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