Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 21: It Is The Little Things We Do

Today's Scripture Readings

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 (NRSV)

The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the LORD became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,' to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, 'Give us meat to eat!' I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once--if I have found favor in your sight--and do not let me see my misery."

So the LORD said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you."

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, stop them!" But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!"

Psalm 19 (BCP., p.606-607)


James 5:13-20 (NRSV)

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Mark 9:38-50 (NRSV)

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

"For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Blog Reflection

Saint Theresa of Avila was quoted as saying, "The smallest thing when done for the love of God is priceless."  This is not the same meaning of priceless that followed every MasterCard commercial once upon a time.  This is priceless in the sense that God does not count what we do for the love of God by how well, how big, how much or how expensive.  God accepts what we do out of love, because as far as God is concerned, there is no price to be paid.  Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection took care of that.

As much as we profess to celebrate all that God does for us, it is easy for us to get all wound up in what we do not have.  I think this was the case with the People of Israel in our reading from Numbers.  Their complaint is not entirely invalid.  Yet, that which they are craving from their time in slavery, was where they were also oppressed.  At times, even when God has delivered us; our eyes are in our past and not being attentive to the here and now.  Moses recognizes that he is only one person.  He can only do so much.  So God gathers others to help Moses in the guidance of the community.

The ministry and mission of the Church can be summed up very well in our reading from James.  The Church is called to be the healing presence of God through prayer, word and sacrament.  Yet, that call is meant for something larger.  Namely, the whole community.  This means that Christians are entrusted by God with the work of healing and reconciliation.  It begins in part, by the Church being interested and responding to the needs of the sick, the suffering and the lonely.  The prayers and work of the Church is very powerful when exercised by trusted stewards of God's gifts.  James is admonishing the community in which he writes, to make use of that ministry to cast out the evils of their time.

I labeled this blog post as "It Is The Little Things We Do" because of what we read about in today's Gospel.  The disciples saw someone doing a similar thing that they did.  They were just in another community observing and following Jesus.  In their haste, they tell Jesus what they did.  Jesus' response is something that Christians need to hear today.  All Christians (and all people for that matter) can serve the Name of Jesus from where ever they are, and still make an impact on those around them.  All Christians are part of the same ministry, even as they perform that ministry in different ways and in different company.   It is not a matter of being liberal, conservative, Anglo-Catholic, moderate ofr evangelical.  It is a question of what are we doing with the opportunities that God presents us with at the point of where we are.  Someone who just sharpens pencils for a meeting is still serving God in great ways; as does the Parish Formation Director.  The one who shows up to help rearrange the chairs for choir rehearsal is still part of the song being sung by the choir.  Whether or not they sing every note perfectly.

The Church finds ourselves at an interesting crossroads.  We are blessed with our Baptism with it's covenant through which we commit ourselves.  We commit ourselves to the work of ministry and mission, while living into our vows by opening ourselves up to the presence of God including in those who are different from ourselves.  The last thing we want to do, is make anyone feel that they are less important to the life and ministry of the Church so as to scandalize them about who Jesus Christ is.

Jesus Christ is seeking deeper relationships through those who are seeking union with God.  Each individual searches for that union according to who they are and where they are.  We must be most attentive to our own search for God, so that we may love and desire God wherever God is found.  God is most likely sought and found where we have not looked for God, desired God and committed ourselves to love God from where we are at.  Whether we are individuals of diverse races, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions and such, each of us is in a place, where God wants to love us.

There are opportunities in front of us to not only tell our own stories of what God is doing in and through our lives; but also listen to what God is doing through others.  If we will spend some time to "listen" while "inclining the ears of our hearts", we will encounter God in ways the draws us deeper in to the mystery of who God is.

Fellow Christians, let us all work together at what God has before us, wherever and who ever we are.  God has so many wonderful things God wants to do with, for and around us.  Let's get to it.

Amen.


Prayers

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 21.  The Book of Common Prayer.  p.234).

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

Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost: Be Creative Workers for God's Reign

Today's Scripture Readings

Zephaniah 7:1:7, 12-18 (NRSV)

Be silent before the Lord GOD!

For the day of the LORD is at hand;

the LORD has prepared a sacrifice,

he has consecrated his guests.

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,

and I will punish the people

who rest complacently on their dregs,

those who say in their hearts,

"The LORD will not do good,

nor will he do harm."

Their wealth shall be plundered,

and their houses laid waste.

Though they build houses,

they shall not inhabit them;

though they plant vineyards,

they shall not drink wine from them.

The great day of the LORD is near,

near and hastening fast;

the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter,

the warrior cries aloud there.

That day will be a day of wrath,

a day of distress and anguish,

a day of ruin and devastation,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and thick darkness,

a day of trumpet blast and battle cry

against the fortified cities

and against the lofty battlements.

I will bring such distress upon people

that they shall walk like the blind;

because they have sinned against the LORD,

their blood shall be poured out like dust,

and their flesh like dung.

Neither their silver nor their gold

will be able to save them

on the day of the LORD's wrath;

in the fire of his passion

the whole earth shall be consumed;

for a full, a terrible end

he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Psalm 90 (BCP., p.717)


1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NRSV)

Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing .

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 reading from Zephaniah is talking to me about entering into the presence of God to be thankful for all God has done for us.  It is Eucharistic to its core.  Yet, it also speaks to me of not settling down too much.  God is about to do something that will require us to be ready to let go of all our security; and accept what seems so contradictory to who we think God is.  

Sadly, this reading from Hebrew Scripture is full of that "God is about to bring calamity upon you," that was so commonly believed in the times their authors wrote these down.  Rather than see in them God bringing about destruction; I think it is more beneficial for us to meditate on God bringing about a new beginning.  God often brings change to our lives by asking us to let go of how we think things should be.  God does not want us to find our ultimate sense of immovability in a world that is passing away into something far more everlasting.  If we are to see the full glory of the Reign of God; we need to seek only union with God as the single necessity of life.  We seek that union with God through a deepening of our relationship with God and one another.

The Parable of the Talents that we read from Matthew's Gospel is about recognizing our role within our relationship with God and others. 

One of the traps that we can fall so easily into, is to become inattentive to the reason we fulfill our Baptismal Vows.  In particular, the vow to work to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.  If we see our work of justice, with justice as an end in and/of itself than our social justice work is nothing more than a dead end.  As with any work we begin to do, it will only lead to the finishing of a project if we do not consecrate ourselves and our work as gifts placed into our stewardship by the God who gives us all things. 

A few months ago, I created a prayer card that I keep on the desktop of my computer.  Every time I begin to read, or pray an Office, or make a phone call; I make every effort to be sure I pray the words on the prayer card.

On the subject of this Parable, Thomas Merton wrote about it in his book The Life of the Vows: Initiation Into the Monastic Tradition 6.

We must take an active and creative share in the life of the cosmos, not only in the sense that we obediently follow a set of hard and fast rules laid down for us, but also in the sense that we assume responsibility for a certain creative contribution of our own. (This is clear from the parable of the talents: the man with the one talent who hid it away in a napkin did not think he was doing God the Creator of the world an injustice, but he was.  For God expected him to use is own initiative and bring greater good out of the good he had received.)  God has created [humankind] man and placed him in the world as an administrator and builder and a creator, not only to keep what is there and take care of it, but also to develop what has been given to his charge.  This applies to our life as members of society, as workers, as citizens, etc.  Man will be held responsible for his misuse of creative opportunities in every field--politics, work, art, religion, etc.  It is very important to see all this implied by a true Christian concept of justice..... (p. 57,58).  

In thanksgiving and reverence to and for God; it is our entrusted responsibility to make use of what God gives us to expand the horizons of God's Reign while we have the time and opportunity.  Among those opportunities that we are blessed with is the chance to make a difference in the world.   We are called upon by God, through the gifts God gives us; to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring justice to the oppressed.  In our Baptismal Vows, we have promised in the presence of God and other Christians to invoke God's help that we will be able to make a good return on the investment that God has made in each one of us.  In the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has already conquered and ended all human suffering and enslavement to the sin of injustice and prejudice.  If we do not act on the belief of God's victory and bring about transparent and authentic change; then why should anyone else be evangelized to believe in it?   How can we ask people to believe in the wonderful things God has done for us; if we do not with the joy of the strength of God's unconditional and all-inclusive love put our talents so that others can walk by faith and not by sight along side us?  

Through the meaning of our Gospel Reading today, God has made an investment of God's Self in the Person of Jesus Christ in and through us.  Jesus Christ is God's Incarnate Word through Whom our human nature has been redeemed for God's mission of inclusive justice.  God entrusts us to put that investment to the good use of growing closer to God in a bonded relationship with reverence and respect of God's presence in all of our sisters and brothers.  Including, but not limited to the Muslims who gathered for prayer in the Washington National Cathedral this past Friday.  This includes the work to end racial injustice in Ferguson, Missouri.   We are admonished in this Gospel to call for an end to the violence that many LGBTQ people experience when they are beaten and/or tortured to death; just because of who they are and who they love; or what gender expression/identity they are. 

We are empowered by our Baptismal Vows and the words of Jesus, to multiply God's investment by our cooperation as creative workers for the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.

I think it is time to get to work.  Don't you?

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. The Book of Common Prayer, p.236).

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).

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).

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: How Do We Express Thanks for God's Generosity?

Today's Scripture Readings

Jonah 3:10-4:11 (NRSV)

When God saw what the people of Nineveh did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." And the LORD said, "Is it right for you to be angry?" Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.

The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, "It is better for me to die than to live."

But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?" And he said, "Yes, angry enough to die." Then the LORD said, "You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?"

Psalm 145 (BCP. p.801)


Philippians 1:21-30 (NRSV)

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well-- since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Matthew 20:1-16 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, `You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, `Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, `Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Blog Reflection

My husband Jason and I had a real revelation over the past few weeks.   A dear friend of ours who has been homeless and jobless in Duluth, Minnesota moved into the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.   Given his situation, we invited him to stay in our apartment for a couple weeks until he found a place to go that could provide him with a greater potential of stability.   We were very happy to have him here.  However, it didn't take long before we began to realize what his being in our home caused  us to miss.   Our many days and nights at home by ourselves.   Making meals for only the two of us.   Being able to leave our apartment together without worrying about whom we might leave behind, and what he would do while we were gone.   Just the space to say whatever we want to say to each other without another ear to hear what we said was no more.   All of it was gone for a period of time.   It wasn't until he left earlier this week to live with someone who can provide more for him than we can, that we realized how much we missed those things. Suddenly those things that we took for granted and never thought about, were returned.   The experience breathed new life into all that we enjoy.  

The most difficult thing for many of us to do, is to move over some, so that others can enjoy just a little bit of what we have.    Herein lies the problem of private ownership.   As Benedictines, we are exhorted to live in the reality that we really own nothing.  Everything, even those things we cannot necessarily see or touch are on loan to us.   We return them properly used back to God from who's generosity we were privileged to use them.   In chapter 33 in The Rule of St. Benedict, the monks are not to own anything in private.  Everything is given to share, as they can be by everyone in the community.  This way of living finds it's model in Acts 4:32-37.    The fact of the matter is, we have no idea how much we take possession of something until we are challenged to detach ourselves from it.   The question we might ask ourselves is, are we controlling the things we have, do and want; or, do they control us?

I think Jonah must have felt like that.  He  had given himself to the work the God gave him.   He had taken possession of the project, and even the people in what he did.   Jonah may have believed that he had the right to control even God.   We do not have a conclusion to this narrative in Jonah.   I would like to believe that in the end, he was able to let it go and accept God's will.  

The Epistle of Paul to the church at Philippi sounds that duality of the flesh and the Spirit thing again.  As educated scholars of the Bible have unwrapped the meaning of such, the common interpretation is about how much we allow ourselves to become absorbed by our own selfishness in how we use something that we forget to honor God.   Everything that is given to us, including our bodies and minds are given for God's purpose.  It is up to us to live the Gospel in how we make use of what we are given with an attitude of gratitude.   There is life in living by the Gospel.   There is death when we chose because of our own selfish motives.   

All of these Scripture Readings are culminated in the Gospel according to Matthew.   All of us are called by our common Baptism, Confirmation and whatever our state in life is, to go to work for the good of the Reign of God.    It matters not, whether one has a Church vocation or not.  It also matters very little, whether our daily work is within the Church or outside.  Each of us have been called by our name to serve God by sharing the love of Christ through the ministry of healing and reconciliation.  We are called to be active in the work of justice, equality and wholeness.   Whether that work is through contemplative prayer, direct engagement with the poor and disenfranchised, or Church administration.   The point is, we are to make room for everyone to participate so that we receive what the Lord wants us to gain with a thankful heart.

As the freedom to marry for same gender couples progresses, the rhetoric from Christianist groups grows more horrible.  Many continue to justify things like promoting bullying in the public schools so as to try to "change" LGBTQ youth.  Others would celebrate that thugs sickened the crowds at a Russian Queer Festival with a gas.  

We continue to hear degrading remarks about the poor, the unemployed and those who are sick from those who feel that all the nations resources belongs to the wealthy.  

Racism, sexism and religious based bias continues to give the Christian Faith a bad name.

All of the labels and conditions that humans give to others who are different, to decide whether one is a second class citizen, are not of God's design.  Regardless of who we are, who we love, how we love another person; God calls us and rewards us because we all serve God and one another in gratitude for all that we are given.   In chapter 20: vs 3 of The Rule of St. Benedict on the subject of reverence in prayer, he writes: "And let us remember that we will be heard not because of our many words, but because of our purity of heart and tears of compunction."   God calls us, by giving to each of us, a desire to love and serve God, to change us and others around us by a continuous conversion of life.    

May each of us rededicate ourselves to working for God's Reign from the point in which God calls us, and receive from God that which God generously gives.  May we respond with a deeper commitment to giving thanks and honoring one another as members of the household of God.

Amen.


Prayers

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

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). 

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer
want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this
land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find
suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment
for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Unemployed.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 824).

Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany: Who is Telling Who Not to Worry?

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 6:24-34 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.


"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.


"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Blog Reflection

How about we do an experiment together?

Read this Gospel to a group of your best friends who invite you to a dinner party.  Don't read it until after everyone at the dinner table is well fed and has enjoyed every bite.  What might you hear them say?

I bet you will hear something similar to this.  "Yeah, God provided a great meal."  You might also hear: "God didn't do anything, the cook just put together a fabulous dinner."  "All of those great farmers and companies where we bought the food, did such a great job."

In other words, they had all they needed.  It didn't matter who it came from.  They have been fed.  They are satisfied.  Most likely, they and you will be satisfied again tomorrow.

Now read this Gospel in a place like Wisconsin with the union protesters who's livelihoods hang in the balance of the political tug of war for power.

Read this Gospel to the many LGBT women and men in Uganda fearing what could happen to them if someone finds out about their sexuality.  The Ugandan LGBT people who live in fear of the day that the anti-homosexuality bill should pass and it becomes the law.  How might those individuals react to hearing this Gospel about not worrying about tomorrow?

Read this Gospel to a man who lives with HIV/AIDS about not worrying about tomorrow, when his State Republican Majority votes and passes a bill that will reduce funding for him to receive medical treatment for his condition.  

Read this Gospel about not worrying about tomorrow to a woman who is carrying a child that she does not know how she will take care.  She has just sat in the church and heard some preacher use the end of today's Hebrew Scripture reading that says: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you."  The Priest may have just used these words to condemn abortion. Such works are known to make a pregnant, unwed, unemployed, poor mother feel so terribly guilty should she decide not to carry that child to term, because she cannot adequately care for herself, let alone a child that will depend on her for everything.  Tell this woman, what Jesus said: "Do not worry about tomorrow."

It is easy to hear the words: "Do not worry about tomorrow" or even be grateful that God has said: "Even if these forget you, I will not forget you" when we have our homes, jobs, health, sexual orientation and/or gender expression/identity that no one is out to destroy, wealth, safety etc.  But, to those who do not have so many choices on any number of those things, tell them not to worry, or God will not forget them, and they just might answer: "God forgot about me a long time ago.  So, I have forgotten about God."

What might be the reason?

Someone in a church carelessly told them not to worry, everything will be all right, and then they walked out and were mugged.  They lost the only money they had to buy milk for their child for a week.   When they went to a local food bank, they were grilled and questioned.  Made to feel like a fool for having gone there in the first place.  Told the food banks rules that only added more grief and distress to their already troubled situation. 

What is happening in Wisconsin and all over the world, including Libya is a struggle for total power vs shared power.  What is happening as some State Governments around the US are attempting to strip union workers of their bargaining rights is about whether corporate power, which already has total power through their donations to politics, gets even more.  It is an attempt to usurp shared power into becoming total power.  It is about who will own and keep that power, because they are so wealthy, and powerful, they just cannot get enough.

As the National Organization for Marriage and other organizations against marriage equality, work against the rights of LGBT people to marry the person they love in various states, what is really going on? 

The privilege of heterosexuals to own the power to determine who and what makes a family a family, to suddenly become shared power, that recognizes they are not the only ones who get to decide.

This Gospel today speaks both to those of us who have more than enough, but want more, and to those of us who barely have enough of what we need to survive in life, but can only trust in God to gain it. 

In the exceptionally terrific movie Latter Days, Aaron the Mormon Missionary who struggles with his sexuality, his church and his family, says "I think we are all dots.  I think we are all connected." 

God sees all of us as God's children whom God has "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139: 14).  Whether we are rich or poor, lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer, black, red, gold or white, healthy or impaired.  God sees us as all individually different people, who are uniquely connected to each other.  That is why we need help from each other to achieve a sense of well being.  We need each other in whatever situation we are in.  Everyone matters.  No one is without value, dignity, integrity.  Therefore no one should be without the dignity and respect that belongs to them.

In this Gospel, Jesus is dismissing an age old ideal.  The ideal that if you are rich and healthy God is happy with you.  But, if you are poor, sick, or someone marginalized by a church or society as a whole, God is punishing you for something you did wrong.  Jesus is slamming that notion to pieces. 

Organizations like the American Family Association like to suggest that if there is an earthquake in California, it will be because of Judge Walker's decision last July to declare Prop 8 unconstitutional. 

Other organizations suggested that the reason Hurricane Katrina happened in 2005 and the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last Spring is because New Orleans is the location of Southern Decadence.

These repulsive comments are also theological nonsense.  In Today's Gospel, Jesus says as much. 

What is our challenge from this Gospel?

We are challenged to understand that if we are so blessed to have been given an abundance, it did not come from no one or no where.  God does have something to do with all that we enjoy.  We have been given those wonderful opportunities to not only refresh and enjoy ourselves, but to share some of that with those who are not so fortunate.   God has blessed us with much, to share much.

We are also challenged to understand that if we are not so endowed with wealth and an easy time working and earning, or even having our equal rights, God has not abandoned us.  What we need will come from God.  What we have, even if it is only the grace to just hang on for now and do the best we can, that is God's gift to us at that moment, and there is so much more to come.   The best is up ahead, we just cannot see it at this moment.  

In the awesome television show Touched by An Angel, Monica would tell everyone she worked with: "God loves you, and wants you to trust God." 

God does love each and every one of us.  Totally, deeply and completely.  As a Parent loves their child.  God desires everything and anything good for us.  Even in those moments when it looks and appears like what is good and most needed, just seems impossible. 

When we have been blessed to obtain that which we thought was once impossible, we show our thanks to God by becoming God's missionaries of compassion and understanding and share with others.  To speak up for those marginalized.  To encourage closeted youth to come out of their closet and show God and the world around them, that being LGBT is wonderful.   To encourage those wishing for marriage equality, to do more than just talk about it.  To actually get active with organizations and individuals and play a decisive, difficult, but fulfilling role towards equality, justice and inclusion for LGBT people, and all marginalized persons.

The rallies in Egypt, Wisconsin and all over the world have been extraordinary.  They have accomplished something that has not been done in a very long time.  The rallies have brought all kinds of different people, with all their quirks and quarrels out in the open to work peacefully towards some kind of resolution.   The people who have responded to the Union workers in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and all over, has brought LGBT groups, unions, women's organizations, environmentalists and more, all out to fight the good fight for those who's very livelihoods and futures hang in the balance together in support of each other.  Organizations with members that usually oppose something in the other, have put it all aside and have come out to stand in solidarity with each other. 

If we could only understand that we are all "dots connected" and reach out to each other all the time, there would be no racisim, sexism, heterosexism, etc.  There would be no organizations fighting for marriage equality while others fight for discrimination.  We would recognize in each person their dignity.  We would not deny each other anything, what so ever.

Prayers

Most loving God, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Book of Common Prayer, page 216),

Lord Christ, when you came among us, you proclaimed the kingdom of God in villages, towns, and lonely places: Grant that your presence and power may be known throughout this land. Have mercy upon all of us who live and work in rural areas; and grant that all the people of our nation may give thanks to you for food and drink and all other bodily necessities of life, respect those who labor to produce them, and honor the land and the water from which these good things come. All this we ask in your holy Name. Amen.(Prayer for Towns and Rural Areas, Book of Common Prayer, page 825).

Look with pity, O Holy One, 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, page 826

Prayer, Work, Hospitality and Reconciliation: Benedictine Concepts for Every Day People

Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.' 

I have always found this Gospel account to be very Benedictine.  Martha and Mary invited Jesus into their home to share in a meal: hospitality.   Martha takes on the tasks of preparing the meal: work.  Mary has chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus to hear what he was saying: prayer.  In the course of the discussion Martha gets upset that Mary is not helping.  Jesus attempts to help both Martha and Mary see that what each of them is doing is important.  Jesus invites Martha to consider the need to be quiet and listen so to center herself on God.  Prayer.

The problem with this Gospel is we have two women being portrayed in a bit of a stereo type.  The women work to prepare while the man sits on his rump and talks all the time he is there.  Mary is portrayed as sitting their listening and in Martha's defense, she was leaving all the work to Martha.  When Jesus tells Martha: "Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken from her" Jesus is not telling Martha she is doing wrong.   He reminds her that worrying about things all the time and not taking time to listen to God in prayer leads to an imbalance within our spiritual and personal lives.


As activists in society and the Church on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people many of us are fatigued from battling with leaders and campaign efforts.   Working on justice all the time without taking some time to recharge our interior personal lives with the love of God's grace and love can be a form of spiritual malnutrition.  


I posted the image of St. Benedict because he was a great symbol of taking the time out of our day to pray, work, show hospitality and be about the ministry of reconciliation.  We will not be successful in our work of justice and equality if we do not center ourselves and our work on God.    One of the philosophies of St. Benedict is that when we work, we are at prayer.  When we are at prayer, we are doing the work of God.  In the Latin: work of God is translated as opus Dei.  And NO we are not talking about the reactionary group mentioned in The Davinci Code.  We are talking about doing the work of God when we are at prayer.  Prayer is God initiative, we just choose to participate in the exchange.  Prayer is a two way street of listening and talking or thinking.  It is a state of the body as well as the open position of the heart and the soul.


Likewise, when we are at work we are opening up ourselves to participate in God's work of creation and development.  God is the God of both creation and evolution.  Try telling that to Christine O' Donnell.  God not only makes, but inspires development and nurturing as we participate with God as God does God's work through our work.  For many of us our work is working towards equality and justice for LGBTQ people.  Some are Bishops, Priests, Deacons and lay people.  Some are pastoral counselors, others are psychologists and psychiatrists.   Others do missionary work of writing, helping out at a local HIV/AIDS center, may be by helping to prepare hot meals.  For many of us, maintaining our homes and relationships is as much about working as it is about hospitality and reconciliation.  


The point is: "Everything works together for good of those who love God." (Romans 8: 28).  In the foot note to the word good it says: "Other ancient authorities read: God makes all things work together for good, or in all things God works all things for good."  This means that even our sexual and gender diversity which is part of the perfect nature of each of God's children, is something God uses for good.  When we apply our gift of sexual love within the context of loving committed relationships God is doing good through and with us.  

What Jesus is telling Martha is that Mary has taken time to balance the scales of life a bit.  Sometimes we need to withdraw from rush of a busy world full of problems, bias, arrogance and corruption to find in God peace, acceptance, humility and wholeness.  We need to take time to surrender our tears, our anger, our happiness and laughter and just bask in the Son Light of God's amazing love for each of us.  God will speak to our hearts and our minds and will help us keep our lives on a course that is both fruitful and meaningful. We will see ourselves through God's eyes as God tells us that we are God's children with whom God is well-pleased. God will want us to know that what ever we have done or not done that has offended God, God has forgiven us.  We will hear about how God is so concerned with what hurts us as well as celebrate with us those things that are helping us to be happy..  We may come back knowing we have work to do, or even to find that a new problem has come our way.  The important thing to remember is that when we return to our daily activities, God has not stayed back in our prayer chamber.  God has walked with us and will go with us through anything and everything and will help us understand God's will through it all.  We might not get it the first time, but we do not have to always get it right.  In the words of Bishop Gene Robinson in the Special Extras section of For the Bible Tells Me So: "All we have to do is put one foot in front of the other, and God will do the rest."

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 24, Book of Common Prayer, page 235).