I am drawn to the stark reality that Jesus is telling us that the word Christian is not a word of privilege.  It is not a term that means that I get to impose what I think or believe on anyone else.  I can share it, write about it and do it.  I can also if I am not careful enough, determine that the word Christian stops with myself and has no bearing on my relationship with God and others around me.  It can be so easy for me to think that I am someone really special, just because I use that word Christian to define myself in word only, and excuse myself from acting on what the word means.

The message of these Scripture readings is that God did not stop at loving the world just because we were lost in our sins.  God loved the world so much, that Jesus came as God's perfect revelation in the human form to save the world and not just Christians.  God sent the Son into the world to save it without condemnation, so that we could live into a relationship with God within the context of our relationships.  Such is the work of our faith, and the faith that makes our work worthwhile.  The world in which God sent Jesus includes those who disagree with each other, those who even dislike one another and those who wonder why in the world God still puts up with us.  When we look at the violence expressed in human suffering all over the world over things like religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression/identity, the powerful vs the weak, the sick, the lonely, the dying etc., what is it about all of us that keeps God's loving graciousness fixed on us as the apple of God's eyes?

The answer for the Christian (as difficult of a word as it is), is a cross on a hill, far away on which Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NRSV).   God loves each of us so extravagantly that "God did not withhold his own son, but gave him up for all of us." (Romans 8:32).  In Jesus' sacrifice, He willingly handed over His relationship to His Father, only saving His faith that God would raise Him up.   Jesus made Himself as vulnerable as any man alive, and paid the ultimate price of His life out of love, humility and obedience to God's will.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of Christian relationships is that to live them means to set aside even the pride of that name to make ourselves as vulnerable as Jesus made Himself.  It is much too risky say for a lesbian and/or gay person who has experienced rejection, violence and oppression in the Name of Jesus, because she/he will have to risk the possibility of healing to the point of forgiving and reconciling her/himself with those who continue to harm her/him just because.  It is much too risky for an evangelical pastor who has always preached against homosexuality and/or abortion to admit she/he has misinterpreted the scriptures all these years and to change her/his position.  It could not only mean the loss of her/his pastoral ministry in her/his church, but also the esteem of her/his colleagues and friends.  A Christian who stands up against racism or for greater gun control, could face a lot more than her/his reputation going down the drain.  All because the word Christian means certain things for some, and different things to others.

The name Christian often means many other things, but please don't tell us that it means that we have to love others who are different than ourselves beyond our church doors, or outside of our beliefs.  That requires way too much.  Such is too much of a slippery slope that could mean that the Jesus who is an abstract idea held captive in the name of Christian actually becomes a real, breathing and life-giving Savior.  It would mean that Jesus means so much more than watching The Passion of Christ or Jesus of Nazareth.  The name Christian would be who we are because our relationships as challenging as they are, are no longer an acceptable excuse for us to avoid.  Including if it means that I must sacrifice even myself for the benefit of the other person.

O God, make speed to save us.  O Lord, make haste to help us.  May our journey of Lent bring us closer to being what the word Christian is about in the great challenges of our relationships.

Amen.


Prayers

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down
from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:
Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in
him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 219).

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Ash Wednesday.  The Book of Common Prayer. p.217).
 
Almighty God, 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.  (Collect for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).