St. John Chrysostom: Tradition with It's Successes and Failures

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 1: 4-10 (NRSV)

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

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

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

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

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

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

and you shall speak whatever I command you,

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."

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

"Now I have put my words in your mouth.

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

to pluck up and to pull down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant."

Luke 21: 12-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "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."

Blog Reflection

I have a love/hate relationship with St. John Chrysostom. 

I love the contributions Chrysostom made to all of the good theological and spiritual development of the Christian Faith.  Chrysostom made fantastic contributions to the early Church, many of them are celebrated in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition.  We Episcopalians end each morning and evening prayer during the Daily Office with the Prayer of St. Chrysostom.  The words are beautiful and inspiring. 

I do not hate Chrysostom himself.  I hate the contributions he made to the development of the early Churches' position on human sexuality.   Chrysostom believed that all of the sexual passions of human beings are flawed and lead to some kind of spiritual destruction.  Even though Chrysostom in his commentary about the "natural" and "unnatural" use of human sexuality referred to in Romans 1: 26 and 27, he admits that homosexual orientation is natural (See Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality by John Boswell, p.109) and his analysis of Sodom and Gomorrah agrees that it was destroyed for their lack of hospitality (p.98), Chrysostom condemned homosexuality itself as being even worse than fornication between heterosexual people.  You can see some of Chrysostom's writings in John Boswell's book in the appendix on pages 359 - 363.  How unfortunate for Chrysostom and the future of Christian Tradition. 

At the same time, I am also reminded that my beloved St. Benedict adopted many of the ideas of St. John Chrysostom with regard to human sexuality.  Yet, I cherish the Rule of St. Benedict and it's focus on "preferring nothing whatsoever to Christ".  Just as I can love St. Benedict and disagree with his position about "giving into bodily temptations" so to speak, I can also disagree with St. John Chrysostom and still appreciate the good work he did in the early Church.   Each age of the Church has those things that they once believed and accepted as true at one point in time, and the changing of those things with a better understanding that becomes a new light on an old subject.

"Is "tradition" inerrant? Of course not". Writes Bishop Gene Robinson in his book: In the Eye of the Storm: "Like those who authored the various parts of the Bible, those Christians who have come after are not inerrant either.  Their lives are not perfect, nor are their interpretations of scripture, nor are the decisions they made because of those understandings" (p. 56).

In today's Gospel Jesus has brought us back to Advent for a bit.  At the place where this Gospel reading picks up, Jesus has just given his warnings of what will happen at the end of time.  He is warning that his followers will face persecution and even torture for doing what they have been commissioned to do.  Loving the marginalized will almost certainly get us into some kind of trouble. Seeking to change the way things have always been will make people uncomfortable and want to dismiss us and our ideas.  Though our efforts are about giving Jesus Christ a better Name by making the Church more inclusive of LGBT people and other minorities, we will experience rejection and a refusal to cooperate from those who are much too comfortable with things as they have been. 

Again, quoting Bishop Robinson, "If we are not making trouble and making waves, then we'd best check to see if we're preaching the same Gospel that Jesus was preaching. It got him in trouble with the religious powers that be, and if we start doing that, we'll be in trouble too" (p. 83).

In the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures we read the story of God calling Jeremiah to be a prophet.  Jeremiah like many prophets before him, sees himself as inadequate because of his age.  God assures Jeremiah that God will be with him and to not be afraid.  Jeremiah will experience many hardships as he speaks to God's people about how to get back on God's track. 

None of us are completely perfect to be involved in the work of striving for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human person.  That is why our response to that question in our Baptismal Covenant is. "We will, with God's help." (BCP p. 294).  Our own limitations do not prevent us from making a good contribution to the Tradition of the Church if we are willing to do our best.  There is no such thing in God's eye's as too small of a thing done to help establish the reign of God.  We may not write theological treatises that gain us a consecration ceremony and all that garb. But, when we receive God's grace and put forth our own efforts to make the world a more holy place where all God's people are included, we are doing the work of the Gospel.  We are engaged in the Apostolic ministry of radical hospitality, reconciliation and healing.  Those who complain about us and make waves while they do nothing, but spread more false information about LGBT people based on ignorance; those who see a possible path to finding a place for them at the Table of the Lord are very thankful. 

We can commemorate St. John Chrysostom with both appreciation and concern.  We can celebrate the exceptional work he did to inspire thought and hope in the Christian Tradition.  It is also appropriate to look at the misinformation he put forth to create an atmosphere of rejection for LGBT people in the Church, both then and now with disagreement and concern.  We can make us of his good contributions to correct and rewrite his imperfections by reading and hearing the Gospel message of salvation for all people, including LGBT people.  We can read Chrysostom's commentaries and see that the sexual love between people of the same sex is just as natural and holy as it is between heterosexuals.  We should pray: Come Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth, so that there will be a new understanding about seeking justice and peace and respecting the dignity of every human person, including, but not limited to LGBT people.

Continue with the work.


Prayers

O God, you gave your servant John Chrysostom grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching, and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 579).


Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).


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

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).

Juan de la Cruz, Mystic: Continuing to Be Lead in the Way of Truth is Very Sexy

Today's Scripture Readings

Song of Solomon 3: 1-4 (NRSV)

Upon my bed at night
   I sought him whom my soul loves;
I sought him, but found him not;
   I called him, but he gave no answer.
‘I will rise now and go about the city,
   in the streets and in the squares;
I will seek him whom my soul loves.’
   I sought him, but found him not.
The sentinels found me,
   as they went about in the city.
‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’
Scarcely had I passed them,
   when I found him whom my soul loves.
I held him, and would not let him go
   until I brought him into my mother’s house,
   and into the chamber of her that conceived me. 

John 16: 12-15, 25-28 (NRSV)

‘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.

‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’ 

Blog Reflection

Juan de la Cruz also known as John of the Cross is known as one of the greatest mystics in the Church.  He was a recruited and became a companion and a Priest through the influence of Teresa of Avila.  Both of them took on the task of reforming the Calced Carmelites and experienced great suffering from that order. They later opened a new monastery for the Discalced Carmelites.  John was seized and imprisoned in the monastery at Toledo. During that time he wrote poetry. Among his greatest works was Noche obscura del alama (in English means: Dark Night of the Soul). You can find this and more information about Juan de la Cruz in Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints on page 116 with the collects and scripture readings on page 117.

Among the many points made in the Dark Night of the Soul is how we do with God in those times when we are at prayer, reading Scripture or even at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and we don't exactly feel anything going on.  Prayer feels like a waste of time.  Why read Scripture it is all the same?  Holy Communion is just a little wafer and a sip of altar wine.  What's the point?

The reading from the Song of Solomon suggests that God can be found where ever we are willing to search for God.  Not only does that come from Juan de la Cruz, but it also comes from St.Benedict's ideal of "searching for God" at all times and in all places.  Even when we do not think we will find God there.

Dark Night of the Soul is Juan de la Cruz's reflection on that experience of not feeling God in his soul where he expected to find God. In short John of the Cross says that it is better to be with God without feeling like anything is happening, than being alone with everything going our way.

The Gospel for today's commemoration is among my favorite.  It is a careful reminder that what we know about Jesus and each other as in truth is not completed.  Truth is continually revealing itself and it doesn't come all wrapped up in ideologies, theological treatises or even mystical experiences. The Bible by itself does not contain all truth therein.

That is why I am very happy that the Episcopal and Anglican Traditions do not embrace a "Scripture alone" approach.  Anglicanism includes the Tradition of the Church both the good and the bad and human Reason. Reason is how God is revealed through the experiences of humankind.  Reason can also include scientific discoveries, psychology, physiology and just the common experiences we all share with each other.   It is the understanding that God works through many sources to reveal God's Self.  Reason respects that not everyone has the same experience of God as someone else.  The Anglican Tradition also makes room for independent thinking.

Allowing the Holy Spirit to continue guiding us into all truth also allows for us to better understand and have compassion on people who are different from ourselves.  We can be who we are and be right before God.  But, so can others who are not quite the same.  Even other religions and cultures and their unique traditions.

For many years Christians believed that Scripture, Tradition and Reason held that if one was lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer, we could not have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Over time, however, the Holy Spirit has been guiding LGBTQ women and men to challenge the Church to examine our understandings of Scripture, Tradition and Reason as to why we can and do have holy relationships with God, others and ourselves.  And that our sexual orientation and/or gender identity expression brings us closer to God, not further away from.  Diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions are not barriers to experiencing God, but they are an important part of our personal and spiritual relationships.

How we use the gift of our sexuality in relationships can say a lot about our own journey with ourselves as well as with God.  Are we truly seeking to love the other person (s) with a respect for who she/he is?  Are we allowing another person to draw closer to us as God desires to come close to us and lift us to an experience so great, that it feels like we have arrived in heaven and desire to stay?  Are we seeking images of another nude body or even sexual actions for the sake of witnessing the beautiful love of God's creation in the human body and in sexual expression?  Or are we just seeking to be selfish and only engulfed in our own bodies functions and personal gain?   The two can work together to create a wonderful experience of God, another person (s) and ourselves if we learn to see sexuality as a gift from God and not something to be ashamed of.

As we remember the spiritual contributions of the mystic Juan de la Cruz, let us also take the time to seek an experience of God in those places where we might not expect.

God is also found when we work toward the justice, equality, and full inclusion of all marginalized persons, including but not limited to LGBT people. 

In our Anglican/Episcopal Tradition where we are the via media between Catholic and dynamic Protestant,  we can pray and worship God in the beauty of holiness in the Sacraments and the Word, as well as by sharing the Gospel story through our work and concern for the marginalized in the Church and society.   We don't have to chose one or the other.  We can do both individually and cooperatively.  Doing such is allowing the Holy Spirit to continue to guide us into all truth.


Prayers

Judge eternal, throned in splendor, you gave Juan de la Cruz strength of purpose and mystical faith that sustained him even through the dark night of the soul: Shed your light on all who love you, in unity with Jesus Christ our Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 117).

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. (Third Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 212). 

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Correcting the Church: Even Orthodoxy Can Get It Wrong.

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Blog Reflection

This past week I found myself in a conflict with a dear friend.  The conflict was about taking a good hard look at the historical traditions of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  Which, I do in fact believe in.  In a post in a group labeled: "Liberal Anglo-Catholic" my friend wrote the following words.

By Catholicism we mean the teaching of the undivided Church. The seven great Ecumenical Councils (the seventh, Nicaea II, met in A.D. 787) are the basis of radical orthodoxy. Catholic means universal in the sense of whole and undivided. We hold to the traditions of the ancient Church, as carried on in Anglicanism and Eastern Orthodoxy. 

As I read those words, though fond of them I am, I responded as I thought I should as follows.

And let's not pretend to be ignorant of the fact that in its quest to be an "undivided Church" it is responsible for many evils then as it is now. Catholicism does not hold a monopoly on truth.

Sometimes, even for more progressive and liberal Christians, even those who call themselves Christian Socialists, Catholicism and doctrine can become an all too comfortable hiding place from the realities that brought about much of what Christians believe today.  It is easy to recite the Nicene Creed and enjoy the rich worship tradition contained in the Book of Common Prayer. Except for one thing. Catholic dogma though rich with truths in and of themselves, are not given to us so as to hide from the real world through which the Tradition of the Church has arrived at where we are now.  

In his book: Gay Unions: In Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason, the Rev. Canon Gray Temple wrote: 

"Tradition" is on of the reifications we warned ourselves against earlier in order to be clear in our thinking.  The word is easily used in ways that ignore its complexity and fluidity.  Let's remind ourselves that abstractions start out as a helpful and necessary way to save time; it's more efficient to say "politics"  than to list every candidate we know of and all their known actions.  But when "politics" gets reified, we forget individuals who participate in it and we lose its connection with citizenship. We should not permit reification to economize thought. An uncritical embrace of tradition results in what Berger calls alienation.  Part of growing up intellectually--as a citizen--is to de-alienate to the best extent possible.

Before examining particular traditions, let's reflect a bit on the value of tradition and how we sometimes corrupt its use.

Tradition is to communities what memory is to an individual. (Page 101).

There is a tendency in Catholic circles to celebrate our "oneness" in what we believe. Yet forget how very divided we are.  Among the many steps towards becoming one community is to understand that every individual within the community is different, thinks differently and understands differently. Diversity is a good thing. It is when we attempt to make the Church more inclusive is when suddenly people run back to "tradition" as a safe haven for not addressing problems within ourselves.  

I believe that at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus' instructions to the disciples today, is the desire to create and nurture communities within the Church with a recognition of the need for the ability to reconcile differences through working together.  To strengthen each other when we have our disagreements, by dealing with conflict through careful counsel and as a faithful witness to our faith.   

The problem for the Christian Church is that we have grown oh much to fond of our Catholic/Orthodoxy to allow the Holy Spirit to challenge us to be open to learning new things, so as to re-evaluate our long standing tradition of how we think of women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.  Among the ways we must be open to the Holy Spirit about such things as sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is through listening to the stories of those Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Evangelicals, etc who are LGBT.   The stories LGBT people have to tell of what it has been like to grow up being a Christian and discovering that we are of a different sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression in a Church and world that does not want to accept us or respect our need for equality and inclusion.

This past week a wonderful person named Ron Bates wrote an exceptional story about what it was like to grow up Catholic and gay in Minnesota.

For years and years, I would prostrate myself on the floor and ask God to change me. Maybe if I just pray more, fast more, do more "works of charity," the male attraction will go away.

After more than 30 years of trying to "burn" the evil out of me, I finally came out at age fifty four. God finally broke through to my heart of hearts and said, "I love you just as you are. You are praying for healing, but you are not sick!"

Our God does not change. God is God always. And God was with me always. After all the self-hatred and foibles of life, God was still there waiting for me.

At that moment, the shame and guilt I had felt for years left -- once and for always. If Pope Benedict had been standing right there to tell me I was "disordered," I would have said to him, "You are wrong. God made me and loves me just as I am."

   
In an article found in Pink News, Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire said: "God celebrates gay people." 

“There’s no doubt in my mind that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are part of God’s obvious delight in diversity. We see it all throughout creation, why wouldn’t we have it in humankind?

“I believe that the church has gotten this wrong, just as we once used scripture to justify slavery and the subjugation of women. It wasn’t too long ago in this country that women wore hats to church because St Paul said a woman’s place is to keep her head covered and her mouth shut! We kept women out of the ordination process because of that! Sexual orientation is something God celebrates and I believe that will become the mainstream Christian understanding before not too very long.” 

The Church is great at preaching the need for peace and caring for the poor and the marginalized.  But, when the Church beginning with it's leaders and many devoted lay people is confronted with the need to change an understanding, it takes an awful long time and some very un-Christian things said and done on the way to getting there.  This is one part of the Tradition of the Christian Church that still to this day has not entirely changed for the better.

It is totally right that LGBT people are challenging Christianists and others in terms of the issues of immigration, health care, and many issues. It is important that the dominionists realize that taking over the world to suggest that only radical right wing, Biblical literal thinking that is based on opinions, not educated facts not become the only Christianity the world knows. The Christian message is not about domination or even the establishment of one world religion at the expense of anyone and anything else.  Christianists and many who listen to them are not going to know or understand the damage they do to the Christian religion unless progressive Christians and even Atheists point it out.  

Catholicism and orthodoxy are terrific.  But, they are not the "rock" to hide behind so that Christians can excuse themselves from doing their part for the poor and marginalized. Christians are called to embrace all people and share the love and mercy of Jesus Christ through faithfulness and charity towards all people, including those different from ourselves.  Sometimes Catholicism and/or orthodoxy become an all too handy excuse to scapegoat and stigmatize. That is hardly a proper use of Tradition.

How can we challenge the Church in this 21st Century?  What ways can we challenge Christians misinformed by Biblical literalism and the stigmatization of minorities and others to consider a change of heart and behavior?  How can we challenge Christians or even ourselves who enjoy hiding behind Catholicism and/or orthodoxy to live the meaning of what we believe by becoming more inclusive?

The Holy Spirit will help us to find the way.  The life Jesus led is the way that leads to a greater understanding and self knowledge.   Let us not make the mistake of every thinking there is no more that we can learn, so as to grow, so as to better influence the Church and society around us.

In so doing we can fulfill what St. Paul said in his letter to the Romans.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."  (Romans 13: 8-10).

Prayers

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 18, Book of Common Prayer, page 233).

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. (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. (Book of Common Prayer, page 823).