Last Sunday after the Epiphany: Listen to the Beloved: Tell No One What You See

Today's Scripture Readings

2 Kings 2:1-12 (NRSV)

Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent."

Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent."

Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NRSV)

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Mark 9:2-9 (NRSV) 
 

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Blog Reflection

"I cannot wait to get home to tell my (mother/father/sister/partner/husband/wife) the incredible thing I just saw or participated in."  Every time I have an experience that is so wonderful and exciting, the very next thing I want to do is run home to tell Jason about it.  I love to call my mother back in Massachusetts to tell her any good news I might have gotten.  When we have had a wonderful experience the very next thing we want to do is tell someone else.  We want them to share in our joy and interest.  In a way, we want to tell them to appear impressive and knowledgeable. As generous as it might be to tell the good news to everyone, it can also be a form of demonstrating our being self-centered.  I know, I do this often.

Peter, John and James saw something so incredible, that most people just would not believe, unless they saw it with their own eyes.  Jesus being transfigured before them was an experience that made Peter say: "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."   The fear of something awesome had gripped these men.  All they wanted to do was stay there and be caught up in the splendor of Jesus glorified, with the voice saying, "This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!"

This is an event in the Gospel narratives that can be told and read.  It cannot be understood or explained.  The mystery of it can be talked about.  The transfiguration event cannot be described as an actual historical event so that there will be no doubt in at least some individual's mind, that perhaps it is just a story told.  We can tell a story.  We do not have the power over someone else to accept it as true or relevant to her/his life.

What is most important is not whether or not these events took place in the exact manner in which they are described.  Instead, the imperative is to consider carefully the truths they contain.

God, though mysterious and seemingly separate and alien to humankind, is very close to us.  The awesomeness and wonder of God as Creator, Servant and Life-Giver is not so remote that God is detached from our human experiences.  God's transforming grace is present in this world by God's perfect revelation in Jesus the Christ.  The revelation of God in Christ is made possible and available through the Holy Spirit.  It is through faith in the grace of God, that we are able to encounter Jesus in our every day lives.  Jesus the Beloved, interacts with us as God's beloved people.   We are redeemed through the merits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We are empowered by God the Holy Spirit to be witnesses and missionaries of God's salvation and Light in a world and time of darkness, greed and an obesity of power driven priorities that are designed to keep the marginalized where they are.

This past week, we witnessed a terrible display of male privilege being used to exploit and dominate the issue of contraception for women.  In the midst of a debate that is really about respecting the rights of a woman to chose what is best for her in terms of if or how she will be an incubator for male domination, the issue of religious freedom has been defended with a counterfeit version of God's compassion and inclusion.   The Bishops of the Catholic church with their insistence on "protecting all human life at every stage" once again advocates for an unborn fetus at the expense of the life of a mother. A mother who may have been the unfortunate victim of rape, incest, poorly informed sexual education, and of course the male preoccupation with himself at the expense of women.  This past weekend there was an incredible discussion on the issue of the Catholic church, contraception and religious freedom on State of Belief Radio, by the Inter-Faith Alliance. 

In actuality, what is at issue here is the freedom to choose what religious point of view works for each individual person, made by one group of people for the rest of us.   What is at issue here is the dignity of women and other individuals being empowered or having that power taken from them by people who have their institutions best interests at heart.  Not the best interests of women and other individuals who's bodies and reproductive systems are affected by their recklessness.  What is being discussed here is the question of what religious perspective will the State adopt, by which they will impress upon everyone else by means of who's version of the law.

The State of Virginia is very close to giving the State the power to force women with unwanted pregnancies to undergo a mandated invasion of her body, by way of an ultra sound, to determine whether she has the right to decide what is best for her.  Once again, male privilege is being used to legislate a woman's reproductive health care.

The same is true for the issue of marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.  This past week the Governor of Washington State signed marriage equality into law.  Immediately, anti-equality organizations began collecting signatures to place a referendum to over turn the new legislation before the LGBT citizens of Washington have the opportunity to take advantage of their constitutionally protected right to marry.

The New Jersey legislature passed marriage equality in their State, only to have it vetoed by a Governor Christie who wants the issue to be put before the voters of New Jersey.  Once again, giving heterosexuals the power to decide that they benefit at the expense of those who are not.

The State assembly of Maryland passed marriage equality.  At their backs is the National Organization for Marriage, The Family Research Council, and GOP Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum ready to take those rights away.

Why do you suppose Jesus told Peter, James and John to say nothing about what happened until after he was raised from the dead?   What is the likelihood that they didn't say anything?

The Gospel narrative of the transfiguration comes after Jesus was telling his disciples: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the Gospel, will save it." (Mark 8: 34b-35).     I believe that the succession of these two Gospel events are there to tell us something important.

If we want to really be followers of Christ, we must be willing to lay aside our own power, our need for prestige and control, and put God at the center of our lives.  Not just in a matter of personal and public proclamation.  But as a matter of living our lives in such a way that God's glory shows through our actions and attitudes.  Jesus is asking Peter, John and James to not tell anyone about these events, because he still has much to teach them by the way of the example of how Jesus lived his life.  Jesus had yet to teach them by way of parables.  They needed the lesson about being a servant rather than insisting on who should be on Jesus' right or left.   They needed to witness Jesus givin sight to Bartimaeus, and eventually go the Jerusalem to face his crucifixion and resurrection. 

There are times when we think that just because we have had one incredible experience of God, that we are to twist everyone's arm to think and behave as we think they should.  However, that is not the message of the Gospel.  That is not the fulfillment of the great commission of Matthew 28: 18-20.   This is not an invitation to make the Christian Religion into a Faith by which all others are to be "reduced" to our religion in order to find salvation.

We are being asked to listen to what God is saying to us as God's beloved, through God's Beloved Son Jesus Christ.   We are asked to not tell someone what we have seen, but to live the example of the One who taught us that God's love is unconditional and all-inclusive.  We are to show radical hospitality and participate in the ministry of reconciliation.  Each day and moment we have an opportunity to be the Light of God that we have experienced, by the way of arms and heart outstretched to express the love of God that is within each of us.   To allow God's grace that is gracious, merciful and totally receptive to all people.  God is present in diversity, and gives new life even through those who do not recite the Nicene Creed or say the same sinner's prayer that we do.

God's loving power is experienced through the physical and romantic love of two people of the same sex, in as much as it is made visible in the loving sexuality of straight people. 

God embraces the outcast, the wanderer who feels like their life is on the brink of giving up, the sick, the poor and those who think that no one in the world loves them.  They too are beloved of God.  They can know this when we love them. 

As we prepare to journey into Lent, from the ashes to the Cross and the empty tomb on Easter Day, let us become God's witnesses in our attitudes and behaviors, to show that our worship of Jesus Christ is authentically life-giving.


Prayers

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son
revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that
we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be
strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his
likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p. 217).


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


O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 824).

 

Absalom Jones: Liberty to the Captives Out of Love for Christ

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 61: 1-4 (NRSV)

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and release to the prisoners;

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

to provide for those who mourn in Zion--

to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

They shall build up the ancient ruins,

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

John 15:12-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father."

Blog Reflection

This particular commemoration is so appropriate during Black History Month.  It takes us back to the struggle of African Americans for freedom from oppression.   This feast day also takes us into the history of the Christian Church's oppression by being enslaved ourselves to prejudice.

In the progression of history we have on many occasions found that those being oppressed are often the best to lead humankind towards a renewed understanding of our sisters and brothers.   Those who have faced the greatest injustices are those who show us the path toward justice and true freedom.  It is through the devotion of those thought of and treated as second class citizens, that we come to a better understanding of our own role in making the Church and the world a better place for all. This truth in no way justifies the use of violence and oppression towards any person or group of people.  However, it does teach us that God can use any situation and bring about a transformation when we allow the Gospel to be our teacher and guide.

The reading from the Hebrew Scriptures is the same one that Jesus used at his inaugural address in Luke 4: 14-19.  When Jesus proclaims himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy from Isaiah, he suddenly finds himself as the oppressed as people who "like things the way they were" are not open to change.  Jesus is the One whom God sent to proclaim release to the captives. Yet, he himself discovers that he becomes captive to others.  All through Jesus' public ministry as he heals the sick on the Sabbath, raises the dead, gives sight to the blind in our Gospel Reading for today's Office in John 9: 1-17, Jesus is regularly scoffed at, rejected, called a liar, argued with, called a demon just for being the revelation of God.  When we finally get to the night before Jesus is about to give his life over to the passion and death of the Cross, it is Jesus, the oppressed who tells those who follow him to "love one another as I have loved  you".

Absalom Jones, who was enslaved, became a hope for freedom and democracy for others like himself.  It is quite the embarrasing thing for Absalom to have to "petition" to be recognized as a Lay minister, who eventually became a Deacon and a Priest, because there was not yet room made for African American's to be accepted into the public ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church.  Yet, he followed the requirement of the day, as unjust as it was, and from there, "he denounced slavery, and warned the oppressors to 'clean their hands of slaves.'  To him, God was the Father, who always acted "on behalf of the oppressed and distressed" (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 220).

 I would suggest that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people are in the same position as Absalom, and yet very different. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is found in every religion, culture, race and people. Yet, even among diverse races, it is rejected by an ignorance that feeds fear and violence, used in the Name of Scripture, just as it was for African Americans, women, other religions and cultures.  In the past number of years, we have seen the page on discrimination against sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression changing even in the Church.  Surely as has been the case in every age, as the oppressed struggle for freedom, it is those who have been oppressed in the past, who become the oppressors.  In addition, Scriptures and religious principles are used to justify cruelty that is most vicious, even though it is totally "contrary to the heart of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Archbishop Desmond Tutu; For the Bible Tells Me So).

St. Benedict taught in his Rule to prefer nothing whatsoever to Christ.  As Christ was about freedom from oppression and the giving of ourselves out of love for those who are discriminated against, so that they may be fully included, so should the Church.   Christians who value what Jesus Christ means to us and hope to be good examples of the one who called us to love one another as Christ loves us, need to be about the work of genuine hospitality and reconciliation.


Prayers

Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Absalom Jones; Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 221).


O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you:
Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness
we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your
grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please
you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.  (Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).


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).

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany: Show Thanks in Action, Not by Being A Blabbermouth.

Today's Scripture Reading

Mark 1:40-45 (NRSV)

A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Blog Reflection

Many years ago while I was on retreat at St. Mary's Monastery in Petersham, Massachusetts, where I eventually became an Oblate, then Superior Fr. Anselm, OSB (now Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland) gave a homily on this text.  He focused on Jesus' command to the healed man to keep quiet.  It was the first time I ever heard someone talk about this Gospel that way.  I usually tended to think about the tremendous healing the guy experienced.  A fresh look at the narrative on the request to keep quiet, but go and offer thanks to God as was the custom of the day, gives us another important point of view.  Especially in light of so much of what is going on around us.

When I was a young Christian in the evangelical movement, I went through the phase that I was just so happy to know the Lord in my heart and mind.  I believed that I had just been saved by the sinner's prayers.  I was all hitched on the whole "tell the world about Jesus, so that no one goes to hell" bit.  I was the pain in the neck that I now experience whenever some zealous blabbermouth comes along and begins the kill joy session, complete with Bible quotations, chapter and verse numbers.

The LGBT communities had a terrific week.  Prop. 8 was overturned in a Federal Court of Appeals in the ninth circuit.  The Washington State Legislature passed marriage equality and the Governor is expected to sign it into law this upcoming week.  In addition, Ellen DeGeneres and JCPenny spoke out defense of equality for all Americans by answering those who want to use their religion and money to promote discrimination.  All of these are fantastic examples of the Reign of God becoming more visible through the transformation of church communities and other sectors of society embracing and including all of God's people.

However, as soon as many of us begin to celebrate, out comes the Bible beaters.  Many of them preaching that the end of the world is coming, and America is surely going to hell now.  Many of them warning of God's wrath in the form of natural disasters and who knows what else.  All because "The Bible says so." The Gospel for today, becomes a vehicle to condemn those of us considered "unclean" by anti-LGBT religious groups. 

This past week we read and heard about the obnoxious efforts to keep women and men from contraception. We also heard from Republicans about the whole "threat to religious freedom" because the President wants everyone to have access to contraception through their health care plans.

I am still a Christian who believes that God is doing awesome things in and through my own life.  I admit, I can be a loud mouth too.  I guess this blog is just such an example.  However, my reason for writing this blog is to show that the Christianist views that checks their brains and Christian Charity at the door, are not the only one's with a claim to the saving message of Jesus Christ.  The Gospel is both saving of individuals as well as one that can transform the Church and society away from hatred and violence, if we will just do our part to give Jesus Christ a good Name.  By our actions.  Not so much by our words.


Our Christian Faith speaks volumes when we live it.  When we give ourselves to the work of helping the marginalized by recognizing and defending the dignity of every human person, the Gospel is being proclaimed through our lives. We also live up to our Baptismal Covenant.  That is so wonderful. It is life-giving and not fearful or hateful.

When Christians and other people of good will, including those who do not believe what Christians believe or practice, put the needs of others ahead of their own to serve the poor, the sick, the lost and lonely, the Gospel story is being told.  Not through being a blabbermouth. The Gospel story of the prodigal child is heard when a father receives his gay son back into his family, accepting him for who he is and encourages him to find healthy relationships. The Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan is told through the work of PFLAG.  The story of Good Friday and Easter Day becomes real and living in a community where school students have taken their own lives due to bullying, work to change the school districts policy.  The family councils look on, mocking Jesus on the cross saying: "If you are truly a child of God, take the bullying and change so that you can prove that traditional family values stay alive".  While groups that seek to have policies made that discourages bullying and calls for ways of understanding their peers who are LGBT or questioning show the resurrection in trying to rebuild stronger communities, where new life is sprouting up.

The lepor came with a request. "If you chose, you can make me clean."  Jesus responds "I do chose. Be made clean!"  Jesus asked the leper to be quiet in his words, but to show his gratitude to God by going and offering his thanks to God.  Not would it have been noticed by God, but others would have seen that the guy had an obvious change.  The one who was far removed from the community through no fault of his own, has now been restored to God's people of Faith.   No longer does God separate him, he is now a part of the family of God.  The healed mans choice to become a blabbermouth put Jesus in a bad spot.  It meant he couldn't be alone anymore.  He had to go into the country. Still, the crowds came to find him.

Sometimes we Christians in our joy of knowing that God has changed our lives, make the mistake of becoming too much of a blabbermouth with no actions to back up our claims.  Our words show us praising God and being faithful.  Our actions show us being anything but thankful.  Just a bunch of empty words.  We become the biggest pain in the neck. No one is paying attention.

There are moments when we as a worshiping community must pray, sing and proclaim together.  At the end of our Liturgy we hear the words: "Go forth to love and serve the Lord."  Our response, "Thanks be to God." 

There is no threat to religious freedom because of marriage equality, abortion or contraception.  There is a threat to being authentic followers of the Jesus we claim has changed us, the more Christians target LGBT, women, the sick, the Muslims and others for the purpose of violence, bullying and political gain.  As progressive Christians we have every business speaking up and being part of a culture of radical change through hospitality and the ministry of reconciliation. 

We need time to be quiet and pray.  We must also get down to work.


Prayers

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you:
Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness
we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your
grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please
you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.  (Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).


Gracious Father, we pray for they 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).


We pray, Lord, that everything we do may be prompted by your 
inspiration, so that every prayer and work of ours may begin from you
and be brought by you to completion; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
(St. Benedict's Prayer Book for Beginners, p. 113).

Cornelius the Centurion: Being Open to New Things

Today's Scripture Reading


Acts 11:1-18  (NRSV)

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

Blog Reflection

Reading the story of Peter's experience in Joppa shows us that he had a lot of growing up to do.  Peter was used to the Christian Faith being one that only should apply to the Jews who followed Christ.  While Christianity was not suppose to become the religion of supercessionism, it also was not to be isolated to only one people, place or time.  Nor was it to be a Faith that was stagnant.  Peter is met head on with his own narrow prejudices.  God's Spirit told him "What God has made clean, you must not call profane."

Cornelius received the Christian Faith, because the Apostles minds were opened to sharing it with people outside of their comfort zones.  They could begin to understand that the Gospel is meant to defy human logic, and yet it is to communicate love and respect for the dignity of all human persons.  So does our Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer p. 292-294.

This is such a great commemoration on the same day that the Federal Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit ruled that Proposition 8 that restricts marriage for straight people is unconstitutional.  You can read the entire document of that ruling here.  LGBT people all over the country are celebrating this moment of victory for the hopes of full marriage equality.   What a wonderful day.

The internet is buzzing with the usual good news, along with comments from those who oppose Prop. 8 as well as those who want it to stay put.  Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council.   Concerned Women for America.  The Alliance Defense Fund.  The National Organization for Marriage.  Catholics for the "Common Good."  These groups have all come out with their usual hateful rhetoric and total disregard for Christian Charity,  tooting their own horns about today's ruling as "bad for children and families" etc, etc.

This kind of reaction brings me back to the words Jesus spoke in John 16: 12 and 13.

"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 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." 

I think the experience of Peter that led to the conversion of Cornelius is a perfect example of the Holy Spirit leading the Church into all truth.  The Church and hopefully all Christians are still being led into all truth. We are not completely there yet.  Truth for Christians was revealed in someone, namely Jesus Christ. That Truth is never stagnant or complete until he returns.  In the mean time, the Holy Spirit is still speaking those things that are to come.  For us in the 21st Century, that appears to be recognizing that LGBT people are good and holy as we are.  Our sexuality is blessed by God as a means of loving others, and serving everyone's "common good" and not just a certain few.  When exercised in holy and life-giving relationships, the sexual expression between two people of the same-sex communicates love and the self sacrifice of one person for the other.  Yes, these things are possible as God continues to lead us into all truth as our Mother the Holy Spirit speaks and declares what is to come.

It is possible for us, just as it was for Peter and Cornelius. to be drawn to a greater understanding of God, others and ourselves by being open to that Conversion of Life St. Benedict refers to in the Rule that calls us to serve others out of reverence for Christ.  What is needed is for us to be open and willing to allow God to change our hearts and to repent of our sins of prejudice in attitudes and behaviors. 

May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us into all truth, and help us to be open to new things for the glory of God's reign.  Because Jesus also said: "Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you." (John 12: 35).


Prayers

O God, by your Spirit you called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles; Grant to your Church such a ready will to go where you send and to do what you command, that under your guidance it may welcome all who turn to you in love and faith, and proclaim the Gospel to all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Cornelius the Centurion, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 215).

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us
the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known
to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).


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).

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: Time in the Desert and Time for the Market Place

Today's Scripture Reading

Mark 1:29-39 (NRSV)

Jesus left the synagogue at Capernaum, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Blog Reflection

The image of the desert and the market place is something that author Esther de Waal has written extensively about.  She draws this image from the Rule of St. Benedict to describe the tension between spending time alone in quiet prayer vs. spending time in community working, visiting and taking care of others.  Esther de Waal writes about how much not just monks, but all of us need both to be able to function with any kind of sanity.   It is a way of keeping ourselves in a balance to be aware of when we have spent too much time alone or too much time with others.  Yet, her point is also made that the two are not necessarily separated, but work together in harmony. 

Prayer is the opus dei that is the work of God.  It is not just something we do in church, nor is it limited to praying the Daily Office.  Everything we do including working, taking care of family, sleeping, cooking, reading, doing our activism work, visiting with friends and spending some time in recreational activities are all done as part of a continuous conversation between God and ourselves.  Prayer is not just a matter of asking God for things, it also requires some kind of openness on our part so that we are in a position to receive the graces of God.

Using the words of Brother David Steindi-Rast, Esther de Waal writes "the contemplative vision without the practical realization is barren, and service without clear vision is mere meddling."   Esther writes more in her book Living with Contradiction: An Introduction to Benedictine Spirituality by quoting the Late Cardinal Basil Hume.  "The monk is safe in the market place because he is at home in the desert; he is valuable in the market place if he preserves a nostalgia for the desert.  To the degree that he learns from the desert he will have something to sell in the market place."

"When Thomas Merton writes of 'the spring and the stream' he uses an effective image to illustrate this.  Unless the waters of the spring are living and flow outward, the spring becomes a stagnant pool.  If the stream loses contact with the spring which is its source it dries up.  Contemplation is the spring of living water; action is the stream that flows out from it to others" (pages 105-106 for all quotes used from Esther de Waal).  

What does all of this have to do with the Gospel?  Even more important to this blog, what does all of this have to do with living up to the work of our Baptismal Covenant to "strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human person" including LGBT people?

First, the Gospel for today is about Jesus doing the work God gave him, and he took time to go off by himself to pray.  We have a picture through the narrative that Jesus continues to heal and call out the evil beings of his time, and to preach and share God's love.  We also see that the work Jesus does is not separate from his own relationship to the One who sent him.  Jesus breaks away to spend his time with God, to keep his focus on what he is doing.  Jesus wants to be totally in tune with God's will so that he can continue the work he has begun.

Second, if we are to be about the work of helping to achieve the equality and inclusion of marginalized people including, but not limited to LGBT people, we must have a "spring" from which the waters flow to do that work.  It needs to come from a heart dedicated to loving others as God loves.  To be able to love others inclusively, we need to know God's inclusive love for each one of us.  That love that sees us as we are, and calls us to face the realities of what makes us unique and the same.  As we spend time with God at the center of our being, we come to a deeper awareness of ourselves and what God wants to do with and through us.

It is also worth pointing out that none of us is a super woman/man.  We all need time to be out doing the work of inclusion and justice.  We also need time away from everything and everyone to reset ourselves.  To refocus and recharge, so we can return to our work with new energy and passion.  If Jesus needed to do that as we read in the Gospels, what makes us think that we can just run endlessly on our own?

If we are to "mount up with wings like eagle's" and "run and not grow weary", then we must also "wait upon the Lord" as the Prophet Isaiah says in our reading from Hebrew Scripture.     This requires us to stop for a bit, be quite and still and be prepared to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to us in the depths of our hearts. 

Remember to take time from the market place to spend some time in the desert.


Prayers

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us
the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known
to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).


Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so
guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our
wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto
thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always
to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (Prayer of Self Dedication, Book of Common Prayer, p. 832).

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our
heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove
ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will.
Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and
pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion;
from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend
our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes
brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue
with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust
the authority of government, that there may be justice and
peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we
may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for our Country, Book of Common Prayer, p. 820). 

The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ: A Light to Enlighten the Nations

Today's Scripture Readings

Malachi 3:1-4 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord, See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

 

Hebrews 2:14-18 (NRSV)

Since God's children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Luke 2:22-40  (NRSV)

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Blog Reflection

What an amazing man Simeon is.  A man who is so in tuned with the Holy Spirit that he knew that God would not allow him to die until he saw the Messiah of God.  Simeon had to see God's revelation to know that he would be able to die in peace.

The times that Simeon would have lived were not enlightening times by any means.  The Roman Empire controlled Palestine and Jerusalem.  The Sanhedrin were caught in between Roman Procurator Pontius Pilate and the people in their ability to exercise the full authority of their religion. They were high in prestige.  The poverty of Israel during the time that Jesus was born into, in which Simeon lived was full of darkness.  The poor and marginalized were exploited and dehumanized.  Famine, disease and a sense of helplessness was all around Simeon and Jesus.  I can just imagine how much old Simeon would have liked to have died and be done with everything around him.

Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus to the temple, to offer their first born son to the Lord, according to the Law of Moses.  The parents and Jesus exercised their obedience to what God commanded from the people.  The offering of Jesus to the Lord in the temple prefigures his crucifixion on the cross.  The first born of Mary and Joseph, and the only begotten of God, offers himself without blemish or stain of sin, to take away the sins of the world.

When Simeon takes the Child Jesus into his arms, he gives thanks God. Simeon recognizes Jesus as the long awaited fulfillment of God's promise to him.  Now Simeon can die in peace.  Our Book of Common Prayer in the use of the Canticle of Simeon from today's Gospel account calls Jesus "A light to enlighten the nations" (p.135).  It is from Simeon's understanding that Jesus is the "Light of God's revelation" that the "Light" will "enlighten the nations."   A Light that will make all who are estranged from God, will now be able to find God because of the perfect revelation of God's Self in Christ.  The Light of Christ is not to be kept unto ourselves as some private treasure.  It does not separate us from others who are different from ourselves.  It is the Light by which we understand that all people are perfectly created by God, and called to the fullness of life and hope by the God of unconditional and all-inclusive love.

Christians are a people of great light and hope.  We have the redemption of our souls because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  God has spared no expense, not even God's Son to bring salvation to all humankind.  Yet, Christians are often so selfish.  So unwelcoming. So insistent on deciding who we should show radical hospitality and reconciliation to.  Then we Christians make ourselves gods, by deciding when it is okay to exclude someone from being the recipients of hospitality and reconciliation.  Rather than letting Jesus be the Light that guides us to welcome everyone, to wash everyone's feet in service of even those who don't quite share our views of things, and working towards peaceful understandings of each other; we use the Bible, the Sacraments and our doctrines as reasons to exclude, to spread a world of darkness where there is already too much despair. 

Our Anglican Tradition in the Episcopal Church is one that embraces the via media.  That middle way between Catholic worship, prayer and our Bishops as successors to the Apostles; and, the protestant reformers of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley and so forth.  We invite everyone to pray in common even if we do not believe in common. Our Altars are open to all Baptized Christians.  In some places, Baptism is not required to be welcomed to receive Holy Communion, because of their commitment to the radical hospitality in the Rule of St. Benedict chapter 53.  Yet, one of the things we find over and over again, that those things that make us strong as Anglicans and Episcopalians, are also the source of the weaknesses we have in accepting diverse individuals with varying points of view. 

I think the challenge for all who call ourselves Christians, and claim to follow God in our lives, is to recognize that Jesus is the Light that shines in the midst of all our confusion and tension.  Jesus offered himself to be God's Light where their is darkness, despair and doubt.  Jesus is that "Light to enlighten" as we try to discern what God is calling us to and how we are to respond to God's invitation to grow in our lives and communities.  Rather than seek to stomp each other out and push each other aside so that the only voices we listen to are our own, or even those who agree with us; the Light that is Jesus Christ invites us to reach across political, religious and social divisions to seek the common ground of God's unconditional and inclusive love for all. 

The Light that enlightens calls us to give hope where hope seems lost.  As the poor continue to be targeted by political agenda's that prefer to cater to the richest among us, and be the source of more suffering and degradation.  The Light that wants to enlighten us to protect the bargaining rights of workers, women, LGBT people, immigrants and to protect other religions from being targeted, by recognizing that everyone has a place and purpose in this world.  To understand that each person, among all classes, races, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities/expressions, languages, health status etc are not their for us to manipulate and classify in such a way that they are made second class citizens with no expense to them spared.  The Light wants us to know and understand that there is no scapegoating, or justification for scapegoating.

As Jesus is presented in the temple as an offering to God, perhaps a very good question for us to ask ourselves is: what kind of offering of ourselves are we making to God?  Are we offering God a self that is masked and pretending to be something or someone that we are not?  Are we offering God those things we want to run from, rather than face as they are?  Are we willing to offer to God those things that need the Light of God's enlightening grace and mercy?  Are we willing to become the hope of God in a world where hopelessness and darkness, need so very much the Light of God through our hearts and arms open to all?

We are the only one's who can ask those questions.  The person(s) God wants to talk with and use is us.  How God wants to talk to and use us to make our lives and the world a better place is something that is between God and us individually and collectively. 

Are we offering and listening?


Prayers

Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your
only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so
we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by
Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Presentation, Book of Common Prayer, p. 239),


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. (Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).


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).

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Advice from Someone Who Loves Us

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."

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

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

Listen carefully, my child, to my instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.  This is advice from one who loves you; welcome it and faithfully put it into practice.  The labor of obedience will bring you back to God from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience.  This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong, and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for Jesus, the Christ (Prologue, Rule of Benedict, vs 1-3).

A priest once said in a sermon: "I do not have a problem with the concept of obedience.  I have a problem with the practice of obedience."  As a guy who has Asperger's Syndrome, I have no problem with the concept of obedience.  I may or may not have a problem with the practice of obedience.  I have a problem with the authority figure to whom I am suppose to be obedient.

As a gay man who struggled for many years with my sexual orientation, my relationship with God and the Church.  I have a real problem with those who use their Ecclesiastical "authority" and "their understanding" of the "authority" of Scripture to judge my relationship with God as injured or even destroyed because I am gay.   Religious "authorities" have misused their so called "power" to manipulate LGBT individuals and other groups of people to believing, thinking and acting as they do.   

So, the idea of authority and what obedience is to mean for me is a counterfeit understanding.  To better understand, I need both the Rule of St. Benedict and today's readings to help me put authority and obedience in their proper places.  That is why the opening to the Prologue from the Rule is such a powerful reflection, especially in light of today's Gospel.

What does the word "authority" mean when Christians think of the Person of Jesus Christ?  The Greek word for "authority" is "exousia".  The word is literally translated as meaning: "out of being."  It comes from a full sense of self.  A realization of who I am.  When I speak with authority according to the Greek word "exousia" I am talking from the point of who I am. 

The people who were listening to God in the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures are hearing a prophecy about the future.  God is going to send someone who can say everything that God has to say to God's people.  It will be said with a sense of authority.  The authority will be a historical change that will mean a pivot from one direction to another. 

As Christians, we understand this to be a prophecy about Jesus.  The Jesus who came as a Jew like his own people.  Not as one who came to suppress the Jewish people into another religion or they would go to hell.  As Christians we recognize for ourselves that Jesus was God's perfect revelation.  Knowing that alone is not enough to convince us of what is being said in the Gospel.

The people who were listening to Jesus and witnessing him casting out the evil spirits, were amazed that he was speaking "out of his being."  Jesus was not only able to say such things, he was also a living example about that of which he spoke.  The religious authorities of his day had become so wound up with keeping the rituals and their own reputation among each other and the people, that living the meaning of their faith had lost it's focus.

Sound familiar?

We hear a lot today about how Jesus Christ is suppose to bring redemption and forgiveness for the sin of adultery.  We are all expected to just let go of the media stories of presidential candidates with a reputation of continuing to harass women and totally disregard their dignity.  Forgiveness of sins relieves us of the guilt of our past actions.  It does not excuse us from repentance and it does not mean we don't take seriously an effort to "cast out the evil spirits" of sexism, racism, class discrimination and sexually violent behavior.  It also does not give us license to act like the Pharisee in Luke 18: 9-14 who stands their exalting himself against others who are not quite as "good" as he is.  All of us are broken human beings in one way or another.  It is from these things that we are suppose to grow into mature people. None of us are any better than anyone else.  We are all still earthed. 

St. Benedict, a holy man totally aware of his own weaknesses, admits as he calls others to return from the sloth of disobedience, to embrace the call to a new way of life.  Whether inside or outside of a monastery, St. Benedict calls us to a change of heart and a "conversion of manners".  To place others before ourselves.  To be understanding and compassionate with those who are different from ourselves.  We are to take the focus off of ourselves to serve the other out of reverence for Christ.  We do this from a complete acceptance of ourselves, placing all our hope in the God who accepts and redeems everyone.  No exceptions. No exclusions.

We see religious "authorities" all around us talking about passing constitutional amendments to take away the rights of LGBT people to marry the person they love.  It would all be laughable, if they also weren't using even more violent rhetoric and basing their work on false claims about LGBT people.  All being done in the "authority" of the Scripture and some kind of ecclesiastical "right" to look down on others. Suggesting that spreading hate and division is some how "compassionate." 

Jesus is teaching out of his being as one who is a living model of generosity and mercy.  Jesus lives as one who welcomes the marginalized and seeks those injured and held back by oppression. He's got his whole person open to the call of God and is able to speak directly to evil in such a way, that it has to go.  It cannot stay in the presence of such awesome love as the Holy One of God.  People marvel at what they hear and see. Now, in front of them is one who speaks out of his being, while he lives out of his being.

Obedience to God's will is not a matter of being a wise thinker or a well spoken theologian.  It has little to do with quoting from the Bible along with the Book, verse number and version.  Obedience in the Christian context is about being willing to serve the needs of someone else ahead of our own.  We obey, not because we want to avoid punishment.  We obey because the one who calls us to serve is someone who loves us.  The last thing we would want to do is offend someone who loves us so completely and without condition or exclusion.

We cannot be obedient to God if we are trying to hide or change the very essence of who we are as LGBT people.  We cannot serve the best needs of another person, expecting to reverence Christ who is present in the other person, if we cannot first be honest with God, others and ourselves about who we are.  Because Jesus spoke and lived out of his being as the face of God among humankind.  He wore no masks.  He did not run away.  He faced who he was in the fullness of his being and lived it openly and freely.  He loved differently.  He was crucified for it. 

Even if it means we are risking all, we will cast out the darkness of discrimination and violence when we act and speak out of our being as LGBT people of faith. This means understanding our sexuality as a gift from God.  Using it as a means to love and receive love. Exercising it in healthy and wholesome relationships. Reverencing the Presence of Christ in our partner(s) by serving their needs ahead of our own.  It is also an opportunity to help other people know how good LGBT people are.  That we honor and love other people.  We do not use them. We regard every person as a sacred being, worthy of our respect and to treat them with care and concern. Seeking their peace and justice and respecting their dignity.  Doing all, of course, with God's help. 

How do we accept this story as advice from the God who loves us? 

How do we do the work of speaking and acting out of our being so that we can cast out the unclean spirits of oppression, injustice and prejudice from our world?

What ever our answer is, as it will be different for all of us, may we be a people who act with radical hospitality, to bring about healing and reconciliation in the Church and society.

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. (Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

Gracious Father, we pray for they 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).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (For the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 824).

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many
voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where
many listen and write what many read; that they may do their
part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and
its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those Who Influence Public Opinion, Book of Common Prayer, p. 827)