Horse emissions and our practice of faith

      I saw this Starbucks meme on FaceBook the other day ( see below ). It seems to be making the Advent rounds. Of course I wanted to see a few others as well, especially with my penchant to chastise those people that are Bible thumpers. Those are people who seem to practice their 'Christianity' by spouting passages chapter and verse and using their words as weapons against any poor unsuspecting or doubtful souls out there. If you aren't aware it's called Bible Bashing and it is all the rage for pseudo Christians fighting the good fight against homosexuals and the homosexual agenda of love ( and the pursuit of happiness ). 

I for one would love to see a Bible quote that speaks of the love of Jonathan and David 

( 1 Samuel 18:1 ), the story of Ruth and Naomi perhaps (Ruth) or perhaps a real and honest translation of Mt.8:5-13 ( also Luke 7 ) where Jesus cures the homosexual lover of a Roman Centurion. Let the battle of words begin!  Really, just about anyone can pick up Scripture and use it for their own means, to justify their own agenda - usually an agenda of hate and exclusion.

      The real interesting thing is though, see how Jesus responded in today's Gospel reading from Matthew. When Jesus is asked if "he is the One", their is no affirmative answer in words. At least at that point in time Jesus does not use any of the many Scripture passages that point to His arrival for the benefit of mankind. It seems there are countless references by prophets and sages that the Messiah would be coming. How many Jews of the time used their interpretation of those passages to say that Jesus was or was not the Messiah.

       Jesus says what so many Bible thumpers would not be willing to say because it would be so very self indicting. Jesus says "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."  It is not Bible quotes, fancy words or the circular logic so many religions use to bolster their position. It is our actions that count. Let them know we are Christians by our love. Not words, but love. It is beloved Saint Francis ( 1182-1226 ) who 'got the real message' of Christ and said over a thousand years later, "Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words".

       We all love to justify ourselves and how much better when we can shove a Bible in someones face in support of our cause.  But if we know anything, if we have learned anything, the real message and conversion of hearts come from actions. When we in the LGBTQ community are encouraged to be 'out and proud' it is so that people will see that we are all really the same. We have the same desires, the same hopes and we are genuinely good people when we aren't bashing each other, faith against faith or denomination against denomination. We all have the same agenda even if it seems simply to eat, work, sleep and repeat. What counts is how we love and how we live. Less words, more faith in action.

     

 For focusing on our witness of faith by our love and our love in action and not so much on quoting Scripture or bashing people with words, I pray.    

Matthew 11: 2 - 11

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me." 

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, 

"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, 

who will prepare your way before you.' 

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Preparing to be a woke Christian

       I have to confess that I am one of those nuts that really drive other people nuts. I am one who could play Christmas music all year long and certainly push the envelope as to when I can get away with playing it ( the day after Thanksgiving?? ). I also have been a pest as to how soon I can put up the old Christmas Tree. This year, with family coming for Thanksgiving I was actually encouraged to have the house look extra festive. I am not really sure I keep Christmas in my heart all the year round. I am not sure I am prepared for Jesus' incarnation, His second coming or for the end, but this reading from Matthew sure makes me think about that.

        Of all the idiosyncrasies about this holiday season, I almost despise the commercial aspect that seems to dwarf any religious meaning. Madison Avenue has hijacked the season. The madness has escalated to having stores open at 6pm Thanksgiving evening and goes on all through the night. I lieu of that, stores open at really ungodly hours enticing the 'faithful' into mobbing stores, mowing people down for bargains on items they don't need and likely with money they don't actually have for people they may not actually even like.  Not the ideal for Advent, eh?

         So as much as I might like to keep that spirit of Christmas in my heart 24/7/365 and be prepared for Jesus' arrival, I am appalled at what the Advent season brings. I feel like the Grinch.  There was one year I actually sent no Christmas cards at all because that was an easy way to lighten the burden of the season. If I haven't spoken to you all year long why invest the time, energy and hassle sending you a card?

         To top things off for me, there are the pseudo religious zealots who embrace the season by their annual onslaught against people who say "Happy Holidays!" instead of the apparently required Merry Christmas ! Oy. Get with the program, the baby Jesus is not looking for for proper words but proper hearts!  In that regard, Happy Hanukkah! Guess what, Jesus is Jewish! So as these zealots appear each year with car magnets proclaiming to "keep Christ in Christmas " which I should be applauding, I find myself saying simply, how about we just try to keep Christ in Christianity!

        Advent is a challenge for sure, at least for me.  How do I ( we ) keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts the whole year long? How do we become 'woke' Christians so that the love, camaraderie, generosity, giving, celebrations and joy last every day of our life?

It's a challenge for sure but the challenge can seem more intense and wrong hearted during the season that is supposed to highlight the exact opposite. I am not going to advocate for everyone to not send any Christmas cards to family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances as a solution. I think we have to come up with our very own personal solutions. This is perhaps part of the preparation of Advent.  We know something good is coming, we know we have reason to celebrate and prepare. We do need to make time and we do need to spend time ( rather than more money ) at things that highlight the true reason for the season.

       For battles with materialism and time that seems sparse, we pray to be woke Christians and always celebrate the gift God has graced us with. Most assuredly that is the gift of God embracing our humanity to help us, to love us and show us that we can do it, we can be holy, we can be all God has created us to be.  Thank you baby Jesus! 

        ......and we pray.

         

Matthew 24:36-44

‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.