A prayer in the name of James Weldon Johnson

     On the face of things, it didn't work out so well. Jesus came into town being hailed and wound up being nailed - to a cross. An excruciatingly horrible way to die, the Romans' premier form of torture and intimidation. The disciples scattered, the end seemed a big bust to the 'kingdom' spoke of, and promised by, Jesus.

       Of course we know that while the passion was agonizing, it was not in fact the end. The cross brought new life and hope for us. The cross, that symbol of torture became a symbol of hope. The apostles scattered, yes indeed, then 'scattered' throughout the world bringing Good News to mankind. The news spread like wildfire in a time when twitter, FaceBook and digital media was a heralding voice provided by a pair of weary feet in dusty, dirty sandals.

       I wouldn't say then that it didn't 'not work out so well' as much as it didn't turned out as planned. By all means then, we should have hope and incredible if not incredulous optimism in the face of seemingly horrible and almost demonic events.

      That is just a prelude to prayer for me. While I am a firm believer in action paired with prayer, I would not ever want to diminish the need of that prayer component. And so when I read in Holy women, holy men, the story of James Weldon Johnson whom we remember on this day, I am filled with hope and prayers for a modern James Weldon Johnson to come forth from the faithful.

         In the midst of so much political strife, polarization and seemingly irreconcilable differences in society, we need a voice of reason and reconciliation. That seemed to be what brother Weldon was all about. I prayer for ourselves and for God's voice in a seemingly graven nation and world.

        Lord, please reveal to us a person of such stature and wisdom that we may openly welcome and truly hear the voice of your love and wisdom. May these times filled with angst and seemingly hopeless political quagmires be the beginning of something new and wonderful as your resurrection was to those who witnessed your life and watched in horror at your crucifixion. We have hope in you and the power of your love. We give thanks and pray.

    

       

Matthew 21:1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
   humble, and mounted on a donkey,
     and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ 
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
   Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ 
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Of lepers and blind men

      I don't know if anyone else finds it as fascinating as I do but looking back at Scripture from today can be a real interesting read. Case in point: today's passage about two blind men.  That seems like a fairly simple statement for today.  Blind = cannot see. The truth of the matter is a bit more complex. 

       It is not so different from passages where we hear about a leper. Today we can identify the bacterium that causes the disease of Leprosy. They had nowhere near that depth of knowledge back in Jesus' time. Probably out of fear and safety for the real disease of Leprosy, the ancients included anything that might even be close to Leprosy. I have said this before, psoriasis, fungus, even mildewed animal skins and a wide range of skin infections were labelled as "Leprosy". It was safer that way I suppose in lieu of real scientific knowledge. After all, real Leprosy did exist in the world. 

       How about being blind?  I am quite sure that too encompassed a whole range of sight erosions, eye infections and of course, true blindness, either congenital or as the result of trauma later in life.

        But there is a common thread that really is important to our understanding of this passage. Whether it is Leprosy or blindness or any other form of illness or handicap, they were all viewed as a punishments from God. Perhaps the result of a parents' sin or a sin of their own, a real punishment from God.  Amazing when you think of the knowledge we have today. But viewed as something that was God's will or punishment, these people were to be avoided at all costs. They were akin to the devil or at least the devils minion. They had incurred God's wrath and that had to have justification - 'God said so' , apparently or obviously. Jesus reaching out to these men is astounding!

              Jesus having compassion for the blind men is no less astounding than one of us reaching out to any number of outcasts today. Someone with AIDS perhaps? How about someone who is poor? Some actually feel that poverty is God's will and that wealth is a gift from God for a life lived in concert with God's good wishes.  Just looking at Donald Trumps life and it would convince you, that premise is not true at all.  Some might say that being born in the United States is God's gift to it's citizens. Being born outside the US, those not quite as blessed? Well that is God's punishment ....for something. What is horribly ironic is that the policies and businesses of the United States itself have caused much of the global inequities that people flee from. Our politics have supported horrific regimes that cause people to flee to the United states, a safe haven for hundreds of years. A land of opportunity and safety.

           Our general lack of understanding, or ignorance, or bigotry, about a great many things should never  stand in the way of our love and compassion for others. We should always reach out in compassion to others, even if we feel they are guilty of some sin or labelled as unequal for some reason. That is what Jesus did. We are called to love and compassion if you believe in Jesus at all.

Matthew 20:29-34

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!’ Jesus stood still and called them, saying, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. 

LGTBQQIAA hierarchy

      When I read this I think about hierarchies. I know that I have definite opinions.  What I decided to do as an mental exercise, was to try and come up with a list of people, races, nationalities, faiths and so on that I might have better or worse feelings towards. I know that I am supposed to treat everyone the same without consideration. The fact remains that I am quite capable of making judgments about others.

     Can I place Donald Trump under the last person and then under a rock that the last person is standing on? Not very nice.  Whatever your basis of consideration is, religion, morals, race, sexuality or whatever, we have opinions and justifications even if they are bigoted opinions and justifications.

       As Pride month winds down here in the States, I was thinking about the letters of LGBT.

The LGBT community is a very diverse community that represents a variety of sexual and gender identities.  The acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  Another common acronym is LGTBQQIAA, which adds queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and ally. How do we feel about each other within that spectrum? Have we created a hierarchy? Do we feel some are worse or better than others?

       For a year or so, we had an LGBTQ spirituality group at a Franciscan Monastery on the Island here.  It wasn't well attended but it was diverse. From older teens, to monks, to married men and women and on into much older people. Some were even straights and 'allies'. It was a wonderful group and we discussed a lot and discovered much. We do make assumptions about people. One young man spoke about his falling in love with a soul. He had already realized that for himself, that person could be male or female or perhaps someone else entirely.  He looked at labels as being far less important than who the person is, their spirit. It seemed like a great deal of wisdom for such a young lad. I was in awe of this person who described himself as simply "fabulous".  That kind of realization gives me great hope not only for the LGTBQQIAA community but for the entire world.

       Our job is self realization and actualization, a human fully alive and engaged in life. It is not judging others, not thinking of a hierarchy in which we are higher than someone else. 

I hope we can love without thinking if someone deserves that love. 

The answer is everyone deserves love.

Matthew 20:25-28

But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

How do we respond

      I was at a party once with several of the people at my table were reminiscing about their younger days when they would go out drinking, getting snockered and driving themselves home. I wholeheartedly advise against such irresponsible behaviour. It's just plain wrong on so many levels. The point is, they survived and apparently the ones at my table didn't kill anyone else either. Lucky bastards.

      There are others though, and we've heard about it in the news that got pulled over on nights like that and got arrested for drunk driving. Still a few others we know from the news survived only after they shockingly (sarcasm) got into an incredibly horrible wreck that took the lives of some poor innocent driving soberly on their own way home. Some of course simply wrap themselves around a roadside tree while driving drunk, killing themselves. Where is the justice here?  Some people drive drunk apparently without impugn while others pay a seemingly inordinately large price, perhaps even their own death for a that single 'miscalculation' to drive.

        Life isn't fair. It certainly doesn't follow a road map we might draw. We get wrapped up in our own quite worldly notions of what is fair and what isn't. In politics we argue over who gets what. "They" are getting more than me, "they" don't deserve it or even earn it. Everyone should be equal? Perhaps. The point is that we have rather strict self made and man made rules that we judge life and people by. We can easily judge one person a POS while giving great leeway to others for similar offenses.  I am constantly amazed at the hypocrisy in politics today. What the far right, "pro-life", "family value" politicians have embraced or dismiss in the President of the United States is mind numbingly amazing. 

No life is not fair at all.

       Perhaps we are using the wrong rule book. Perhaps we are using the wrong measuring device.  I always say that God loves the next chap at least as much as God loves me. I am certainly not here to judge anyone, save myself, and I am not sure God wants us to judge ourselves either so much as to do some serious self reflection and serious introspection.

     The point of today's passage for me is simply that we should not necessarily be judging by our own standards however logical or justified we think they are. Why is one person rich and one man poor? Is that fair? There is time to delve into all those kinds of issues if we wish. I think the bigger question is how we respond. Does the rich person use their wealth for good, to help their brothers ans sisters? Does the poor person use that as an excuse for not trying to love? We all have things in our lives that can be excuses for not loving or not moving forward and outward to others.

     Life is not necessarily fair. How do we respond? Do we have empathy? 

Matthew 20:1-16

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

Of camels and needles

     Readings like this one today seem odd. When looking at Scripture through the lens of their own time, meanings and social constructs, it is difficult to imagine what the people, even rich people, could do, or have, that would be an impediment to them entering the kingdom of heaven. There was no such thing as an i-phone or Samsung Galaxies.   Is it all relative? and that people are people. Were the people with solid wooden or brass doors and tiled floors so enamored with their own status that they looked down on people with dirt floors, wooden floors and curtains for doors? 

        I can't think of anyone who is deluded enough to see how attached and proud we can be of our own possessions.  I recently went to an international auto show and sat in almost every car, truck or SUV. I was astounded that so many luxury marks had interiors and seats that were virtually identical to the simple Chevy's, Nissan's and VW's.  It occurred to me that people were not as interested so much in the real luxury but being able to say that they owned a brand new 100K Foochi Manooli or some such.  We can be more attached to cars, homes, schools or appliances than we are to our devotion to God and especially our fellow human beings. Would we part with a new Nutribullet if it could feed someone starving or help an underprivileged youth go to camp or college?

          A bumper sticker from long ago has long captivated me in it's wisdom. "Live simply so others can simply live".  Perhaps I am an anarchist for espousing a mantra of less, less, less rather than buy more,more,more.  Perhaps my 401K will take a nosedive if companies can't find buyers for all the latest thingamajig. I am willing to take the risk. I am not so inclined to be Amish either but I think we could each do our part to help the world, our brothers and sister and our mother earth.

           Otherwise, are we are doomed to be camels?

Matthew 19:23-26

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’

Moving out of self centered sacrifice

Matthew 19:13-22

      I am not a quick study. I can often be counted on having the right thing to say, the perfect response . . . ten minutes after an engagement. So here I am reading this passage from Matthew and I think  right away of something that might be a better response by Jesus. Just a thought. After all  does Jesus really want us to give up all our possessions? 

      Jesus went through the Ten Commandments for this man seeking wisdom.  For a scrupulous person strictly adhering to the law those commandments are pretty easy to follow. Thow shalt not kill? Piece of cake. Thow shall not steal? No brainer and so on. What Jesus did a few chapters later on in Matthew ( Mt. 22:38-39 ) was far better or far worse than simply giving away one's possessions.  Those two great commandments put the subjective lens of love onto the Ten commandments.  Thow shall not kill now means no berating, no killing someone's spirit with words or gossip. It means not allowing your business to soil the enviornemnt and killing people with chemicals. If you love someone as much as you love yourself, you would be loath to do virtually anything bad against anyone. It becomes harder to follow all those commandments, harder for literalistic followers of the law to follow anyway.  That's because love is always more encompassing, perhaps harder but delivers more too.

      When we focus on loving our neighbor and loving God we start to live lives focused outwards and not on ourselves. We are concerned with everyone. The end result might actually be giving away our possessions to help others but it will be out of love not a self centered sacrifice. Isn't that love is all about?

Matthew 19:13-22

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Oatmeal and blueberry bars

     Not really fond of this mornings passage from Luke. The passage speaks of division, families divided, people divided. It seems that there is entirely too much of that going on right now in the world. It's not just nation against nation, it is citizens against citizens , one religion against another and even 'Chrstians' against 'Christians'. It's all very disheartening.

      When I think about Jesus, I think about love, not sowing division. Is this the way it is meant to be? I really don't think so. I also have doubts about the sincerity of some people as true "Christians" as their actions don't follow any tenets I have ever come across. They do not follow the heart of Jesus but rather cherry pick passages that support their own political and power agendas. I suspect that the self righteousness of many ( perhaps even myself ) will be greeted at the pearly gates with some rather surprising news. But all that does is speak all the more about our divisions.

       This morning I woke and saw nothing but fog on the water. I could not see a thing. I suppose it is a matter of some faith that there was actually water out there since I couldn't see it at all.  Not one of our better views from the bridge of this fine waterside abode. I set out to make baked oatmeal and blueberry bars for brunch later this morning with neighbors.  As I was cleaning up I noted one egg was left, some blueberries and assorted other baking standards. I decided to make two small blueberry puffs in addition to the oatmeal for our neighbors.  What a delightful and unexpected treat to 'hold us over' until the brunch.  From the disorganized left over ingredients came a scrumptious morning delight.  I hadn't planned it, couldn't see it earlier but out of the fog came an idea and the ingredients were there. Voila!

         Out of the disorganization of the world, I suspect the ingredients are all there for a loving and not so divisive world.  I can't see it right now but I have faith that it exists in God's mind and so it is in our hearts and can exist in our world.  I suppose all we can do sometimes is be as productive and loving as we possibly can and then see what good comes out of it. That is, do what we can and trust in God. Have faith. Love some more, eat some more. Live life to the full, always loving. Sounds like a great recipe.

Luke 12:49-56

‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!        I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
   and son against father,
mother against daughter
   and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
   and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Grand and glorious sex

     I have to confess, one of the joys of being gay is the sex. Grand and glorious sex. Expressive, raw and immensely intimate. Let's not let our minds wander too much however. Just like it's supposed to make your brain explode into gray dust if you think about your own parents having sex, I really don't think it's advisable to put your imaginations to work on what any given couple, gay or otherwise, might or might not be doing in the privacy of their own bedroom.

    As much as we are called to realize that we are binary beings, that is, both physical and spiritual, we are not to omit from that binary created by God , our sexuality.  Our sex, wherever on the spectrum of God's creative genius, it is a real and magnificent gift. It is link between our physical and spiritual natures that brings visions of joy and love that is all about God. God is all about love and relationship. Think of the Trinity. Think of God creating the entire universe with it's depth, mystery, ever growing, ever changing and loving wonder. 

     If you can catch a glimpse of that in sex, it truly is mind blowing, eh?  I think that is the idea of sex. It is not just procreative, it is humbling, intimate, insightful, loving, life giving, life accepting, life affirming.  All of the above and more.

     And yet it would seem this passage relates that perhaps it is better if you do not marry 'if you can accept this'. I do know that at the same time that I elevate and celebrate our sexuality, I am not willing to, nor do I wish to, make sex the pinnacle of our existence.  Making our sexuality the sole identity of our beings and actions is as lopsided as denying our sexuality.  I have been in enough relationships to know that love can be being just as loving and have all the adjectives attached to it without necessarily being physical. That might seem contradictory or even like a sexless marriage but the truth is that we need to find balance in ourselves and balance in any relationship.  All that I would argue is to not dismiss one aspect of being over any other.  I still recall the book by Henri Nouwen called The Sexual Celibate.  Our sexuality is not defined by any one kind of physical act. The art of loving is not limited either. Those that limit our sexuality in defined boxes, black and white, strict binaries only serve to deny God's magnificent creation. It is actually a blasphemy.

        I am all for celebrating our glorious and Godly nature, physical, sexual and all about love and relationships in all it's myriad forms. I say, celebrate sex to the full in respect and love and dignity.

Matthew 19:1-12

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.

Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning “made them male and female”, and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ They said to him, ‘Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?’ He said to them, ‘It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but at the beginning it was not so.And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.’

His disciples said to him, ‘If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.’ But he said to them, ‘Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

Crime and punishment

     There is an expression, 'fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me'. Perhaps forgiving someone even more than twice would make me fool stupid. I might label someone a carpet or idiot if they let someone 'fool' them more than twice. But forgiving seventy times seven !!??

     Am I guilty of the circular type logic ( that I rail against ) when I have some thoughts on this?   Far from a formal and final opinion, I think there is a difference between worldly punishment and forgiveness. Forgiveness is something that should be freely granted by us. But that does not mean there is not going to be real and human consequences for those who commit sin or 'fool' people.  I am not speaking of vengeful and inhumane punishment but measured and maybe, heaven forbid, some kind of  reformative measure.  

       Lord only knows the depths I have sunk to in stupidity and errant ways and I am forgiven. How could I possibly not forgive others guilty of their own personally patented

foibles and faults. Am I or you too arrogant to think we are somehow better than others? Can we possibly believe that God loves us more than someone else? Jesus died on the cross for me but not some other poor chap?  Am I not the one who says that "God loves me at least as much as the person next to me"?

       Ah, but to the nitty gritty. Would I, do I forgive Donald Trump? His minions? Do I forgive a church for arrogance and hate? Do I forgive corporate greed and malfeasance? The practical translations of forgiveness can be hard to swallow.  I have to follow with the earthly punishment that we have at our disposal.  As humans we have set up mechanisms to treat and punish and those systems should be as humane as possible while being as certain to be imposed.

        This doctrine of forgiveness for which Jesus speaks is not one that frees the guilty willy nilly but one that frees us from the hate that would fester within ourselves.  In not forgiving we revisit and re-victimize ourselves. 

      Finally, I think of those that have turned their back on me after I came out as gay.  I can't help but think of how long it took me to realize, analyze and come out to myself.  The process was long and traumatic for me. Was it less traumatic for someone else in my life? If it took me so long to come to terms with myself, can I expect someone else to accept it instantaneously on my words alone? 

     Forgiveness is a deeply personal thing. It draws us deep into ourselves and extends our love outward in faith and love.  Difficult tasks that do not preclude human redress. Just not hateful, vengeful redress.

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

A call to ( holding ) arms and loving hearts

      If we could only transfer the outrage over children being ripped from their parents to outrage over everyone who is being mistreated, it would be a far better world. That would make America great again. It's not that it wasn't great already either. However, it's now devolved into such chaos, that showing some simple respect for people would make America great again. We are a shadow of what we were before the circus came to town 516 days ago.

        I firmly believe that Donald Trump is surrounded by a core chorus of religious zealots that have him thinking he is some kind of messiah, chosen by God to lead the USA.  This is an incredibly horrible scenario which is the antithesis of the foundations of this great nation. Worst of all, these zealots are the type who routinely cherry pick scriptures and have a xenophobic, myopic slant to all their beliefs that are truly, not only un-American but actually anti-Christian. Ok, fake Christian is probably more appropriate.

         This is quite the political rant it would seem.  Look, when we are trying to be the best person that God created us to be, it requires great introspection, self evaluation, thought and especially movement on our own part.  Sometimes tasks are undertaken on a personal level to have our lives come more in line, more cooperative, with what we say we believe and what we are trying to accomplish in our lives. That is to say, when we have personal stumbling blocks, we try to remove those stumbling blocks.

     This is not only true of us as individuals. Today's passage from Matthew ( hopefully ) has us seeing the extent of God's love for each and every one of us and how concerned we should all be for each and every creation of God. Sometimes we cannot move froward or we realize we do not want to go forward unless everyone is on board. No one gets left behind.  That is the gist of some of this passage. Right now is a time for this kind of brotherly call to action.

      As much as I want to be the best gay man God created, as much as I want all of us to reach our individual potentials and be all that God created us to be, each as a unique gift graced to the world, we must now join hands and arms to fight the fight. THIS is the Christian thing to do. We must argue, write, call, vote  and respond with our brothers and sisters to the evils of the political reality that has unfolded around us. We must not be a party to a fake Christian agenda. We should all do what our abilities allow, to  respect everyone, and redress the policies that have not made the United states great, but a nation impoverished in spirit and frightfully alone in a world seeking unity.  The United States is now that lone sheep that God calls out to. This is not a denominational God, a Christian God, a Jewish God, a Muslim God or a Sikh God. This is the God of all humanity that seeks each of us as individuals but is revealed in infinite ways, calling us to love.

    We are called to compassionate, universal love and actions that reaffirm our beliefs.

Matthew 18:10-20

‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector.Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

Millstone stories

     There is an obvious message in today's Scripture passage from Matthew. In light of what is happening to families and children on the American border, this reading is telling if not chilling. I am not going to try and beat anyone over the head with it because I presume my previous blog entries may have already done that and I suspect many of us are already taking appropriate actions to alleviate this obscene occurrence.

        That being said, I thought I might share some of my experience with millstones. I have been aware of several in my own life. I am quite certain there are more to be discovered, untied and conquered if you will. 

        Growing up I was, well pretty much everything a boy could be in the best sense and the worst sense. I was graced with some incredibly wonderful influences in my life and I think I turned out, so far, not too shabby. A decent human, centered on God and trying to be the best person I was created to be. However, I always felt different from everyone else. It was if I was hearing a different drummer, a different beat than everyone else. I wasn't aware there was anyone else like me for sure. I felt a bit alienated and the only thing I really knew (instinctively) was that there were others in society who also were outcasts if you will.  The fringes that got picked on, abused, made fun of.  On some subconscious level I realized my brotherhood and stood up for many of these marginalized people. First it was standing up for my neighbor with cerebral palsy, then standing up for my friend who is Haitian and who was being harassed.  As if my own difference was the added weight of a millstone, I subconsciously grew into that millstone in the form of added weight. I was a big boy. Chubby doesn't really say it even though I was told I was "pleasingly plump". ( Insert coughing Bullshite sound here ). One of the things that was a millstone for me was my ability to acknowledge both sexes. In some kind of internal mechanism I told myself how blessed I was that I could lavishly appreciate both sexes.  I could see the exquisite beauty of a woman and know at the same time  the delicious feast in the form of a good looking man. 

         This millstone of sexuality was wrapped around my neck for years. It was only until I was about fifty years old that I came to the realization that while I had eyes to see both sexes, it was just a self protecting mechanism I'd developed to protect myself from admitting to society that it was really those delicious , good looking men I was really attracted to.

Untying that millstone and removing it from my neck,  acknowledging that I am gay was an incredibly freeing moment in my life. I wonder what the look on my face was the first time I uttered that phrase. My therapist must have seen intense joy, peace, and seen me floating before him. 

      There are so many other millstones that we may have around our necks. They stand in the way of our self realization and actualization. Some are smaller, some are larger and many are placed around our necks by ourselves. Sometimes unknowingly placed there perhaps, but millstones none the less. Some placed by society that we have to struggle fiercely to break free of.

       Money is another. Everything seems to revolve around money. Madison avenue will have you believe they know what you need to achieve happiness. That can be a millstone of epic proportions. It certainly can ruin your life and stand in the way or obscure what true happiness is. For many of us, it is not until later in life when we see loved ones pass or see horrific events that we come to know what true happiness is and it has little to do with money at all. 

       As much as I cannot help but think of the horrific situation of children on the US Mexican border, I am also thinking about the millstones around my neck and ones that you may have to deal with.  Finding what holds us back is a lifelong task but one worth thinking about and praying over. There are fewer worse feelings than the feeling of drowning in life, literally or figuratively.

Matthew 18:1-9

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes!

‘If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Betrayal by action and inaction

      Betrayed by human hands. Betrayed by us. We can proclaim anything we want , our actions are what tell the story. There is no division between what we do and what we believe or who we are. 

      This is so true in our world today. Profess your Christianity all you want, it is your actions, your human actions that betray what you say. WWJD seems simplistic and almost naive but it is the truth. What Jesus did and how he lived dictates how we should act, what we believe.  This is not a license to twist God's words, cherry pick them or use some ridiculous logic to justify ones actions.  The first line of this mornings passage speaks volumes about what happened and happens still.

          When we lose sight of the intimate connectivity between our beliefs and our actions, anything can happen. When we see children weeping, screaming and crying at our borders, this is the face of betrayal, this is the distress caused by allowing our beliefs to let someone else take control of our values and beliefs. 

       Our actions or inactions speak volumes to the truth about what we truly believe. The local Methodist church currently has a sign that notes that our beleifs are indicated by a look at our checkbook. What we believe is based on where we put our priorities and how we act. What have you done today? What will you be doing today?

Matthew 17:22-27

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.’ And they were greatly distressed.

When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?’ He said, ‘Yes, he does.’ And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?’ When Peter said, ‘From others’, Jesus said to him, ‘Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offence to them, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.’

Should we move?

     Interesting passage today in the Liturgy of the Hours. It's probably not a passage that might usually strike me but it seems a timely passage. It speaks to how the Israelites operated. It certainly seems enduring at least and incredibly faithful. Their actions were predicated on the movement of the Lord. Even if we could argue about the movements of clouds, their actions always were based on 'listening' to the Lord. A very good and sound way to live. That alone is a lesson for all. That message is timeless.

      Is there anything else that might make the Israelites move? Perhaps an attack on them or an attack on their God? I think that might get them moving.

      I cannot help but think about the movement of consciences and budging previously immovable objects against a tyrant current occupying the White house of the United States.  His own high jacked party will rarely speak against him even as his motivations are highly suspect. He follows the will of people who for all intents and purposes are fake Christian leaders, still no one speaks out.  This week has been different. The lies this week are against the usual suspects of course, no change there. In addition however, this tribe of thieves and liars has invoked God on their side in a very disturbing way.  

      The collective conscience of citizens reckons it to be not Godly to take children from their parents. If it were in fact a law, the law is recognized as wrong hearted and surely not of any God the people recognize - no matter what denomination.  Godly people moved to action when their God is attacked. Dare I say, 'when you attack the least of my children, you attack Me'.  So there you have it.

         The call to arms, be it in a ballot box or in legal proceedings has begun.  The complacency of the seemingly silent and immovable faithful is stirring more and more.  A call to return to the righteousness of love, compassion, brotherhood and humanity. 

          Whatever we believe, know that God is calling us to action.

Numbers 9:15-23, 10:29-36

On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant; and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire. It was always so: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp. Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the Lord, and would not set out.Sometimes the cloud would remain for a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they would set out. Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out.Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. At the command of the Lord they would camp, and at the command of the Lord they would set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, ‘We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, “I will give it to you”; come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good to Israel.’ But he said to him, ‘I will not go, but I will go back to my own land and to my kindred.’ He said, ‘Do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. Moreover, if you go with us, whatever good the Lord does for us, the same we will do for you.’

So they set out from the mount of the Lord on three days’ journey with the ark of the covenant of the Lord going before them for three days’ journey, to seek out a resting-place for them, the cloud of the Lordbeing over them by day when they set out from the camp.

Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,
‘Arise, O Lord, let your enemies be scattered,
   and your foes flee before you.’ 
And whenever it came to rest, he would say,
‘Return, O Lord of the ten thousand thousands of Israel.’

Of sexual sins and politics

     When I look at the gay community, especially people of my generation, I see a two edged sword.  We are freer than most people to express ourselves, freer to behave in atypical and unconventional ways. At the same time we may live up to some of the stereotypes society has placed on us, understandably so though.  When you are told you are sexual deviants that cannot have the possibility of fulfilling relationships, you tend to live into that role. It is  self fulfilling prophecy if you will. 

      This evil foisted on us by the majority, the often ignorant straight majority, is changing rapidly. We now know and accept that everyone is capable of longstanding, loving committed relationships. Ironically, it is the straight community that has created evils in relationships. A comedienne once noted that the Bible is used (almost always out of context or misinterpreted) as a prohibition against gays. At the same time she noted, the criticisms and restrictions of heterosexuals in scriptures is far, far more frequent and abundant. She opines that she is not saying straight people are not liked as much as gays in God's eyes but that they certainly seem to require more attention and are more prone to misbehaving. That is paraphrasing but it was very funny and true.

     I can forgive gay people of myriad things they might be guilty of because that is the construct they have been taught by, yes, the erring straight community - creators of bigamy, rape, adultery, misogyny, one night stands, pickup bars and the list goes on. 

      Now the playing field seems to be levelling off a little for everyone. Bad behaviour can no longer be written off. Sexually, personally, politically.  We have the knowledge to know historical and scientific facts to avoid pitfalls, to act better on behalf of ourselves and the planet. All of this is God's created world. We are all brothers and sisters.

       When I think of the sins of today, especially politically in this country I find nothing more that dismissive arrogance.  Politicians acting as if God does not even exist. Misusing God's words erroneously. Misquoting. Mis-interpreting. Using God as a battering ram against our brothers and sisters.  This is the slaves in charge with no thought that the master will return. As Charlton Heston said "it's a madhouse". I can offer no excuses for any of this bad behaviour. It makes anything gays could possibly do pale in comparison. 

        We really have to take back decency in everyone, in every portion of society and the world. It has to start with us. Perhaps anger moving to action, divine action. That is, the Godliness in us all reclaiming the decency and love we are created to mirror and transmit.

Certainly not the evils foisted in God's name by governments and religions.

         Sins of omission and sins of arrogance will likely not be accepted well when the Master returns. No notices, no warnings, no signs. Do good. Love one another.

      

Luke 12:41-48

Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

Transforming power

     What will it take to 'transfigure' us into the person that God created us to be? You know, the one God envisioned before you were even conceived, the creature that God had in mind when you were a  mere thought of 'what the world needs now is you'. And then you existed, the conception, the womb, the birth seemed almost a side story to the great and magnificent creation God has in mind for you. Our lives are a journey to discover the entirety of that person. In so doing we are transformed, transfigured into the physical-spiritual being that will enlighten the world.  Of course we have to look and discover our true self, we have to allow ourselves to be molded by The Potter. We have to live, learn, listen and be cooperative.

       What do we do instead? Create false images of our self to display to others? Buy things, so many things, beautiful things, the best things? Do we try to transform the world to our own liking?  Do we use the Scriptures to batter and torment others with Scriptural translations that are heretical, spurious and wrong hearted?

      We are on the wrong path to wholeness if the solution is not an all encompassing interpretation of God's love, kindness and inclusiveness. We know all too well about religions and governments that are based on loose and wrong hearted interpretations of Scriptures. It seems we have gone to war against such regimes and practises. The Taliban. Isis. Boko Haram. In the United States, have we already forgotten the lessons of these atrocities only to try and transform our people into an American type Taliban?

A government that uses wrongful and misguided interpretations of Christian Scripture for their own evil vision of what the country should be. And this is not a Christian country to begin with! The country is based on religious freedom, separation of church and state and is influenced by many of the world's major religions, not just one. Certainly not some one's lunatic interpretation of Christian Scriptures.

      Shouldn't we be transforming, transfiguring ourselves into loving children of God rather than promulgating hate and ignorance? Sadly, we are now charged with fixing this mess of a government and standing up firmly to hate and ignorance. We can only do that though when we know that we are all children of God, all unique, all equally loved.

Matthew 17:1-8

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

Out of focus

   I have a vision which I call the 'aha moment'. It is the moment we die and see all that was previously unclear. Like we just came from the optician with a new pair of glasses. Things unknown to us will be known. All the things we wondered about while here on earth will be either clear or clear that those concerns were not really important. 

     It is pretty clear , no pun intended, that we do not see well in this plane. We can't really. We are not God even as we sometimes like to think we are. We act in ways that keep our focus on all the wrong things like a child preoccupied with toys. But God has tried and continues to try to refocus us on what is truly important. Sometimes it takes major events in our lives to help us refocus. Sometimes it happens with age and wisdom. For all the faults of organized religions, they do try to get us focused on the important stuff of life.

      I don't think I want to innumerate all those important things that begins with recognizing our God given goodness and fulfilling the legacy of love that Jesus showed us.  One could go on but no matter what journey one takes, no matter what religion one chooses or is raised into, the goal is better vision of this world which has a transcendental quality that mirrors our creator.  We are not simply physical beings, creations like a rock even though we share the same foundations. Remember man that you are dust, and so on.  

        We should at least try to train ourselves not to be like Peter in today's passage in which he focuses on the wrong thing, the easy, safe, worldly journey. We are all called to a higher plane of existence.

Matthew 16:21-28

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’