Praise

Psalm 148

      Praise God ! Easter morning, the Lord is risen!

      Yesterday I spoke of a kind of limbo you are in when someone close to you dies. How I still miss my own dad. We spoke almost every day and I miss him something awful. It was, still is, a hard adjustment to not want to reach for the phone and call.  Of course I believe he is in a much better place, free from the things that seemed to torment him in this life. But, I still miss him.  What if he was to return? What if after they took his body away, after I had performed CPR, they secretly took his body away and revived him? Sounds weird but when you miss someone....

       In the wee hours of the morning the women went to the tomb (women.. are ya listening Rome??). The women discovered Jesus' body was not there and they raced back to tell the Apostles who are cowering and in that limbo I spoke of. On top of betrayal and denials, they now find that what the women are saying highly doubtful. Later it happens, what we all wish for when a loved one dies, Jesus comes to them in a locked room, displaying his wounds and speaking to all of them. This is no hallucination.  I can only imagine the missed heartbeats, the joy, the elation, the questions.

       Everything Jesus said was true. Perhaps not how the Apostles understood, but they come around. They accept the commission of love and service that Jesus gives.

       Today is such a joyous beautiful day. Today we celebrate new life. We celebrate that butterfly I spoke of the other day. We celebrate a God that loves us so much he would die for us. But before that a God that is willing to enter a cocoon like us, live life fully human with all that entails. And then we celebrate the rising, the new life, the possibility, nay the sureness of new life if we choose to embrace it.

        This Easter morning we know that we are intimately and infinitely loved and that every morning is our opportunity to start anew. As Easter people we know that God has our back and that we can change, we can grow we can start anew. As sure a crocus' and tulips bloom

          Easter is all about love and new life celebrated to the full. Praise God!

       

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
   praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
   praise him, all his host! 

Praise him, sun and moon;
   praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
   and you waters above the heavens! 

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
   for he commanded and they were created.
He established them for ever and ever;
   he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.^* 

Praise the Lord from the earth,
   you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
   stormy wind fulfilling his command! 

Mountains and all hills,
   fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
   creeping things and flying birds! 

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
   princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
   old and young together! 

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
   for his name alone is exalted;
   his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
   praise for all his faithful,
   for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

Death and taxes

Romans 8:1-11

        They say that the only two things you can count on in life are death and taxes. A discussion of taxes might turn out to be too contentious. Let's speak of life!  I wonder if a caterpiller speaks of death when it  forms a coccon? Does it know it will emerge as a butterfly? It would be fascinating to know if the caterpiller has any consciousness of life as a caterpiller and then after it emerges into what the life is as a butterfly. The two seem very disparate. Sluggish, wormlike, drab to flittering beauty of the sky, like floating stained glass.  It certainly could conjur up images of what our lives are like.

         As much as I love to gaze on the human form it could be considered somehwhat drab. We are assured of eternal life, could it be like that of a butterfly? Formless spirits floating? An essence of our former being so gentle and light? I am wise enough to realize that in God's created world there are visions of what we are and what we are meant to be. God leaves clues everywhere if we have eyes to see.

         It is no foreign or odd thought that we will live on.We already know the intensity of the memories of those we love and that have departed thier earthly shells. Our hearts and minds are full of people who have graced our lives and whose love lives on in us.

          It is not so much that I wonder what life in the hereafter will be like, it is more that I am sure that it exists. This reading asures us of that. While I am not sure it is limited to followers of our Lord, I know this life we live now can be considered somewhat of a coccoon.

          This essay of sorts is necessary for me today on this Holy Saturday. A day of limbo when our Lord has died and was laid in the tomb. I am well aware of the feelings of loss. Friends who have died, parents, holy people whom I have loved and been graced to be a vistor in their lives. It must have been crushing for Mary, for the Apostles, for all the beleivers. Such finality it seemed. So he wasn't the Messiah. He didn't come as a warrior to redeem Israel. It was all for naught. This is the agony we all go through. We need to remember. Really, simply remember. We recall the life. We know the love. It lives on in us. They live on in a state we are not familiar with but one that exists none the less. 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

A father's love

Genesis 22:1-14

          I profess to be a devout Christian, by others' judgement, not such a great Catholic. God knows I try to be good, be thankful and speak to God on a regular basis. But truth be told, if I was asked to sacrifice my son, or my daughter, or my husband or my cat, I don't think I could do it. I would refuse and risk the fires of hell for all eternity. In fact, that list of people that I would risk the fires of hell for is even more extensive. I am not really into that sacraficing thing even though I am sure some poeple would be able to give me suggestions. Sacrifice Hucakbee! I can hear someone saying.  Like I said, not into that, nor judgement of anyone else - less I be judged.

          I've written before that God really doesn't want us to offer sacrifices, Jesus did that for us for all time. But here is the crux of my writing today. Jesus did in fact die for us and he is the son of God. What do you think God (the Father) had to say about that?  You'd think perhaps he might say, 'son that's admirable, but really, I don't want you to go through all that'. God could have stopped the whole plot down don't you think?  I'm not one who believs God intervenes in our lives but on this occasion I might make an exception if I was God and it was my son about to be stripped, beaten and nailed to a cross. If God loves his son Jesus as much as he loves us, it must have been agonizing to watch it all unfold.  We can only catch a glimpse of it as we let our own children take the first step (and fall), make a decision that you think is bad but you have to let them learn. We all know about the power of love and what we would and would not give up for it.

          God let his son die. Why? Because he beliives in and respects free will. God also loves us and wants us not to be burdened by ancient rituals of sacrifice to show how much we love him. We have reached a level of maturaity that God wishes us to love him by all the ways Jesus showed us. Love, compassion, inclusiveness,  empathy. Maybe even sex, who knows? (Is that too blashphemous?).

           All I know is that today a 3pm, the last breath of Jesus as a human on this earth will be commemorated. This was done out of intense love for all of us and also for every one of us as individulas as well. The power of the dynamics of parent and child and the love that exists between the Father and the Son is offered up in the most intimate of ways for us, only hinted at by the story of Isaac and Abraham.

           On this Good Friday, is there any more reason than this love to stop and take stock of all we have to be thankful for in God's incredible gift to us. How sad it all is, but also how wonderful a  gift. How powerful. How loving. How sweet.  For us.

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ ²He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’ ³So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt-offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. ⁴On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. ⁵Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.’ ⁶Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. ⁷Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘Father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ ⁸Abraham said, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.

9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill^* his son. ¹¹But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ ¹²He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ ¹³And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt-offering instead of his son. ¹⁴So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide’;^* as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’^*

Smelly feet

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

          I recall seeing a movie once where a parent who was very old, was infirmed and needed the constant attention of their adult child. From feeding and diaper changing and cleaning, it was a demanding job. Not only did the 'child' have to care for the parent in the most intimate of terms, the parent was placed in the role of infant. There were deep emotions, role reversals for both parties involved.  What it wound up showing though was that to the child it was a labor of love and a small repayment for all the parent had done for them over the years. The parent learned how to be dependant on the child and accept the love and service in spite of their pride.

          Today we have Jesus washing the Apostles feet. In any circumstance we would say feet are not something that are fresh. Smelly, dirty and sweaty might be adjectives that come to our mind. I know that on this Maundy Thursday in churches where the pastor washes parishioners feet at the altar, the volunteers are very few and there is always a bit of arm twisting involved to get those 'volunteers'. What should be an honour we find hard to accept and the idea of having our feet out for everyone to see - in church! Well, heaven forbid!

           Perhaps the feelings were not that much different in Jesus' time except then, there were really no shoes and socks to speak of. Sandals were the order of the day, transportation was mostly by foot and the roads, such as they were, were dirt, dust and mud. Feet were generally the dirtiest part of the body. Imagine how the Apostles felt when Jesus decided to wash their feet. This was perhaps a foreshadowing of just how deep Jesus would submit for us. Later his submission and humiliation would be complete.

           So I have to ask, how are you at accepting gifts from others? Just today I offered a small token to a coworker and the response was yes but there might be someone more worthy. I tried to assure her, no one is more worthy. Conversely, how are we at submitting ourselves to others? Jesus is the ultimate example. How are we at putting our self last and putting everyone else first? Tough questions for sure.

         If we want to be true disciples, let us recall what Peter said, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Let us be emersed in the passion and love of the Lord.

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,

got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."

Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you."

For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?

You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am.

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.

If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.

If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Complaint deptartment

Psalm 55

         I think of this psalm and I think of all the complaining he is doing. It really isn't too much different from today. Perhaps back in the day it would be you never returned my stone chisel and today it would be you never returned  my chain saw. Times change but complaining , ahh that is a constant. The good part is that the complaining is being aimed towards God. Not a particularly good idea by itself but when you think about it, who is more interested in you? God loves you, he really wants to listen to you and I am sure he's strong enough to take whatever tongue lashing you want to dish out. 

      It seams to me though, if anyone has a reason to complain it would be Jesus. He has done absolutely nothing wrong as a human. He has done more good than we could ever expect for us as God. In a few short days he will be crucified. Think of the embarrassment, the shame, the betrayals (plural), having to say goodbye to his mother, the pain of having her see all this, saying goodbye to good friends, really good friends and I haven't even touched on the physical pain and anguish he endured (for us). It seems he has a right to do some serious complaining. ‘O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; Can you perhaps imagine Jesus saying that? Perhaps take me away from all this to a nice spa by the Mediterranean! But alas, he does no such thing. Jesus endures it all for us. He even has the presence of mind to forgive "for they know not what they do".

        We may have given up something for Lent and we may have done the hard soul searching to try and make progress to be the glorious being God created us to be, but can any of this be compared to what Jesus went through? It seems that almost anything we could conjure up would pale in comparison to what Jesus went through - without complaining. 

        Perhaps we can think about that when we find ourselves complaining about something. Further, let's focus on the fact that if you were the only person on the planet, Jesus would have willingly gone through it just for you. Think about that!

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.
Give ear to my prayer, O God;
   do not hide yourself from my supplication.
Attend to me, and answer me;
   I am troubled in my complaint.
I am distraught ³by the noise of the enemy,
   because of the clamour of the wicked.
For they bring trouble upon me,
   and in anger they cherish enmity against me. 

My heart is in anguish within me,
   the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
   and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, ‘O that I had wings like a dove!
   I would fly away and be at rest;
truly, I would flee far away;
   I would lodge in the wilderness;
          Selah
I would hurry to find a shelter for myself
   from the raging wind and tempest.’ 

Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech;
   for I see violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they go around it
   on its walls,
and iniquity and trouble are within it;
     ruin is in its midst;
oppression and fraud
   do not depart from its market-place. 

It is not enemies who taunt me—
   I could bear that;
it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me—
   I could hide from them.
But it is you, my equal,
   my companion, my familiar friend,
with whom I kept pleasant company;
   we walked in the house of God with the throng.
Let death come upon them;
   let them go down alive to Sheol;
   for evil is in their homes and in their hearts. 

But I call upon God,
   and the Lord will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon
   I utter my complaint and moan,
   and he will hear my voice.
He will redeem me unharmed
   from the battle that I wage,
   for many are arrayed against me.
God, who is enthroned from of old,
          Selah
   will hear, and will humble them—
because they do not change,
   and do not fear God. 

My companion laid hands on a friend
   and violated a covenant with me^*
with speech smoother than butter,
   but with a heart set on war;
with words that were softer than oil,
   but in fact were drawn swords. 

Cast your burden on the Lord,
   and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
   the righteous to be moved. 

But you, O God, will cast them down
   into the lowest pit;
the bloodthirsty and treacherous
   shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.

In captivity

Philippians 3:15-21


              I have a whole reflection in my head about today's scripture passage and yet I feel compelled to write about being held captive. This being Passover, it seems appropriate. There seem to be a great many captives out there who should find special meaning in being released from slavery.

              First on my mind are the slaves in and around the issues before the Supreme court this week. Let's look at the media. The attempt to show an unbiased and balanced view of the marriage debate seems almost maniacal. In their effort, nay, their need to show fairness, seemingly at any cost, the media invariably picks an Evangelical Christian or a Roman Catholic Bishop to tell their view. It would seem to me that the media attempts to show no favoritism is actually jading the truth. The two religious entities I mentioned while certainly anti-gay most certainly do NOT represent the beliefs of all Christians. The media needs to be liberated from their own bias.

            Those Christians of the far right.  In spite of how vocal they may be, Evangelicals are a small minority. There are a large and growing group of Christians who are coming out of the bonds of slavery to literalist translations of the Bible. They see that being gay is not a sin and not against God at all. To many Christians accepting who God actually made you to be and living out that life in a loving way is a truly holy life. Certainly as holy as a heterosexual person living out their life. The religious right and literalists who are captive to a myopic view of the Bible need to be liberated.

           Gay men and women/the gay community. If there was ever such a striking parallel example of people that have been held captive, it is the gay community. We are closeted in so many ways from which we need to be liberated. We need to be liberated from lives that society tries to impose on us. First we need to come out of the closet. One kind of liberation. Society would say we cannot live productive , loving , committed lives and so often the gay community and individuals live up to that stereotype.  When that message is beaten into you the joy of being gay is often celebrated a bit too much lets say. Anything in excess is not good. That would be liberation from stereotypes and lifestyles.  A third point of liberation and one that again touches on other societal views of the gay community is that we are not faithful. Gay men and women seek the true meaning of life and seek out their God like every other human. Very often it is the churches that have told us we are going to hell in a hand basket so we do not seek God because that God is viewed as hateful and hurtful. We need to be liberated from what churches say and do, to the love of and relationship with our loving creator. It should be the same but church does not necessarily equate with God. Look at the Westboro Baptist church as an example.

          On this holy day when we celebrate the Israelites escape from bondage and freedom in God, gays around the world can celebrate also. We too know the sorrow of captivity and the joys of liberation. So alongside, misguided if not hateful churches and the media, our closets and our catechisms, let us pray that we will also be liberated from the tyranny of law that keeps us in bonds that others wish to hold us in. Pray for the Supreme court decision in favour of equality, justice and loving couples whomever they may be.

Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

More on confessions

1 Timothy 6:12-16


          It had the privilege of hearing a Franciscan brother speak yesterday during a Holy week retreat. One of the things he spoke of oddly enough was about confessions. So here are some thoughts of his plus my own - of course.  We spend our lives portraying the best face we can to the world. We would be loath to tell anyone those aspects of ourselves that we may not be too proud of. Perhaps that's what the confession box is for but even then we are a little skittish to say it all. We are happy that we will be forgiven, remember that. I think we may bypass an important part of any confession (and in this case I mean the sacrament of penance). That is, we try to hide the worst parts of us as if God does not already know it. God knows it ALL and still calls to us. And remember that part of being happy about we will be forgiven? Well we are already forgiven - for all that we say and all that we can't find the words to say or to admit to ourselves. God still invites us into an intimate relationship with him. God still loves us and forgives us totally and without reservation.

        It seems that confession, that Sacrament that is so good for the soul, is not that we will be forgiven, it's all about accepting the forgiveness God has already granted us, he died on the cross for our sins - already. We have to accept the forgiveness. We have to accept our own flaws and faults, foibles and faux pas.

        As part of our Lenten journey where I suggest we take a hard look at ourselves, realize that God already knows it all and still loves us beyond our measure or even our comprehension. That does not mean we should not acknowledge it ourselves. That is how we will grow. That will bring us into a closer relationship with God and help us appreciate his love all the more.

Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

Good confessions

1 Timothy 6:12-16

          When I hear "good confession" a thousand images stream through my mind from years of Catholic school, retreats and sermons. But what stands out? The best confession is accepting the Lord's invitation to love and intimacy. That is, Jesus Christ is Lord! Yes, confess your belief. Let it be known and not be a closet Christian.

           Very often we get caught up in the rubrics of religion. And that's not to say we obey all of them. Some do of course and that's an issue unto itself. The rubrics become the religion more than their actual faith. But many people have a clear faith, a relationship with their creator that allows the light of the Lord to shine through without attachment to all the fluff. Sadly, many people get caught up denying their faith over resentment of the myriad rules.  Letting rules or even individuals mediate your faith, no matter how charismatic and loving they are is wrong. All that is needed is the good confession.

         In pronouncing Jesus Christ is Lord! we are professing a true faith, a personally sent invitation that is being accepted. It is a true faith between you and God, no intermediaries.

         I recall a time not too many years ago when my pastor was accused of some very disturbing things. Some of them were true, most were not. The mere accusation threw me into a tailspin because for some reason I really felt like my faith, my relationship with God was mediated in some way by him. I would not have said it in words but I obviously felt that way. Funny thing is, I have made that good confession and I am known for saying it just a bit louder than every other seminarian in evening prayer.

        Let us all try this week of all weeks to find the courage to outwardly say aloud that Jesus Christ is Lord. It seems to me that not saying it is a slap in the face for all the the torture and torment Jesus went through for us.

        This week we will count down to Easter, a glorious celebration of hope, love, resurrection and new life. Let us be bold and accept totally the invitation sent to each and every one of us by responding with the good confession. Jesus Christ is Lord!

         Tomorrow, more on confessions.
        

Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

Once and for all

John 11:45-53

            I'm not sure why, but a vision of W.C Fields just came into my head. He's shoving a lollipop in a child's mouth in an effort to shut the little......tyke up. Ahhh yes. It really isn't that unusual really. We often will give a child something to appease them.  In a similar way, sacrifices were often offered up to appease the Gods.  I must be on a tear because now I am picturing Lana Turner being tossed into a Volcano in some B movie as a sacrifice.

            The idea of sacrifices have been around forever. Whether it's a bit passive like with a child, or offering a lamb or goat in a ritual sacrifice. I can picture God in heaven saying,  enough already, stop with the killing, I am the God of love and life - not killing.  God's love is so great that the son, Jesus, offers himself as one last sacrifice. One singular momentous sacrifice to clear the board. One life for the sacrifice of all people everywhere.

            That's a lot to digest if you really think about it. Let me focus on this. We are all children of God and loved. We simply do not have to bargain and do something more to be loved or saved. The maturity we should have is that we do not have to say, 'God if I do this, I'll do this'. I think we have all made a statement like that at one time or another.

              Just know that you are so loved by God. You need not do anything to achieve more love, Jesus already gave the ultimate sacrifice once and for all. That's the point - ONCE and for ALL.

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, ‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.

Grafting gay marriage

Romans 11:13-24

          I cannot help but think that when Jesus came he had said that he was here for the salvation of Israel, the chosen people. It must have been one crazy day in Jerusalem when the newly formed church argued at that first 'vatican council' about whether gentiles could be saved without having to convert to Judaism first.

           We gentles are the ones grafted that this passage speaks of.  While the message of Jesus may have been said to be just for the salvation of Israel, his actions and loving words of inclusiveness speak of a much wider audience. The Spirit of God prevailed.

           Is God's love limited to just a select few? No.  Is the movement and revelation of the Holy Spirit less alive today than it was in Jesus' time? No.  Perhaps for this reason alone we realize that we are to learn and grow in knowledge and faith. Those early Christians, who were actually Jews, realized that the message Jesus spoke was not limited to the Jews. The message of salvation and God's love is universal. That is the movement of the Holy Spirit.

            With increased knowledge of Scripture, exegesis and of the sciences we know much more now than we did then. I often mention how at one time we thought the sun revolved around the earth. Scripture seems to back that up but we know better. While it took seemingly forever for the church to accept that fact, the world struggled as the church was the predominant source of much of the worlds knowledge back in the day. There was no media, computers or mass communication.

            Now the world seems to be spinning faster. The movement of the Spirit is still alive, knowledge has increased both biblically and scientifically. The church is no longer the source of all information and yet sadly, the church changes, adjusts or accepts reality, whatever you with to call it, just as slow as it once did.

            The example of how gentiles were grafted into the believers is a simple example of the expansion of knowledge, movement of the spirit and 'grafting' something new into the tree of life, God's beautiful tree. The horizons of God's love expands.

            For millennia, Jews and Christians followed the creation accounts as a means to explain and understand God's creation of the world. That has been challenged with knowledge and theories which do not deny the essence of the creation story but certainly turns a literal interpretation on it's end.  So what is the true  message of the creation story? Certainly for the majority of humanity it explains the biologic desires of procreation. But we now know more. There is a percentage of God's creation that are not heterosexual but homosexual. How can we use the creation story to graft this new information about humanity into God's loving design? It is entirely possible, and I do believe it to be true, that the account is not only geared to an explanation of our natural God given desires but also to explain that God does not wish us to be alone. Now that we know that in God's created world, in humanity and in the entire animal kingdom, there is a definite and recognizable appearance of homosexuality,  God wishes ALL of his creations to know the truth of seeking companionship and community. We are not solitary beings. We are meant to be together.

        The world is coming around to this revelation. The movement of the Holy Spirit is saying, these people (homosexuals) are not anathema. They are not evil. They are my beloved creations with the same capacity for love. The same capacity for hurt. The same capacity to make mistakes. To sin but also to pay homage to God. To live purpose filled lives of love. We are all the same.  If marriage is just for procreation then there are a huge number of straight couples out there flirting if not flaunting their disdain for a procreation only theory by their actions in the bedroom. Should we investigate their bedroom practices? No, not at all. Sex of whatever variety and intimacy is an integral part of who we are and how we relate to each other, how we build a couple, a relationship. It is an expression of God's love.

        Two consenting, knowledgeable adults, a gift of God's love, an expression of God's love. a grafting of a committed couple into the 'traditional' definition of marriage. And the movement of the spirit is alive.

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. You will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God’s kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Words are cheap

John 10:19-42

     As  it goes with any religion and any person, the truth of their heart is shown in their actions. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words.

     In this passage, Jesus notes that he told the people, he showed the people, what more could they ask for? It seems they would much prefer a simple declaratory sentence that he is in fact the messiah. Jesus knew though that words really are cheap, even in his own day. What counts are the actions behind the words. In fact, if your actions are true, no words are really necessary.

      A standard example are those that attend Mass, say all the prayers, receive communion and then forgo any post Eucharistic mediation and prayer so they can run out and get to their cars fast. Heaven forbid they might have to let someone out first or be gracious as someone is walking through the parking lot.

      One of my favorite stories is a fowl mouthed, screaming supervisor at work. She yelled, cursed and berated her employees. I simply took note. The next time I saw her, she was robed up and singing angelically in the choir. If someone could have only caught the caption on my face. Of course that is really very judgemental of me. Lord knows how often I meditated in the morning before work only to wind up barking at someone who comes to my window looking for assistance.

    We may all have good intentions. We may all profess to be faithful. In the end, and I mean the very end (as in the pearly gates), we will be judged on our actions. Our action and inaction are what will convict us or save us. Our actions are a true profession. Words are still come cheap it seams.

Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, ‘He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?’ Others were saying, ‘These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?’ The Jews answered, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.’ Jesus answered, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I said, you are gods”? If those to whom the word of God came were called “gods”—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, “I am God’s Son”? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in him there.

Hope and a Pope

John 8:31-42

          The Roman Catholic Church has a long road ahead of it. Judging by the events of the last 10, errr 15, errr 1000 years or so, their self righteousness and the witness of their actions show just what this very reading from John is all about.  Theirs is a language that says we are saved, we are the one true church, we are the church founded on Christ. But to paraphrase from this reading 'If you are Jesus' disciples, you would be doing what Jesus did',  Just as some of the Jews in Jesus' time said we are not slaves, we have Abraham, etc., etc.  All I can think of is Porgy and Bess and the song "it ain't necessarily so".

          Along comes a breath of fresh air. Pope Francis. By all accounts, firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Humility. Poverty. Generosity of spirit. I will be the first to admit my trepidation over the Popes statements about gays and gay marriage over the years. But an honest heart, a loving heart is not one of arrogance and hypocrisy. A honest heart and a faith in the love of Jesus Christ is one that is not hardened to the movement of the Spirit. This man, the vicar of Christ is capable of knowing, capable of seeing, of realizing what needs to be done. By all accounts he has the assertiveness to do so. So I am hopeful for the Roman Catholic Church and hopeful for all the gay Catholics out there that are hurt, dejected, rejected and tortured.

          Before we starting chanting viva Francis and we're here, we're queer, let's look into ourselves as well. Not just the LGBT community but the entire church. Do WE feel justified because the church is so wrong or has perpetrated so much wrong? We are not more right because 'they' are so wrong. We are not excused from the self examination that this passage demands. It is time for us too to take a serious look at ourselves. As I have been saying, Lent is an incredibly good and appropriate time to do so.

         What we have though is a new Pope. If we have love and faith, we have hope. Hope.


Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’

Jesus and Abraham

They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does.’ They said to him, ‘We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 

Lies and damn lies

Daniel 4:28-37

          You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Lies are an insidious thing. Beside being plain wrong, they have some kind of hypnotic power on us. That is, if you tells lies enough you actually start to believe them and you become almost incapable of discerning what is real (truth) and what is false (lies). That is the slippery slope.

          Of course we all lie from time to time. We even categorize them, whoppers, white lies, fibs, bold face lies. I am sure we can get away with telling a lie here or there based on frequency and perhaps intention. I recall my mother asking me once where I got the delicious recipe for fruit salad. Knowing the ill feeling between my mom and my step-mother, I lied and said the recipe was from a coworker when it really came from my step-mom. I never did tell my mom the truth. In my mind that's a minor lie, one that I got away with.

          We can get away with many lies in life. There is a kind of ribbing or telling of a tall tale that are lies. Perhaps they are not even a good idea but it is fun. I am told by an expert that the success of telling such tales is making up convincing and supportive authoritative data (lies) with a straight face. 

          The worst of all lies though is , as I have said, the lies to ourselves. When we make ourselves the center of the universe as Nebuchadnezzar did.  But truth be told, any self lie is dangerous. How about the lie "I'm not gay" ( I just like to.....you fill in the blank ). Almost any lie that keeps you in the closet is evil. And again, if you tell the lie long enough you begin to believe it. 

         I encouraged everyone to spend Lent to get in touch with their humanity, to acknowledge who they are. I know I noted that it may take some tough self assessment and brutal honesty. The alternative is living a lie which renders you useless to anyone you wish to have a meaningful relationship with - be that another human, gay or straight and perhaps most importantly, your creator. 

        Brutal honesty with others can be mean spirited, painful and risky. This is where a certain amount of maturity and empathy comes in. You  really have to know who you are talking to.  Telling your lover they have morning breath is not the same as telling a stranger that they smell like a pig. Saying "i am just being honest" is a bit disingenuous at best.

         Truth and lies can get complicated in real life but the most dangerous lies are lies to self and God. 

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king said, ‘Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?’ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you! You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will.’ Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails became like birds’ claws.

When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.
I blessed the Most High,
   and praised and honoured the one who lives for ever.
For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty,
   and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
   and he does what he wills with the host of heaven
   and the inhabitants of the earth.
There is no one who can stay his hand
   or say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
At that time my reason returned to me; and my majesty and splendour were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counsellors and my lords sought me out, I was re-established over my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven,
for all his works are truth,
   and his ways are justice;
and he is able to bring low
   those who walk in pride. 

Men's liberation !

John 8:1-11

            On a show called Judge Judy, invariably there is a scene of a man and his wife at one desk and the 'harlot' at the other desk. The wife hates the 'harlot' that stands at the next table. Isn't it amazing how things have not changed over the mellenia?  The wife is mad at the other woman but what about the man?? The man is equally guilty of adultery. The man is even more guilty than the other woman because he has betrayed a sacred trust. 

             I have always been amazed that in this scripture reading which highlights Jesus' love, forgiveness and a bit of clever justice, the man 'found in adultery' is not mentioned.  Does he not have some culpability in this?  Is the man simply a poor victim of his own natural desires?

           If we are to believe the scriptures at face value we would diminish some of their  most important lessons. It also would give us no room for growth, use of our intelligence and movement of the Holy Spirit. I am sure there are people out there who believe the scriptures tacitly condone men's passions, believe women are subservient, should never have been given the right to vote and are best off when 'elevated' to the role which God made them for, child bearing.  Have we not come further than this?  

          Jesus' whole life is a testament to inclusiveness, loving forgiveness and passive, if not literal, elevation of women to every aspect of human possibilities.  From the woman at the well, to the woman who 'chose the better portion', to Mary of Magdela and a whole host of other scripture passages, Jesus was a social rebel that speaks mountains for a liberal social agenda, women's rights being just one. We are meant to grow as people and as society.

        But back to the adulterous man. At the same time, we cannot steep ourselves in traditional male roles of the Old Testament that speak of concubines, slavery and a male dominated society. Men need to take up the torch of their responsibility and grow also. Men can no longer point to the bible for justification of their passions. We have a brain. Gay or straight, we are still responsible for our actions in bed and in relationships.  Going further, we cannot lives lives that do not accept mutual responsibility in the home. We are fully capable of  'women's work'. Cleaning? Cooking? Child rearing? There is no reason and no excuse not to accept fully the burden and joy of responsibility of your life with another. There is no reason and no excuse not to accept fully the burden and joy of responsibility of raising and loving children.

          We cannot selectively read scripture to condone behavior. The standard of love and responsibility is there as well as the use of our intelligence and talents.

           Long live the liberation of men.

             

while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.' 

The prizm window from which i view

Philippians 3:4b-14

           I suppose every time you read a passage from scripture, you cannot help but say how is God speaking to me? What does this passage mean? What is it calling me to do? As you know, sometimes the message I write down is simply that God loves me and you. God wants us to be confident in his love, know we were 'purpose built' and holy. Sometimes, a reflection on our lives is just a smile.

           Today, I have such a smile. It isn't laziness but I feel content to simply sit here and take it all in, look out over the blue water with the sun rising and feel so appreciative of all that God has graced me with.

          Like Paul, there are many reasons I can be confident in the flesh and in what I have been given. Early on in life I started on a journey, set forth by my ancestors perhaps, of growing in the Roman Catholic faith. I always studied in religious schools and to date have amassed 20 solid years of Catholic eduction. Perhaps more important is the 20+ years of spiritual training that accompanied that education as well a singular retreat when I was 17 years old. That retreat laid the foundation for everything else in my life, faith, appreciation, relationship with God, joy and sustenance. At 17 I came to know in my heart, mind and soul that no matter what, God loved me and cared for me. It was a mutual love affair.  This love became the joy of my life and the prism of my entire life. No matter what transpired, no matter what happened, no what I achieved or seemed to achieve, everything was seen and appreciated through the prism of God's love for me.  It is something that I pray everyone can have. It is the reason I write this blog.

         So I can run through a litany of all the reasons I can be confident in the flesh like Paul. I can tell you stories for hours on end of how my life has gone. Some would say quite well, others might judge that I have been afflicted with life traumas and that I have overcome much. I have no such judgements except to say that the value I put on anything (and everything) is seen through the prism of God's love for me. Children, family, spouse, a wonderful cat, friends, home. All of this is seen not as accomplishments or reasons for pride. All of this is gift. All of this is seen through the prism of God's love for me.

          So as I sit here at my desk, the sun gets brighter and the water even bluer, as my husband makes me a cup of coffee to start the day, I am at peace and filled with love and appreciation. A fine morning meditation.

        What is it you see when you look through the prism of God's unending love for you ?

  

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:

circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.

More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Nothing to prove

John 6:16-21

          I was speaking with a colleague yesterday and the subject came up about how arrogant another coworker was. My colleague also noted that there was a newer staff member, who came with very high credentials and was heading a large new program that was exactly the opposite. This new man was humble, friendly and inclusive. There were no pretensions. My colleague noted that it is often the case that someone who has accomplished a great deal has no 'arrogance factor' because they feel no need to prove anything.

           It is a very peaceful and wonderful feeling not to have to prove anything. I don't want to have to justify myself every time I say that I am gay. Self assurance and joy are really all I try to exude. I am a big bald man so I don't know how approachable I seem but people who have met me say I am always friendly and upbeat. Why is that ?  I am not at the pinnacle of my profession. I have not achieved great things (in the eyes of the world).

           When Jesus came to the boat, calmness came. It is a good metaphor for what happens to anyone when they acknowledge God in their lives. Jesus has the most enormous transformative power in our lives.  There is a calmness, a self assuredness, a peace like nothing else. No worldly belongings, achievements or title can give us such peace.

            When we meet Jesus we realize we have nothing to prove. We are a beautiful, loved creation of God. End of story.

           

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.

Give it up

Romans 8:28-39

           Can you think of the one thing (or things) that you would never give up? There are jokes out there that some men would give up their wives before the would give up football. Or perhaps a wife might be heard to say "he loves that car more than he does me". I am no stranger to attachments. I spent a great deal of time and money accumulating things that were very important to me. But lets get a bit more serious, are you familiar with the love of  another such that you might find yourself feeling and saying that you'd give your life for that person?  Your spouse.Your kids perhaps?  I do know that feeling.

              In Paul's letter to the Roman's highlighted in this scripture passage, we are reminded that God offered up his only son for us. This is not a cheap remake of when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test only to have God say, no, don't do that. No, this story is the real deal. Jesus, the man, about whom God says "this is my beloved son" is offered up. God allows his own son to be offered up for us. For you. For me.  THAT is love.

               I can only imagine what I cling to. We cling to such petty things in the scheme of things. If I was asked to give up any of it, would I be willing to give it up? God gave his son. Jesus gave his life. Perhaps we can further appreciate this gift when we take note that Jesus was fully human, he gave up his life, his truly good friends. He had to say goodbye to his mother as a human. He had to watch while she watched the whole thing unfold. Jesus also gave up his pride for us. Can you imagine how humiliating it must have been to be such a respected and loved preacher and miracle worker, being bullied through the streets carrying your own cross and then being basically stripped naked in public and hung on cross to die. Could we give up any portion of our pride like this?

              What would we be willing to give up? We are not asked to do so for the most part but we do place value on things and on people. We need to appreciate them. Most of all, we need to appreciate what God gave us and is still giving us.
         

28 We know that all things work together for good^* for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.^{* 30}And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³²He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? ³³Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.^{* 35}Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
   we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’
³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Keep the conversation going

Exodus 32:7-14

      This seems to be another passage where the writer is engaged in a sincere effort to understand God.  Does God really change his mind? Can we convince God to do something, to intervene? There is a discussion going on between Moses and God. Moses does not understand it all and he is attributing actions to God that may just be fate or chance. Moses recognizes bad behavior and there seems to be a part of him, the part of us that likes justice, that believes the evildoers will surely be punished. Again, I am not sure God's mind can be changed or if it's even possible to negotiate with God.

       
        I do believe though that God appreciates the conversation with us. He does not laugh at our sincerity or limited capacity to understand. God loves to hear from each one of us. Like any good parent, he is concerned for our welfare, loves us immeasurably and aches when we are in pain.

         Keep the conversation going. 

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” ’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.’

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, ‘O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth”? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.” ’ And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

Let God be responsible.

Daniel 2:17-30

     If you were to ask me how much should I thank God and praise him, I would have to say praise God in all things. Count your blessings, have faith in God, know you are loved and that God is with us always at all times.

     In this passage I made a note that Daniel praises God for all the things he does. The seasons I understand. Revealing hidden things, I understand. Praising God for wisdom and knowledge, I understand. Some of them though I would have difficulty believing myself. The part about deposing kings and 'sets up kings'. As a parallel, would I believe that God is responsible for the election of our most recent President Bush? How about the win of President Obama? You see, that's what I'd have trouble with. Does God intervene in Presidential elections? Does he intervene in the route of a hurricane?

      I believe that Daniel is praising God for things wholly appropriate as well as things he does not fully understand. In short though, Daniel is expressing his love and his relationship with God. That is perhaps part of the real message. I think we all like to understand things and sometimes when we do not, we put it God's hands or try to place the responsibility with him. Why does a child get cancer? Why do so many bad things happen in the world? You see, we really don't understand. We don't know.

      This is true of science as well. In the face of not knowing, the responsibility is placed on God. This is why, before we knew better, we believed that the sun revolved around the earth. It made sense at the time, with the information we had, or could comprehend.

       An argument has always been that in knowing the truth about anything, we will be dismissing God in our lives. The truth is, the more we know, the more we find we do not know. I have no doubt that our knowledge will grow more and more. We will find the secrets of matter and anti-matter. We may even find convincing evidence about 'the big bang'. But no matter how much we know, there will be more we do not know and perhaps cannot know.

       Knowing is not a reason to dismiss God. I still believe we should praise God in all things. Daniel said it,  I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and power.

Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel said:
‘Blessed be the name of God from age to age,
   for wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons,
   deposes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
   and knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
   he knows what is in the darkness,
   and light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my ancestors,
   I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and power,
   and have now revealed to me what we asked of you,
   for you have revealed to us what the king ordered.’

Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, ‘Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will give the king the interpretation.’

Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him: ‘I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who can tell the king the interpretation.’ The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, ‘Are you able to tell me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?’ Daniel answered the king, ‘No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen at the end of days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed were these: To you, O king, as you lay in bed, came thoughts of what would be hereafter, and the revealer of mysteries disclosed to you what is to be. But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any other living being, but in order that the interpretation may be known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind

Belt it out Beulah.

Psalm 46

        When I was a youth my neighbors told me they loved to see me walking along because I was invariably singing one tune or another. I was a happy child. I still do that and often it's something that is created right out of my joyful heart. The words just come to me. I am a very happy man. I do have a song in my heart.

         When I read this passage, psalm 46, I am reminded of a song sung by the Monks of the Weston Priory. Though the mountains may fall and the hills tirn to dust, the love of the Lord will stand..

It seems to me that songs are a universal way to express the many aspects of human life, joys, sadness, love and worship. Perhaps all song are a form of raising our hearts to God, whether that's the psalms put to music, love songs or even a country blues song. We are raising our inner spirit and our hearts and it becomes a prayer. It could be a prayer of praise or a prayer of thanks or a prayer of lament.

           I think this is shown no more effectively than when Dolores Van Cartier, the cabaret Diva from  Sister Act makes contemporary hit songs into songs of worship. Singing is so integral to our lives, our spirit.  No one should ever deny the voice within them from coming out. Belt it loud sisters and brothers!  There is a joke that my husbands voice makes our cat think he has done something wrong. That's al wrong. I have known people whose voices seem absolutely tortured as they sing in church. But you know what? All voices may not be created equal but they convey the same essence, the same spirit of joy and love. So belt it out there. Give God back in the voice he gave you.  I am sure God loves to hear from you.

     A singing voice of praise and love - another way to become more human this Lent, another way to commune with our God.

          

          

God’s Defence of His City and People

To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.
God is our refuge and strength,
   a very present  help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
   though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
   though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
          Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city;  it shall not be moved;
   God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
   he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;

Father of religions

Galatians 4:21-5:1

        My father was a very interesting soul. He thirsted for knowledge. Perhaps he was no different than anyone else. In his search for knowledge, for meaning, for wholeness, he read about many religions. He was a font of knowledge. I was amazed at his openness to answers. I'm not sure my brothers would say the same thing but I had the pleasure of his company in his later years more than they did.

         This reading reminds me a bit of his thirst for knowledge. Christians reading this passage will find  a story of faith, tradition and an allegory. Do we really know or see the importance of this story though?

          Of Abraham's two sons, two great religions sprung forth. The obvious answer to Christians and Jews is that Abraham is the father of Judaism. Are we all aware that it is Abraham's other son that is the source, the root of Islam? Islam is a decidedly foreign religion to most of us. Although I have a copy of the Qur'an I have never been able to decipher it in any meaningful way. I do know that every Muslim person I have every met has been loving, generous and faithful. Not exactly the image many people have of Islam. While I am not foolish enough to believe that all Muslims believe that their religion is one of love and peace, I also know the same could easily be said of Christianity over the centuries. Holy wars and the Inquisition do not bear witness to a religion of love and peace either. Looking at the horrors of the Roman Catholic church even today in terms of pedophilia and cover-ups (especially the cover-ups), one would be loath to convince a non believer that Catholicism is a faith of God's love for mankind. The pomp and pageantry, the ritual of the conclave also does not bare witness to the simplicity of Christ's message.

            Perhaps the roots of these two religions are an interesting fact for some to have in their heads. Perhaps it will be a source of inquiry for others. Perhaps it will be humbling to those who feel self righteous about their faith. 

             Knowing that God loves each and every one of is an article of faith to me. God revealing himself to us in all of his created world is also something I believe in. Each with our own snippet of experience, we explore and learn, try to become whole and love. It is a universal truth that God has revealed himself to others in different ways, no better than the other, each of us with a different view. I do not hold that one vision has more truth than any other. That is, the way I see God is no better than the way you see God. The way God reveals himself to me is no better than the way God reveals himself to you.

            In the end God is a God of love. If we are to grow into a world of love, we will need to have respect and love for everyone. If we do not, we will see more of the horrors that we see going on in the world today.

Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
‘Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
   burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs;
for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
   than the children of the one who is married.’
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? ‘Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.’ So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Better than you

Luke 18:9-14

          Perhaps one of the surest ways to determine if you are self righteous is to ask yourself if you look down on someone else. I will confess to everyone that in some ways I am. If you are an avid reader you know exactly with whom I struggle. Not that I am proud of it, I am surely not. And while not minimizing it, I am aware that it is something I struggle with and am striving not to be.

           That is my way of introducing us to the fact that we are all a bit self righteous.  Of course it is easy to pick out those that really think they are better than everyone else.  Somehow though we may miss the boat when it comes to our own failings. 

     When you are a member of a group (gay or excommunicated catholic, both, or more) that is apparently already at the bottom of the heap you'd think you couldn't be self righteous. Yet there are people that would claim "I am gay and born this way" and take that as license to act any way they please. It is not a lcense to be self rightoeus about our behaviour. Yes, God loves you but realize God loves everyone else at least as much as he loves you. We may have been born this way but it is not a licensce to act out, be promiscous, hurt others or even look down on others. 

        No one is immune.  No one, save our Lord. Thankfully, joyfully, we are given a lot of love and lot of latitude. We should be generous with our love, patience and latitude too. 

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’