Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany: Authority, Evil, Salvation

Today's Scripture Readings

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (NRSV)

Moses said, The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." Then the LORD replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak-- that prophet shall die."

Psalm 111 (BCP., p.754)


1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (NRSV)

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-- as in fact there are many gods and many lords-- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV)

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Blog Reflection

My husband Jason loves the Muppets.  In the movie Muppet Treasure Island, Captain Abraham Smallet (played by Kermit the Frog), approaches in a stage coach that throws the streets in England in a chaos.  The First Mate, Samuel Arrow (played by Sam the Eagle) says that the Captain is so badly tempered that he has demons.  Gonzo, the odd one in the bunch replies, "He's got demons?  Cool!!"

Today's Gospel narrative depicts Jesus addressing an evil spirit in a man.  In His conversation with the evil spirit, the spirit knows that Jesus is the Holy One of God, and fears Him terribly.  Because Jesus is the Holy One of God, even the evil spirit obeys His voice.  Those around Jesus are amazed at the authority by which He is able to free this individual from the evil force that raged within him. 

The Biblical depiction if individuals with "unclean spirits"  is quite unfair.  Among the classic interpretations of individuals with unclean spirits is that it refers to individuals of that time with severe mental illness.  Such an interpretation has been responsible for individuals with mental illnesses to be marginalized and stigmatized.

At the center of this Sunday's Liturgy of the Word is are the themes of authority, evil and salvation.

As an individual who has experienced the abuses that can come from those who use "the authority of Scripture," I personally have an issue with those words.  I agree with Bishop Gene Robinson who wrote in his book, In the Eye of the Storm: Pushed to the Center by God,

"let's not forget that the real "Word" of God is Jesus himself. ...To elevate the words of scripture to a place higher than the revealed Word of God in Jesus Christ is an act of idolatry" ( Page 22).   

The authority figure here is Jesus, God's perfect Self revelation.  In this Season after the Epiphany, we are reflecting on the manifestation of God to all humankind through the Person of Jesus.  If the authority of Jesus is only limited to those of us who are classified as "normal" (whatever that means), then God is limited to a particular definition of persons.  As such, Jesus shows that by His authority as God's Son, He is able to address evil by name and call it out, and that He is the salvation for all those who feel that they have no hope.

Individuals who have been stigmatized due to the erroneous use of the Bible are set free by the redemption that Jesus brings; as He calls out the evil of prejudice, injustice and oppression by name.   The evil that Jesus addresses is an individual being so full of the evils brought on to him by the cultural notions and stereotypes; that the individual is deemed helpless to the powers that have seduced and reduced him.  The fear of others around him, also makes him susceptible to those powers of evil that bind him mercilessly.   Jesus came to him, called out the evil by name and set this person free.  He did not chastise the individual, assign him to an institution or declare him an invalid.  In fact, what Jesus did for that young man, was set him free to become part of the larger community as a person made whole by the grace of God.

Women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people, individuals of other races, cultures, religions, languages, disabilities etc., continue to be among those whom society and the Church make into "others" to be set aside.   Just this past week, the Anglican Communion witnessed the wonderful occasion of the Rt. Rev. Libby Lane ordained as the first female bishop in the Church of England.  The reaction from not too few Christians in various denominations and sects to the role of women in the Church, has been just terrible.  There is a wonderful podcast led by  Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, in the program All Together.  The podcast is entitled, "Sexism: The Original Sin of the Church."  I strongly encourage my readers to click here and listen to the program.  It is outstanding. 

The only way that the Church is going to address the evils within itself, is for Christians to call that which is contrary to our Baptismal Covenant out, and become individuals empowered by God for the work healing and reconciliation.  The greater acceptance of LGBT people, women and many others mentioned is so critical to the ministry and mission of the Church.  More importantly however, is for Christians themselves (as in ourselves) to acknowledge such evils within ourselves, let them go into the hands of the living God and find salvation in Jesus Christ as truly liberated and saved people.

Let the work of the Holy Spirit also lead us to be responsible and respectful people, to see that we do our part to care for the lonely, the sick, the poor, those who live in war torn areas of the world, and those right within our own communities.

May Jesus by His authority "save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.  For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are God's forever and ever.  Amen."


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in
heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of
your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

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

Christ the King Sunday: Christ Is Served When We Serve

Today's Scripture Readings

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.

Psalm 100 (BCP., p.729)


Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

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

If I had to pick my favorite passage from Matthew's Gospel, this reading would be number 1.  There are many stories from Matthew that are inspiring.  We have meditated together in this blog using many of them through out this past Liturgical Year.  The words of Matthew 25:31-46 are so appropriate for the "crowning" if you will, of the Church Year.  We are reminded that when we serve others, we serve Christ who is present in all people.

I have written any number of times, and I think it bears repeating; the Christian Church and our Christian Faith are awesome.  If we could remove all of the politics and social problems the Church cannot avoid; what makes the Christian Faith what it is about is absolutely wonderful.  Speaking only for myself here, the day I recognized that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that I can serve Him as a child of God was among the happiest moments of my life.  It is impossible for me to write down all of the things I love about Christianity. 

At the same time, over these many years that I have struggled in no small way with the politics within the Church.  I have struggled as much with the ways in which many in the Church are not only the cause of much injustice; but encourages oppression and prejudice in the Name of Christ and/or the Scriptures.  

As we celebrate this Feast of Christ the King, we are reminded that our Faith is not all about our doctrines and/or our personal beliefs.  As with anything, if all of these are sought for the sake of themselves; the only purpose they serve is another incidental that can be so easily dismissed as meaningless.  The readings for this Feast combined with our living Faith are all pointing us to serve Christ in others.  Serving Christ in others is most inconvenient.  Serving Christ in others means assisting all others without exception or excuse.  It requires us to do the hardest thing.  We must let go and care for Christ in others for the sake of Christ.  This requires a purity of heart that seeks to serve God without wanting anything from God in return.  Not even warm fuzzy feelings.  To serve Christ in others should open our doors beyond even our own Christian Faith; to see in others, including other religious expressions the face of Christ interceding with His Father on behalf of all humankind.   If we make the claim to love God in Christ the King and limit ourselves to our own circle without sharing our time, resources and talents to expanding the Church into a House of Prayer for all persons; we are making our Christian Faith the biggest lie ever told for the past two thousand years.  Is it any wonder why many see a Feast such as Christ the King as another Medieval legend?

Last week the news broke that The Washington National Cathedral held a prayer service for Muslims.  Since that event, the Bishops office in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington has been inundated with calls complaining about it.  The basis of the largest number of the complaints were that the Scripture says that "Thou shalt worship the Lord our God and only Him."  I could not support the response of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde more.  I would add that inasmuch as we would like to believe that Christianity is the privileged religion; the fact is there are other faiths through which people find their way to God without being a Christian.  Those religions are no less real or valid.  Furthermore, because I believe in the Person of Christ the King, I also believe that different religious expressions of belief are not an impediment for God's saving grace to be at work through them.  

Christ the King was cared for this week as The Church of England finally gave the go ahead for women to be ordained as Bishops. Sadly, there are still many individuals that would prefer that women and LGBTQ people remain as second class citizens in the Church and society.

Christ the King was welcomed in a wonderful new way when President Obama announced that his administration would be taking executive action concerning the deportation of about a million immigrants.  Christ in "the stranger" was served in that action.  It is truly shameful that Christianists and those who prefer that our nation have limited citizenship, suggest that what the President did was "unlawful."  Interestingly enough, all Christians are immigrants in the United States of America.  The Native Americans can educate all of us about that fact, if we would only listen to them.

It is apparent that many would prefer that Christ the King be allowed to starve, than for a Priest to feed the poor in his local area. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ who is King now and at the end of time calls on us who have been baptized into His Church to serve Him by attending to the needs of others.  Let us remember that by Christ's death and Resurrection, He has already conquered sin, death and suffering.  The compassionate mercy of God has already been unleashed through Paschal Mystery.  It is the mission and ministry of all of us who have been initiated into the Family of God in Christ; to open up our own hearts, minds and doors to receive and serve Christ the King in all people.  If the Church wants to care for and nurture the Body of Christ, we must be ready to care for Christ in all people including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer persons.  We cannot oppose homophobia and support racism, or sexism, or any religious based prejudice or violence. 

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and make our way into Advent next weekend, let us all recommit ourselves to serve Christ the King by attending to the needs of others in His Name.

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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.236).

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

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

Saint Mary Magdalene: A Woman of Deep Contemplation, Faith and Inspiration for Change

Today's Scripture Readings

Judith 9: 1, 11-14 (NRSV)

Judith prostrated herself, put ashes on her head, and uncovered the sackcloth she was wearing. At the very time when the evening incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said, "Your strength does not depend on numbers, nor your might on the powerful. But you are the God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forsaken, savior of those without hope. Please, please, God of my father, God of the heritage of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all your creation, hear my prayer! Make my deceitful words bring wound and bruise on those who have planned cruel things against your covenant, and against your sacred house, and against Mount Zion, and against the house your children possess. Let your whole nation and every tribe know and understand that you are God, the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the people of Israel but you alone!"

Psalm 42 (BCP., p. 643)


2 Corinthians 5:14-18 (NRSV)

The love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

John 20:11-18 (NRSV)

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

Blog Reflection

The Church today,  honors a tremendous woman of faith.  Other than Mary the Mother of Jesus, there is probably no woman in the Gospels who's name and person is so easily recognized and denigrated at the same time.

There are many sketchy accounts of Mary Magdalene.  I believe of all of the accounts of the woman who washed the feet of Jesus seated in the house of Simon the Pharisee, only John actually identifies her as Mary Magdalene.  There is some possibility that she was a prostitute who gave up that way of life to follow Jesus more closely.  That possibility has been used to dehumanize women on the part of Christians for way too long.  It never ceases to amaze me how much Christians of all denominations and sects spend on matters below the belly button. 

Could Mary's faith that kept her at the foot of the Cross and/or her unparalleled courage through which she remained weeping at the tomb looking for the Risen Christ that makes many men envious of her relationship of total fidelity to Jesus?

Mary Magdalene shows us just how Jesus turned over the norms of His society.   Women were stigmatized, and poor women who resorted to prostitution for some kind of income were considered unclean and unable to participate in local worship.   Jesus did more than just change Mary Magdalene's life, He lifted her up from the bottom of the social ladder to be an important character in the story of how God brought salvation to the world through His life, Death and Resurrection. 

The month of July 2014 has been a terrible month for women in the United States of America due to the dreadful Hobby Lobby ruling by the Supreme Court.   The ruling is not only bad because of what it does to the dignity of women, but also of how it damages the so called "religious liberty" discussion. When "religious liberty" becomes the means by which we strong arm people into policies that violate the religious liberty of others who do not believe or practice in the way we think they should, we have made religion a burden of slavery.  At that point, religion is a matter of imprisonment and obligation for the sake of conformity.   The Christian Faith loses the argument in "not conforming to the ways of this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2).   Why would anyone want to belong to such a lousy way of praying and believing?

Mary Magdalene is a magnificent example of how by God's transforming grace, God impacts not only one life in awesome and unpredictable ways, but entire communities. When one person responds by exemplary faith and action to the movement of God's Holy Spirit, that individual can impact human history with endless benefits.  

The Episcopal Church is approaching the 40th anniversary of it's decision for women to be admitted to ordained ministry.   The wonderful ways that women are taking their places as representing Christ and the Church to preach the Gospel and celebrate the Sacraments, have unleashed countless blessings on the Church and the world.   The contributions of women in the ordained ministry, can be likened to the changes brought by Mary Magdalene's prayer, faith and inspiration for change.

*At the resurrection on Easter Day, Mary's experience of Christ calling her by name in the midst of her pain and anguish, gave her first hand knowledge of God's love for her.  That love gave Mary the contemplative vision of God in the Risen Christ who spoke to her. *(See: The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience by Thomas Keating, p.73).  The story that she took to those twelve couldn't be believed, because she had been so filled with the experience of God's love, that they just couldn't bring themselves to accept it on word alone.  It was not until they each experienced the loving mercy of the Risen Christ for themselves, did they understand what Mary's experience was like.  Mary was the Apostle of the Resurrection who made believers out of those 12 men.  Her faith continues to inspire millions who attend Easter Day Liturgies all over Christendom.

Mary Magdalene's prayer and life of faith, should inspire us to continue our work to change hearts and minds regarding the marginalization of women, LGBT people and any number of persons in the Church and Society.    If we so choose to do our part to raise up many who are bowed down by prejudice and oppression, we can help people to see the real reason why people could Christians.  That real reason is because Jesus Christ changes lives to become God's Apostles for inclusive love and welcoming faith communities.  Communities that are committed to healing and reconciliation for all people with no exceptions. 

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene
to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness
of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we
may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the
power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 242).

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