Christian DNA

      I think we are all aware by now that the original ‘plan’ was that Jesus came only to the children of Israel, the Jewish community. Jesus was Jewish after all. Of course Jesus’ life attests to much more than that. He spoke to low class Jews (Samaritans), women, sinners, the Roman Centurion and so many others that were outcasts.  It was after Jesus death, with Paul's influence, that formally opened The Way to all others, gentiles and the entire world. 

          As the word spread to whomever the ‘other’ was, there was the immediate need to address the in-your-face reasons why those others should not be converted. The Jews were generally scrupulous about rules, who did and who did not. Face it, there is always a reason why  a ‘they’ are omitted. There is one justification or another. This has been so throughout human history.  There has always been a reason ‘they’ are incapable of self determination, that ‘they’ don’t have souls, that ‘they’ are uneducated barbarians or whatever. 

        Some rationalizations seem so reasonable and the reasons are so insidious that we easily accept it as gospel truth from God. 

        Today’s passage is yet another nail in the coffin of our own erroneous religious fervor. In truth, if we call ourselves Christian, our desire is to emulate the life of Jesus Christ. We will therefore always be on the side of the outcast; we will always be a welcoming smile, hand and shoulder to those viewed as outcasts. Hell, Hebrew scripture is abundantly clear that we are to be welcoming, loving and accepting of immigrants and foreigners. Acceptance and welcoming should be in our Christian DNA. Perhaps that is even redundant. 

        I’m not so sure rules and rubrics or lack of understanding of the ‘other’ is a reason to marginalize or say someone (or whole peoples) are not worthy ( or are even incapable ). It takes a keen eye, an open mind and a loving heart to know the difference between man made rules and God’s true wishes. Whoa are they that masquerade their own justifications and fears as the will of God.  In God’s eyes we are all equal, everyone, no exceptions. It is no challenge, it is a calling as Christians, nay, as humans, to embrace everyone as equally called, equally loved brothers and sisters. Remember, God loves you at least as much as God loves the bloke next to you.

Acts 11:1

Now the apostles and the believerswho were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believerscriticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’ 

           

Dollaring

       If the spirit of Vatican II could be embodied, surely it would resemble my pastor from 30 years ago. He was a saintly Irish immigrant with a brogue to match and he had a full grasp about what faith and love were all about.   He was quite good with money, especially catching those who had the ability to offer what the parish community needed. Even so, he rarely spoke of money. He did that only once a year and he argued quite successfully for his version of  'the tithe'.

            He had approached me to be one of the speakers for one of his fateful weekends in October. My commitment was not so much substantial as it was consistent. I think that was what caught his eyes when scanning the parish coffers. Father, I'd say, "I don't tithe, how can I ask others to?"  Tithing is ten percent and we were to note the frequency of which that is noted in both Hebrew and Christian Scripture.  Our good Father though was not asking ten percent. Shrewd as he was, he was asking the parishioners to consider trying to give only 5%.  He would note that surely, you all give to other good causes. Five percent seemed a righteous amount to support the good works of our own small ( 5000 family ) parish community. Perhaps more shrewd and more realistic, he'd argue that even less was fine as long as it was a budgeted amount, not some piddly 'dollaring'. That is, reaching into your pocket for spare change or a dollar bill when the basket was passed. Shrewd indeed.  When he retired, there were no mortgages, 2 new pipe organs, a new rectory, a substantial physical plant, immense outreach and a cool million (US) in the bank. 

        What is the point to this story when I am not asking for a penny myself.  The whole reading today speaks to what is really important.  My pastor knew that. We had a tremendous faith community and strong outreach to all those in need. The ministries we offered and services we ran were an exemplar. Of course that cannot be run on faith alone. Cold hard cash is needed but Father knew that it was not the be all and end all.  How many of us grew up with two or even three collections a week. Parish support, special debt fund of some sort and of course one or other of the Bishops' pet funds were required or Father would be in deep trouble from downtown ( the diocesan offices ).

          While we all attend to our faith and loving and the challenges and rewards of all that, we have to know that while not of the world, we are part of the world.  The utilities are not offering free electricity to churches, nor heat, nor light nor anything else. Sometimes we need to be reminded that good works require good old hard currency to back them up.  Father did that once a year, never a word otherwise. Can we remember not to dollar? Can we remember that we are here to help each other in whatever manner we can in a considered , thoughtful and consistent way?

Matthew 23:23-26

 ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

 ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.

Dancing in the sand

       I was talking with someone the other day and reminiscing, as we often do when we get older. Ah, the god old days. Not always as good as we might recall. Further, we often miss out on the present when we dwell too much on the past. 

       In the passage from Scripture today, there is a bit of a litany. God takes care of everything. At yet other point in Scripture it notes how beautifully dressed are the flowers of the fields and they do not worry. How much more will God take care of you? Under the circumstances here, one cannot help but think back over ones life. When reminiscing with the chap I spoke of earlier, I noted some of the amazing twists and turns my own life had taken. The clincher was ' I never would have imagined being married to a man at the age of sixty! ' It becomes more of an overall amazement with what God has done in my life than longing for those good old days. After all, I have seen a lot of shit in my day. If not that, then trying times , the struggle to 'come out' from my cocoon and much, much more. The challenges were many, the road not straight, but windy and hilly and filled with all sorts of challenges. 

        One thing that I do know, like the writer of today's passage, God was and is always with me. God always sustains me, holding onto me, holding me upright, feeding me, nurturing me, loving me enormously and forgiving me without bounds. 

       What a wonderful life, but more than good old times, a good old journey.  Not dwelling on the past but recognition of the love of God in my life and that I have been taken places that I had never dreamed or had even conceived of.

       Where will we go from here? The journey for each of us continues. The possibilities are as infinite as God if we choose to accept it, cooperate with it.  God loves us more than we may ever be able to know and is with us always. In a sequel to "footprints in the sand", the writer looking at the footprints of their life, notes a period when the prints in the sand are all jumbled, going round in circles, doing figure eights, seemingly mindless in direction. A real mish mash. The writer says 'see God, I was wandering aimlessly and you were not there'.  God responds , 'don't you recall, you were not alone wandering, that is when we danced.' 

         God wants nothing more than an intimate relationship in which we dance together, no cares not worries just the relational love that is God. God will take care of the rest.

        

Job 4:1, 5:1-11, 17-21, 26-27

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

‘Call now; is there anyone who will answer you?
To which of the holy ones will you turn? 
Surely vexation kills the fool,
   and jealousy slays the simple. 
I have seen fools taking root,
   but suddenly I cursed their dwelling. 
Their children are far from safety,
   they are crushed in the gate,
   and there is no one to deliver them. 
The hungry eat their harvest,
   and they take it even out of the thorns;
   and the thirsty pant after their wealth. 
For misery does not come from the earth,
   nor does trouble sprout from the ground; 
but human beings are born to trouble
   just as sparks fly upward. 

‘As for me, I would seek God,
   and to God I would commit my cause. 
He does great things and unsearchable,
   marvellous things without number. 
He gives rain on the earth
   and sends waters on the fields; 
he sets on high those who are lowly,
   and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 
‘How happy is the one whom God reproves;
   therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. 
For he wounds, but he binds up;
   he strikes, but his hands heal. 
He will deliver you from six troubles;
   in seven no harm shall touch you. 
In famine he will redeem you from death,
   and in war from the power of the sword. 
You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
   and shall not fear destruction when it comes. 
You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,
   as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing-floor in its season. 
See, we have searched this out; it is true.
   Hear, and know it for yourself.’ 

Entering the mindless morass of mediocrity

       In the putrid political quagmire that we find ourselves drowning in these days, we long for rationality. We long for common sense and civility to reign.  We want facts to be facts. No such luck. The caustic chasm seems wider than ever with no bridges to traverse.  No one to stand up to the orange albatross and his minions.

       I recall a time when I could easily note the difference between a politician and a statesman. The latter was still a politician but rarely, if ever, lost sight of their values and was still willing to really work in earnest and with respect with those whose opinion differed. All for the good of the citizens and the nation, if not the world. I recall only a few of those men in my entire lifetime. Sadly, today we have lost the last of that dying breed,  John McCain.

      Is there anyone who has stood for what is right and still understands and respects his adversaries?  Men of unimpeachable wisdom and faith now no longer exist. They only ply their own jaundiced views and fail to stand up even to their own leader and even when they see the wretchedness of the ideas and evil of the person. Stupidity reigns supreme!

       This is not a really a political jab nor is it really a canonization of John McCain even as we recognize the gift he was and the fragility of all life.  It seems we must now plant a new crop. No statesmen left. How can we gain back what we have so blithely given away?

       I have known several heroes in my life. The greatest of course is our Lord and Savior.  Fully human, fully Divine.  Can we emulate Jesus and those human beings in our lives that strive for truth, decency and understanding? In so doing we will become better people, more faithful and loving. Maybe we can lift ourselves out of this mindless morass of mediocrity. Maybe we can become like John McCain, standing for our beliefs, recognizing others have different beliefs and sharing a vision of a rich United States, the last best hope of mankind.

      John, you will be missed.

       
     

Primacy of conscience

        I find it interesting how Jesus fully acknowledges the authority of the scribes and the Pharisees. At the same time he says as much as to ignore them. They are no good for you. If this is the basis of the primacy of conscience, it is a very good one. How true it is even today with the hypocritical ( Roman ) church fathers.

         I recall the time I had a spectacular Pastor, He was a teacher, an example and just a great guy. He was accused of being a pedophile by a small group of self righteous believers in an autocratic restrictive and unloving church.  As it turned out he was guilty of cruising porn on his computer, steamy, hot, heterosexual porn. As a celibate man this seems more an indictment of the Roman church's requirement to have Priests to live in an unnatural state of life. There never was an evidence of pedophilia. But the mere accusation was enough to through my faith into a tailspin of doubt.

       It was at this juncture in my journey that I realized that I ( we ) do not need intermediaries with our relationship with God. Guides yes. Leaders of worship? yes. But God seeks a personal and intimate relationship with each of us. We must be as knowledgeable as we can and have a one to one with God. We cannot relinquish the responsibility of using our brain, heart and conscience when communing with our loving creator.

          So do as they say, not as they do and by all means use the primacy of conscience that is granted us by virtue of our creator.

Matthew 23:1-12

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practise what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Frenemy

        There are several characters in history and in the very present who have all the earmarks of being a villian. Think of a public figure who lies, torments, perhaps even tortures. Think of someone who promulgates hate and revenge, even a myopic view of justice and citizenship.  I can think of several that I might dare say have little chance of redemption although I do firmly believe people can change and see the light so to speak. Got a person in mind? Well this is Saul, or Paul as we know him, that we are talking about.

         The zealous persecutor, killer and bane of Christians, saw the light, apparently literally, and was changed forever. If you were a Christian back in  the day, would you have accepted him into your community? I can hear the cries of 'liar', traitor and spy!

          I can only imagine, hope and pray such would happen to someone in current history. But in our daily, run of the mill lives, is there anyone who says that they have changed? How have we received them? or not at all?

          Jesus admonishes us to forgive 70x7 and to turn the other cheek. Can we do this safely and do we really want to do it at all?  Big issues and small issues, do we see forgiveness as even a consideration?

           Saint Paul is perhaps the second most important person in Christianity aside from Jesus himself. Without Paul, we might still be a strict sect of Judaism and gentiles would not be welcome short of outright conversion to Judaism first.  Paul is pretty darn important in the changes and message he spread. Very powerful. Would our own calling to forgive and accept others be less powerful if we truly believed and truly engaged the teachings of the one we call Messiah?

Acts 9:1-9

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Fake foods and sustenance

       When I attended seminary there was a required course on homiletics. You would probably agree, there is nothing worse that sitting in a church, synagogue, temple, mosque or even work and have to listen to someone droning on and on. I am reminded with today's passage of two things they taught us with regard to preaching. One is this, 'if you don't strike oil in the first 5 minutes, stop boring'. The second is, there is no need to convey all your learned wisdom as well as your life story in each and every sermon you offer.

        There is so much in today's passage, my mind is a twitter over what to say, how to limit my thoughts and absolutely, do not try to say it all!  So much neat information from how this fits in with the synoptic Gospels and the attending interpretations all the way to 'food that does not perish'. I'll choose the latter.

       When I was a young newlywed we were poor. We were so poor we collected soda cans on the beach for the 5 cent refund so that we could make a large pot of chili, enough to last through the week. Poor and dependant on the generosity of family and friends. Even then though, I think we both knew we had nothing to worry about. Times may have been lean but there are far important things we could have worried about. The lessons about what to worry about have only been compounded and reinforced through the years.  I recently read a novel in which a character states that worrying is just praying for something bad to happen. I'd add that it is misspent time and energy.

         What really gives us sustenance is God.  As Americans we probably are out of touch with how little food we really need to survive. We live in a defacto world of big macs and happy meals. Everything is oversized - as are most of us.  When I lived in the Dominican Republic, even for that short time I became embarrassed by the way we live in the United States.  This was an honest self reflection. I have come to know what little we need in the way of real food and how much more we absolutely need in the way of God. Sadly we can easily make food our God and that is a real abomination. Appreciate? yes. Worship, gluttony? No.

           What do you need to sustain you? What false foods do you consume?

          

John 6:16-27

 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.

 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’