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       I feel like I am trying to sell something. I don't get a commission but I am sincerely sure of my product. In the world of sales I would be an anomaly. I truly believe in my product and I want to share this wonder with you but I am not about fake endorsements  or exaggerations. I want this for you.

       So what am I selling? The Way. The life and works of Jesus Christ. I would be quick to add that I am not so much talking religion per se. After all, how many have bastardized the message by their rules and rubrics or worse, by their horrific actions in His name. 

       But the truth is, I do want each and every person to know how much God loves them, so much so that Jesus gave his life willingly, suffering miserably on the cross the torturous beatings and journey down the Via Dolorosa.

       I am of sufficient age, with sufficient experience in life and with eyes that see and ears that hear that I can attest to the power and importance of the message. The importance of conversion of self.  How much of society is based on fake, fleeting things that will make us happy? This, that, or the newest other thing.  How many people, when realizing that all the work and toys is not the answer, only to try and find the answer in the arms or loins of another not their own mate?  Mid life crisis, finding oneself, contentment? These are all found in the Lord. 

        The best part of all this is that it is free. The offer is not one of those, get it while it lasts.  You won't miss 'the deal' of a lifetime. But I assure you, the sooner the better. The better off you will be, your family and friends will be, the world will be. Just know that Christianity, belief in Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior is quite powerful. In the hands of humanity it can be used and abused.  Be patient, kind and loving and really be willing to delve into the message of Jesus and all will be fine.  Go to church even. Soak in the richness of tradition but do not make the tradition your religion. Do not let the ministrations of clerics become your faith. Know that your relationship with God is one to one, no intermediaries necessary. They can help your journey but God seeks you. God wants you specifically and in a mutual loving concerned, mature relationship.

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Matthew 13:44-52

 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’

A moderate approach

       As much as Saint Paul was almost a vindictive persecutor of the Christians, St Paul is equally now as zealous in his ministry of The Way.  This seems true so very often in life. The reformed ( you fill in the blank ) becomes a born again over zealous convert to the new way of things. It happens to anyone that falls off the wagon of some sort , even ones who have seriously strayed and now wish to repent.

       I often ponder how rich the world could be if some of the pseudo Christians of the world and evil politicians of the world would be if they converted. The problem in my mind then goes to how overly zealous they might become in their repentance, recovery or conversion.

       For all of Paul's trips and ministry though he is nothing else if practical and reasoned. Paul did not become a slayer of Jews or anyone else as he was when he was vehemently anti-Christian. In Paul then there is an answer for the ages. Moderation.

        When I have overindulged in eating or tried to use food as an answer as to why I was unhappy ( pre-coming out ), the answer was not in starvation or advanced fasting 102. No matter what dieting program I can think of, the answer is always moderation. Eating normal, measured amounts. 

       I don't think that God is asking great things of us. Moderation and love within our means is what I believe we are being asked to do. Try hard, have faith, love as much as we can.  This is really the things of saints because if we try to do our best, to do whatever we are capable of doing within our means, God will take that effort and multiply it.  Like the miracle of the loaves and fishes.  It is exactly as I noted with Saint Vincent de Paul a few days ago. De Paul - get it, of Paul, how funny!  Anyway, if we do what we can, God will make that effort the work of ten or something like that according to St. Vincent.

        Sometime we think we must change the world by dramatic actions that we are often not really capable of. What God asks is that we simply take action as best we can and not sit idly by. Action. Love. You. Me.

Acts 20:1-16

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas; but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

 On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’ Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left.Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.

 We went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself. When he met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. We sailed from there, and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Wake us up please.

       I recently relayed  the story of how Lot was willing to hand over his two virgin daughters to the townsmen ( of Sodom & Gomorrah ) to be raped instead of Lot's two house guests ( two angels ). The cherry pickers of Holy Scripture deduce from that passage that gay sex is wrong. They show every indication that they are simply messed up with some kind of perversion of their own.  Rape never equates with a mutually loving relationship. Rape is violent, non consensual and against God's will and statutes. Still we find it in Scripture. After all, the Bible is stories of real people struggling to maintain a relationship with God. The Bible does not condone but portrays real people with real struggles. How did they find a connection to God amidst the tyrannies, rape, slavery, pestilence, wars , death, etc, etc.

       In the passage that I picked myself today, we find the story of Lot's daughters turning the tables a bit. It speaks of sexual violence and again, rape. The daughters' plan is getting dear old Dad drunk to "lay" with him and have children of their own 'to preserve the family' I suppose. Still, rape is rape and it is a subject that is so insidiously abusive that it is still rampant today as a means of control and forced submission.

        The reason I picked this passage myself is because of the allegations of rape in front of the news today.  The power struggle of men, especially white men, young and old, to control women and society as their own domain is a real abomination.  The notion that a man's word is worth more than a woman's is also crass and against the tenets of Christianity. Indeed, against the spirit of most religions.

           Perhaps this is venting against women that voted for Donald Trump. Perhaps I am venting at the acceptance of a major political party and a ( so called ) Christian right that supports a man that lives and promotes rape, infidelity and male dominance and points to the Bible to support that cause. My brain almost explodes at any woman that could have voted for him or that still supports anything associated with the Republican party. 

            If we claim to be people of faith there are certain things we have to stand for. Love is one of them and lust is not love, Rape is not love. Slavery is not love. Marriage without mutuality and equality is not love. Ignorance is not consistent with love either.  What do we need to happen to know what real love is? Does someone die on a cross for us? 

         How can the events of this Presidency, this Republican party, not be jarring enough to let us know we are on an errant course devoid of love, devoid of decency, devoid of real liberty, democracy and equality. My God, wake us up!

   

Gen. 19:31-35

“Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth. “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve our family through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.” 

Vinnie's recipe

       I imagine that it's not an accident that we celebrate and remember the holy Christian, man and Priest, St. Vincent de Paul, minister, preacher and founder of the Vincentians (CM or Congregation of the Mission). Service to the poor is an extraordinary blessing.  My own time with the supremely poor of the Dominican Republic, second only to the poor of neighboring Haiti, was a blessed learning and humbling experience.

         One of my favorites expressions attributed to St. Vincent is that with Christ, one man can work the power of Ten.  Our problem is that we always seek power by combining men. Wars are all about this, religious zealots too and the closely related political factions are all about joining the power of men. 

         The issue then is that we count more on the men than we do on God.  In our arrogance we try to accomplish Godly tasks and think we are God. That is the saddest of all.

The other day I wrote about the impact we have as individuals in our 'domestic church'.  We may never know the extent of our love, God's love and the influence it has. St. Vincent had it right, one person with Christ can do the work of ten.

           I continue to exhort everyone "to live lives of love as powerfully and as effectively as we can, even our little portion of the world, whatever that is, wherever that is". It is our actions in faith that are multiplied by Christ. Continue your good works in faith especially with the poor.

Luke 4:14-30

 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free, 
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

No guarantees

       When I got married to my husband, we were quite blessed to have both of my in-laws present. They were quite elderly and no doubt had never even dreamt that their nice Jewish boy of a son would ever get married. It hadn't even been legal not too long ago. But we found each other and they welcomed me with broad, warm, open arms. When the ceremony ended and the reception was over, my mother-in-law came over to us and told me that 'he' was now my responsibility, no give backs and no guarantees.

         No guarantees.  We have no guarantees about anything in life, ever except that God loves us. So St. Paul finds that he is not welcome in the synagogue in Ephesus and speaks  instead for 2 years in the lecture hall of Tyrannus where both Greek and Jew hear the Word.

       As fate would have it, today we remember Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626), Bishop of Winchester, who is responsible in no small part for the King James translation of the Bible, the Bible of Bibles if you will.  Countless Christians swear by this translation as if it was handed down directly by God in the 1500's. Of course it is not the definitive work that some might argue it is. Even though Lancelot was an eminently qualified and a learned man, there is much more that has occurred in biblical scholarship since then. No doubt, the scholarship and revelations will continue and hopefully in concert with the Spirit we will come to greater knowledge and faith. 

       In the end, nothing can be definitive or counted on.  People that support you can retract their support. Words can be mistranslated. Biases can be overturned. Trusted sources will be found to be errant.

       The only exceptions are the love of God which is constant and unwavering and also that my husband is my responsibility now ( and I, his ). For everything else, open your eyes, hearts and minds and listen, watch and learn for the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-10

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

 He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

Beloved disciple

       I have made mistakes and I have sinned. Oh, have I sinned. I am impatient and too vocal. If words could kill, I probably am a serial killer. I don't sound like a very nice person and I haven't even gotten into the details, so many details. Details is such a pleasant word, it excuses so much at the expense of responsibility or faith. 

       When I compare myself to others, which I know I am not supposed to be doing either (more sin?), I know that I am really not so bad. I am judged as a very nice, easy going and thoughtful person. Oh what a difference of vantage point can make. In spite of my many faults and shortcomings, weaknesses and foibles, I really am a decent person. I should say I always try to be. I also try to exert some extra effort to be nice to others. I almost sound schizophrenic.  Sinner or saint? I can see both.

           I recall as a youth in Catholic grammar school, there was a belief that God kept track of every sin, a ledger of  plusses and minuses.  We could only hope to end life in the black.  That concept seems a bit laughable now, childish for sure. I now know that in spite of my miscalculations, errant judgments and impatience, God sees much better than I do.  It isn't the rose colored glasses of a parent that says "my Johnny would never do that" when he's accused of bullying, racketeering or mass murder. I believe God sees it all and knows that She did not make any mistake. There is a diamond here.  Some dust, some minor flaws (perhaps) but a diamond in the process of polishing.  Or a better analogy might be that well known potter where God, with our cooperation, is creating a masterpiece of pottery, a vessel for the ages. 

       In the end, I know that somehow in spite of anything I may do or errors I may make, even a retreat from our relationship, God sees great things in me. I am convinced of that. I know that. God sees me and says ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ I don't really know why, the details and I am humbled, but I do know it to be true. This knowledge is what keeps me going, striving to do better and love more.

        How can I convince you that it is the same for you? Because it is. God does not make junk and certainly knows what greatness is in you too. 

Luke 3:15-22

 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

Our own small corner of the world.

       Did you hear about Anna Ellison Butler Alexander?  Probably not. She didn't get the hype that John the Baptist got but they were both rebels and had a message ahead of their time, perhaps they have a message for all time.

        Anna was born in 1865 to recently emancipated slaves in US Georgia. She was educated, far ahead of others of her time. In 1907 she became the first (and only) African-American deaconess in the Episcopal Church. Anna started a school in Georgia and fostered a sense of learning in her students undoubtedly starting generations of youth towards a good education and better lives.  Anna was a real rebel and a real hero. 

       John the Baptist, based on today's readings was not merely announcing the coming of the Savior.  He was a pretty strong voice in his own right and had a sternly worded message that he didn't get from Jesus but that Jesus himself could have easily have said. John we remember, Anna not so much.  Which one has made a larger impact?  I guess many will say John. I don't think we really should compare each other in that way but rest assured that Anna has made a truly significant contribution to the faith, to the black community and to our entire nation however unsung.

         Many, many years ago I volunteered in several positions. I volunteered in a nursing home when I was in high school. In college I volunteered as a helper in a real to life mental institution. Not a home for independent living, it was a lock'm up highly medicated patient ward with people that suffered with serious mental illness. I enjoyed both 'jobs' enormously.  Just going back many years, I was raising my two children and I lamented to myself that I could no longer volunteer the way I had. I could no longer make that contribution. My time was pretty much sliced and diced into neat if not so tidy portions.  My time was spent with the more mundane things in life like laundry, cooking, cleaning, driving the kids to sports, chorus and the like. And of course, just being there for the kids.  It was around that time that I heard of a thing called the 'domestic church'.  I realized that I wasn't able to change the world or serve by volunteering but I could spend by time, energies and love changing a small portion of the world by loving, witnessing and caring for my family. What impact have I had?  I could judge that I believe I have done a good job. I could elaborate but to what real point.  The fact is that we often do not know the impact of our lives and our love. I believe the impact can be exponential without our ever knowing it.

       I don't think that Anna had any concept of the change and bright future she offered probably thousands, now millions, of peoples lives by her example and life.  People who love and serve never do it for money even if it does come their way. Love, service and fostering positive outcomes for humanity always cone from the heart, faith in motion and not condescending, arrogant and hypocritical preaching.  Love is really simple and powerful.

      I exhort all of us to live lives of love as powerfully and as effectively as we can, even our little portion of the world, whatever that is, wherever that is. God's  love will do the rest.  Great changes are afoot, do your simple part in faith, love and hope. You may never know what the impact will be precisely but you will effect change. In faith. In love.

     

Luke 1:1-4, 3:1-14

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight. 
Every valley shall be filled,
   and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
   and the rough ways made smooth; 
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’

 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’

 And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’

Book one: Genesis: Rape and control

       Did you ever get an ear worm? Most of the time it's an odd song that you've heard and you keep replaying it in your head, over and over. Almost maddening. Well, I've had an ear worm of sorts this last week or so. Even as I read this morning's passage it is heard with the tint of that passage about Sodom and Gomorrah that is often used to condemn homosexuality. That particular passage        ( Genesis 19:1-11 ) is probably one of the most misinterpreted in the entire Bible.

          The issue at hand was really how the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah treated the two strangers ( angels ) under the care of Lot. By all accounts the cities were well off but the story reveals just how crude, rude and unsociable the residents were. 

          This is not unlike America today, well off but very unsociable.  By all accounts we are a blessed nation. Our standard of living is quite good. Perhaps we do not realize it or take it for granted. I had the good fortune to see the other side in volunteer work in the Dominican Republic many years ago. While not an unhappy people and certainly there were loving and welcoming, they were in poverty that we could barely comprehend. Worse perhaps than what we think of poor in our poorest areas of our own country.

          The  unwelcomeness and proclaimers of faith, as opposed to 'doers' of faith want control over the masses. This unwelcomeness and control was what got the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah in trouble, i.e. destroyed. When you read the passage you see that it was not a wholesome relationship the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were seeking with these two guests of Lot. They wanted to have sex with them in order to control them. Show these guys who is boss and demean them in the best way they could think of, treat them as an object, treat them like they were women.  Is there that much difference in they we treat people today, especially how men treat women?  I heard a group of 'Republican Women' address the concerns of the Kavanagh debacle. One woman said something like 'what guy hasn't done something like that in their youth'. My God woman, is this the Stockholm syndrome all over?  Can't you see what you are saying, rationalizing and perpetuating? 

           To twist and divert from the condemnation of rape in Genesis, the story become one of condemning homosexuality. The story is clearly not about being gay. The story is one of clear rape. Violence. Control. It is amazing that in the passage, Lot,  instead offers his two virgin daughters to the townsmen in the place of the two male guests. Wouldn't that be rape as well?  I would think so. Do we similarly then condemn heterosexual love relations?      No, because this passage was not about wholesome relationships but about rape, pure and simple. This method of control was evident in ancient times and it is perpetuated and even justified today.  It is symptomatic of a male dominated society and is as vicious, wholly    un-Christian and dismissed as white privilege and racism. The two may well indeed go hand in hand as methods of control by an aging male white minority.

              The crux of all this is not simply the misinterpretation of Scripture which is sadly true.  The truth lies in our actions versus our words. The truth is we cannot claim to be Christian and display, rationalize or live lives of control and being unwelcoming if not hostile.

That is what got the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah killed if we are to learn anything from that passage from Genesis. If we are to learn anything from today's passage, we are to be witnesses of our faith by our own good actions. How do we respond to incidents, stories and policies that are not welcoming, loving , inclusive and supportive of good lives? How do we promote the life of Christ in what we do, how we vote, how we act?

       Rape has no place in  civilized society. Anywhere.

James 1:19-27

 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Universal truth

        What is it like to wake in a new place each morning. Yesterday I was amidst the cathedral spires of rock as high as any Manhattan skyscraper. This morning I awaken in another kind of city likened to New York, a city that ever sleeps, Las Vegas. As in, Vegas Baby!!  It’s quite a contrast with seemingly diametrically opposed views of the world.

       As one of my first few tasks each morning besides reading scripture, prayer and blogging, I scan the web. News, the markets ( must be somewhat practical in my old age ) and forgive me, Facebook.  I didn’t get very far in FB when I came across the picture of two chaps looking at a number. One chap proclaims “six” while the other proclaims “nine” , each based on their vantage point. Is this a secret of the universe?

       This alone became the focus of my meditation as I too have had such diverse views these last few days. Perhaps I am predisposed to seeing diversity. While the simplicity of the island where I usually dwell does not draw attention to diversity, I am a part of one of the most diverse areas of the world of New York City.  Truth is though, even the views from my kitchen window at home offer quite a perspective. One way endless waters, one way golf course, one way farmland and abundant wildlife.

       I think the image of these two chaps is truly a truth we need to fully embrace. From nationalities, race, politics, religions, sexual orientations and onto any topic you can conjure. We need to get a grasp of the fact that we alone may not be thee “correct” one.  We might be wisest of all to note that there is always another chap proclaiming Six! when we swear that it’s a “Nine”.

     

Human frailty: we have a ways to go

           There is an admonition in the   Desiderata that tells us not to compare ourselves to others because there will always be those who are lesser or greater than ourselves. You could easily hear me on these pages expounding the virtues of St. Paul and stating the enormous impact he had on Christianity, perhaps second only to Jesus himself. I’d be remiss if my compliments bordered on making Paul sound even nearly as great as Christ himself. Paul after all is just a man.

       Paul is annoyed that the clairvoyant 

women in today’s Scripture passage is 

outing him for what he really is, 

‘a slave of the Most High who proclaims 

to you a way of salvation’.  It’s not a lie, 

she is just a pest to Paul and as a human, 

Paul is annoyed. Paul has a human reaction

and pays dearly for it. How rich and real are

these writings. They convey Paul’s humanity, 

frailty and imperfection.

       How are we going in the recognition, 

realization and acceptance of our own very

human faults and frailties? Sometimes I think 

we can be pretty high minded about our nature.

How’s our God complex coming along? 

       I often note our mission in life is to 

embrace our humanity, whom God made us
 to be. It bears noting that in our humanity we are 

loved by God but we must also remember that 
we are not perfect. Paul wasn’t, neither are we.

Acts 16:16-24

 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.’ She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.

 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely.Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.hj

Spiritual guidance

        A most magnificent good morning from Bryce Canyon Utah, the Spirit is alive and well. This is what people call a thin space if you choose to sit more than a millisecond.  Joyous.

       Listening to the Spirit seems to punctuate the passage from Scripture today. I often wonder about how some people are so uncertain as to what path to take almost to the point of paralysis. Our human task is to live life, be who we are and also, in that process, to listen to the Spirit. Listening does not precede movement I don’t think but guides us. If God wants our attention she will get it by one means or another.  

           Today I plan on being, just being and taking in the unique Godliness of this location. A day of thankfulness in so many ways. That does not preclude some other agenda God may gave for me. This is true of us all and it surely makes life interesting and truly blessed.    

Acts 16:6-15

 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.

No strings attached.

        If you read this blog with any frequency, you'll note my penchant deriding the rules and rubrics that man has created especially in regards to religion. I might be tempted to say that I feel like I am in great company because Jesus also railed against the Pharisees for much the same reason. Honestly though, Jesus is my mentor and it is his example that leads me to these truths, if not all truths. I follow him.

       In today's passage from Acts, you have a fledgling Christian community in Antioch welcoming gentiles into their midst.  It had now been determined that they need not be circumcised. You did not have to become Jewish first in order to become Christian, a follower of Jesus. But humans being what they are, a simple welcome would not suffice. There must be a little human restriction even if it's not to the extent of the Pharisees or heaven forbid, the ways of the Roman Church today.

       So welcome gentiles one and all but.......abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. After all, we wouldn't want to make things too easy now, would we? Well, why not?

       Have so many rules done anything but keep people from being saved? Don't the rules and rubrics only set up standards and judgment without the Spirit?  One of the things that I love about the Episcopal church is your ability to journey. You can believe what you wish as long as Jesus is your Lord and Savior. It's not like Cafeteria Catholics who might be ostracized if they confessed verbally what they have trouble believing or worse, refuse to believe.  Must we believe in Limbo? The assumption of Mary in bodily form into heaven? How about original sin, birth control and the primacy of the Pope?   I would contend that more Catholics are closet Episcopalians than anyone realizes.  The truth is, the naysayers, rule minders and onerous orthodox are merely standing in the way of a thoroughly welcoming and loving Father who embraces everyone.  NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

        Why must we find ways of restricting access, making rules and rubrics that are not of God in the first place?   How can we open ourselves to the same universal welcome that God graces each one of us with. This may be the challenge of a lifetime effort but it surely is our calling if we believe in Jesus Christ and believe following His way, The Way.

             

Acts 15:22-35

 Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, with the following letter: ‘The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.’

 So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. When its membersread it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord. 

All welcome my beloved ones

       Among the many judgments we render here on earth, we choose whom we deem to be worthy.  We already know that God's justice and who is worthy is not always, or rarely, is what we would decide. It calls to mind for me my time in Seminary.  The judgments began before I entered with who would be 'accepted' into the Pastoral Formation Institute, then who would be accepted into the Diaconal program and eventually who would be ordained. It seemed like somewhat of an elite group even if there was to be quite a mix of different people.  There were railroad conductors, brick layers, cops, teachers, pharmacists, the list was quite broad of who was judged worthy.

          After ordination, I myself was laicised after coming out and daring to establish a loving family with another man. I believe the exact phrase was that I had "attempted to marry another gentleman".  But who chose who here?  The church (Roman) proper had chosen to ordain me. They had already excluded several individuals along the way. I had made the cut. Did I not choose also?  I chose to say yes to the church or to God? In the end, I believe it is God who chose me and it was I that said yes to God. In that sense, I find it highly unusual that the Church Roman can dismiss what God has chosen. I am a Deacon.

       Our lives are full of acceptances and denials, judgments and entrance fees of all sorts. Love, work, play, clubs, associations. Are you worthy? You might have your doubts and that seems incredibly sad to me. We sometimes abdicate our rights and our divine heritage given by God. No one has the authority to withdraw Gods judgment that we are beloved and uniquely created by Her. No one can take that away. It is often on us to realize our own dignity and stand up out and proud, whether you are gay or not.  Simply being whom you are as God is calling you, knowing in your heart and soul and every fiber of your being that God loves you and calls you is important to realize.  No person, no church, no government can take that away from you.

       It is not surprising that the Word, The Way was opened to Gentiles.  Just as God's very nature insisted that He become human to share in our existence, so too it is God's nature to love with reckless abandon all of her creations from the smallest flower to the grandest animals, from mesons to mountains.

        Are you worthy? Are you called to love in God's name?

         

Acts 15:12-21

 The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, ‘My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favourably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written, 
“After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;
   from its ruins I will rebuild it,
     and I will set it up, 
so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—
   even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.
     Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.” 
Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.’

Whole and holy, cut or uncut?

       Here it is folks, that age old question, cut or uncut?  Well, this is a blog called Beloved Gay Disciple after all.  How many times might a gay man come across such a queery in a posting? Heck, even women might have a preference, cur or uncut?Some things never change.

       Today's passage from Scripture relates what might easily be called 'the first Vatican Council' if the Vatican had existed at that point in time. Among the faithful, it was a battle royal about whether converts to Christianity had to be come Jewish first ( as Jesus was ). The definitive question and rather personal concern became, did converts have to be circumcised?  Cut or uncut as it were.

         Despite those opening two paragraphs, the question might be, how Jewish do we have to be in order to be a good Christian? Let's carry it out a bit further, what physical attributes, what clothes, rules, dogmas do you have to hold to be a good Christian, or a good anything?  We place so much on the physicality of things that we miss the whole intent which is our soul, which is unseen.  Well, that is not quite true. We can see the essence of your soul by one's actions. Truly though, no physicality can adequately represent a true faith and a clean soul. My blessed father-in-law referred to the Hasidim as "the Hats". Perhaps irreverently but the question is, does the clothing really make them holier or better people?  That is part of what the Apostles struggled with and we struggle with today. 

          It seems there are many that are not content unless a physical sign is shown, irrespective of what is in their heart.  Flags, physical gestures, clothing all carry disproportionate weight in our minds. The ultimate gesture I suppose is a wiliness to have your body mutilated in the name of God, whatever good intent it may hold medically. 

       If we are believers that God made us whole and holy, how can we start with the premise that we are flawed and need to be 'cut' to be whole and holy?  I suppose the question goes even further, do we believe in original sin?  Do we begin with the premise that we are flawed at birth or blessed at birth?  I will not answer that here. I will note that current Christian belief at least in the Roman Church is that Original Sin is a given irrevocable dogma. Still, however rationalized, it is a man made concept.

        This is all moot I suppose, the decisions have been made, eh? Truth be told, one of the joys of being an Episcopalian is that we can decide these things for ourselves and hold personal beliefs that we do not have to hide in our hearts like a kid who just swiped a candy bar. We are free to believe and free to grow and free to be whom God made us to be , whole and holy. Just as we are.

Acts 15:1-11

Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.’

 The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’

And start all over again

       Sometimes you can read a line from a passage and the Spirit moves you to thoughts beyond your understanding. Today I read quite a few passages. From Acts, Job and including the reading about John Henry Hobart, holy man whom we recall this day.

       It strikes me that Job is quite the complainer. I suppose we all are to lesser or greater degree. We have our reasons. I gave a litany of my own justifications not too long ago. Not at all for the pity which I spurn but more to show that we all have reasons and mine are quite respectable in terms of what trials I have been tasked with. Job however seems to take complaining to an art form. This is all very human of us. We all know someone who embraces the "whoa is me attitude"  to an art form.

       What also is very human and what we probably should be focused on, especially based on today's passages as I read them, is how often we are reborn. How often do we raise ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start all over again. Paul was stoned nearly to death but he rose to his feet the next day and was off on God's mission of love. It's not what we might typically recall of Paul but more, another example of how richly blessed we are to have him as an example and leader of Christ's message to us.

       My kids often admonish me to take it easy, especially if I am doing something remotely strenuous.  Joint replacements, aortic replacement and cardiac scares, I am determined to go down fighting if that is the case. I am inspired by the likes Paul and John Henry who accomplished much and rarely if ever gave in to human frailty or malady. What are we to do, emulate Job?

         Not only am I thinking of how we can get up and start over as people, we can get up dust off the church and start over as well.  Vatican II seemed like a good beginning in our time and I think we are called to renew that spirit, thee Spirit, in our churches, communities and selves. We have examples and teachers and faith, we are called to renewal and new life. It is our heritage and our essence. Let us grab our bootstraps, for all of us, move forward and always get back up and start all over again.

Job 29:1,30:1-2,16-31

Acts 14:19-28

 But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

 After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch.There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.’ And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.

Feast of understanding

      When the Gospel spread, it came to areas that were no longer primarily Jewish. Not just gentile but also a new civilizations like the Greeks. So you had there, recipients of the Good News trying to understand in terms they knew.  They thought Barnabas and Paul were Zeus and Hermes. We all seem to have little imagination for things that are different than what we are accustomed to. We all try to understand things in familiar, common terms.

         It was a formidable challenge to relate the Good News to a group of people who had altogether different ways of thought. The Greek world and their philosophies and philosophers represented quite a challenge to the fledgling Christians.

         I recall a time when I was adamant that my son eat one vegetable or another and all he was interested in was that it was not Pizza and it was not macaroni and cheese - his standard and understanding of what real and enjoyable food was.  Forcing someone to expand their palate, culinary or in thought, rarely meets with success.

         The Apostles found the way to convert was to educate themselves to the others' way of thought. It actually worked to fight heresy as well. The best 'weapon' was to fully understand your opponent. How wonderful would the world be if we all tried to understand the other from their own viewpoint?  How often do we fail and create problems of great magnitude by simply demanding that others see things from our bloated viewpoint or worse, dismiss the 'other' as unneeded, unwanted or inferior.  This will only come back to bite us on the ass and it does, and it has.

           Imagine in our human, infantile way - imagine how God has to deal with us. Infinitely superior than us, God reaches down to touch us, live with us and understand us. Perhaps this is one of the greatest lessons of Jesus life.  The willingness and desire to understand. The realization that we are not the be all and end all.

       The wisdom of the ages is locked inside every 'other' we can think of, from people, races, sexual orientations, nationalities and religions.  We all have a piece of the pie, lets have a feast that the world has never seen the likes of. Let us try to truly understand our brothers and sisters everywhere.

Acts 14:1-18

The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. But the residents of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news.

 In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.’ Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.