Darkness has many connotations. Dark places seem foreboding and are not usually places that we want to enter into and yet we find ourselves there no matter what we do in life. I was thinking of Jesus' time in the tomb. That is a dark place, almost the kind of thing nightmares are made of. I know of several movies with a scene when someone is locked inside a crypt or worse, inside a coffin alive.
There are several hallmarks of being in dark places and oddly enough one of them is that they are often closely related to thin spaces, places where you can easily feel God at hand. I don't mean that because death might be close at hand and you might be close to meeting your maker either. No, there is great transformative power in that darkness.
When I think back on my darkest times in life I can easily single out the time that I was coming to terms with being gay. I was a Dad, a husband, clergy and had a professional career of over 25 years in the same place, well respected and loved on many fronts. The contemplation of the fact that I might be gay was darkness to me. Tipping over the apple cart and coming out was total darkness. Even coming to terms with being gay presented me with seemingly no good solutions that make the darkness of the situation seem more intense and foreboding. No course of action for me at the time would yield a good answer. No matter which way I turned there was darkness. Struggling, faith, placing my foot forward and moving in and beyond the darkness yielded love, enormous possibilities, more love and joy.
One of the things that I realize is how darkness plays a role in so many transformative and growth experiences. I know a missionary Priest who will be giving his Easter vigil sermon tonight. Invariably he points to how we as humans are like being in cocoon. It is not without a great deal of struggle and perhaps a great deal of literal darkness in that cocoon that a magnificent and beautiful butterfly is born. It is a beautiful image and one placed around us in this created world so that God's is revealed and so we can see what faith can do and what great things God has in store for us. And it started with a struggle in darkness.
Today could easily seem like one of those very dark days. It was for the Apostles and certainly seems so for Jesus, locked in the tomb with a giant stone rolled across the front. Today we are neither here nor there. We have passed through Good Friday, Jesus has died and yet we are not at Easter yet either. Another dark place. We eagerly await Easter because we know what is coming.
If it is with the knowledge of the Resurrection, faith in God and the examples She sets forth before us in this world that we can boldly enter into dark places and know that there is light when we think there is none left. We are people of faith and filled with the potential to be unique and magnificent butterflies.
Darkness is not our comfort zone but it can be entered into and even embraced because we know that it is a transitional place and we will rise to great things by our struggle. We are promised the bliss of eternal happiness with God. But for right now. darkness.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
The sting of death
Mark 15:37
Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last
I have grown accustomed to certain aspects about death and having to say goodbye to people I know and love. They have a marked propensity for departing during Lent or right near, if not on, my birthday. Weird I know and it has happened again on Maundy Thursday.
I hope that is not a problem because the person who passed yesterday was Jewish, my mother-in-law, a saint. It will give a new meaning for me to the word 'passover'. I hope that is not sacrilegious.
Once again faced with a portion of the ache that Mary, the Apostles and the faithful felt when Jesus was put to death. The loss is no less to our human hearts when a person is 87 and has been released from earthly shackles and the torment of dealing with a traumatic injury. Death's sting is universal. We still have to say good bye, our hearts wrenched from someone we love and who loved us.
In the case of our Lord, He really did love us didn't he? It was well within His power to stop the scenario that unfolded. He did not even have to become human and share in all that we live every day. But alas, He did. The torture , literal and figurative, of His death only highlights how much He loved each and every one us. He willingly submitted and as a human had the same feelings of separation that we all feel.
Hopefully we all can see how much God loves us. While the emotion of Good Friday always tends to haunt in it's special way, I am comforted by that knowledge that God loves us and I will have an extra portion of consolation knowing that my Mother-in-law also loved me dearly and is looking down on us as well. She too loved me dearly, and so many others as well. A sad but solemn gift of comfort.
Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last
I have grown accustomed to certain aspects about death and having to say goodbye to people I know and love. They have a marked propensity for departing during Lent or right near, if not on, my birthday. Weird I know and it has happened again on Maundy Thursday.
I hope that is not a problem because the person who passed yesterday was Jewish, my mother-in-law, a saint. It will give a new meaning for me to the word 'passover'. I hope that is not sacrilegious.
Once again faced with a portion of the ache that Mary, the Apostles and the faithful felt when Jesus was put to death. The loss is no less to our human hearts when a person is 87 and has been released from earthly shackles and the torment of dealing with a traumatic injury. Death's sting is universal. We still have to say good bye, our hearts wrenched from someone we love and who loved us.
In the case of our Lord, He really did love us didn't he? It was well within His power to stop the scenario that unfolded. He did not even have to become human and share in all that we live every day. But alas, He did. The torture , literal and figurative, of His death only highlights how much He loved each and every one us. He willingly submitted and as a human had the same feelings of separation that we all feel.
Hopefully we all can see how much God loves us. While the emotion of Good Friday always tends to haunt in it's special way, I am comforted by that knowledge that God loves us and I will have an extra portion of consolation knowing that my Mother-in-law also loved me dearly and is looking down on us as well. She too loved me dearly, and so many others as well. A sad but solemn gift of comfort.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
The Royal priesthood
Mark 14:12-25
It is said that the Last Supper is the point where Jesus instituted the Priesthood of the Church. With what is going on it seems pretty amazing to me. As Jesus fully grasps what is about to come down He is moving forward with the institution of the church basically and doing so as he confronts some hard facts. Judas is about to betray him and Peter, his go to to, # 1 guy, is about to deny him 3 times at one of the most crucial points in the whole scenario. This is powerful stuff. We're not talking about a disagreement between two people, these Apostles were what we might consider best bro's. They travelled, ate, laughed, dined and did everything together. And yet, Judas does what he does, Peter does what he does and the entire lot of Apostles run and hide like cowering children when Jesus is a arrested and crucified.
I am painting a picture here not so much to engage you in the drama but to see the drama and know that Jesus still proceeded as planned. I often say that God loves you so much, each and every one of us, that if we were the only person on earth, Jesus would still willingly take on human form and die for you. That is the awesome, humbling realization. Jesus did it for his seemingly rotten Apostles and He is willingly dying on the cross for us.
The extent of Jesus' love is our example for sure and one I am not certain I can live up to. I am not sure Jesus thinks I can do it either. He watched so closely as his cherished brothers and Apostles let him down and he still died for them. That's it ! Jesus set this in motion just to show us in the most intimate of ways that He is giving us a blank check. We should not be like the tenant farmers in the bosses vineyard, we should not squander what God trusts us with which is our lives and the lives of our brothers.
Today is our call to be the church, to renew our own priesthood and to never forget in worship or service what we have been shown to do and how to act.
It is said that the Last Supper is the point where Jesus instituted the Priesthood of the Church. With what is going on it seems pretty amazing to me. As Jesus fully grasps what is about to come down He is moving forward with the institution of the church basically and doing so as he confronts some hard facts. Judas is about to betray him and Peter, his go to to, # 1 guy, is about to deny him 3 times at one of the most crucial points in the whole scenario. This is powerful stuff. We're not talking about a disagreement between two people, these Apostles were what we might consider best bro's. They travelled, ate, laughed, dined and did everything together. And yet, Judas does what he does, Peter does what he does and the entire lot of Apostles run and hide like cowering children when Jesus is a arrested and crucified.
I am painting a picture here not so much to engage you in the drama but to see the drama and know that Jesus still proceeded as planned. I often say that God loves you so much, each and every one of us, that if we were the only person on earth, Jesus would still willingly take on human form and die for you. That is the awesome, humbling realization. Jesus did it for his seemingly rotten Apostles and He is willingly dying on the cross for us.
The extent of Jesus' love is our example for sure and one I am not certain I can live up to. I am not sure Jesus thinks I can do it either. He watched so closely as his cherished brothers and Apostles let him down and he still died for them. That's it ! Jesus set this in motion just to show us in the most intimate of ways that He is giving us a blank check. We should not be like the tenant farmers in the bosses vineyard, we should not squander what God trusts us with which is our lives and the lives of our brothers.
Today is our call to be the church, to renew our own priesthood and to never forget in worship or service what we have been shown to do and how to act.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Oh those pesky nuns
Mark 12:10-11
Have you not read this scripture:“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”?’
I have no allusions that if Jesus were here today I could be a doubting Thomas or a dismissive Danny ( my creation ). I give everything the critical eye and I scrutinize everything. I might reject that stone meant to be my salvation, the cornerstone.
That is what Jesus was, the cornerstone rejected by the leaders of the very religion to which he belonged. A rather intimate relationship I'd say. From all accounts, Jesus was a Rabbi's Rabbi. He was gifted in preaching, compassionate and loving. He is the answer to all of our questions.
I our search for happiness, holiness and wholeness I can't help but think how much I might have missed by some of my flippant rejections. We all do it. Perhaps in not respecting ourselves we wind up disrespecting and rejecting others. It is said that you cannot love others until you love yourself.
Someone noted recently on a FB page of my grammar school how they had been tortured by 'the nuns' for umteen years and at the age of 71 felt that they had finally broken free from those bonds. I noted my religious back ground of 20 plus full years with nuns and they had successfully graced me with the support and knowledge that I am thoroughly and utterly loved. That came in handy when the hierarchy determined by their tribunals or witches council such as it is, that I was to be laicized and was intrinsically disordered. ( the Roman term for gay people ). I could easily have dismissed so much of those 20 years, many do based on their experience of scarred and imperfect nuns. But aren't we all scarred and imperfect in one way or another? In our rejections sometimes we throw out the baby with the bathwater so to speak.
I wonder if we should be rejecting anything. All of God's creation, animate and inanimate have revelations to offer about the creator. Any religion I can think of, while not offering perhaps the entirety of truth have a portion of knowledge and truth to offer. No one person, religion or fact contains all knowledge except God herself.
At the ending of this Lenten season when we may or may not ( probably not ) been fully successful in our journey for wholeness, I think the most important thing to remember at this point is to respect and love yourself as God does. Do not dismiss or reject yourself as less than loved, less than perfect. In a few days you will be intimately reminded of just how much God does love you.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Ming vases
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
Many of us have the memory of playing with playdough and the like. A lot of fun for sure, you can make and re-make, mold and remold things. We have a toy cabinet for the grandkids and play dough is in already in there. Somewhat true of silly putty as well. Make an image of the comics then squish it and you can start all over. Endless fun.
I love the image about clay jars here in todays reading. It centers my attention on the idea that God is the potter and we are the clay. That might be especially important this week as we come to the end of Lent and come to the Paschal Triduum. We are the clay that God intends to mold. There are a couple of elements to clay that we have to remember however.
Before a clay pot or jar is finished, it is crucial that it maintain the ability to be molded. In our case that might be the equivalent to really listening, praying or hardening not our hearts. I have had instances in my own life when I am so sure that I know what the plan is, that I am not even listening for anything else. I miss (ed) the point entirely as if I am my own clay and potter rolled into one. I try to maintain the ability to be molded. I don't think God is done with me and may not be done until the day I wind up knocking on her pearly gates. This week seems like a crucial time to be aware and listening for God trying to make the entire week a thin place for ourselves. I have been graced on a few occasions in life to steal myself away to a monastery for the Triduum and it is glorious to do so. The silence is deafening and the voice of God is clearly awesome. I feel like clay, very willing to be molded.
Another thing I have noted about clay jars or pots is how fragile they can become if they dry out, that is, lose their ability to be molded. I once walked a labyrinth whose path was lined with shards of broken clay pots. It seems so apropos. Are we to become a ming vase or shards for people to walk all over? Perhaps if we are shards we might be lucky enough to be a path for others but that seems so apologetic. I think we really are clay in the potters hands. It is our cooperation and acceptance that makes all the difference.
So how is that coming this Lent? Hardened pots of clay for us? or allowing ourselves to be molded by the potter?
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
Many of us have the memory of playing with playdough and the like. A lot of fun for sure, you can make and re-make, mold and remold things. We have a toy cabinet for the grandkids and play dough is in already in there. Somewhat true of silly putty as well. Make an image of the comics then squish it and you can start all over. Endless fun.
I love the image about clay jars here in todays reading. It centers my attention on the idea that God is the potter and we are the clay. That might be especially important this week as we come to the end of Lent and come to the Paschal Triduum. We are the clay that God intends to mold. There are a couple of elements to clay that we have to remember however.
Before a clay pot or jar is finished, it is crucial that it maintain the ability to be molded. In our case that might be the equivalent to really listening, praying or hardening not our hearts. I have had instances in my own life when I am so sure that I know what the plan is, that I am not even listening for anything else. I miss (ed) the point entirely as if I am my own clay and potter rolled into one. I try to maintain the ability to be molded. I don't think God is done with me and may not be done until the day I wind up knocking on her pearly gates. This week seems like a crucial time to be aware and listening for God trying to make the entire week a thin place for ourselves. I have been graced on a few occasions in life to steal myself away to a monastery for the Triduum and it is glorious to do so. The silence is deafening and the voice of God is clearly awesome. I feel like clay, very willing to be molded.
Another thing I have noted about clay jars or pots is how fragile they can become if they dry out, that is, lose their ability to be molded. I once walked a labyrinth whose path was lined with shards of broken clay pots. It seems so apropos. Are we to become a ming vase or shards for people to walk all over? Perhaps if we are shards we might be lucky enough to be a path for others but that seems so apologetic. I think we really are clay in the potters hands. It is our cooperation and acceptance that makes all the difference.
So how is that coming this Lent? Hardened pots of clay for us? or allowing ourselves to be molded by the potter?
Monday, March 26, 2018
Always walking towards the light
Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden
The ideal, what we aspire to know in every fiber and molecule of our being, is that we are the light of the world because that is what God knows us to be and created us to be. But on our life journey, stuff happens and we get distracted from our journey and perhaps doubt the truth of our light. I am thinking about this upcoming week set back a few millennia to the original Holy week - only back then they just called it . . . a week.
Did you ever wake up and find it was a dark and dreary day? Sort of the companion to that famous literary line 'it was a dark and stormy night'. Still you might be walking along and see some incredibly dark clouds start to roll in, a front coming through that speaks to mood changes from a rapidly falling barometer. It's all rather depressing. That would seem a good place if any to start the mood of this Holy week.
It might seem difficult to grasp the awesome power and joy of Palm Sunday and the almost horrific counterpoint of what will transpire between now and Friday. They betrayed, stripped, whipped, tortured with thorns, paraded the holy answer to all our problems, the Savior! The enormity of these storm clouds is staggering even now.
Can you think of your own storm clouds and embrace them to try and understand what it must have been like that week, back then? Back in the day? We really can understand what happened, we still see it all around us. The betrayals, the crush of modern life, the ignorance, the hate, the not knowing which way to turn when every choice seems it will have a bad outcome. Have we faced our own Kobayashi Maru? Do we begin to doubt our light?
But we are certain about one thing, that's for sure. Without platitudes about 'always being darkest before the dawn' and all that. We do know "It Get's Better". I am a witness to that in my own life. It doesn't seem as certain while you going through whatever it is that darkens one's life, but it does get better. If we have one shining example, even though the disciples all ran for the hills or outright said "Jesus, who?" as Peter did, there was a triumphant victory that we all share in. The end of that fateful week brought not darkness but joy. We have the luxury of seeing that from this side of history. It is a the journey we all share in from time to time, from joy, to darkness and on to victory. Resurrection. New Life. Unimagined, seemingly undeserved, total and complete victory. New Life. The promise of 'it get's better' delivered in the rising of Jesus Christ.
Can we, at the times we get caught up in darkness, as we experience anew the darkness
Jesus lived through as a human - can we fix our sights on hope and light? Can we know that we too, each and every one of us, are the light of the world?
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden
The ideal, what we aspire to know in every fiber and molecule of our being, is that we are the light of the world because that is what God knows us to be and created us to be. But on our life journey, stuff happens and we get distracted from our journey and perhaps doubt the truth of our light. I am thinking about this upcoming week set back a few millennia to the original Holy week - only back then they just called it . . . a week.
Did you ever wake up and find it was a dark and dreary day? Sort of the companion to that famous literary line 'it was a dark and stormy night'. Still you might be walking along and see some incredibly dark clouds start to roll in, a front coming through that speaks to mood changes from a rapidly falling barometer. It's all rather depressing. That would seem a good place if any to start the mood of this Holy week.
It might seem difficult to grasp the awesome power and joy of Palm Sunday and the almost horrific counterpoint of what will transpire between now and Friday. They betrayed, stripped, whipped, tortured with thorns, paraded the holy answer to all our problems, the Savior! The enormity of these storm clouds is staggering even now.
Can you think of your own storm clouds and embrace them to try and understand what it must have been like that week, back then? Back in the day? We really can understand what happened, we still see it all around us. The betrayals, the crush of modern life, the ignorance, the hate, the not knowing which way to turn when every choice seems it will have a bad outcome. Have we faced our own Kobayashi Maru? Do we begin to doubt our light?
But we are certain about one thing, that's for sure. Without platitudes about 'always being darkest before the dawn' and all that. We do know "It Get's Better". I am a witness to that in my own life. It doesn't seem as certain while you going through whatever it is that darkens one's life, but it does get better. If we have one shining example, even though the disciples all ran for the hills or outright said "Jesus, who?" as Peter did, there was a triumphant victory that we all share in. The end of that fateful week brought not darkness but joy. We have the luxury of seeing that from this side of history. It is a the journey we all share in from time to time, from joy, to darkness and on to victory. Resurrection. New Life. Unimagined, seemingly undeserved, total and complete victory. New Life. The promise of 'it get's better' delivered in the rising of Jesus Christ.
Can we, at the times we get caught up in darkness, as we experience anew the darkness
Jesus lived through as a human - can we fix our sights on hope and light? Can we know that we too, each and every one of us, are the light of the world?
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Palm Sunday. Living the actions of Jesus
John 13:15
Jesus said: "For I have given you an example, that you also should do
just as I have done to you."
Anyone who seriously studies the Bible, especially the New Testament is keenly aware of the timeline and authorship of what we read every day. First of all, many Christians become aware that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were very likely not written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Sounds like heresy. The timeline of these texts is one of great import and constant study. The really important thing for me to note right here is that it was many years before they were written and considerably longer still until texts were finalized and what was to be officially accepted; what was to be included had been decided. Did you know there were unaccepted Gospels? Thomas, Mary and Philip for example. My point is not to throw stumbling blocks but to have people come to the realization that before there was the written word, there were active, practicing, proselytizing Christians. They spread 'The Word" by their actions and by conveying the life and actions of Jesus and very likely, how they witnessed it with their own eyes.
So when I read John's quotation and this directive of Jesus, I give great import to the actions of Jesus that we have direct testaments to and that we know happened. I'll make a short list of a few of them here:
Jesus said: "For I have given you an example, that you also should do
just as I have done to you."
Anyone who seriously studies the Bible, especially the New Testament is keenly aware of the timeline and authorship of what we read every day. First of all, many Christians become aware that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were very likely not written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Sounds like heresy. The timeline of these texts is one of great import and constant study. The really important thing for me to note right here is that it was many years before they were written and considerably longer still until texts were finalized and what was to be officially accepted; what was to be included had been decided. Did you know there were unaccepted Gospels? Thomas, Mary and Philip for example. My point is not to throw stumbling blocks but to have people come to the realization that before there was the written word, there were active, practicing, proselytizing Christians. They spread 'The Word" by their actions and by conveying the life and actions of Jesus and very likely, how they witnessed it with their own eyes.
So when I read John's quotation and this directive of Jesus, I give great import to the actions of Jesus that we have direct testaments to and that we know happened. I'll make a short list of a few of them here:
- Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus
- Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners
- Jesus cured the Centurions' (gay) lover
- Jesus spent time at a well conversing with a Samaritan woman
- Jesus fed the multitudes
- Jesus intervened in the stoning of an adulterer.
- Jesus had a disciple that he loved.
For the purpose of seeing what Jesus did and how he actually lived, I'd read scripture and focus on words that show what a revolutionary he really was, errr is. If we do not go by all the other stuff in Scripture and follow his actions, we have a recipe for salvation and a way of life that emulates the Father and total love. Isn't that what being a Christian is really supposed to be? It isn't someones slanted and agenda driven interpretation of passages. Being a Christian is not in all the rules and rubrics of a seemingly all powerful church that has put as many strictures on salvation as an Pharisee ever did.
We are called to live as He did. Plain, simple. Ok, not that simple sometimes but all good. Perhaps we could meditate on some of the words I have highlighted or words and actions that you know happened from Jesus' life. These were ones that stood out to me. His actions are what we are to emulate, His actions are the route to our salvation. It really is the source of WWJD.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Second nature
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
How appropriate that this reading today is balancing two natures which we face and know so well. I especially face this today. That is the balance between our outward nature and our inward being; infirmity or temporary afflictions and our eternal destiny. As my mother-in-law is in the hospital today after a really bad fall. We are watching for her to get better and pray she will return to us. Very tough.
I am sure the disciples had a hugely difficult time knowing Jesus had to go, maybe even realized what he was going to go through, having to see it unfold and happen but somehow, hopefully, know he was returning to the Father. Brutal. Heart wrenching. Very human. A balancing act which we often lean heavily on the human side, praying to avoid facing the transition.
I can think of many circumstances in my own life where I was faced quite seriously with moving on to a higher plane, facing my maker as they say. It's quite difficult to face our two natures especially when the latter might seem too big an unknown. An aneurysm tends to do that. I was lucky enough to have mine discovered but I knew I had to make preparations. If anything at all, it told me we are guaranteed nothing.
Coming out also involves two natures, a transition if you will and the latter, "hey, I'm gay"! has a whole host of uncertainties not unlike taking our final steps towards our eternal destiny. We are dying to an imperfect life we may be comfortable with to a more complete and honest self but filled with fears and unknowns. So what is it that helps us move forward and face whatever unknown is before us?
The answer is faith and that is all about love. Love never dies, it is the constant. Love may be denied us but it reappears in others. A loved one may pass but the love in our heart and the memories never die. That love still exists, will always exist.
As we approach the unapproachable for ourselves , for a loved one or as we approach Holy week and the death and Resurrection of our Lord, we know that love is the constant that we have and can always count on. Isn't love and God's love for us what Easter is all about?
How appropriate that this reading today is balancing two natures which we face and know so well. I especially face this today. That is the balance between our outward nature and our inward being; infirmity or temporary afflictions and our eternal destiny. As my mother-in-law is in the hospital today after a really bad fall. We are watching for her to get better and pray she will return to us. Very tough.
I am sure the disciples had a hugely difficult time knowing Jesus had to go, maybe even realized what he was going to go through, having to see it unfold and happen but somehow, hopefully, know he was returning to the Father. Brutal. Heart wrenching. Very human. A balancing act which we often lean heavily on the human side, praying to avoid facing the transition.
I can think of many circumstances in my own life where I was faced quite seriously with moving on to a higher plane, facing my maker as they say. It's quite difficult to face our two natures especially when the latter might seem too big an unknown. An aneurysm tends to do that. I was lucky enough to have mine discovered but I knew I had to make preparations. If anything at all, it told me we are guaranteed nothing.
Coming out also involves two natures, a transition if you will and the latter, "hey, I'm gay"! has a whole host of uncertainties not unlike taking our final steps towards our eternal destiny. We are dying to an imperfect life we may be comfortable with to a more complete and honest self but filled with fears and unknowns. So what is it that helps us move forward and face whatever unknown is before us?
The answer is faith and that is all about love. Love never dies, it is the constant. Love may be denied us but it reappears in others. A loved one may pass but the love in our heart and the memories never die. That love still exists, will always exist.
As we approach the unapproachable for ourselves , for a loved one or as we approach Holy week and the death and Resurrection of our Lord, we know that love is the constant that we have and can always count on. Isn't love and God's love for us what Easter is all about?
Friday, March 23, 2018
The arborist
Matthew 5:16
Most of us are familiar with the concept of letting our light shine. Some of us of a certain age might recall a song from Godspell that speaks of not putting our light under a bushel (basket). What good is that? The light that illuminates our goodness and our acts of love however, also illuminates our sin. Interesting thought, eh? Let me spin it this way, let the light shine on our mistakes.
I always liked knowing my mistakes at work. I wasn't a masochist, I simply realized that unless you know your mistakes you can't take corrective action to avoid making the same mistakes again. and again.
I think there is great importance, especially in Lent, to have a serious look inwards. Serious introspection and shedding light on ourselves, warts and all, is crucial to our growth into who we are meant to be. But more than that, I am looking to shed light on and actually embrace our less desirable traits, acts or mistakes. Embrace, appreciate and grow. This might be considered part of a pre-reconciliation examination or part of the Examin of St. Ignatius. We need to see all of who we are, this is part of our journey. As an arborist knows how to look and prune, so must we be able to look critically at ourselves, good and bad, embracing all and moving forward in change and commitment to truth.
The truth is that God loves us just as we are, warts and all and God sees us not for what we have done per-se, but for what we are intended to be, what we are capable of being. In so doing we are preparing for our Easter moments of growth and birth into the Easter beings ( butterflies if you will ) that we are created to be.
Most of us are familiar with the concept of letting our light shine. Some of us of a certain age might recall a song from Godspell that speaks of not putting our light under a bushel (basket). What good is that? The light that illuminates our goodness and our acts of love however, also illuminates our sin. Interesting thought, eh? Let me spin it this way, let the light shine on our mistakes.
I always liked knowing my mistakes at work. I wasn't a masochist, I simply realized that unless you know your mistakes you can't take corrective action to avoid making the same mistakes again. and again.
I think there is great importance, especially in Lent, to have a serious look inwards. Serious introspection and shedding light on ourselves, warts and all, is crucial to our growth into who we are meant to be. But more than that, I am looking to shed light on and actually embrace our less desirable traits, acts or mistakes. Embrace, appreciate and grow. This might be considered part of a pre-reconciliation examination or part of the Examin of St. Ignatius. We need to see all of who we are, this is part of our journey. As an arborist knows how to look and prune, so must we be able to look critically at ourselves, good and bad, embracing all and moving forward in change and commitment to truth.
The truth is that God loves us just as we are, warts and all and God sees us not for what we have done per-se, but for what we are intended to be, what we are capable of being. In so doing we are preparing for our Easter moments of growth and birth into the Easter beings ( butterflies if you will ) that we are created to be.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
The housekeeper was a ten.
Matthew 20:25-26
One of the first times that I preached involved this very passage. I hope I can convey the meaning of that illustrious moment in some small way again now. And that folks, is exactly not what I just did. It was not an 'illustrious' moment. It was no different than any other moment. It was me doing something I was taught to do, was supposed to do and hopefully did well. At that service, on that day, we all did what we were supposed to do. Ushers, the faithful, the Priest, the altar servers and yes, the Deacon too.
The essence of my sermon that day was actually about my secular job in an operating room. We often get the impression that the surgeon is the most important person there. Maybe we acknowledge how important the role of the nurses and the OR techs are. The anesthesiologist? They are certainly important. I could easily put someone to sleep but keeping them alive and waking them up at the end, well, that's a bit trickier. Yes they are very important. And the housekeeper at the end of the case? On a scale of one to ten? What number would you give them? The fact is everyone is important. That housekeeper, the one that terminally cleans the room so the next surgery is clean, squeaky clean, so you don't catch anything the previous patient had, that you leave infection free. That really is significantly important too. One of the great things about the place I worked in was that we started with the premise that the patient was always #1 and that no matter who you were as an employee or what you did, we all contributed equally to the best outcomes that was our hallmark. We were #1 in the nation, or so judged by our Press Ganey ratings.
Whether we are speaking about our secular jobs, our faith, our families or our lives, everything runs smoother when we serve one another. Love one another. You know, like in those pesky great commandments. One of the tasks of Lent is to help us see that, see who we are and how we are best to serve. I've already noted that I would not make a good anesthesiologist. There are many, many things that I truly am horrible at. I try, but frankly I suck at certain things. Ahh, but I am good at a lot of others things and that is what I should focus on, cooperate with. That's what we should all be focusing on. What are our gifts? What talents has God graced us with? Who are we and how can we serve each other according to God's plan?
A side story here. I was married for a while to a woman who was gifted in medicine. When we realized her talents, we were pretty poor. Like collecting coke cans for the deposit money poor. But I believed that to not cooperate with that talent, to not do everything we could to help foster that talent, then that to me would be a mortal sin.
Turning our backs on ourselves and not serving others or thinking someone is less than we are because their talent or service is different? That's plain wrong. If we look at the world going on around us, realize we are all playing a critical role in an incredibly intricate ballet orchestrated by God. The goal is for everyone to be maximized, including ourselves.
So three cheers for the housekeeper, and everyone else. We are all tens.
One of the first times that I preached involved this very passage. I hope I can convey the meaning of that illustrious moment in some small way again now. And that folks, is exactly not what I just did. It was not an 'illustrious' moment. It was no different than any other moment. It was me doing something I was taught to do, was supposed to do and hopefully did well. At that service, on that day, we all did what we were supposed to do. Ushers, the faithful, the Priest, the altar servers and yes, the Deacon too.
The essence of my sermon that day was actually about my secular job in an operating room. We often get the impression that the surgeon is the most important person there. Maybe we acknowledge how important the role of the nurses and the OR techs are. The anesthesiologist? They are certainly important. I could easily put someone to sleep but keeping them alive and waking them up at the end, well, that's a bit trickier. Yes they are very important. And the housekeeper at the end of the case? On a scale of one to ten? What number would you give them? The fact is everyone is important. That housekeeper, the one that terminally cleans the room so the next surgery is clean, squeaky clean, so you don't catch anything the previous patient had, that you leave infection free. That really is significantly important too. One of the great things about the place I worked in was that we started with the premise that the patient was always #1 and that no matter who you were as an employee or what you did, we all contributed equally to the best outcomes that was our hallmark. We were #1 in the nation, or so judged by our Press Ganey ratings.
Whether we are speaking about our secular jobs, our faith, our families or our lives, everything runs smoother when we serve one another. Love one another. You know, like in those pesky great commandments. One of the tasks of Lent is to help us see that, see who we are and how we are best to serve. I've already noted that I would not make a good anesthesiologist. There are many, many things that I truly am horrible at. I try, but frankly I suck at certain things. Ahh, but I am good at a lot of others things and that is what I should focus on, cooperate with. That's what we should all be focusing on. What are our gifts? What talents has God graced us with? Who are we and how can we serve each other according to God's plan?
A side story here. I was married for a while to a woman who was gifted in medicine. When we realized her talents, we were pretty poor. Like collecting coke cans for the deposit money poor. But I believed that to not cooperate with that talent, to not do everything we could to help foster that talent, then that to me would be a mortal sin.
Turning our backs on ourselves and not serving others or thinking someone is less than we are because their talent or service is different? That's plain wrong. If we look at the world going on around us, realize we are all playing a critical role in an incredibly intricate ballet orchestrated by God. The goal is for everyone to be maximized, including ourselves.
So three cheers for the housekeeper, and everyone else. We are all tens.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
No stone tablets
2 Corinthians 3:1-3
Perhaps a year ago or so, I stopped blogging for a while. I found myself being a little too caustic. There was anger in me and very often aimed at the Roman Church. I am blessed in so many ways and one such way is that I recognized no good would come of such negativity. Bad vibes, bad juju, so just stop for a while, which I did.
Now, with a bit more clarity and less anger, I can at least be a more suitable conduit if God wishes it so. One message from today’s passage from Corinthians strikes me, something that might have made me a bit angry back when. I was ordained a permanent Deacon in the Roman Church. To me it was ( is ) a clear recognition by God via the church of my innate nature, which is to serve. It recognized what I had already been and what I will always be even if I were to choose not to cooperate with that innate nature. The Roman Church saw that and recognized it in a formal way. They then chose to “laicize” me when I came out as gay and divorced my wife. But it is my belief, without anger or malice, that they have no authority to do so. They can restrict my service in their man made church but they cannot undo what God has created in me. No more than to say I am straight by some church proclamation.
Today’s passage speaks of not needing letters of introduction, recommendations or things written on tablets of stone. What the faithful have is their lives of love written in their hearts. What believers have is who they are and how they act. Sadly what we see now are people who proclaim loudly and vociferously that they are Christians and who act really badly. This is precisely why the Pope gets kudos when he says 'better to be an atheist than a bad Catholic.'
Documentation, formal proclamation, human guarantees are all worth nothing. What truly counts is knowing who you are, acknowledging that, knowing God loves you without reservation and acting accordingly. They will know we are Christians by our love. Not letters.
Perhaps a year ago or so, I stopped blogging for a while. I found myself being a little too caustic. There was anger in me and very often aimed at the Roman Church. I am blessed in so many ways and one such way is that I recognized no good would come of such negativity. Bad vibes, bad juju, so just stop for a while, which I did.
Now, with a bit more clarity and less anger, I can at least be a more suitable conduit if God wishes it so. One message from today’s passage from Corinthians strikes me, something that might have made me a bit angry back when. I was ordained a permanent Deacon in the Roman Church. To me it was ( is ) a clear recognition by God via the church of my innate nature, which is to serve. It recognized what I had already been and what I will always be even if I were to choose not to cooperate with that innate nature. The Roman Church saw that and recognized it in a formal way. They then chose to “laicize” me when I came out as gay and divorced my wife. But it is my belief, without anger or malice, that they have no authority to do so. They can restrict my service in their man made church but they cannot undo what God has created in me. No more than to say I am straight by some church proclamation.
Today’s passage speaks of not needing letters of introduction, recommendations or things written on tablets of stone. What the faithful have is their lives of love written in their hearts. What believers have is who they are and how they act. Sadly what we see now are people who proclaim loudly and vociferously that they are Christians and who act really badly. This is precisely why the Pope gets kudos when he says 'better to be an atheist than a bad Catholic.'
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Cooperation
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
There are big ways and little ways to cooperate with anything in life. The biggest cooperative effort, if not our raison d'etre, is to cooperate with who God created us to be. That's not just in one aspect of our lives but in the totality of our being. To my way of thinking, that should be a major focus of Lent. That means more than just 'giving something up'. Of course if you are reading this blog, you might already realize that.
One of the hallmarks of my own coming out is that people actually have noted how much more at peace I am, how happy I am. It's said that I am a changed man ( for the better ). I know how it feels from my side. I am happier. I am at peace. I have a sense of what is important, what is worth getting anxious over, I am more patient, more appreciative of everything, more joyful and I seem more zen like. Dare I say, filled with the Holy Spirit? For myself, I have no illusions that I am on any higher level than anyone else, far from it. What I am saying is that there is such peace of mind and happiness from truly turning your life over to God, to accepting who you are in all aspects of your life, good and bad, steps and missteps.
This is not the superficial happy face that we wear when we are mingling in a crowd or when someone shows up at the door and you are happy to see them. The peace is knowing from deep inside ( like you know your name when someone asks you ), that God loves you unconditionally. The peace comes from knowing you are cooperating with whatever it is that God has planned for you, whomever God created you to be. It's no small task. People very often make life altering decisions merely in search of it, not always good. The sad attempts are seen when a man leaves a spouse for a younger in hopes of finding that 'true happiness'. How often have you heard or seen that story. Without God and with our cooperating with God's plan for us, our attempts I suspect would always be in vain. We might only catch a glimpse of God, a glimpse of happiness, a glimpse of who we really are inside.
Cooperation to the full equals joy, peace. . . . . . .
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
There are big ways and little ways to cooperate with anything in life. The biggest cooperative effort, if not our raison d'etre, is to cooperate with who God created us to be. That's not just in one aspect of our lives but in the totality of our being. To my way of thinking, that should be a major focus of Lent. That means more than just 'giving something up'. Of course if you are reading this blog, you might already realize that.
One of the hallmarks of my own coming out is that people actually have noted how much more at peace I am, how happy I am. It's said that I am a changed man ( for the better ). I know how it feels from my side. I am happier. I am at peace. I have a sense of what is important, what is worth getting anxious over, I am more patient, more appreciative of everything, more joyful and I seem more zen like. Dare I say, filled with the Holy Spirit? For myself, I have no illusions that I am on any higher level than anyone else, far from it. What I am saying is that there is such peace of mind and happiness from truly turning your life over to God, to accepting who you are in all aspects of your life, good and bad, steps and missteps.
This is not the superficial happy face that we wear when we are mingling in a crowd or when someone shows up at the door and you are happy to see them. The peace is knowing from deep inside ( like you know your name when someone asks you ), that God loves you unconditionally. The peace comes from knowing you are cooperating with whatever it is that God has planned for you, whomever God created you to be. It's no small task. People very often make life altering decisions merely in search of it, not always good. The sad attempts are seen when a man leaves a spouse for a younger in hopes of finding that 'true happiness'. How often have you heard or seen that story. Without God and with our cooperating with God's plan for us, our attempts I suspect would always be in vain. We might only catch a glimpse of God, a glimpse of happiness, a glimpse of who we really are inside.
Cooperation to the full equals joy, peace. . . . . . .
Monday, March 19, 2018
Stumbling blocks
Mark 9:42-48
So last October I once again submitted to going 'under the knife' and had my right hip replaced. I already had this particular surgeon replace my right knee and I was only disappointed that I hadn't done that sooner. Everything worked out well. However, as I was heading to warmer climates to recuperate I was anxious to get back to my activities like biking. This is where the surgeon gave me some strong advice. Definitely wait at least 2 months and even then approach the bike with great caution. It seems that the very motion I would use to lift my leg over the seat to get on the bike is the same motion that was used to put my new hip in place during surgery. I could conceivably try to get on the bike and dislodge my new hip. Yikes! I am sure some would avoid biking altogether but I am not one to go down without a fight, no pun intended. Life is for living.
Today's Scripture passage is speaking of stumbling blocks for us. Not only are we admonished to avoid stumbling blocks for ourselves but also not to throw any in someone else's path. The consequences are severe. No matter what your take on hell is, losing your soul to sin is perhaps a suitable definition and something that I wish to avoid.
Most of the time I think of stumbling blocks the way Jesus had in relation to the Pharisees. Those religious elite had put so many laws and restrictions on life so as to make it virtually impossible to achieve salvation and live a holy life. Jesus would have none of that.
But sometimes we put stumbling blocks in front of our own feet. Throwing caution to the wind and riding my bike willy nilly would be but one example. Walking into a bar as an alcoholic might be another glaring example. Walking into a titty bar, leather bar, dive bar or perhaps any bar when you are trying to be chaste and faithful might be another example. Does anyone peruse the personal ads on Craig's List for fun? That might be a great temptation if you are trying to avoid getting yourself in trouble. In a completely different vein, I have somewhat of a shoe fetish. ( Doesn't every gay man? ) Would it be wise, if I needed save money or had money earmarked for charity perhaps, to enter a mall or store filled with shoes just begging to be worn?
We have numerous amounts of stumbling blocks, all very personal, some typical. If we are serious about our journey to wholeness and holiness we at least need to take as much temptation out of the equation for ourselves as we can.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Lydia the tattood lady
Acts 16:14-15
Today's scripture passage is about Lydia, a faithful business woman who accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. There is so much in this one passage to unwrap and I am sure I don't know the half of it. First, I'd like to know if there is some significance to the fact that she was a 'seller of purple goods'. That would have some meaning today perhaps but what about then?
In any event, as my human mind wanders, I cannot help but think of Groucho Marx singing that classic "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". What a classic in so many ways. Groucho's Lydia was quite a special woman or person if you wish. Not your everyday person at all. But when you think about it, are any of us 'everyday'? Is anyone's journey 'normal'? There is bound to something different or queer in each and every one of us. Some quite obvious, some hidden and some merely hinted at.
In my vague way, the point that I am getting at is how different we are and how different our lives are. Our Scriptural Lydia was a women ( who in those days would have been mere chattel ), who was a merchant. Not a likely way of life for a woman. Groucho's Lydia was extraordinarily different as described in the song. Groucho's Lydia married an Admiral as the song goes.
Where will your life take you? If we listen to God and pay attention, we may be taken to places in life we never even imagined. I'll tell you this brief story. A good Catholic boy goes to Catholic school for 20 solid years ( including Seminary ) and then realizes he is gay. Therapy, divorce and he winds up married to a most wonderful man. I could absolutely never have imagined that for myself and yet it is me. I am a faithful loving husband, much happier, true to the person God created me to be and living a good and decent life. What's also funny is that I now have a cat ( or the cat has me ). For years I had been an avowed cat hater. In fact, when I came out someone in my family noted that they'd believe I was gay but they'd never believe that I loved a cat! How strange life can be, all the twists and turns.
These twists and turns are an astounding fact of life and especially faith. As we open ourselves to trust in God, to faith and who we are called to be, we will be amazed at our change, at our growth. Very few will find that their path in life is the straight and narrow. A few things I have come to appreciate, diversity, never judge any one's journey. Most of all, be still to see the amazing things God will unfold for you at your footsteps.
Today's scripture passage is about Lydia, a faithful business woman who accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. There is so much in this one passage to unwrap and I am sure I don't know the half of it. First, I'd like to know if there is some significance to the fact that she was a 'seller of purple goods'. That would have some meaning today perhaps but what about then?
In any event, as my human mind wanders, I cannot help but think of Groucho Marx singing that classic "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". What a classic in so many ways. Groucho's Lydia was quite a special woman or person if you wish. Not your everyday person at all. But when you think about it, are any of us 'everyday'? Is anyone's journey 'normal'? There is bound to something different or queer in each and every one of us. Some quite obvious, some hidden and some merely hinted at.
In my vague way, the point that I am getting at is how different we are and how different our lives are. Our Scriptural Lydia was a women ( who in those days would have been mere chattel ), who was a merchant. Not a likely way of life for a woman. Groucho's Lydia was extraordinarily different as described in the song. Groucho's Lydia married an Admiral as the song goes.
Where will your life take you? If we listen to God and pay attention, we may be taken to places in life we never even imagined. I'll tell you this brief story. A good Catholic boy goes to Catholic school for 20 solid years ( including Seminary ) and then realizes he is gay. Therapy, divorce and he winds up married to a most wonderful man. I could absolutely never have imagined that for myself and yet it is me. I am a faithful loving husband, much happier, true to the person God created me to be and living a good and decent life. What's also funny is that I now have a cat ( or the cat has me ). For years I had been an avowed cat hater. In fact, when I came out someone in my family noted that they'd believe I was gay but they'd never believe that I loved a cat! How strange life can be, all the twists and turns.
These twists and turns are an astounding fact of life and especially faith. As we open ourselves to trust in God, to faith and who we are called to be, we will be amazed at our change, at our growth. Very few will find that their path in life is the straight and narrow. A few things I have come to appreciate, diversity, never judge any one's journey. Most of all, be still to see the amazing things God will unfold for you at your footsteps.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Totally loved
*** Apologies for two days of missing entries. Publication by phone is far from ideal and I opted out ***
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
I wonder if you have ever had the feeling of being totally loved? I think we catch a real glimpse of this when we are in love with someone. I often say that "God loves us with reckless abandon". I believe God sees us as She created us, with all our potential fulfilled. God loves us as a mother loves her child because that is what we are, God's children. The love is so immense. So immense, that Jesus willingly took up the cloak of humanity, completely, and gave His life for us, willingly, totally, painfully.
Can we give any kind of love even proportional to that? I return to that first question, Have you ever had the feeling of being totally loved? That is what we are called to. Total love. How do we treat everyone else? Just that way, totally loved. It seems like such a simple commandment but it is far from easy at times.
What I will be meditating on today is all the people whom I find it almost impossible to love and that it is precisely those people that Jesus died for. God loves them at least as much as God loves me and we are called to that same task. If Jesus is to teach us anything as humans it is that we are capable of such love, we are called to such love because we are already loved that much ourselves.
I love you.
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
I wonder if you have ever had the feeling of being totally loved? I think we catch a real glimpse of this when we are in love with someone. I often say that "God loves us with reckless abandon". I believe God sees us as She created us, with all our potential fulfilled. God loves us as a mother loves her child because that is what we are, God's children. The love is so immense. So immense, that Jesus willingly took up the cloak of humanity, completely, and gave His life for us, willingly, totally, painfully.
Can we give any kind of love even proportional to that? I return to that first question, Have you ever had the feeling of being totally loved? That is what we are called to. Total love. How do we treat everyone else? Just that way, totally loved. It seems like such a simple commandment but it is far from easy at times.
What I will be meditating on today is all the people whom I find it almost impossible to love and that it is precisely those people that Jesus died for. God loves them at least as much as God loves me and we are called to that same task. If Jesus is to teach us anything as humans it is that we are capable of such love, we are called to such love because we are already loved that much ourselves.
I love you.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Here’s your sign
Mark 8:12
I really like the visual here, Jesus gives a sigh. How human is this? Like, really guys? You want a sign? Who do you think I am, Jeff Foxworthy? How often are we exasperated and give a sigh of our own?
I can see Jesus saying, ‘ buck up guys, no signs, no miracles, just do it!’ Sometimes we act like children and not in a good way.
So here in the midst of Lent, no excuses, keep going. My excuse for today is that I
am on a 1440 mile drive. Right now I am in the back seat, my turn to sleep but I am typing on my phone. No excuses. No excuses on how I drive, react and treat other drivers either. So kindly forgive any typo’s and let us all move on in our journey of love, Lent and our commitment to God.
I really like the visual here, Jesus gives a sigh. How human is this? Like, really guys? You want a sign? Who do you think I am, Jeff Foxworthy? How often are we exasperated and give a sigh of our own?
I can see Jesus saying, ‘ buck up guys, no signs, no miracles, just do it!’ Sometimes we act like children and not in a good way.
So here in the midst of Lent, no excuses, keep going. My excuse for today is that I
am on a 1440 mile drive. Right now I am in the back seat, my turn to sleep but I am typing on my phone. No excuses. No excuses on how I drive, react and treat other drivers either. So kindly forgive any typo’s and let us all move on in our journey of love, Lent and our commitment to God.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Self discipline
Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your children while there is hope; do not set your heart on their destruction.
I called my son last evening and was treated to a rather gigglesome grandson in the back ground, apparently being very uncooperative with the usual bedtime routine. I enjoyed every millisecond of it although I suspect my son was not as entertained. Grandpa and Zaide were all smiles from our end of the phone. One of the joys of being a grandparent is to revel in the fun stuff not having the heavy responsibilities. We are not required to be real disciplinarians
As we are all children of God though we take our journey seriously. Perhaps we can envision God giggling a bit at our own foibles and crying when we hurt ourselves or when we make mistakes, the overall journey is one of seriousness. We are deciding to say yes or no to eternal happiness. We are saying yes or no to cooperation with the joyful and magnificent creature that God created us to be. Heavy stuff for sure.
What are we doing that we can lend discipline to on our journey and in our relationship with God? I am not speaking of corporal punishment, self flagellation at our mistakes or not having fun ( which I am sure even Jesus himself as a human indulged in ). We are physical and spiritual, and we are after all, humans. Jesus was human. But let's return to that bit about discipline. Are we disciplined disciples? Do we have the commitment to tow the line for ourselves? Can we show God that we want to be at least a good friend, one that would be there for him as he walked the Via Dolorosa? Would we, ( do we ) deny him as Peter did? Jesus who? Do we have the discipline to set aside time for Him every day? Once a week? In everything that we do?
What kind of discipline do you exercise?
Monday, March 12, 2018
The words of God
Romans 1:18
One day a thousand years ago my mom was driving us to school in what was one of those slushy, snowy winter days. I remember one of my brothers suggesting she was going too slow. My mom's response was to step on the gas hard so the rear end of the Chevelle began fishtailing whereupon my mom responded something like, ' are you happy now'. What a task raising 4 testosterone fueled boys into men. She had her hands full as they say. But her response in the snow was much like any of us. Quite often we react to a stimuli in a completely opposite way or in an exaggerated way, a way that suits our own agenda.
If Weight watchers and Jenny Craig have taught me anything it isn't so much about denial as it is about moderation. Weight watchers calls it 'portion control'. It's moderation.
Moderation is key in everything, even scriptural interpretation. This is especially true in scripture as the words, intent , audience and cultural background play key roles in determining what a passage means two thousand years on. The intent of a passage written for Greeks of a passage in Aramaic already translated once and of events that the author may or may not have witnessed first hand gives you an idea of how difficult it can be to say definitively what a passage means or was intended to mean. One must be scholarly and faithful. Too often words are translated loosely and with malintent, with an agenda that is not heavenly but quite worldly. This is one reason the Roman church is a euro-centric male dominated church. It is not reflective of history or of God's will of inclusiveness.
If our intent is to read scripture passages during Lent or at any time in our lives, and I highly recommend doing so, we need to be sure that what we are reading is free of bias of any kind. This means any efforts on our part need to be serious and not be passive. We need to approach our readings with respect and thoroughness that is equal to the message - it is the word of God.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Of this world, in this world
Ephesians 6:12
I woke up in the middle of the night last night, unable to return to sleep for well over an hour. I made the mistake of picking up my phone and with the back light set at low, I scanned the headlines of the day. My mind was racing. Such hate, such vitriol, such lies. It really was the evils of the world that St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about. I was feeling very overwhelmed. My response was anger and , yes, hate manifested by more restless. I knew that this was not mindfulness. I knew this is not what God wanted. I knew I had to alter course, even at 1:30 am.
Yesterday I spoke of Lions laying down with lambs and briefly, how we are called to act. I would have to double down on that today even as I appear to have faulted on that very task in less than 24 hours. Jesus did not come and enter our humanity to be part of the political melee that surrounds us. It surrounded him as well with a different cast of characters. Jesus rose above it even as we know he died at the hands of that very religio-political war. If we just have a minimum of faith we know that Jesus did not die in vain. WE know that Martin Luther King Jr. did not die in vain. As faithful people we are called to rise above the mess and use a higher standard for actions and for seeing he world.
Conversion to Jesus' alternate way of seeing things and acting is what we are all about as humans. It is Lent in the extreme. It reminds me of the adage to 'in the world, but not of the world'. It has all to do with not following the examples set out for us by Wall street, Madison avenue and the hallways of Washington D.C.
While we are searching for ways to find ourselves and listen to God, perhaps we also need to focus on ways to focus on the task at hand and not be high jacked by the world.
I woke up in the middle of the night last night, unable to return to sleep for well over an hour. I made the mistake of picking up my phone and with the back light set at low, I scanned the headlines of the day. My mind was racing. Such hate, such vitriol, such lies. It really was the evils of the world that St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about. I was feeling very overwhelmed. My response was anger and , yes, hate manifested by more restless. I knew that this was not mindfulness. I knew this is not what God wanted. I knew I had to alter course, even at 1:30 am.
Yesterday I spoke of Lions laying down with lambs and briefly, how we are called to act. I would have to double down on that today even as I appear to have faulted on that very task in less than 24 hours. Jesus did not come and enter our humanity to be part of the political melee that surrounds us. It surrounded him as well with a different cast of characters. Jesus rose above it even as we know he died at the hands of that very religio-political war. If we just have a minimum of faith we know that Jesus did not die in vain. WE know that Martin Luther King Jr. did not die in vain. As faithful people we are called to rise above the mess and use a higher standard for actions and for seeing he world.
Conversion to Jesus' alternate way of seeing things and acting is what we are all about as humans. It is Lent in the extreme. It reminds me of the adage to 'in the world, but not of the world'. It has all to do with not following the examples set out for us by Wall street, Madison avenue and the hallways of Washington D.C.
While we are searching for ways to find ourselves and listen to God, perhaps we also need to focus on ways to focus on the task at hand and not be high jacked by the world.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Lions and lambs
Isaiah 11:6
Ah, if the world was perfect. How could that be though? If you think about it, today is highlighted with such divisiveness . Everyone has there own opinion about how things should be. While one person might applaud the lion laying down with the lamb and noting, 'this is heaven' , there would be another who might say let's kill the lion , make a rug out of him and then take the lamb, slaughter it for a nice celebration. No, How could the world be perfect, eh?
When I signed on Facebook this morning there was a 'memory' from this date in 2011 where I noted a simple yet immutable fact. It seems quite appropriate today. Still not easy, but clearly our last best way to nirvana. Here it is: be true to God and be true to the person that God created you to be. That's it. Well, still not easy, but easier than reconciling a disparate world.
Onward in another day, sit, reflect pray, love.
Ah, if the world was perfect. How could that be though? If you think about it, today is highlighted with such divisiveness . Everyone has there own opinion about how things should be. While one person might applaud the lion laying down with the lamb and noting, 'this is heaven' , there would be another who might say let's kill the lion , make a rug out of him and then take the lamb, slaughter it for a nice celebration. No, How could the world be perfect, eh?
When I signed on Facebook this morning there was a 'memory' from this date in 2011 where I noted a simple yet immutable fact. It seems quite appropriate today. Still not easy, but clearly our last best way to nirvana. Here it is: be true to God and be true to the person that God created you to be. That's it. Well, still not easy, but easier than reconciling a disparate world.
Onward in another day, sit, reflect pray, love.
Friday, March 9, 2018
Dealing with death
John 19:26-27
While the tenor of Lent is one of glorious resurrection and the promise of new life, one cannot truly enter into this mystery without the experience of death in some form. Dying to oneself, physical death of a loved one or facing our own mortality.
I mark Lent with several memories of death. The death of my own dad was during Lent. I had to see an exceptional priest whisked away by diocesan politics during Lent. Still another good priest was also whisked away during Lent due to parish politics. The losses seem insurmountable, a betrayal of sorts and leaves one floundering in faith if not in life. This is coming from a proclaimed believer.
At wake services I have noted how difficult it must have been for Mary to see her beloved son whipped , beaten, betrayed, paraded in the streets and then crucified. Saying that kind of goodbye is heart wrenching even to those who hear it 2000 years on.
Today’s passage speaks of John accepting Mary as his mother and Mary accepting John as her son. There may be more to this story if indeed John was the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’ but even without such an interesting twist of exegesis, we see the answer to so much of human turmoil, death and suffering.
In wrapping our arms around each other, in loving care , we find suffering to be lessened. Sharing in the cup of Jesus by relying on opening our hearts to others in time of need helps us to not only lessen the pain but helps focus us outward and forward in faith ( and life ).
While Lent is grasping fully the meaning and significance of death, it is simultaneously the celebration of life which we do personally and communally. We come together during Lent and especially at Easter to celebrate the gift of life, promised life and the full extent of God's love for each and every one of us.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Our yes.
2 Corinthians 5:19
We may not think of this too often, if ever really, but there is no longer any excuses for us to pass the buck. The cast has been set. Part of Lent should be the realization that God really did become flesh and bone for us, as human as we are. In so doing he is passing on the message ( and job? ) of reconciliation to all of us. We are the hands of Christ now, we are the voice, we are the living message. But wait there's more! Part deux is the yes part. Just as Jesus willingly became human ( free will and all that ), so too did Mary give us the example of saying yes.
I suppose yes is the really important part because it is our highly personalized response. Mary said yes unconditionally. The prospects for her as a betrothed young woman carrying a child not of the betrothed was bleek. An old fashioned stoning would seem more what she was saying yes to.
When we are called to act, do we say yes? I think it is safe to say it is unlikely that an angel will appear to any one of us to ask for anything one-tenth as important as what Mary was asked to do. I think it is more likely that it will be a human being asking us to do something on behalf of God. Perhaps it will be God asking in our prayerful listening. The real issue is will we say yes?
Think of anything, any revelation or potential reality, would you say yes? It really is a tough question. Certainly something to meditate on, to pray about, to listen for.f
We may not think of this too often, if ever really, but there is no longer any excuses for us to pass the buck. The cast has been set. Part of Lent should be the realization that God really did become flesh and bone for us, as human as we are. In so doing he is passing on the message ( and job? ) of reconciliation to all of us. We are the hands of Christ now, we are the voice, we are the living message. But wait there's more! Part deux is the yes part. Just as Jesus willingly became human ( free will and all that ), so too did Mary give us the example of saying yes.
I suppose yes is the really important part because it is our highly personalized response. Mary said yes unconditionally. The prospects for her as a betrothed young woman carrying a child not of the betrothed was bleek. An old fashioned stoning would seem more what she was saying yes to.
When we are called to act, do we say yes? I think it is safe to say it is unlikely that an angel will appear to any one of us to ask for anything one-tenth as important as what Mary was asked to do. I think it is more likely that it will be a human being asking us to do something on behalf of God. Perhaps it will be God asking in our prayerful listening. The real issue is will we say yes?
Think of anything, any revelation or potential reality, would you say yes? It really is a tough question. Certainly something to meditate on, to pray about, to listen for.f
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Corporate love
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
One of things that loved about talking to my Dad every day was the little tidbits of information that he'd impart. He was well read, a man of faith and he danced to the beat of his own drummer. There are loads of stories there. Consequently you could usually count on a wide range of topics. Today I recall a simpler class. Dad was amongst other things, an attorney and today's passage from scripture calls to mind the time Dad explained ( in simple terms ) what a corporation was. Basically, he said, a corporation is seen in the eyes of the law as a single entity, a single person. Of course it is composed of many people within that entity, a CEO, a COO, a CFO and many others all doing their part to keep the 'entity' alive and well, healthy, moving forward and prosperous in every way. It really does sound like a person.
Long before corporations were anything, Paul described the body of Christ in a similar manner. We are all one in the body of Christ. We all have our talents, gifts and functions. We all contribute to the well being and movement of Christ in the world.
We speak in Lent about becoming more fully human and being the person God created us to be. It really is finding all the nuances of who we are and how best each of us can contribute to the whole of mankind, to the body of Christ. What are your specific talents that will elevate and recognize all the facets of who you are?
I am a gay man. This is not the totality of what ho I am but it is an integral part. That gift, like any of our gifts or attributes, should be elevated and used in some manner to serve mankind and exalt God. We should celebrate who we are in every way. If I was artistic with a keen perception of the world, I should use that talents. If I have an eye for detail and numbers, perhaps I should be a CFO. My talents and journey have brought me to this blog among other things. Can I show people through this blog that it is entirely possible to be gay and a devoted and loving Christian? Can I be of comfort to someone who is struggling with their sexuality? Do we have to identify ourselves by a single attribute that God gave us?
As our Lenten journey continues, as our lives continue, I feel the necessity to recognize all aspects of who I am, not just the ones celebrated by a majority or aspects of who I am that seem counter to everyone else. We need to recognize every single one of our talents. We need to see the totality of who we are. We need to appreciate the complexity of who we are and know God created us this way, gifted to us to unwrap over lifetime and shared with the rest of His body.
One of things that loved about talking to my Dad every day was the little tidbits of information that he'd impart. He was well read, a man of faith and he danced to the beat of his own drummer. There are loads of stories there. Consequently you could usually count on a wide range of topics. Today I recall a simpler class. Dad was amongst other things, an attorney and today's passage from scripture calls to mind the time Dad explained ( in simple terms ) what a corporation was. Basically, he said, a corporation is seen in the eyes of the law as a single entity, a single person. Of course it is composed of many people within that entity, a CEO, a COO, a CFO and many others all doing their part to keep the 'entity' alive and well, healthy, moving forward and prosperous in every way. It really does sound like a person.
Long before corporations were anything, Paul described the body of Christ in a similar manner. We are all one in the body of Christ. We all have our talents, gifts and functions. We all contribute to the well being and movement of Christ in the world.
We speak in Lent about becoming more fully human and being the person God created us to be. It really is finding all the nuances of who we are and how best each of us can contribute to the whole of mankind, to the body of Christ. What are your specific talents that will elevate and recognize all the facets of who you are?
I am a gay man. This is not the totality of what ho I am but it is an integral part. That gift, like any of our gifts or attributes, should be elevated and used in some manner to serve mankind and exalt God. We should celebrate who we are in every way. If I was artistic with a keen perception of the world, I should use that talents. If I have an eye for detail and numbers, perhaps I should be a CFO. My talents and journey have brought me to this blog among other things. Can I show people through this blog that it is entirely possible to be gay and a devoted and loving Christian? Can I be of comfort to someone who is struggling with their sexuality? Do we have to identify ourselves by a single attribute that God gave us?
As our Lenten journey continues, as our lives continue, I feel the necessity to recognize all aspects of who I am, not just the ones celebrated by a majority or aspects of who I am that seem counter to everyone else. We need to recognize every single one of our talents. We need to see the totality of who we are. We need to appreciate the complexity of who we are and know God created us this way, gifted to us to unwrap over lifetime and shared with the rest of His body.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
God's spies
Matthew 18:10
I am a very animated driver. I am a bit inpatient with what I perceive as laziness, stupidity and worse, taking actions that are self centered and put other drivers and lives at risk. How's that for justification! So I am animated and vocal inside my car.
S o m e t i m e s an expletive comes out. Sometimes. Of course now that we are grandparents we posit an imaginary question of one of these kids inside the car as to what
"xxtk!" means. Like, "Grandpa, what does AH mean?" Yikes. So there has been a few less expletives tossed around inside our car as I drive. We do not want the kids getting a new and improved vocabulary from us.
Today's passage from Matthew makes note that there are angels out there reporting directly to God about our behavior. Interesting concept. We certainly can act differently when we think we are alone or with a bunch of friendly co-conspirators. We may tend to forget that God really does not need any angels reporting our bad actions. I am picturing our guardian angel going "ooooooo, maaaa-an! Did you see what he jus did?" God sees it all and knows it all. I am sure God sometimes smiles at our immaturity and I am equally certain that God sheds a tear when we royally screw up hurting others or disrespecting ourselves.
God really weeps at what we do in this world.
For me, I hope I can be present enough during the day to always act and love properly. Not only do I have a guardian angel but I have grand kids that may rat me out as well.
For all of us, whether we start to think of our guardian angels, our locker room talk, our secret impure thoughts or ways we act , how can we start to look at these things to move us forward on our way to wholeness and the way God created us to be?
I am a very animated driver. I am a bit inpatient with what I perceive as laziness, stupidity and worse, taking actions that are self centered and put other drivers and lives at risk. How's that for justification! So I am animated and vocal inside my car.
S o m e t i m e s an expletive comes out. Sometimes. Of course now that we are grandparents we posit an imaginary question of one of these kids inside the car as to what
"xxtk!" means. Like, "Grandpa, what does AH mean?" Yikes. So there has been a few less expletives tossed around inside our car as I drive. We do not want the kids getting a new and improved vocabulary from us.
Today's passage from Matthew makes note that there are angels out there reporting directly to God about our behavior. Interesting concept. We certainly can act differently when we think we are alone or with a bunch of friendly co-conspirators. We may tend to forget that God really does not need any angels reporting our bad actions. I am picturing our guardian angel going "ooooooo, maaaa-an! Did you see what he jus did?" God sees it all and knows it all. I am sure God sometimes smiles at our immaturity and I am equally certain that God sheds a tear when we royally screw up hurting others or disrespecting ourselves.
God really weeps at what we do in this world.
For me, I hope I can be present enough during the day to always act and love properly. Not only do I have a guardian angel but I have grand kids that may rat me out as well.
For all of us, whether we start to think of our guardian angels, our locker room talk, our secret impure thoughts or ways we act , how can we start to look at these things to move us forward on our way to wholeness and the way God created us to be?
Monday, March 5, 2018
Essence
1 John 3:2
Someone once described heaven to me this way: you are going through life seeing what you can see, moving right along until the moment comes that that you go to see an optometrist and get a new air of glasses. All of a sudden you can see everything so clearly. You see what you could not see before and in contrast you see al the things you were not able to see. Instant clarity!
When God is revealed to us, who or what will we see? What is the essence of God?and since we are created in the image of God, what is our own essence?
Here's the kicker, I don't really know. I haven't been to that extra special optometrist yet.
The trite answer is love and I suspect that is pretty much on the money. But humanity? If love is the answer, we have gone pretty far astray. It's no wonder God Decided to take on human form, embrace our humanity to the full and show us The Way.
Some might propose that our essence is evil. That might be equally as legitimate based on the evidence of what we seem capable of. Now that raises an interesting idea, being capable of...... what is our potential? What are we capable of doing? Good? Evil?
Is that our essence? Capacity to do “x” “y” or “z”?
I think The face of God and the essence of God abounds, it is all around us if we choose to see. We don’t need special glasses, just eyes wide open! I think perhaps that may be true if we humans as well.
What is your essence? This seems like a excellent starting point for a Lenten meditation of your own. Pray on it. Ponder that question. What is your essence?
Someone once described heaven to me this way: you are going through life seeing what you can see, moving right along until the moment comes that that you go to see an optometrist and get a new air of glasses. All of a sudden you can see everything so clearly. You see what you could not see before and in contrast you see al the things you were not able to see. Instant clarity!
When God is revealed to us, who or what will we see? What is the essence of God?and since we are created in the image of God, what is our own essence?
Here's the kicker, I don't really know. I haven't been to that extra special optometrist yet.
The trite answer is love and I suspect that is pretty much on the money. But humanity? If love is the answer, we have gone pretty far astray. It's no wonder God Decided to take on human form, embrace our humanity to the full and show us The Way.
Some might propose that our essence is evil. That might be equally as legitimate based on the evidence of what we seem capable of. Now that raises an interesting idea, being capable of...... what is our potential? What are we capable of doing? Good? Evil?
Is that our essence? Capacity to do “x” “y” or “z”?
I think The face of God and the essence of God abounds, it is all around us if we choose to see. We don’t need special glasses, just eyes wide open! I think perhaps that may be true if we humans as well.
What is your essence? This seems like a excellent starting point for a Lenten meditation of your own. Pray on it. Ponder that question. What is your essence?
Sunday, March 4, 2018
And now, for something totally different, a pro-life reflection.
Sometimes I think my blog is like a diary because I invariably interpret the days events in light of my faith and it works it's way into my blog as a movement of the Spirit. That's what the writers of the Scriptures did, right? They took their lives, their journey of faith and with warts and all, wrote about their relationship with God.
Sometimes I think I am preaching to the choir and other times I hope that I can be of comfort to at least one person struggling because I struggled and especially if they are a member of the LGBTQ community.
Recently I have been aware that the readings that I’ve been writing about have been about children and so it is true again today. Today’s lesson is based on prayers for children and families by the Church of England. I so much want to say something important and meaningful and even more so, I pray that someone who needs to read this will somehow see it. I pray for the conversion of hardened hearts knowing full well that people with hardened hearts won't likely even see this. Miracles happen though.
There is so much talk about being pro-life on the right side of the aisle . Making statements as a faithful person, you cannot be simply and myopically claim to be anti-abortion and at the same time dismantle and dismiss support for human beings from the point of birth until death. I see that more as their being simply pro birth. You cannot claim to be pro-life and vote against child welfare, food assistance, student meals, medical assistance, a good and decent wage that can support a family and care to the elderly and into death. All of these things are what being pro-life is about. When you are simply anti-abortion and vote against the rest you are simply pro-birth and clearly not any kind of Christian that Christ would recognize. The adage what would Jesus do? is quite valid.
During Lent I want to get in touch and more fully engage my humanity. God created each one of so uniquely, with gifts, talents and quirky smiles and perhaps a wicked sense of humor. You know, all the things that make you.....you. While that is certainly true, we must then respect everyone else's journey on their path to discovery and wholeness. That respect is called being pro-life and I'd suggest we support it any way we can including engaging others to that same realization, supporting legislation and legislators that see the big picture here. What we really stand for.
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Non linear actions
2 Samuel 7:26
It seems to me, much of the readings and reflections have had to do with children, grandchildren and ancestry. That's what I seem to be hearing and it may be that I really do miss my grandchildren, joys of life that they are.
Passing down one's faith from generation to generation is a wonderful thing. However, it easily cold come down to a childless couple down the line or a decision of one couple to let their kids 'decide on their own' and that might end that nice line of faithful people. It truly is good to pass down the heartfelt knowledge of God's caring and abundant love for us. It is a good thing to pass down our faith especially if it is not simply rules and rubrics. When parents teach by love and example the world becomes a better place. Faith is fostered.
The catch is the one link that fails down the line that I mentioned. While a lineage of faith seems grand, exaulted and celebrated in the Bible, it's roots have to be solidly held by you and me right now. A lineage of faith seems boastful at best. Not the real cause at hand.
Moving forward, our heritage of faith is based on our actions right now. We are not just responsible to act with our biological family but our worldly family as well. Into Lent and beyond our faith has to have meaningful actions that 'teach' by example everyone around us. It is right and necessary that we do so with introspection in this Lenten season but we must now and always, act as lover and teacher that Jesus sealed int our hearts.
It seems to me, much of the readings and reflections have had to do with children, grandchildren and ancestry. That's what I seem to be hearing and it may be that I really do miss my grandchildren, joys of life that they are.
Passing down one's faith from generation to generation is a wonderful thing. However, it easily cold come down to a childless couple down the line or a decision of one couple to let their kids 'decide on their own' and that might end that nice line of faithful people. It truly is good to pass down the heartfelt knowledge of God's caring and abundant love for us. It is a good thing to pass down our faith especially if it is not simply rules and rubrics. When parents teach by love and example the world becomes a better place. Faith is fostered.
The catch is the one link that fails down the line that I mentioned. While a lineage of faith seems grand, exaulted and celebrated in the Bible, it's roots have to be solidly held by you and me right now. A lineage of faith seems boastful at best. Not the real cause at hand.
Moving forward, our heritage of faith is based on our actions right now. We are not just responsible to act with our biological family but our worldly family as well. Into Lent and beyond our faith has to have meaningful actions that 'teach' by example everyone around us. It is right and necessary that we do so with introspection in this Lenten season but we must now and always, act as lover and teacher that Jesus sealed int our hearts.
Friday, March 2, 2018
The faith of our fathers ...and mothers.
Joel 1:3
Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
With all the genetic ancestry tests that are now available, I would like to think we are coming closer to that moment when we may see one unified family. That would be a good thing right?
I describe myself as a mutt. I have many nationalities but at the same time I can trace my maternal grandfather‘s line back to the year 1400. It can be an awesome task to look at your genealogy. You have an appreciation for what your forefathers and foremothers went through to bring us to today. One of the interesting things that I noted from family papers is that my maternal grandfather was Catholic and he was very active in church organizations. My faith was something that was handed down to me. I consider that a great gift even if I am now officially and Episcopalian.
While I appreciate this gift I am in awe of people who have consciously decided to become Christian. To come to the decision that Jesus is our Lord and Savior independent of that fact being inculcated in them from their youth seems to me deserving of some extra merit.
The fact is however no matter what our history or our social status, we are all called to conversion on a daily basis. We called to re-affirm and learn, to grow in our faith. But will we make that decision or simply go blythely on resting on the laurels of our ancestors?
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