Christ the King: Mercy and Justice Are His Rule. The Cross is His Throne

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

Psalm 46 (BCP., p.649)

Colossians 1:11-20 (NRSV)

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

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."

Blog Reflection

If there was an irony to end the Liturgical Year C, this would be it.  The majestic celebration of Christ the King is about Jesus at the end of time.  The consummation of all time, seasons, earth and Heaven is believed to find it's conclusion in Christ.  The Alpha and Omega.   The Beginning and the End.  As Anglicized as this Feast is, and though many may find it to be outdated and perhaps unnecessary, there is an important contemporary and social context to this Sunday.  

The reading from the Hebrew Scriptures tells us of a king who would take care of those who have been mistreated by former shepherds.  The Prophet Jeremiah is conveying God's words that God's people being mistreated by others is of great concern.  The People Jeremiah is prophesying to are a farming community.  They have lands that they look after, and their country was being managed by rulers who were not caring for the oppressed and marginalized.   God promises a king who would truly look after God's people with compassion and justice.   Did they get that king?  

The New Testament Reading and the Gospel tie together our focus on Christ as King.   The irony I wrote about earlier, will be made here.  The irony is that on this Christ the King Sunday our focus is not on the majesty and splendor of the Reign of Christ as others might suggest.  Through the mystery of the Cross, the rule of Christ is mercy and Justice.  The Cross is Christ's throne by which He rules as God's Son.  As many of the Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors of our world attempt to lead the rest of us by violence, oppression, injustice and prejudice, God's answer of how to govern the earth is through mercy, justice and forgiveness of our sins.  God's reply to the needs of God's people is to love us all without distinction. 

In the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, Christ the King gives of Himself as the victor, redeemer and Savior of all humankind.  The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the celebration of Holy Communion, allows that mercy, justice and forgiveness to become the way in which we interact with one another as Christ's Body, the Church.   How very interesting that the Gospel Reading for the First Vespers of Christ the King this year is Matthew 18:25-35 the parable of the unforgiving servant.  Jesus tells Peter to forgive not seven times, but seventy seven times.  Forgive and forgive again.  The Eucharist reminds us that Christ our King has forgiven us, so we are to forgive each other.

As we understand that Christ's rule is justice and mercy, and the Cross is His throne, what in the world are Christians doing?   Why do Christians continue to suggest religious exceptionalism and support prejudice towards women, LGBTQ people, immigrants, individuals of different races, religions, physical, psychological and personal challenges?    Why do we as Christians tolerate Christianists claiming a religion of dominionism?  

Perhaps on this Christ the King Sunday we might think about how we promote justice, mercy and the forgiveness of sins by the Cross of Jesus.  How might we hold our leaders in the Church and society accountable for improving them to be inclusive and respectful of other?   How do we hold ourselves accountable?

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, may we pray that the Church and society will become a more abundant Reign of Christ so that He is made real because we too work for justice, mercy and believe in the forgiveness of our sins through His name and His Cross.

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. (Proper 29, Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).


Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have
done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole
creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life,
and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for
the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best
efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy
and delight us.

We thank you also for those disappointments and failures
that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the
truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast
obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying,
through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life
again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and
make him known; and through him, at all times and in all
places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen. (A General Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer, p.836).

Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: The Christian Faith Is About Endings and New Beginnings

Today's Scripture Readings

Malachi 4:1-2a (NRSV)

See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.

Psalm 98 (BCP., p. 727-728)


2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NRSV)

Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

Luke 21:5-19 (NRSV)

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."

They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, `I am he!' and, `The time is near!' Do not go after them.

"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls."

Blog Reflection

If you go to church this weekend, or came to read this blog looking for a warm fuzzy feeling, you are undoubtedly disappointed at this point.   What a set of depressing readings! 

I bet the people in the Philippines feel like all the stones of their civilization no longer stand together.   The terrible typhoon with it's winds, water and destruction have completely toppled any sense of hope for their future.  The photographs of the dead being buried are scary.

In just a few weeks we will already be at the first anniversary of the horrific shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  The parents and whole community that have lived through this past year, have seen the old world slip away and a whole new one begin.  They can no longer take the peace they once enjoyed in their town for granted.  Or just assume their children going to school will safely return home.

A woman in Indiana who's life long partner lies in the hospital with a serious illness, has been denied her place next to her, because it is a Catholic hospital that will not recognize their relationship.  Their world is turned completely upside down.  And Christians are playing a role in it.  Where is the good news in that?

To appreciate what Jesus is telling everyone in today's Gospel, we might want to read a few verses before it.  Jesus was questioned about the resurrection, paying taxes to the Emperor, and saw a widow offer her last savings in the temple treasury.  Jesus is also aware of the relationship between the Roman Empire and the Jewish people.   The times were not exactly full of stability and promises for a brighter future.

What we must consider is that Luke's Gospel was written well after these events including the destruction of Jerusalem and Herod's Temple in 70 A.D.  The contributors to Luke would have known about what happened years earlier and were telling the story by way of the oral tradition.  Having said that, these stories are being told in the after thought.   In many ways Marcus Borg is correct, we really do not know the historical Jesus before the Resurrection.  Yet, these readings from Sacred Scripture are not without their message for us in 2013.

Almighty God does not promise us a Christian life without endings and new beginnings.  God also does not commit to a life for Christians without the pains of life and death, before we experience the Resurrection.  In Christ, God tells us the most important message we need to hear.  There is no suffering that we are experiencing now and will experience in which God is absent from us in the Person of Jesus Christ, God's perfect revelation of Self.  Though we will experience great evils in our lives, many of them catastrophic beyond description, God walks with us through it, weeping with us, hoping for us and meeting us at the point of our need.  Christianity is a relationship with God, by which the old order of things slip away and a new one that brings about the Reign of Christ in our world begins.  Each day as we begin again, is a new opportunity to face our many life's challenges in the company of Jesus receiving God's compassion and loving guidance.

I continue to believe that many of the things that happen like the Typhoon in the Philippines, the horrific gun violence, the religious based discrimination towards women, LGBTQ and others are not God's will.  I do believe,  however, that God does work God's will in our lives through them,  Through them God challenges us to put our faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit to help us to mature in God's grace and commit to the common good of others around us.   When the worst happens to us, God gives us the choice to stay in a place of misery and false guilt, or follow Christ and give the Spirit the opportunity to sanctify us through healing and reconciliation.   We are also given the opportunity to use our pain and anguish to benefit others who experience injustice, oppression and hopelessness.  

Think of the many people who rose up after HIV/AIDS became a living reality and took the lives of so many people.  The sadness and grief of loss got many loving people to work to establish agencies to work on advocacy, prevention and research that led to medicines so that those who live with HIV/AIDS might live healthier and longer lives.  

How many women have worked for a greater awareness of the horrible affects of breast cancer?  More than we can name or number.  That many more continue to work for research and development of treatments for women affected by the disease.

Look at the work of Harvey Milk and how he changed the direction of people becoming involved in the equal rights for LGBTQ people.   We have seen other heroic activists religious and civil who have changed the laws in now sixteen states to grant the legal freedom to marry.  There are now that many more people who read a story like the couple in Indiana with grave concern for both partners.  An old age of settling for such discrimination on the grounds of "religious belief" has been giving way to a new world, where we condemn the outrageous violence in Russia and else where with deep concern.

Next week is already the Feast of Christ the King.  The Liturgical Year is coming to a close.  This is not the time to just sit down to our big feasts and pretend our work is finished.  Our work for equality, justice and peace is only taking on additional tasks and priorities.  Our work that includes prayer, silence, and work on behalf of others must be given some new vitality and purpose over these next weeks.  The advancement of the true Reign of Christ of inclusion, justice and equality must continue through the devotion and vocation of Christians committed no matter what end they may face.

How is God calling us to be part of an old world order ending and a new one beginning?

Amen.


Prayers

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for
our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever
hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have
given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 28, Book of Common Prayer, p.236).

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

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

Third Sunday of Advent: Rejoice! The Lord is Near?

Today's Scripture Readings

Zephaniah  3: 14-20 (NRSV)

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,

he has turned away your enemies.

The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;

you shall fear disaster no more.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands grow weak.

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a warrior who gives victory;

he will rejoice over you with gladness,

he will renew you in his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing

as on a day of festival.

I will remove disaster from you,

so that you will not bear reproach for it.

I will deal with all your oppressors

at that time.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

At that time I will bring you home,

at the time when I gather you;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes, says the LORD.

First Song of Isaiah: Isaiah 12: 2-6 (BCP., p.86)


Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 
Luke 3: 7-18 (NRSV)

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Blog Reflection

Exactly what is there for us to rejoice on this Third Sunday of Advent?   Our nation is living a nightmare this weekend with the horrible shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  Children between the ages of 5-7 shot to death with multiple gunshot wounds by a madman of a gunman. It hardly feels as if the Lord is anywhere near to that small town, with weeping parents, relatives and a whole community where faith has been shaken to the core.

Our human limitations cannot put this puzzle together.  Nothing makes sense.  Every attempt to try to reason this within our minds, just comes back with a terrible feeling of grief and despair.  How are we to rejoice and feel that the Lord is near?

The communities written about in our Scripture Readings this weekend were also facing unspeakable violence, oppression and questions of how the reality of what is around them become moments of faith i moving forward together.  

Zephaniah is confronting a corrupt king who has ignored the prescriptions of Deuteronomy to care for the poor and disenfranchised in his care.   The Prophet has been condemning the practices of the king, and is calling for a new order by which a remnant shall come and rebuild the city and nation to be one that takes seriously their God given call to seek justice and equality for all people.   The exalted ones who are ignoring their responsibility to the least among them will be replaced by one who shall put off the judgement of God by God coming among them as a warrior who gives victory to his people.  It will be a great day of rejoicing.
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We are all sharing in the unspeakable grief and horror of what has happened in the elementary school in Connecticut.  Out of the bitterness of our emotions is coming together a human community who is weeping with the parents and families, who have had their whole lives shattered by violence.   People are raising our voices in concern for how accessible automatic weapons of mass destruction are in the hands of those who should not have  them.  People are looking to be proactive with their anger and sorrow, rather than just passing it off as another mass murder.  This is something to rejoice in, and see that the Lord is indeed near.   In Psalm 147 we pray that "God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."   God weeps with all of us and especially those who are so grieving in ways that we cannot know.  But, we know that God shares in our sorrow and concern for those who are wounded and weeping.   Rejoice, the Lord is near.  And acting on our behalf.  In faith we have to believe that, even though our human sight and emotions are not feeling it at this moment.

No one knew sorrow than Paul.  Paul was the great Apostle to the Gentiles who went into areas, only to be rejected, sometimes put in prison, scourged and had his life threatened.  In this letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul is writing from prison.  Yet, he tells us to rejoice always, to worry about nothing, pray with thanksgiving and petition to God.  As we continue to ask all of our questions that lead to very few answers with the tragedy we saw yesterday, this Season of Advent reminds us of what it is we await.  We wait for the promise of God, a reign where there is peace, justice and mercy for all.   It came to us in the birth of Christ in Bethlehem on that Christmas Night, and through the Holy Spirit continues to teach us and call us to renew our faith and trust in God, and even though we live in a world full of violence, none of it has the last word.  God goes through our life experiences with us, and consoles us in our moments of sorrow and hopelessness. We can always rejoice that God does hear our prayers and is never so far away from us, that we have reason to believe that God is present and walking with us.  Only in faith and trust can we believe that.  If we ask God for such a grace, God will grant it.

John the Baptist continues to call upon the people of his day to prepare the way for the Lord, by working to establish a kingdom of justice, freedom from oppression and a desire to love others.  John the Baptist does not claim himself as the Messiah, but calls those who are listening to him to prepare for the One who is coming.  That preparation comes by way of our taking care of what is right in front of us.  We can rejoice because we all have time given to us in this moment to do something about things as they are.  At times all we can do is pray.   Prayer by itself is most often the greatest and best thing we can do.   In prayer we draw closer to the heart of God and find in God our Source of love, acceptance and compassion.   The one thing that amazes me about the experience of the shooting this weekend, is that it takes something like that to make us realize how important it is for us to pray for and embrace one another.  If we will only take some time to be quiet before God as our Source of love, acceptance and compassion, there just may be more peace and an ending to violence and oppression.  If we really want these to be possible, we will do these with the same urgency by which we do many other things that are far less important.

If we want to see a Church and society where we are effective in working for justice, peace and equality for LGBT people and all others, we must recognize our human limitations, but be open to what God can accomplish through us, if we will only make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit.   We have to do it in prayer and then allow what we pray to become transparent in our lives.   That which becomes transparent by way of God's grace can become instruments by which God transforms the human community in ways that only the Divine Love can know and bring about.

Amen

Prayers

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, p. 212).


Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgements, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (A Collect for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 123).

O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that
thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve thy children:
Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom
our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy,
nourish their soul with patience, comfort them with a sense of
thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon them, and give
them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those in Trouble or Bereavment, Book of Common Prayer, p. 831).

Last Sunday After Pentecost: Christ the King: An Inclusive Reign

Today's Scripture Readings

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 (NRSV)

As I watched,

thrones were set in place,

and an Ancient One took his throne,

his clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames,

and its wheels were burning fire.

A stream of fire issued

and flowed out from his presence.

A thousand thousands served him,

and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.

The court sat in judgment,

and the books were opened.

As I watched in the night visions,

I saw one like a human being

coming with the clouds of heaven.

And he came to the Ancient One

and was presented before him.

To him was given dominion

and glory and kingship,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

that shall not pass away,

and his kingship is one

that shall never be destroyed.

Psalm 94 (BCP,. p.722)


Revelation 1: 4b-8 (NRSV)

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 18:33-37

Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Blog Reflection

Here we are at the end of another Liturgical Year, celebrating the feast of Christ the King.   Also known and preferred by many as the Reign of Christ.  The triumphant and holy celebration of Jesus Christ as King is only 87 years old.   In 1925 Pope Pius XI added it to the Roman Catholic church calendar as a way of expressing some hope after World War I.  It was a recognition of Christ as having been victorious over sin and death, and had an opportunity to reign in the world's politics after a brutal and deadly conflict.   One does not have to look very long after 1925 to see that not only did Christ not rule in the hearts and lives religious and political leaders then, but we still have a long way to go as we prepare to bid good bye to 2012.

In the book of the Prophet Daniel, the image is that of a glorious reign of the Ancient One who is mighty and coming to bring justice with  his mighty arm.  The Ancient One who brought Israel from Egypt into the promised land, and gave them the commandments through Moses.  Christians have looked back upon the writings from the Hebrew Scriptures to honor the culture and religion of the Jewish people.   And we would like to think that in this Year of 2012, we no longer have antisemitism, but we know very well that there is.  God's people were wanting that mighty sign of God coming in glory to deliver them from captivity and bring them the salvation of their nation.  

Christians can and still do believe that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophesies in Hebrew Scriptures.  Our task in this second decade of the new millennium is to accept what the Scriptures mean for us, while respecting what they mean for others who have followed a different faith journey from ours.  The Reign of God is inclusive. 

Jumping into our Gospel, what might the significance be of Pilate having the conversation with Jesus in the Praetorium?   The Praetorium was the center of political power in the world.   It was from the Praetorium that Pilate governed Jerusalem on behalf of the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar Augustus.  In this account from John, Pilate is questioning the authority of Jesus as a king.  The answers Jesus gives Pilate presents the stark contrast between what Pilate understands a kingdom to be, vs. what is the Kingdom of God that Jesus speaks of.   While Pilate wants to know about the earthly kingdom that Jesus might think he rules, the Kingdom that Jesus speaks of is not found in this world.  If that Kingdom were there, he might not have been in captivity without some kind of fight from of his followers to prevent his imprisonment.  God's reign is not one of political maneuvering, one of war or conquest.   The Reign of God is one of peace, justice, love and mercy.  Qualities that are present in the world, because of God's ownership of what God created.  The Reign of God of which Jesus speaks is already here, but not yet.

Jesus said that he was born for one purpose to testify to the truth and that all who belong to truth, hear his voice.   What "truth" might Jesus be talking about?

Immediately we are tempted to jump back to John 14: 6: "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me."   While this is certainly true for us Christians, it also has the tendency to suggest that our religion is one of supercessionism.  Meaning that all other religions and practices outside of Christianity are in and of themselves null and void, unless they become Christian.   It can also be from here that many Christianists continue their assault on LGBT people, Native Americans, women and many others who define "truth" a bit differently than how John 14:6 might be read.

Michael and Lori Hardin in their internet Commentary on the readings called Preaching Peace had this to say about what truth for some can mean.

The fact is, at the base and center of philosophy (Derrida), religion (Barth) and literature (Girard) lies a victim, an innocent victim. We have been in complete and utter denial about this. We refuse to believe that we would sacrifice innocents. We continue to insist we only bring justice to those who deserve it. We further separate ourselves from scapegoating by turning over this task to the police or the military and the courts and prison systems. We don’t have anything to do with ‘violence.’ Our hands are clean.

As an example we cite American Christian awareness of issues that surround the Holocaust. Because America fought in World War II against Germany, it is conveniently assumed that whatever the German Christians did and thought had nothing to do with Christianity here in America. But it does, for the anti-semitism that found such virulent expression in Nazi Germany had many of its roots in the United States with Henry Ford (click here for an eye-opening paper on Ford.), and they have found expression around the world for the past 1,900 years (with specific reference to anti-Semitism in Christianity, not to mention the ancient world). You cannot follow Jesus and be anti-Semitic at the same time; Jesus was a Jew. But there are those who insist that their ‘theology’ bears little resemblance to that of the German Christians, when in fact, it does. It is all loaded with Post Constantinian and post Augustinian dualism and participation in the victimage mechanism.

So, the question is, if our human ideologies stem from victimage and are masked by lies, how can we then know the truth? It is quite simple: the truth does not retaliate or defend itself. ‘My kingdom is not of this world, if it were my disciples would fight to prevent my arrest.’ They tried, but Jesus prohibited them from using violence on his behalf. Had he done so, it would have destroyed his entire mission to reveal the truth: that God is love and love is non-retributive, non-retaliatory and non-violent.

In other words, if something or someone claims to be truth and has violent presuppositions or acts in a violent (= coercive) manner, then it is not truth. Truth may be attacked but it cannot be harmed. It is not ‘of this world’, that is, structured by negative mimesis. This is precisely how the gospels can speak of truth and why the Fourth Gospel calls Jesus, ‘the true and living way.’

Pilate may have discerned this seeing that John says his fear escalated with each encounter he had with Jesus. But, his job (and his life) was more important than a ragamuffin Jew from Galilee, so eventually the fear of retaliation from his mimetic boss (Caesar) was greater than his fear of a king who would not defend himself.

And so it is with us. We remain silent in the face of victimization because we chose to protect our source of security, our jobs, our incomes, our lifestyles. Perhaps the real question is, in the face of retaliation and retribution are you on the side of Jesus or not?

Finally we observe that inasmuch as today is Christ the King Sunday, please note that it is ‘Christ the King under arrest and being interrogated Sunday.’ It is Christ the King being held hostage Sunday. It is Christ the royal political prisoner Sunday. It is Christ the King soon to be beaten and crucified Sunday. It is Christ the innocent King/Victim Sunday. It is not Christ the powerful King Sunday. It is not Christ the mighty warrior Sunday. It is not Christ the King as Lawgiver and dispenser of punishment Sunday. It is Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world, the King Sunday.

As we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, Jesus is once again in danger or being killed just for being LGBT in the African country of Uganda.   They are again considering their monstrous and destructive bill to imprison LGBT people or possibly put them to death by hanging.  The sad truth still remains that people using the Name of Jesus Christ from America have some responsibility for what is happening there.  The Gospel is again being hijacked to suggest that marginalization, oppression and death is the answer to dealing with prejudice and the refusal to honor Christ in others who are different from themselves.   They cannot envision that the Reign of Christ is inclusive.

Rev. Susan Russell wrote:

"Christ the King has been co-opted by those who understand the Reign of Christ to be not about the Lordship of Love but about obedience to orthodoxy. The king whose throne was a cross and whose dying words were “My God, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” has been replaced with a judge whose message is “My God will not forgive you unless you are doing it my way.” It is time for us to find our voices and reclaim the historic faith we have inherited: to pro-claim the Good News of the Gospel of Grace whenever and wherever we can; to challenge those who preach the Jesus of Judgment by our serving instead the King of Love."

One of the things we as Benedictines understand is that obedience to Christ is not so much about fear and judgement.   Though at times it may appear as much in the Rule, especially when you read things like this.

"This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord." (Prologue, v. 3.  RB 1980, p.157).

Obedience for Benedictines is about responding in love to what Christ calls us to do through the Superior.  This model is there to remind us that Christ is the loving and compassionate Savior who desires nothing more than to lead us to that Kingdom that is here, but not yet.  A Reign where we are open to Christ as he is present in every person.  Especially those who are oppressed by injustice and inequality.  St. Benedict brings this to mind as he says in Chapter 4 on the Tools of Good Works: "Go to help the troubled and console the sorrowing" (vs. 18,19, RB 1980,  p. 183).   Obedience to truth is more than Jesus, it is honoring him present in others and being willing to serve him there.

As we prepare to celebrate Advent and the new Liturgical Year one week from today, we would do well to ask ourselves what the Reign of Christ looks like for us?   How do we understand the Reign of Christ as an inclusive Kingdom?   How is that Reign present to us in the here and now?   How are we responding to Christ the King coming to us in our neighbor?

These questions are not a matter of just what is objectively true.  They are a matter of our faith and trust in God. To believe that God challenges us to let go of our self-security a bit. So that Christ will make the Kingdom a much greater reality for us and in us. So that it will become clearer to us and others, that Christ is our King. 

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.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).


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


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

The Reign of Christ: God's Presence in All Persons

Scriptural Basis

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, `You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Blog Reflection

As Professor Dumbledore said at the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: "Another year gone." 

Today, we mark the end of another Liturgical Year in the Church.  

Next weekend begins a new Liturgical Year and the Year of the Gospel of Mark.

This Sunday is traditionally known as Christ the King.  More modernly called The Reign of Christ Sunday.

The celebration of the last Sunday before Advent as Christ the King was determined by Pope Pius XI in 1925 "as a way of affirming the sovereignty of Christ in the midst of a troubled world.  As we know from human history, the image of king or sovereign is a "mixed bag": for some it conveys positive attributes of the ability to bring about justice and to encourage the well-being of those under the king's authority.  For others, the image of king is spoiled by dictators throughout the ages, and the patriarchal tyranny of male domination.  For this image of Christ as king to be helpful, therefore, it is important for us to understand the nature of Christ's kingship." (Welcome to the Church Year: An Introduction to the Seasons of the Episcopal Church, by Vicki K. Black, page 123).

The image of "domination" is particularly painful for us in 2011.  The presidential campaign of Rick Perry began with a prayer service led by a new brand of Christianists called the Dominionists.  These individuals want to see American politics and all world governments to be shaped into the idea that the Christian Religion is to be dominated by ultra-conservative Christianist ideals.  Abortion must be made illegal.  Homosexuality must become illegal and punishable under the law.  Any other religion including Judaism or Islam must be converted to Christianist thinking, or be suppressed or oppressed.  Serving the poor and the disenfranchised is not even on their radars. 

Reading into the Scriptures for today's feast of the Reign of Christ a little more closely, we see that Jesus is not a king or dominant figure that wishes to be known as condemning or judgmental.  Jesus Christ the King as conveyed in the readings is understood as a gentle shepherd who desires justice and equality for all of God's people.

In the reading from Ezekiel, God has some words for the shepherds who have not led God's people very well. God searches out all who have been scattered and lost because of oppression to be found and led to places where they can feed on the goodness that God has prepared for them.

Today is also the Day of Remembrance for Transgender People.  The transgender members of our society and the Church remain scattered, broken and often left to fend for themselves.  Even among the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities, the transgender communities are often marginalized and scandalized as they struggle through medical issues, extreme violence and brutality for their gender identity/expression.   Jesus Christ the King and our Shepherd seeks out transgender people and many others who are oppressed and victimized to bring healing and wholeness.  Jesus calls on all who worship and believe in the Christian expression of Faith, to embrace Jesus in the transgender women and men both young and old, by recognizing God's presence in them.  

The Gospel reading is probably my favorite.  It's words are both relieving and challenging to me and my faith life.  I understand from this awesome reading that I am among those whom Jesus challenges the Church to recognize himself in.  Yet, this reading challenges me to see Jesus in people that challenge my own sense of being comfortable in my own box.  God the Holy Spirit challenges me to open wide my Pandoras Box and see Jesus in every person who is different from me.  Jesus reminds all of us in this parable that Christ's reign is present in all people.  To fail to see another person as being the presence of Christ the King and Shepherd, is to neglect Jesus himself.

The Occupy movements that have swept the nation and the world are calling on our financial institutions to do much more than change their practices.   The Gospel message of  Jesus and the Occupy movements are about the need for a fundamental system change.  The economic hardships by which so many people are suffering as a result of financial investments that have gone bad can no longer be overlooked as if there is no need for a transformation in our markets and political institutions.  The extreme pain that people all over the world are enduring, can no longer be just a matter of the haves vs the have nots.  People are losing their homes, jobs, retirement savings, health care and equal rights protections. These and many other hardships requires that everyone from the 99% and the 1% need to come together and have the conversation about what we can all do different to make the world a more equitable place for every person.  The 1% can no longer just collect billion dollar profits at the expense of the 99% losing everything.   The 99% can  no longer site politely by and just watch everything they have worked for go down the drain, while the 1% get richer by gaining more political and financial power.

Bishop Mark S. Sisk of New York wrote in an Episcopal News Service Commentary:

But the fundamental issue is not that the laws of capitalism are flawed; the fundamental issue is that we are flawed in our attitude to them.

There can be little doubt that capitalism is a productive way to order economic life. But we need to remember, as the protestors have reminded us, that that is all that it is -- an economic system based on the entirely reasonable propositions that capital has value, and that supply and demand are the most efficient way to set prices. Capitalism is of no help at all in determining what is morally good -- that is something that must instead be determined by the community's wider values.

And there should be no question that when an economic system fails to reflect those communal values, it should be modified and governed until it does. To say, as some do, that any attempt to control or guide our economic system is neither wise nor possible is to admit that an economic system has decisive control of our lives. For a Christian, such an admission would be nothing less than to yield to idolatry. (Though I do not claim deep knowledge of other religious traditions, I suspect that this is true for them as well.) God alone is the One, and the only One, to whom we can concede such ultimate authority. For the non-theist to make the argument that the laws of economics are immutable is to concede that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves. That is the same argument that those in the grip of various kinds of addiction make: "I am not in control, my addiction made me do it."

 The Archbishop of Canterbury also wrote an exceptional commentary about the Occupy movements.  You can read that commentary here.  

Likewise for lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people, there can be no doubt that those who are attempting to keep us from equal rights feel that they are doing a faithful and noble thing.  However, because LGBTQ people are among God's people whom God shepherds, it is not prudent nor a faithful matter to deprive us of the opportunity to marry the person we love, seek job security or protect LGBT youth from bullying in our schools.

States like Arizona and Alabama seriously threaten our national security when they write and pass immigration laws that are designed to racially discriminate against individuals just for seeking a new and peaceful home.  When an American political institution passes such laws we also fail to welcome Jesus Christ in the stranger who has come to live in our land.

As we close this Church Year that has taken us on this long and difficult journey through Matthew's Gospel, we are invited on this feast of Christ the King to know and understand Jesus as the loving and intimate revelation of God.   In Psalm 100 today we sang the words: "For the Lord is good:  God's mercy is everlasting; and God's faithfulness endures from age to age."   Jesus has communicated to all that God's goodness and mercy is present with all whom God has created and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus.   Sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, gender, race, religion, class status, wealth status, language, employment, culture, education level etc are not there for Christians to make exceptions for who can be marginalized or oppressed.   When we truly understand that Jesus is present in all persons, then perhaps we will be more faithful in serving Christ in all people, rather than trying to convert God into our own image of how we think God should be in others who are not like ourselves. 

In the Name of God who is + Creator, Servant and Life-Giver.  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. (Proper 29, Book of Common Prayer, page 236).

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.    (Book of Common Prayer, page 101).


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 you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, page 818).

God of justice,
    Thank you for reaching through unjust leaders and systems
        to remind us that justice is still a possibility in our lives.
    Guide us as we follow your lead to build communities
        of peace, equality and justice for all. Amen (Prayerfully, Out in Scripture).

Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost: Making the Best of What We Have

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 25:14-30 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, `Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, `Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, `Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master replied, `You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "

Blog Reflection

The Gospel for today has an either/or feeling to it for me.  Either I am very happy for those who were successful with the ten or five talents, or I am feeling very sorry for the the poor guy who had only the one and was punished.  The tendency to interpret God as a psychopath from this parable is not a difficult place to arrive.  The master who is suppose to represent God sounds like the mighty investor on Wall Street who fires the one who did not invest.

Canon Richard Norman, Jr who preached at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral today, pointed out an important word change from the Revised Standard Version to the New Revised Standard Version of this particular Parable.  The word for "trustworthy" in the NRSV use to be the word "faithful" in the RSV.   I would have to add to that with my concern over the word "slave" in the NRSV vs the word "servant" in the RSV.  These word clarifications may just be words to some, but to me they say something about what we are reading vs what we are interpreting.

If we understand the slave to be such as was well known in the culture of the time that these texts would have been written. The ownership of slaves was very common.  However, in our own culture when we understand the slave as a servant it suggests that those given something so that they could do something with it have a responsibility out of love for their master.   In a way, we can understand the fear of the slave with the one talent in the NRSV better than the fear of the servant with the one talent in the RSV.   But, when we think of those who have been given something from their masters so that they may be faithful with their talents, it does put a bit of a different meaning to what they were suppose to do.  We can easily look at the word trustworthy as being related to actual money. Where as to be faithful is related to doing the right thing out of concern for not only oneself, but for the master and those who will be helped by the master with our faithfulness in what the master has asked of us.

The point of this parable is that God gives all of us something to put to use for the benefit of others so as to bring glory and honor to God.  We get what we have from God.  We do not always get what we want.  What we do get from God is a gift and must be used for the purpose for which it was given.  Whatever that gift may be, God calls on us to use it for what it is and to make the best of it for the sake of those who can benefit most from it.  This does not mean that we will be given gifts that others will be able to appreciate and respect them as they are, and not suspect otherwise. In fact, it does mean that if we don't put what we have as it is out there and use it, it will only be returned without having done anything meaningful with the gift God gives us.

The point I have been making is why I must protest without apology to the idea of ex-gay and/or reparative or conversion therapy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer people. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are given to such individuals by God to use them as they are for the benefit of those they love, and to work for justice, equality and inclusion.  Diversity in all the various forms and shapes it takes is given to the individuals and the communities, to invest and enrich our cultures and communities with wonderful, holy and God ordained accomplishments.   The efforts of anti-gay groups to cause devoted women and men to change what is most essential and authentic with in them, can only serve to be egregiously destructive not only to LGBTQ people ourselves, but also to the communities that we live and serve.

To work for efforts to ban marriage equality through constitutional amendments such as what has taken place in 30 States, and now campaign efforts underway in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina is to attempt to throw the beauty of diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions in the face of God.   All with disastrous results on individuals, families, children and whole communities.

The efforts of many individuals to create laws that target Muslims and immigrants to be profiled and in prisoned for offenses that are prejudicial entrapment at best does not serve to better society in any way.

The movement that allows the wealthiest among us to oppress and suppress the 99% with laws, taxes. the loss of important benefits, employment and the necessities of life is an injustice towards humanity.   Such is why I support the Occupy movements all over the world.

Yesterday, the Diocese of Washington, DC got a new Bishop Mariann Budde.  She was consecrated and ordained yesterday and seated at the National Cathedral today.   In one of two Washington Post articles, Bishop Budde said the following.

“I want to build up the liberal church again so we can be a legitimate conversation partner in the public arena, because right now it’s dominated by . . . what many would call the Christian right,” Budde said this week at the diocese’s offices. “It’s legitimate for them to be there, but they’re drowning us out. They’re better at organizing churches than we are, and I’m going to change that!”" (The Lead). 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people are given the great gift of our diversity.  Our sexual love for our partners, the way we love other people emotionally and even platonically are all part of God's great talented gift to us and the world.  It is right that we use them to call for justice, equality and inclusion.  We are totally blessed with opportunities to speak up against injustice and oppression.  We are also blessed with our own unique stories by which we can help other people understand why the inclusion of LGBTQ people and others marginalized by the Church and society must be allowed to advance toward equality.  If we do not use the only gift we have, as it is, to invest in a brighter future for LGBTQ people and many others still oppressed, we will have no one to blame for the failures, but ourselves.  Anti-equality groups can spout all the false information they want.  Let them bear the false witness.  The responsibility for that is theirs.  Our responsibility is to make the best of what we have and to be faithful to the One who made us as we are, so that young women and men can come out and become part of the efforts to help change the world for the better.

May God find all of us to be faithful with what God has given us, because we made the best of it.


Prayers

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 236).


Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 8226).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Authenticity in Leadership Means Nurturing Not Domination

Scriptural Basis

Micah 3: 5-12 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets

who lead my people astray,

who cry "Peace"

when they have something to eat,

but declare war against those

who put nothing into their mouths.

Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,

and darkness to you, without revelation.

The sun shall go down upon the prophets,

and the day shall be black over them;

the seers shall be disgraced,

and the diviners put to shame;

they shall all cover their lips,

for there is no answer from God.

But as for me, I am filled with power,

with the spirit of the LORD,

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his transgression

and to Israel his sin.

Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob

and chiefs of the house of Israel,

who abhor justice

and pervert all equity,

who build Zion with blood

and Jerusalem with wrong!

Its rulers give judgment for a bribe,

its priests teach for a price,

its prophets give oracles for money;

yet they lean upon the LORD and say,

"Surely the LORD is with us!

No harm shall come upon us."

Therefore because of you

Zion shall be plowed as a field;

Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,

and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

Matthew 23: 1-12

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Blog Reflection

Today's reading from the Prophet Micah is timely.  During the past month and more we have seen the Occupy movements calling for economic equality and justice.  The CEO's of Wall Street and the largest banks in America have seen their profits rise. At the same time so many people have lost their jobs, homes, opportunities for higher education, some kind of future struggle just to survive. 

In an age bombarded with messengers that claim to speak for God, how do we discern messages that are truly life-giving?  With the ancient psalmist and the prophet in Micah 3:5-12, we cry out against the self-interest, greed and fear which corrupt leaders’ motives and rob social relationships of authentic justice. (Out in Scripture).

In America, a land full of technological advances, brilliant doctors, lawyers, financial institutions and more poverty is on the rise.  More individuals are not able to afford health care when they are sick.  The young people who are graduating from college are so in debt because of student loans with very little hope of finding meaningful and gainful employment.  People age 50 and older are losing their jobs that they worked years for their retirement, only to find that their retirement pensions have been eaten up by Wall Street. 

Yet, those who claim to be "speaking for God" in the Christianist organizations for America are on the side of the wealthy and those who discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. 

What we fail to understand is that when the poor and middle class in any given nation suffers at the hands of those who are not just wealthy, but also greedy for more money and power, entire civilizations and communities including the religious groups collapse. 

Such is what Micah is saying.

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul is calling people to remember the labor of those who are proclaiming a Christian Faith do not seek "power through domination" but desire to lead through the nurturing of communities of peace, justice and equality.

Many who lead our Christian Faith whether as denominational leaders or sit on individual church councils, eventually fall into the trappings of using their positions to exercise power at the expense of ministry.   Though many gain positions of leadership because of the good work they do, it is sadly not uncommon for them to be elected to leadership because of who they know.   Popularity of name and association at the expense of religious devotion and a desire to work towards authentic change.

The ministry of the Church is one that seeks to break down the walls of division and malice.  The demand for respect for leadership as a Bishop or Priest becomes first, while those who need to be fed or receive good council from the wounds they have endured continue to be ignored. 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people who continue to experience the marginalization of who they are and the relationships they create are expected to embrace full monogamy no matter what.  However, the Christian Church has yet to preach and share the Gospel in such a way, so that parents, friends, work places, politicians, schools, businesses etc, do not fear the worst or feel like they were kicked in the stomach when they hear about their dear friend being LGBT.  While monogamy is a beautiful goal to work towards, until the day a  young man can tell his mother and father that he is gay without worrying if he will be homeless after saying so, monogamy is just a restriction and not something they will want to do.  All the shame for being "promiscuous" by many Priests, just sounds like "there goes the Church telling me how to live" when the Church still has not embraced every LGBT person, family, and couple.  

If we are going to call for conversion, then we must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to convert us.

Jesus's call in today's Gospel is not a slam on the Jewish religion.  This Gospel today has unfortunately been used to justify the worst anti-Semitism.  Such a stance misses what Jesus is calling Christians to do.

Jesus is calling on all who consider themselves "leaders" to remember that they too are to be held accountable.  

We see in this passage an enduring challenge to demand for all leaders to be authentic and accountable for their just or unjust actions.

We also remember that we are all leaders in some way.  The call to authenticity here includes practicing what we preach, purifying our hearts’ motives for public ministry, and living in relationships of mutuality.   When we do these things, we place ourselves in a humble place, remembering that Jesus said “You are all students” (verse 8).  Such is the path that avoids imposing our own burdens and needs upon others for whom we are responsible.  Such is the path to inhabiting Moses’ seat (whatever the leadership role to which we’ve been called) as if we are on the holy ground of the burning bush.  There, we listen anew to the Liberator’s call to be agents of justice-making and need not be anything more or less than ourselves.

We live in a day when “All are Welcome” signs are posted outside so many churches.  Too often, however, the signs are only marketing gimmicks when churches do not truly offer God’s hospitality.  There is such a contrast between the open invitation and the congregation or denomination’s claims in its ordination position or its work for justice.  Where is the authenticity in such self-promotion?  We live in a day when leaders of both church and society may clamor for their own acceptance, status, material gain and popularity, and do or say whatever will gain them such security. Believers who do so cloud their discernment of God’s revelation and risk communal ruin.  Authentic lives, staying power and justice go hand-in-hand. (Out in Scripture).

Christians will never be authentic leaders within their communities, until many of the clouds of prejudice are no longer supported by Christians and our various communities.  The continuing mud slinging towards the Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, immigrants, women, LGBT and so on suggest that Christians are lacking in authenticity in our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus calls on us today not to dominionism, but to nurturing good communities where truth, justice, equality and inclusion are every day celebrations.  

When we work together to help immigrants bring their stories to our communities and make their stories part of our stories, then the Gospel is being authenticated through our actions.  

As LGBT people become ordained as Bishops, Priests, Deacons and lay leaders who help the Church become more inclusive to the point of supporting marriage equality, ending hate crimes and no longer demonizing people on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, the Church becomes more authentically part of God's reign. 

When the Church seeks out the protection of the rights of women to no longer be subjected to male privilege legislating their health care, job creation, education  and protection from violence and exploitation, the Church is authentically protecting the vocation of motherhood and the role of women.  

When the Church joins the people on Wall Street in calling on our government leadership to enact laws that defend the poor and middle class, and calls on the rich to ending their desire to dominate all of America, the Church is authentically participating in the mission of God's love and compassion.

God is calling on Christians to authenticate our vocation.  We must live our lives committed to our God and what our Mother the Holy Spirit is empowering us to do.  It is not enough to attend church services and exercise hypocrisy through fake political politeness.  It is important to be part of the call of God the Holy Spirit to embrace the lost, release those captive by political, religious and social oppression and heal society through radical hospitality and reconciliation.

Prayers

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 26, Book of Common Prayer, page 235).

Gracious Father, we pray for your 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 your Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816)

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

Holy Spirit: Guide Us Into Truth and May We Never Stop Asking

John 16:7-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

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

Of all the Scripture Readings that have made a huge impact on my life this past Pentecost this would have to be at the top of my list.  The sentence that I have italicized tells us that the Holy Spirit's work is on going.  The work of the Holy Spirit guiding us into all truth does not end with the Pentecost event, but continues as long as it takes for her to keep teaching us what truths we do not yet understand.  Is that not the role of a good mother?  A good mother never stops trying to tell her children the truth, even if they are not really listening.  Even if the truth that a mother is speaking is not very popular. The Holy Spirit which represents the feminine nature of God keeps telling the Church and all humankind who will listen that she desires to keep guiding us into all truth.

Over these past thirty to forty years the Holy Spirit has been guiding us into the truth about women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.  The Holy Spirit has also been moving on all of humankind to reach beyond our understandings of people of different races, cultural backgrounds, abilities and/or challenges, languages, religions, understandings, etc.  Just when we think we have figured everything out, that is when the Holy Spirit rips open our Pandoras Boxes and reveals things to us about God, others and ourselves.  As Christians we make the biggest mistake when we try to close up our boxes.  That is the point in which God wants to reach out to us so to inspire us to reach beyond ourselves as much as we possibly can.  When we do, it is amazing what God will show us.

Today in the Episcopal Church we commemorate the great author Clive Staples Lewis (C.S.Lewis) and his many masterpieces of Christian Literature.   A man who once rejected Christianity.  Yet, God had not stopped searching for him.  In his famous work Mere Christianity C.S.Lewis wrote: "You must make your choice." "Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut Him up as a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God."

C.S. Lewis' works have been used probably by all branches of the Christian Church.  Liberal, Conservative, Fundamentalist, Roman Catholic, etc.  Sadly, like many other forms of spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse his work like the Bible is often misused as WMD towards LGBT people.  Maybe I need to write a bit more about why I think they become Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). 

When the Bible or the works of a man like C.S.Lewis fall into the hands of individuals desiring to use them to change who a LGBT people are and/or how an LGBT person loves other people they become WMD.  When the Bible and/or the works of Christian Literature including the works of the Saints such as St. Augustine, John Crysostom and many are used to arm twist people into "rethinking" about who we are, they become WMD.  This is the reason we must all pray that the Holy Spirit will guide all of the Church into a greater understanding of truth.   As long as there are those in the Church who feel that the Bible, C.S. Lewis and many others are reasons for creating Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill or Arizona's Immigration Bill, or a Federal (or State) Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage it means that the Church is not listening to the Holy Spirit.  It means that Christianity itself and the Bible and authors who have advised us are not being taken seriously and become WMD.  Anytime the Bible, the cross, Jesus himself, the Holy Spirit, or works of Christian Literature become a basis for scapegoating, Christianity gets a bad name.  It is way past the time for Christians to stop scapegoating and start paying attention.

Jesus Christ who I believe is God came to restore to God's reign those who have been lost due to scapegoating and marginalization.  God's perfect revelation came to us in the body of a man, with the interior qualities of a female as described in Wisdom so that humankind may know God and God may reveal God's Self in a complete and total disclosure of Self.  God did this, because God wanted to call unto God's Self all who through no fault of their own have been brushed aside by political, social and economic abuses of power so that they may find their dignity in God who created and loves all of us. God loves all of us unconditionally and all-inclusively.   The gracious power of God does not stop at the doors of our race, gender, class, social status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, language, immigration status, etc.  Humankind and our misguided perceptions of Scripture, Church Tradition and bad Reasoning have created those barriers.  God's power and love transcends all human labels and political correctness.  That same power and love calls all of us, who make classifications of persons to break down those barriers and celebrate together the oneness of God's beauty and holiness with that peace that surpasses all human understanding.  Even with those that we do not entirely understand.  Even with those who make us just a little bit uncomfortable.  And that is why we need the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  If she does not continue to guide us into all truth, we will not reach the full potential that God the Holy Spirit wants for us.  The walls and isles that now divide us will only get taller and more complex for us to reach over and take the hand of those who remain stigmatized by the Church and society to welcome them into the reign of Christ who is King of kings and Lord of lords. 

And let all of God's people together say Amen!

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. (Proper 29, Book of Common Prayer, page 236).

O God of searing truth and surpassing beauty, we give you thanks for Clive Staples Lewis, whose sanctified imagination lights fires of faith in young and old alike. Surprise us also with your joy and draw us into that new and abundant life which is ours in Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for C. S.Lewis, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 697).



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