Last Sunday After Pentecost: Christ the King: The Cross: The Reason for Inclusive Love

Luke 23:33-43, NRSV

 

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Today's Blog Reflection

As I have written in previous blog posts this past year, this will be the final blog entry for Br. Anselm Philip's Many Thoughts.  The blog itself will remain up and available for those who wish to read the seven years of posts that are on here.  However, I will not be writing new posts after this one.

I want to thank those who have followed my blog since I began writing it in the Fall of 2009 following The National Equality March.  Thank you if you began reading this blog at any point since then.  Thank you if you just stopped by and read one post or a few.  Thank you if you liked it.  Thank you if you didn't.  There are memories, stories, commentaries, rants, celebrations, lamentations, spiritual direction, etc throughout the blog posts.  They will remain here for you to read.

I will be making regular additions to the other blog I started entitled Simple Reflections for a Deeper Spiritual Life, beginning with the First Sunday of Advent.  By this time next week, it will be it's own domain.  I look forward to sharing with you on that blog.  

In my final installment, I want us to think about what the Cross means to us as Christians.  What does the Cross mean for us in this political environment where racism, sexism, islamophobia, trans-phobia and all the others now have a license to thrive?   How do we see our role as Christians who look to our Lord Jesus Christ as King, who gave His life for us on the Cross?  

I invite all of us to consider the thoughts I am sharing here today.

On the Cross, Jesus our King met scapegoating at its very worst, and pronounced it unacceptable.  It really doesn't matter if every person believes in Jesus in the same way as Christians do.  It really doesn't matter if one is Jewish, Muslim, Native American, African American, white, male, female, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer.  It does not matter if we are disabled or able to leap to the moon.  Whether we are rich or poor.  A "legal" or "illegal" immigrant.  What matters for Christians is that our Lord Jesus Christ, who is King for us, declared that sacrificial love as His ultimate power; and no one was excluded from God's love.  Hatred hurled at the Word made Flesh with all fury.  Jesus who was the Son of God and Son of Man (or the Human One), was stripped, beaten, nailed to the cross next to two thieves and even gave over His relationship with God to love the most and the least of us.  At His Resurrection, the story began in new life.

Why is the unconditional and all inclusive love of God in Jesus Christ not the best reason for Christians to love others without exception?  The sin of Christians is not whether we all agree with every installment of the Nicene Creed.  It is our refusal to allow the love of God in Christ to penetrate us to the core of ourselves by way of those who are lonely, weary, different from us and in need of love.  It has something to do with what our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls the Jesus Movement that empowers Christians to make the world a better place.

In The Rule of Saint Benedict ( you didn't think I wouldn't use that in my last blog post did you? LOL), Chapter 53, he wrote "Let all guests who present themselves be received as Christ."  On the Cross, Jesus promised the other thief who mocked him, and suddenly believed in him the promise of paradise.  The thief was the presence of Christ to Christ Himself.  He listened.  He welcomed Him.  He found a place in God's Kingdom even for him.  So Jesus made a place for each of us at His Father's table.

Today, Jesus our King, calls on us from the throne of God's love on the Cross to receive Christ in those who are different from ourselves.  Jesus asks for us to listen to Him speak to us through their stories.  Jesus calls on us to give to Him a place of love.  Jesus seeks someone to love Him in those who are marginalized, beaten and left in the trenches of our social and political system.  He asks us to reach out our hands and voices to support them, give them a place in our churches, our communities and hearts; so that they may find a home with Jesus in this world and the next.  

Imagine what the Church, what society would look like if we met Jesus at the Cross, claimed Him as King and allowed His unconditional and all-inclusive love to transform us and the world around us.  

I am sure many who have read my blog posts over the years have asked if this is possible.  I believe the Angel had something to say about that at the Annunciation.  "With God, all things are possible."

I think this is a good answer.  Don't you?

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all
things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of
lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided
and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together
under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.236).

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

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

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 20: Whoever A Little

Gospel Reading

Luke 16:1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, `What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, `How much do you owe my master?' He answered, `A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, `Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, `And how much do you owe?' He replied, `A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Blog Reflection

Verse ten of this Gospel Reading can be summed up like this.  "If you are faithful in a little, if you are dishonest in a little, you are faithful in much and dishonest in much."

I feel drawn to how the words little in whatever the word that follows it, leads to much.   

So often we are drawn to what is huge.  It is what seems more powerful and faster that draws our attention.  While that which is little goes unnoticed.  Our attention seems focused on what is far off.  That which is here and now is too little to seem to make a difference.  The truth of the matter is, it takes a lot of what is little to become part of the larger whole.  

Our current political campaigns are full of little stabs and jabs from one party or candidate to the other.  Many may think that small one liners aimed at another person's race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, immigration status, or is suggestive of a dangerous action are of no consequence.  It is all of the small liners rolled into one gigantic media filled mega field of sound bites that creates a stigma around any number of minorities. Each comment made that comes from each small remark, winds up affecting that which is much bigger.  Part of the goal of the campaigns, are to throw a little bit of a punch in each statement, a few dollars or more from the pockets of those who are fortunate to have the reserves in their budgets, and suddenly what was small, becomes the responsibility of the whole.  Faithfulness and dishonesty become the larger consequence of what was so small.

Each one of us contributes a small amount to the larger whole.  What we say, who we say it to, how we say it or do it, has an effect on the larger context.  Free speech is not free if it interferes with another persons freedom.  The so called "free" speech comes with a very large price tag for those who listen to, respond to or are affected by what is said.

Each of us carries a responsibility to the greater whole with what our little bit of faithfulness or dishonesty brings upon those affected.  A harmful slur about people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning, results in the loss of equal rights, and can bring on physical violence.  Just a few little things said by one man in Germany in the 1920's and 30's about Jewish people, resulted in the mass murder of over one million Jewish people.  The killing did not stop there.

If we are to seek peace and justice among all people and uphold the dignity of every human person without exception as our Baptismal Covenant calls us to: then we might want to think a bit more carefully about the little things we say and/or do.  At the same time, striving to b  faithful in the little things that help build up each other, while we support one another has the power to build and rebuild the Reign of our loving God anywhere it can reach.  Imagine what a better world we would have if we all said a little more good things to one another.  It just might be the best conversation we ever had.

What could you do a little more of to make a bigger difference in the world?

Amen.

Prayers

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to
love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among
things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall
endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 20.  The Book of Common Prayer. p. 234).

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

Fifth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 7: Orlando, Prayer and Action

Today's Scripture Reading

1 Kings 19: 1-4, 8-15a

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.

But he himself 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.  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. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

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

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus."

Blog Reflection

The horrifying and sad events of what took place in Orlando, Florida last weekend has left us all quite depressed, frightened and shaken.  The news that one gun user was able to enter a gay nightclub with an AR-15 rifle and gunned down 50+ people, killing 56 (I do not know if this number is completely correct, but I believe I am close) has gripped us all.  If the news of what happened has not left us feeling hopeless enough; the political commentary along with the usual no further action other than "thoughts and prayers for everyone killed or injured" from elected officials and church leaders can only drive us into a deeper despair. 

The inequality for LGBT people, Latinos and other minorities continues to challenge the heart of what being an Episcopalian and Christian is about.  The further work to use the attack that took place to slander Muslims and/or divide people against one another; leads us into more problems than working towards solutions.   

Among these and many other matters is the question of how can we send a strong but gentle message that resorting to violence and hate to solve our problems is the heart of what we are confronted with here?

This morning I listened to a wonderful radio commentary about the events in Orlando, Florida on State of the Belief Radio.  The program is entitled, "In the Wake of Orlando."   As part of the program, Bishop Gene Robinson remarked about how in Christianity, Judaism and Islam we have hate messages towards LGBT people written into our most our most Sacred Texts.  Those texts are the fuel for the ammunition of hate and violence when used to encourage LGBT people to hate themselves.  They are used carelessly and recklessly to rouse up a militant response to those they condemn.  Is it any wonder why LGBTQ people are just so turned off by any form of organized religion?   What can those of us who know the loving mercy of our God who loves every person for who they are, do to "uphold the dignity of every human being"?

I am using only the text from 1 Kings today, because I think it makes an important point.   

God is in the midst of chaos and turmoil.  God is not absent from what is happening in the midst of the grief and sadness of what happened in Orlando; just as God was present to Elijah.  

Elijah had an appointment with God.  Elijah had the worst coming at him with still worse more to eventually arrive.  God wanted to speak with him.  God may have moved in the wind, earthquake and fire; but the fullness of God for Elijah was not in those.  God was in the midst of a silence through which God spoke clearly, drawing Elijah into a gentle, yet convincing way as to what God wanted Elijah to do.   It helped him find the path that God wanted for his life; and he gained the courage and faith to go in the way God planned for him.

If we are to find our way from the violence, hate and disarray in the world, the Church and for a society of peace, justice and equality for all people; we must begin with listening to what God is saying through all of life.  Even the chaos, confusion and screaming that seems to drown all other voices out.  In the midst of what is happening, we must return to that "peace which is beyond all understanding", and know in our hearts the love of God in the Person of Jesus Christ for us and for every person.   We must live into what that love means for each of us, and base our actions moving forward from this tragedy to find the path that God would take us on.  And we must understand that violence of any kind is never the will of God.  Yet, as with the terrible tragedy of what happened on Good Friday came the glorious celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Day; so we must in faith and trust move forward to all the good things God will do in this and every tragedy we encounter.

Peace be unto all who enter here.

Amen.

Prayers

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your
holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom
you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 7, The Book of Common Prayer, p.230).

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).

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

Third Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 5: When Two Parades Cross Each Other

Today's Scripture Readings

1 Kings 17:17-24 (NRSV)

The son of the woman, the mistress of the house at Zarephath, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" But he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." So the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."

Psalm 30  (BCP., p.621)


Galatians 1:11-24 (NRSV)

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.

Luke 7:11-17 (NRSV)

Soon after healing the centurion's slave, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

Blog Reflection

Everyone loves a good parade.  They can be festive or sorrowful.  June is the official month for pride celebrations.  There will be festivals, parades, concerts, parties of all kinds to celebrate our diversity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people.  Those celebrations will no doubt have their share of Christian fundamentalists out there quoting Scriptures and/or passing out Bibles. 

Jesus in today's Gospel Narrative, is being followed by those who saw and/or heard about Him healing the Centurion's slave.  This is only one parade that is taking place.  When Jesus healed the Centurion's slave, He stepped outside of the traditions of His time.  The Romans were considered Gentiles.  What is more, the Centurion was a guard for the empire that was bringing so much oppression to the People of Israel at the time.  So, Jesus healed the slave of a man who is the enemy.  Yet, here He is being followed by people who are just amazed at what Jesus can do.

There is another parade happening at the same time.  A woman who's only son has died.  The disgrace that would fall upon his mother as not only a widow, but now a motherless child would be cruel beyond description.

What happened when the two parades crossed each others path?   Jesus resuscitated the son and freed his mother from the fate that awaited her.  Just as Jesus had done with the Centurion's slave, He does for the widow and her son.  He saw beyond labels and cultural norms to see the dignity of each person and set them free to be who they are to the fullest of possibilities.  What was most important to Jesus was the person and including them into the community of God's people with healing and reconciliation.

We are seeing many parades colliding these days.  The presidential candidates of all parties are competing for the hearts and minds of Americans as to who can better lead the country forward.  One of them is popular by way of his wealth, fame and words that hurt and divide.  One is a woman dedicated to her country and those who are seeking opportunities to strive for a better way of life.  Another is a man who has throughout his political career stood on the side of workers, health care, seeking to address economic inequality and climate change.

In the debate about what gender can use what bathroom is the commonly accepted stereotypes such genders are to represent.  One's genitals, not one's need to relieve themselves of human waste are at the center of a debate of how things have always been (whether a good thing or not), and how things can change for the better.

Christians continue to lead parades that collide with each other over doctrine, how to interpret the Bible, women's issues, human sexuality, political affiliation the actual separation of church and state and more.

In the middle of all of these is the dignity of every human person that is at stake.  Will wealth and power determine who gets more than their share vs. "those" who are barely able to afford a studio apartment to live in?  Will the issues that continue to promote inequality over race, and out of control gun violence be addressed so that all can live in peace?  What does it take for people to rise up and be active in making efforts towards a better church and society for all people?

Jesus' actions and words in our Gospel today, provide us with some things to think about.  If we are going to see a difference in the world around us; we must begin by seeing clearly what is inside each of us that keeps us from loving God, our neighbor and ourselves with sincerity of heart.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us see Jesus in the marginalized and oppressed, so that we will meet Him and help Him to find healing and reconciliation in a world torn by violence, hate and cultural status.  We may even have to allow the Spirit to show us what is beyond our own beliefs, practices and traditions so that we may be led forward with a new appreciation for the presence of Jesus in those who are different from ourselves.

What might God be calling you to do when you see two parades cross each others paths?

Amen.


Prayers

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your
inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by
your merciful guiding may do them; 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.229).

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

First Sunday After Pentecost: Trinity Sunday: It Is About Relationships

Today's Scripture Readings

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (NRSV)

Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

"To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of long ago.

Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth--

when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world's first bits of soil.

When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,

when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master worker;

and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,

rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race."

Canticle 13 (The Book of Common Prayer, p.90).


Romans 5:1-5 (NRSV)

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

John 16:12-15 (NRSV)

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

Blog Reflection

I recently had an experience on Facebook.  

Among the many posts that are appear on my feed from time to time are written to say things like, "If you love me, please copy and past this message in your status and post it.  I bet most of you won't.  If you do copy and post this message as I have asked, I will know that you love me."

I really do not like posts such as that.  Among my many reasons is that it encourages us to type and post something like that on Facebook than it is to say such things in person.  I also feel that such posts are suggestive of manipulating readers to say what the author whats to hear, rather than giving the other person the option to say something on their own.  Lastly, they often make me wonder about the genuineness of the original writer of the post and those who copy, paste and repost them.   Is it just to get it out of the way?  Is it real and heart felt?   Do we really know?   I am not so sure, nor can I be.  This is why I tend not to copy and paste them.  I will sometimes write the individual a private message to say it for real to the other person, or simply not pay much attention.

This past week, I did a whole 80 degree turn on one particular post.  The post read, "If you call yourself my family hit the like button and copy this on your status and when I see your name I'll know who my real family is, blood or not... Here we go!!😀"  Why I chose to pay attention to his and have opinions and ignore the others is as much a mystery to me as it is to you.  Well, I copied and pasted the message.  I got many really nice comments to the post on my own timeline.  One individual was quick-witted  enough to make a comment about how he does not copy and past such things followed by an emoticon with a winking eye.  My response to him was that I agreed and understood, but that this was one of those moments when I decided to do differently.  Then came one comment by someone I have rubbed shoulders with on any number of occasions.  The individual held nothing against me, but simply told me that she considers me part of her family.   Well, let me just say that that response put this Benedictine in my place as to how much I have to learn about humility.  It also provided me with an opportunity to do some genuine but tearful reconciliation with the other individual.  Something I did that was different than what I would normally do, became a catalyst for the Holy Spirit to bring about some forgiveness, healing and reconciliation for both of us.  It is something that I cannot adequately put into words, nor completely understand.  I can only write the experience of what happened; then hope that others understand what I am writing.

The great mystery of the Holy Trinity can be talked about, but can never be explained adequately or logically.  The Trinity of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; or Mother, Child and Comforter or any other name is simply beyond our human limitations.  They are also incomplete and inadequate names.  We celebrate this great mystery every time we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism.  The Priest and congregants make the sign of the Cross with the Name of the Persons of the Trinity at various points in our worship.  Theologians of the past, present and undoubtedly in the future will write books, internet presentations, and just like me; write blog posts to meditate on this incredible part of our faith.  There are those who believe in the Trinity and what it means.  There are those who are not so sure.  Still, there are others who just do not and cannot believe in such a strange concept as one God in Three Persons.

There is one matter about the Trinity that is not written about anywhere near as much.  The Holy Trinity is more about relationships than it is about theology.   It is more about how God relates to God's Self and everyone of us.  As with many pieces of our Christian Faith which we confess in our many creeds and prayers, if we do not live into those mysteries with love and compassion for each other, the Trinity is just hogwash talk.  It is the ministry and mission of Christians to bring forth the presence of God the Holy Trinity, by living in reverence and consciousness of God's presence on others who are different from ourselves.

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit "will lead you into all truth."  Jesus did not say that we would be given a truth that is once for all, stagnant and ever left in Church History and ancient Tradition.  Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit will (and does) lead us beyond our intellectual or theological dogmas, to a living reality of the God-Head present in every place and every person we encounter.  Each place, culture, person will show us a different view of God that we never understood before.  Every opportunity whether it coincides with our status quo or planned steps or not; is a moment for the Holy Trinity to live God's full reality as we allow ourselves to be led into one truth and another.

In recent weeks and days, our media is inundated with the debate about who should use which public restroom based on one's gender identity/expression.  The debate and those using transgender people as their scapegoat to demean and denigrate them; is based on ignorance and fear.   The news that one Christianist organization has been sending men into a women's restroom to help create a fear about sexual assault is just outrageously wrong.  It is fear mongering and the invasion of a transgender person's dignity, simply to make a statement as to what genitalia should be relieving themselves in what restroom. 

Honestly, do we really think the Triune God cares that much about such things?  I think the Holy Trinity is more interested in what we are saying about God when we marginalize and stereotype any person by the way of spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse.  Is it any wonder why people shrug their shoulders at any form of organized religion?

Maybe as we meditate on who God is in the Holy Trinity and how God is moving on our hearts with regards to our relationships with each other, we might discover our true selves.  Perhaps we might hear the Holy Spirit leading us into new truths that we would have never thought about before.  Maybe, just maybe we might receive the Holy Spirit's conversion in our hearts to learn to live into the Mystery of the Triune God-Head and make God known by love and compassion.  Maybe, the world would be a better place, and Christians will give Jesus Christ a good Name.

What do you hear the Holy Trinity saying to you?

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us
your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to
acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the
power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep
us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to
see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with
the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.228).

Almighty God, you have revealed to your Church your eternal
Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in
Trinity of Persons: Give us grace to continue steadfast in the
confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for you live and reign, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.251).

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and
obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.255).

Day of Pentecost: Are We Listening for The Spirit's Many Languages?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

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

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

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

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

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

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

Psalm 104:25-35, 37 (BCP., p.735)


Romans 8:14-17 (NRSV)

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 14:8-17 (NRSV)

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

Blog Reflection

So, here we come to it.  The conclusion of the Easter Season with the Day of Pentecost.  Pentecost is often said to be the Birthday of the Church.  It is a celebration marked by a birthday cake at the coffee hour after Sunday Eucharist.

The experience of those first Apostles in the upper room followed by the diverse languages they spoke, is symbolic of the many different ways the Holy Spirit speaks the language of Salvation.  It is the language of God's amazing love by which God offered Jesus on the Cross by which He triumphed over  death in the Resurrection.  Through those languages each person tells their stories about how God touches their lives; bringing healing and reconciliation between all people.  

The coming of the Holy Spirit is not the moment by which Christianity becomes a religion of supercessionism, making all other religions less than what Christianity is.  On the contrary, it is the moment in which the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to see a world beyond our doctrines, creeds and dogmas; to respecting the dignity of every human person; by which we share the love of Jesus with others around us.

The Holy Spirit is believed to be the feminine nature of God.  The Spirit is our advocate with God on our behalf.  The reading from Romans suggests that through the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift of being God's adopted daughters and sons regardless of how the labels the world around us might define us.  We are identified by the relationship of God to us, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit confirms this relationship through the gift of Gods amazing grace through Christ.

As the Church continues to struggle with what we are listening to from transgender bathroom bills, same gender marriage rites in the Church in New Zealand, immigration, racism and gun violence; who's stories are we listening to, and who's are we ignoring?  What new language are we prepared to learn and learn from; so that the message of the compassion and healing hands of Jesus can be felt by those yearning to be loved and included?   

The Holy Spirit continues to move upon the Church and Christians "to be lead into all truth." (John 16:13).  A truth that is living and growing as opposed to deteriorating and becoming stagnant. 

Each of us will keep the commandments of Jesus in our unique way, in the only way that God calls us to do.  The more open we are to the languages through which the stories of Salvation and Redemption are told; the greater the ministry of the Church bears better fruit.

As our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has said, "We are called to be part of the Jesus movement, to make the world a better place for all of God's People."

Amen.


Prayers

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

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

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Seventh Sunday of Easter: One Among Many

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 16:16-35 (NRSV)

With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

Psalm 97 (BCP., p.726)


Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 (NRSV)

At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words:

"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."
And let everyone who hears say, "Come."
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

 

John 17:20-26 (NRSV)

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Blog Reflection

Are you confused at all by this Gospel reading from John is the one being used this Sunday? It is a bit strange.  We spent the last six or seven weeks focusing on the Risen Christ.  We had three Sundays with readings about the Risen Jesus with His Disciples.  After, we had two Sundays during which we heard Jesus speak about being the Good Shepherd, followed by Jesus telling us to love one another as He loves us.  Thursday was Ascension Day.  Jesus left the Disciples to be at the right hand of God.  Now, we are back to Jesus' discourse during the Last Supper.  What might this Gospel reading be telling us?   We are awaiting the Day of Pentecost on which we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Christians to be Christ's witnesses all over the world.

We have another challenging matter with this Gospel reading.  Jesus' prayers are for Christians to be one as He and the Father are one.  This prayer is very curious.  Each of the Disciples came from very different places and had different occupations.  There were Fishers from one town.  Others were perhaps farmers or servants.  It is suggested that Judas Iscariot was a scholar.   I am sure each of them had a different approach to their faith, and experiences of the Resurrection.  Thomas after all, wanted to see the evidence of the Risen Christ.   Others had an experience of Jesus walking with them on the road to Emmaus.   I tend to believe that there were women present for this conversation, each who knew Jesus from their own perspective.

There are traditions within Christianity that would suggest that Jesus was talking about the Church being one with no denominations to support different beliefs and practices for various countries, languages and cultures.  Others would suggest that oneness is for all Christians to be opposed to abortion, birth control, equality for women, LGBTQ, marriage equality, etc.  Notice that no where in this Gospel text does Jesus make conditions about what this oneness means.  What Jesus is praying about is that Christians will be one as He and His Father are one, so that every person in the world knows that they are loved without distinction.

While many Christians are waging political and social debates about transgender people using the "proper" public restroom, or declaring every Muslim not able to enjoy their religious freedoms, or supporting racism, sexism; the ministry of healing and reconciliation on the part of Christians being one is being made a scam.  Jesus did not make a condition on what oneness would mean.  Christians on the other hand, have been for centuries deciding what divides us from seeking the common good and respecting the dignity of every human person.  This prayer of Jesus is that we will be one in loving others who are different from ourselves, and welcoming them to be part of the Body of Christ with no distinction.

How will you answer Jesus' prayer to be one among many Christians?

Amen.

Prayers

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

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and
obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.255).

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Risen Christ, Shepherd Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 9:36-43 (NRSV)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Psalm 23 (BCP., p.612)


Revelation 7:9-17 (NRSV)

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

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever!
Amen.”

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

For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

John 10:22-30 (NRSV)

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Blog Reflection

This is one of my favorite Sundays in the Easter Season.  After three full Sundays of celebrating the Risen Christ; here we get to meditate on a very beautiful way to think of Jesus.  

The image of Jesus being the Good Shepherd in a beautiful hill country such as what we see in the image above, fills us with a sense of peace and tranquility.  The green pastures with only sheep and shepherd, beautiful mountains and trees fill us with a sense of wonder.  In these days as events around us seem so ugly with no end in sight; thinking of Jesus as The Good Shepherd feels like the relief we need.

The pastures in which Christians find ourselves are anything but peaceful and serene.  Our Christian Faith continues to be mocked and damaged in the form of "bathroom bills" and bills promoting discrimination against LGBTQ people on a fast track.  Yet, the programs that could help the poor, homeless, disabled and unemployed get their funds depleted and given to military defense programs.  Federal and State legislation that could be used to protect innocent people from the excessive gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods, schools and churches are denied a fair hearing because of lobbyists with very deep pockets.  These and many more issues in our society are being promoted by those who claim that this is what Jesus died to "save us from" on the Cross.  In so doing, our Lord Jesus the Good Shepherd becomes nothing more than a picture on the wall and a story told.  There is nothing more to the story, when our stories are no longer heard.

I want to tell you all a story of what someone I care about very much experienced this past week.

He is thirty-five years old.  Less than two years ago, his husband/partner died of cancer.  A year ago he was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with massive congestive heart failure.  His heart works now, but only at about 46% .  He has to take Nitro for occasional chest pains.  He gets headaches form the Nitro after he takes it.  He also experiences dizzy spells due to vertigo.  He has asthma.  He is obviously unable to work because of his health condition.  He is able to get on a local health care program through Medicaid, but he can only go to certain doctors.  He has applied for disability and has an eighteen month wait for an answer.  He is very fortunate to be in the care of his late husband's family.  He has applied for food assistance, but has recently lost the assistance because of a law that requires him to take classes about how to get employed.  In his health condition, no employer would hire him.  He is too much of a liability if anything happens to him on the job.  

It troubles me deeply that as a society we have come to this point, where helping this unhealthy young man is too much to ask of our political and religious institutions.  As Christians we are called to follow the example of our Shepherd who is Jesus Christ, to seek out the lost and to be an inclusive people who welcome and embrace others.  Other "sheep" may not be in the same pasture with us Christians, but, they are still God's people nonetheless.  As recipients of God's love and salvation through the mystery of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection; we are empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to challenge the status quo with the true Gospel of Christ by which the marginalized and broken find a place for healing and reconciliation.  

As we meditate on Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd today, may we spend sometime in holy silence to listen to our Shepherd call us to be His prophetic witnesses.  May we pray for the power of the Holy Spirit that we may welcome all people so that they may find in Christians a safe place to cool their burning feet, wash the sweat off their brows and find some rest in the One who's yoke is easy and burden light.  After all, the Pasture is not only a beautiful place to be.  It is God's atmosphere of limitless possibilities.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;
Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who
calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with
you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 225).

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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).

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

Third Sunday of Easter: Do We Love the Risen Christ in Others?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 9:1-20 (NRSV)

Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said,

"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

Psalm 30 (BCP., p.621)


Revelation 5: 11-14 (NRSV)

I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,

"To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.

John 21: 1-19 (NRSV)

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me." 

Blog Reflection

It must have been quite shocking for Ananias to be given the assignment of restoring sight to Saul.  We read in the account from Acts of how Jesus called him to lay hands on the soon to arrive Saul and give him back his sight.  Ananias hesitates based on what he had heard and known.  Yet, Jesus calls him to the task, that would be the beginning of Saul's new life in Christ.  Because for the first time, Saul would see anew with his physical eyes, and with the eyes of faith the Crucified and Risen Christ as he was baptized by Peter and taught by the Apostles to prepare him for the ministry to the Gentiles. 

Ananias experienced what all of us do at some point.  When we have heard something about someone else and then are called to confront her/him with an act of hospitality and kindness, we respond in fear.   The problem is that when we respond to God's call with the fear of the past, we become deaf to God's work in the here and now.  In Christ, God challenges us to let go of our blindness to God's presence and work in others around us.  Even those we may have some stereotypical thought about.   Especially those who have been blinded by ignorance, prejudice and a refusal to grow past their common held notions.  Yet, God empowers us for the ministry of giving sight to anyone who comes to a new understanding of God in Christ, and to invite them into the Household of God, to pray and work with them in the work of reconciliation and healing.

As we turn our attention to the Gospel of John, there are some problems with the text that we have to confront.

It is really odd that the resurrection story in John 21 is so disconnected from what happened in last weeks narrative in John 20.   John 21 seems to come from the point of view that John 20 did not actually happen.  What in the world is going on?

We must keep in mind that the Gospel according to John was most likely not written by the Apostle and Evangelist himself.  Though there are indications that what is written could have come from John, the various twists and turns in the Gospel suggest that it was probably compiled by more than one person.   It is very possible that it could have been a small committee of people who just couldn't agree on what belonged in it. So they all got a little piece of what they wanted in there to satisfy everyone.  There are plenty of  good commentaries out there, but they are just that.  Commentaries, opinions.  Some more educated than others.  Also, the argument to let the Scriptures stand on their own and the Holy Spirit take care of it, doesn't work either.  Christians have been interpreting the Holy Spirit for centuries.   Look where that has gotten us?  Antisemitism, homophobia, sexism, racism, religious supercessionism, you name it.  No thank you.

Instead, let's pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying through the accredited scholarship of those who know a lot more than we do.

This Gospel reading though has some things in it that are very familiar.  The sea near Galilee as was said in Luke 5 when Jesus called Peter and the other disciples to be fishers of people.  Is it possible that this was something extra from Luke that just got thrown in?  Anything is possible.

What is written there has a lot to say.  Some important things we need to consider.  Many of them come from a terrific Biblical Commentary (opinion I know) blog called Progressive Involvement. 

First, each of the Apostles named are those who have had some problem with their relationship and/or faith in Jesus.  So, we begin not with those who were said to be strong and courageous, but those who have had issues that remain unresolved. God often comes to us in the midst of our confusion and unresolved issues, to bring us some kind of truth that we may not have looked at before.  Jesus will knock as long as it takes.  But, He fully intends to get our attention.   The question is, are we listening and watching for Him?

Second, the Apostles in this narrative have kind of broken away from the group and gone back to what they were doing before. The Jesus thing did not quite work out the way they wanted.  So, they go back to fishing all night.  And as they return to what they were doing before they were called by Jesus, so they are unable to make progress in their lives. They are in darkness and disbelief.  So, they spend the night on the old boring, but familiar things. They don't require a lot of energy, but they are willing to spend what they have on that which does not bring them results. They are kind of like those who attended the Great Vigil of Easter, and well, all the excitement is over.  Lent is done. Let's go back to no longer paying attention.  Let's go back to living in the dark about what the Christian life is really about. After all, it was only a Sunday. We don't live Easter. We just celebrate it, and well, it's all over.

As the darkness gives way to the "dawn from on high that breaks upon us" (Luke 1:78) Jesus comes and tells them to throw the net on the other side.  That's when they catch so much fish, that they are lucky that the nets did not break.  Still, they did not recognize Jesus.  You mean, they did not recognize Jesus from the last time they caught all those fish?  Sometimes, it takes another knock of reality from God, before we get our act together.  Are we listening for the knock?  Or have we rolled the stone back over th entrance to the tomb.  Who wants to be reminded of what the Risen Christ might call us to do?

When they realize that it is Jesus that calls them from the sea shore, we see Peter jump in to the river to cleanse himself and swim towards Jesus.  When the disciples meet up with Jesus, they share a meal by breaking bread and sharing in the fish they caught.  This scene is very familiar to the story in Luke 24: 13-35.  It is in the sharing of a meal in thanksgiving to God that they come together to listen and learn from Jesus. 

Do we see our Baptism as the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit so that we are part of the Household of God, with a responsibility towards others? 

Do we come to the Eucharist to listen to and learn from Jesus as we share in God's Goodness through the Body and Blood of Christ, to share God's Presence with the world around us?

The last part of this Gospel has some very important points to be made.  The following is take from Progressive Involvement.

Jesus addresses Peter directly.  Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.  In the first two instances, Jesus uses the word agapas--unconditional love.  In the last query, Jesus uses the word phileis--brotherly love.  Each time, Peter responds that he does love Jesus, but with a phileis love, not an agape one.  In other words, Peter's "love" is not at the same level as the "love" in Jesus' question. 

This seemed to be one of the Beloved Disciple's main points of dispute with Peter:  Peter doesn't love Jesus enough.  Indeed, the first question Jesus asked--"Do you love me more than these?"--would indicate that Peter may love "these," the disciples or perhaps the implements of his fishing craft, more than he loves Jesus. 

Secondly, each time Peter responds, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you," the word the fourth gospel uses for "know" here is oida.  This is knowledge at the "every day" level, the knowledge based on direct experience and intellectual discernment.  In the last exchange, Peter says again, "Lord, you know--oida--all things."  Then, however, Peter shifts to ginosko for "know":  "You know--ginosko, interior, mystical, "spiritual knowing"--that I love you." 

Ginosko is the kind of "knowing" that really counts in the fourth gospel.  Peter finally gets the "knowing" right--(as an addendum on the third try)--but he still doesn't get the love right.  Jesus finally gives in a bit, again on the third try, by reducing the love from agape to phileis perhaps in the hope that Peter can finally identify with him at least at that level.

Jesus' instructions to Peter follow this pattern:  feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.  Wes Howard-Brook:  "The alternation between lambs and sheep also brings to mind the dual role of the disciples.  They are both like Jesus, the Lamb of God, who will be sacrificed for the sake of the people, but are also those who follow, like the sheep Jesus leads (p. 478)."

The last time Peter was at a charcoal fire, he was there with "the slaves and the police" (18: 18) at which he denied three times that he was a follower of Jesus.  At this post-resurrection charcoal fire, he is with Jesus and the disciples, but still doesn't quite get that the center of discipleship is unconditional and intimate love of Jesus.  Nevertheless, in spite of Peter's disappointing performance in this dialog, Jesus calls him to the central task of discipleship which is tending and caring for the sheep. 

After the three-fold question of love, Jesus issues an "amen, amen" saying, an indication of special importance.  In the fourth gospel, Jesus willingly goes to the cross (10: 18).  Here, Jesus says that, while Peter will indeed die for the faith, he will do so unwillingly.  Peter is being taken where he does not wish to go.

Are we willing to seek God's help to love one another with the sense that each person is our sister and brother?  Can we love them with phileis (brotherly love) so that they can be drawn closer to God's (agape) love?   Can we understand that being a Christian is about living in community with others? 

Today, the Risen Christ asks us with Peter, do you love (phileis) me? 

How are we responding to His question?

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 in Easter, Book of Common Prayer, p.224).

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).

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of
peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel
for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion
may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your
love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen. (Prayer for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p.246),