Accept your birthright, heirs to the kingdom

Ephesians 3:1-7

          There is a commercial on the radio where a couple discusses planning for their retirement. The man, in an over dramatization, says he is putting nothing aside because a long lost uncle will surely leave them a tidy sum when he dies and all will be good.  It really is a poor advertisement, I don't even know what they are promoting. However, they are doing a fine job for my purposes.  I think we have all had day dreams or "what if" sessions with friends or family at one time or another. Power ball is 330 million dollars. What if we won?  What if we discovered a secret bank account that went unclaimed and we really are due a million dollars!  A seemingly pleasant little fantasy but if we have any brains, we still plan for retirement.

               What of our eternal future? Do we plan for that?  Jesus makes it quite clear we are all brothers and sisters. This passage reaffirms our being heirs to the kingdom of God with all the rights and joys therein.  But you have to claim it, own it and live up to it.

               Anyone who is gay is painfully aware of the way we are told by many people how sinful, worthless and deviant we are supposed to be. "God hates fags" the placards of the Westboro Baptist Church proclaim. How can I adequately and calmly say how many things are wrong with that statement.  First, history is full of people who were supposedly excluded , unloved and unworthy of God's enormous love and compassion. Somehow, people swear to it in spite of what scripture says, in spite of the evidence of Jesus' lived existence. Jesus reached out to everyone. If you are so blind as to not see that, then realize that it was Paul that reached out to the gentiles. If not for Paul, you would in fact have to be Jewish to be saved. Did not Jesus come to save the lost sheep of Israel? Of course his actions and words speak louder than anything mere humans can record on paper, mistranslate, misinterpret and abuse for all time afterwards.

         We are all welcomed, loved and cherished by God.  Let no human tell you otherwise. Let no one or any church try to convince you by faulty logic or mere repetition that you are not worthy. Step up to the plate and accept your dignity, your honor and the love of your being an heir to God's good fortune and eternal happiness.  Do not let anyone convince you otherwise, no matter who you are.

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.

I was then, but am now...

John 15:12-15

          As is my custom (even if it is a relatively new one), I read the story associated with the saint or holy person of the day. Today it is Absalom Jones and his is a very interesting story. I am sure there is even more to read. What I noticed is the fact that he was Methodist, then Episcopal. I find this interesting because I was Roman Catholic and am now Episcopal myself. Not unlike the Bishop of the Episcopal church on Long Island who was once a Roman Catholic Priest. And again, there is the book I recently read about Father Cutie in Florida who went from being a Roman Catholic Priest to falling in love with a most wonderful woman and subsequently became an Episcopal Priest. In a twist, I found out after Mass this week that the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement (Graymoor) had been Episcopal before they became Roman Catholic. I guess it fascinates me a bit, all these people that up and switch religions.  But when you think about it, Perhaps that is exactly what the Apostles did. They were all Jews and Jesus was a Jew. After Jesus was crucified and rose, basically it was a new religion, perhaps more so when the word was opened to the gentiles without having to convert to Judaism first.

           I keep rolling around in my head the notion that people up and change their religion.  But what is a religion anyway?  I suppose I was always really an Episcopal at heart. I mean, I never believed a whole array of doctrines that the Roman Catholic church puts forth, their nonsense about being gay is just one example. I know that several of my fellow seminarians also were not 'doctrinally pure' so to speak and yet they remained on as ordained Deacons in the church.  What is it that allows you to change.

             The late Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, was famously welcomed by a wide range of seemingly disparate religions and one of the reasons was his ability to cut through the dogma (perhaps bypass is a better word) and focus on the essence of what religion is. This is same reason I think people can change from one religion to another, especially if one changes within the realm of Christianity.  I went to the Episcopal church for many reasons. One reason was the similarity of the worship. Some people call it 'the smells and bells' of faith. It is not the basis of Christianity and it is not the basis of Catholicism or even being Episcopal but it lends a familiarity to my worship. 

           So what is the theorized universal constant that allows people to dismiss all sorts of dogmas and switch religions?  It is just that, the dogmas are often not an "all or nothing" proposition in any religion. Barring walking into a Roman Catholic church hand in hand with my husband, no one takes a doctrinal purity exam at the door. Everyone is free to accept or not accept the dogmas. What allows people to switch religions and what allows doctrinally impure people to stay in a Catholic church (when they are probably more doctrinally Episcopalians) is that we have a faith in Jesus Christ. 

         When Jesus preached the message of love that is his Father, he did not preach about transubstantiation, the dogma of Mary physically taken up into heaven, the proper formula for making a host, the exact form for a liturgy or anything else. The Apostles did not go to seminary to become doctrinally pure.

          What allows people to switch is that they are pure in the real message. That message is God's love, the realization that God sent his son as a human being just like us and who died just for us. Jesus only gave two important rules and that is the Two great commandments. They may not be easy to live sometimes, but they are our real and unchanging template for salvation, no matter what exact religion you are.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

A theme continued, more aliens

Ephesians 2:13-22

        By human standards one of the silliest things I may have ever done was invite a total stranger to move into my home for several months. I was on the phone with a cousin in the state of Washington when she mentioned that her housekeepers son was looking for a place to stay while he checked out the possibility of moving to the east coast. He was a young married Baptist minister with a family. He'd leave his wife and family in search of a parsonage and perhaps a career. Perhaps not so risky as a total stranger but risky none the less and certainly well beyond what most people would do. While he was a good man we saw eye to eye on nothing except for one thing - we both knew Jesus was our Lord and saviour. Otherwise he was a rightwingnut of a guy who even as s Baptist found room for beer and Hawaiian pizza. Thank God that did not include Hawaii's favorite food, Spam, or I'd probably have heaved and thrown him out.

        But this man was a stranger and in continuing the theme I seem to have started a few days ago, I welcomed the stranger. That's what I have been talking about. Why is that? If we are faithful people, if we say yes to Christ, one of the tenets is set forth in this passage,  you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. If we accept our divine heritage and inheritance, if we accept the salvation offered by Christ, we must also acknowledge that same offer extends equally to every one else. We are once again, all brothers and sisters, all equally loved and cherished. How can we turn our back on our brothers and sisters if we are so loved.  There are practicalities involved of course but that should not be allowed to be an excuse to abdicate our responsiblity to love one another. We must welcome the aliens, the strangers because of we truly believe and accept the message of love there really are no strangers and there are no aliens. 

        Perhaps you will respond by donating to a qualitfied charity that helps  people in far off lands. Perhaps you will actually travel to those far off lands to help. Perhaps you will help closer to home, neighbors perhaps or indigent people that exist all around us if we chose to open our eyes.  Perhaps the stranger you welcome will be the next customer or client that crosses your path.  The key is to welcome and to have expansive love for everyone.  I would argue that extends to all of God's craetion and all the animals as well. However you are called you are called to welcome the foreigner.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

Aliens !

Genesis 26:1-5

           I am not a terribly outgoing person. When I am in a crow or at a party I am very shy and reserved especially if I am left to my own. In some ways I think I need to feel my presence acknowledged and my presence appreciated. That may be an insecurity on my part but I know when I feel like an alien in a crowd. Perhaps too it's an internal mechanism I have had.... since forever, that was a self acknowledgment of how different I was being gay even if I couldn't acknowledge it to myself. Anyone who is a geek or a wallflower knows the feeling of being an alien.

         In yesterdays blog I mentioned hospitality to strangers (aka, aliens). I was speaking about how we may forget that the United States was settled by nothing but immigrants. Save for the native Americans, we all came from someplace else on the globe, our roots are most often in a land whose tongue is not English, certainly not the kings English.

         In today's passage Isaac resided in a foreign land as an alien. I guess the human condition does not change that much. In any event, all our histories, familial and personal, all have roots in being aliens of one kind or another. At parties I actually think I may seem to have 2 heads when I talk and that is yet another type of alien.

        What can we do to help us remember that we are all aliens at heart? Or are we all really brothers at heart?  Not only should we welcome and be hospitable to foreign (aliens) but also to those who simply feel uncomfortable in our midst. I know when I have a family gathering I try to make every family member feel welcome. I pull out all the stops to make them feel welcome, prepare foods to their liking and try to be a gracious and loving host.  If we could only realize in our hearts that we are all brothers and sisters, children of God one and all, wouldn't it be easier to treat everybody better?  Hospitality to strangers would be second nature. There are countries and communities where this is in fact second nature.  Do we feel as we have earned our presence here or there and that gives us some right to exclude or make others feel unwelcome? I don't think so.

       We have repeated admonitions about hospitality to strangers, the actions of the good Samaritan, doing to least of your brothers and sisters and too many other examples to note here.  Perhaps some of us don't have the best memories of family and so treating someone like family would not necessarily be a good thing. Certainly we know how we would like to be treated. Certainly we know we would like to be welcomed with open arms.

         That is the challenge of today's passage in my mind.

Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfil the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing for themselves through your offspring, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.’

The things those Chirstians (should) believe

Hebrews 13:1-16

            My sounding board tells me that this blog entry is a bit longer and a bit more preachy that usual.  I have tosay it probably will take some time for me to discern why I react the way I do to today's scripture passage. Part of it I believe is that it starts out so nice, speaking of mutual love. After that it speaks to some issues that I find most troublesome today, in these times. So it may be a bumpy ride today, I hope you'll see it through, preachiness and all.        

          If you think about some of the most divisive issues of today, this passage seems to for tell some of the answers. Perhaps too we have always had a tendency to neglect to show hospitality or to empathise with prisoners; recognize that the next person to cross our path might be an angel to whom you could show hospitality or grace. What of materialism mentioned in this passage?  What of Christians and Catholics that bind and restrain the love Christ teaches? Oh,what the heck, lets go for it, what about marriage?  Some might think the world has only this one issue. All of these are mentioned in this one bitsy passage. How convenient. Let try to tackle some of them.

          In spite of the fact that I live in a primarily agricultural area, this is essentially an affluent region of the country. With this high living lifestyle comes a need for any array of jobs to be done that pay little and seem to be beneath most people or their young adult children. The jobs fall to a vast array of migrant workers, "illegal aliens" who frequent hiring halls and street corners. There are an incredible numbers of haters out there that seem to forget that this entire country, save the native Americans, is made from immigrants. In the past he 'legalities' of immigration and laws associated with immigration were not all that they were today and certainly not as strict, if they were obeyed at all. The term "WOP" which was often used as derogatory term means "without papers". Illegal immigration is not a new thing though our penchant for being scrupulous and extremely legal has grown.  Be that as it may, these people who come to the United States are here to contribute to society (which they do), they often pay taxes  (for which they will not derive benefits) and in case no one realizes, to ANY Christian or believer in God, they are our brothers and sisters one and all.   The notion of hospitality to strangers should have real meaning in spite of what haters say or try to rationalize. I don't think it is generally realized, but the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is not homosexual sex.  If the passages are read in full there are two take away messages there. The first is that the inhabitants were no hospitable to strangers, in their case it was the Angelic guests of Lot. These inhospitable people did not want to have a romantic relationship with these foreign guests, the townsmen wanted to rape them. This is not an admonishment against a loving relationship of any kind, it is a sin of rape and being inhospitable. This is why Sodom and Gomorrah were punished. It is interesting as a side note that people who try to use this passage as a club against gays, fail to mention the part where Lot actually offers his two daughters (to be raped) to the townsmen in place of his guests. That too is wrong but we do not here any railing against heterosexual sex based on rape. Rape is rape. Rape has no part in any loving relationship. But that's an interesting note about that passage.

           In our country we have an incredible number of people in prison. I dare say, a disproportionate number of them are people of color. This is based on the society we live in, it is skewed towards the rich and against the poor.  There are so many prisoners in fact, that the government now is outsourcing their care to private entities, private prisons.  I am not silly enough to think that there are some very hardened and dangerous criminals in prison but there are many who really are good and decent people caught in a societal system that fosters prison for young black youth and hispanics. It is interesting to note the array of people that have been in prisons that we are aware of. Should we start with John the Baptist? How about Paul? How about Nelson Mandela? There are countless examples of good people we knew or know in prison.  Has God forsaken them? Are they no longer loved by their creator? Are they not deserving of decency and care as our brothers and sisters, if not simply because they are children of God? When we think of the two great commandments  do we realize torture is inhuman?     I mean, would we like to be tortured? Does God look smilingly down on such behavior? I think not. 

           Let's look at marriage.  Marriage has been an evolving institution since....forever. The form of vows and legalities of it are a relatively recent construct. The Church inserting itself into it not all that long ago in human history. Before that, it was a more of legal contract where women were chattel and pawns, objects of desire and servants to men. Of course there have always been relationships that existed and there are references to ancient relationships of both heterosexual and homosexual alike. Vows for each can be found, references of each can be found in scripture and in the stories of the some of the saints as well as historical data which can easily be researched and found. The admonition in this scripture passage today speaks against fornicators and adulterers.  If we do not recognize same sex relationships, this passage is simply speaking against premarital sex perhaps and certainly against relationships outside of a vow or contract.  It is interesting to note that homosexuality is not mentioned in any way. Of course that term is a really recent construct created in the 1800's.  But the idea of relationships is certainly not new, heterosexual or homosexual. Perhaps the passage today is speaking about fidelity in any relationship taking for granted the gamut of relationships that always existed.  As with the case of Lot, God is not so much against any decent relationship but certainly against rape (as well as  inhospitality in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah).

           What we are called to do from in this passage? We are called to love, love, love. Everyone, all our brothers and sisters. No matter if you are gay or straight, act a way that respects your bodies, others bodies and the relationship that you have entered into.

           

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper;
   I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?’

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

How shocking!

Mark 10:13-22

           The man was sad, he was disheartened,  his countenance fell, he was shocked. These are words used to translate how the man felt after he was told by Jesus to sell everything and give it to the poor. I have a fondness for the word shocked. I will leave it to biblical scholars what the Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek words were as well as the context. Shocked though has a depth of meaning that appeals to me.

           This is what Jesus came to tell us. It is not by obeying all the laws that we are saved, whether those laws are the ones created in ancient Jewish tradition or by modern Catholicism or by the Amish for that matter. What matters is the love in our hearts and how we love our brothers and sisters.  This poor chap was stunned that he wad to sell all he had, perhaps he already gave to the poor and needy, Jesus is is telling him to sell everything he owns. That is quite a tall order. But for someone who claims to have done everything he was required to do, perhaps it is right on target. It goes to where his heart really was. Clearly, he had issues over his possessions. Perhaps the possessions owned him!

               I am sure we all have an idea of what God wants us to do and not do. The self righteous probably, not so much. They are already convinced they have a lock on salvation. If this passage tells me anything it is that no one has a lock on salvation.  Whether you are one of those who obey all the rules or you belong to the 'correct' religion or you have been convinced you are one of the 144,000. Jesus probably has a shock for you. I may be shocked as well. Jesus turned everything upside down and we should never be complacent and we certainly should never miss an opportunity to love.  We may want to pay special attention to those that we think are the least likely to be saved, the outcasts and the marginalized of society. They may shock us and be the first one's into heaven. Jesus said as much himself (Mt. 21:31).

               

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Cutting to the quick

John 7:14-36

         After reading today's passage you have to admit that Jesus is pretty ballsy. He walks right into the temple, starts preaching (like only he could) and starts lambasting the temple elite. Again. Perhaps he is not worried because the people 'in the pews' get it. The people understand, feel and know the truth of what Jesus is preaching. The temple elite however have power to maintain, they have to justify themselves to themselves and in some way they too recognize the truth of which Jesus speaks and it is very indicting of them so they get angry, very angry.  

          For the most part, people are rather civil in daily relationships. Every once in a while a friend or stranger may say something to you that most everyone else wouldn't dare say. Or perhaps someone says something that is a bit too close to home. Maybe embarrassing. Perhaps indicting. I doubt any offense is intended but truth sometimes stings.

          Ideally, we would not be so oblivious to our own behaviour or walk around in ignorance so such things would not happen. Sadly we get so wrapped up in our lives and just 'making it through the day' that there is often no time for prayer, self reflection and any semblance of a search for truth. When I speak of truth it is truth abut ourselves and the big truths, the truths of life, the truth of how valued and loved we are by God. People can go through their entire life it seems and not understand those basics.  Perhaps they have found 'truth' in big business, in money or in any other hollow substitutes for what life is really about. These are people who on their death bed lament what they should have or could have done. These are people that often are very fearful of death.

            The truth that Jesus was speaking is not a truth born of ... yes, rules and rubrics, one of my favorite expressions.  That is why the temple elite got so upset.  Speaking truth with no will to power as Jesus did is very unsettling to those with the power. It's unsettling to those who make all the rules that others must follow for their redemption. Along comes Jesus with no will to power and he poo-poo's all the rules. This is very reminiscent of Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke truth with no will to power and it is very powerful and very unsettling. Like I said, especially those who are vested in the power - in this case it was "the man".

            I hope I can tie all this together but here goes, the idea of marriage equality and respect and dignity for gays is something that is gaining much traction in society. That power does not come from some gay lobby. The power comes from the two gay guys in the house next door living good and decent lives, silently and peacefully life everyone else. People see that and it is good. The power comes from your brother, or cousin, or coworker or friend whom you know is gay because they are casually "out" and they live good, decent, caring and loving lives. There is power in that. It rubs some people the wrong way because it undermines all the rules and logic they have vested themselves in. But, the truth is apparent to all who have eyes and are willing to look.  

            People that get carried away with right wingnut fanatics are those people who long for a simpler day, people that are wrapped up in getting through the day and never take the time to pray openly with God. They are people that can't see the truth about themselves, God or society (the world of people God created in love), because they just are trying to get through the day. They don't see really, they see what other people tell them they are seeing. That is very dangerous. 

          Take some time and put it aside every day or at least once a week to revel in solitude, in self reflection and prayer. God will speak to you in the silence of your heart. Many people do this and they are happier and more well adjusted for it. It may be going to Mass, walking a labyrinth, sitting on a bench in Central Park, Zen or some other practice. We must divest ourselves of the world's concerns and intrusions and we must be able to reflect and listen to our creator.  The truth is there for us to see. It is truth about ourselves, our lives, our God, our neighbors and our world. It is powerful and it is not born of someone else unless that is God and God my friends is all about love.         

About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, ‘How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?’ Then Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

‘Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?’ The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?’ Jesus answered them, ‘I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.’

Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, ‘When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?’

The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. Jesus then said, ‘I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’ The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, “You will search for me and you will not find me” and, “Where I am, you cannot come”?’