The speck and the great design.

Matthew 24:1-14

        The other day I saw a picture of planet Earth from space. There was a  small arrow pointed at a spot on earth and it said "this is you." I suppose it was meant to tell you how insignificant you are. That's a notion I certainly do not agree with. Even if you are a spec, Jesus still would have died just for you, God loves you that much. However, we often let ourselves get so self centered that you'd think the sun, moon and stars revolved around us!  It might be a good idea to think about our place in the entire universe.

           The disciples point out to Jesus all the buildings of theTemple. It would seem to be quite impressive. It took perhaps centuries to complete the massive stone buildings. Yet Jesus is saying that not one stone will be left upon another. A pretty bold and perhaps scary thought and in 70 AD the temple was in fact destroyed.

            Have you ever had the occasion to be in the midst of post hurricane mess? I mean, the hurricane comes and leaves, trees strewn all over, wires down, electricity out, every sort of modern convenience is disrupted. If you have taken the time to think about our life, it is pretty impressive overall. The way we drive around, long distnaces, the appliances and luxuries we live with. I admit to liking air conditioning very much and what would we do without TV??

           When life is disrupted we can easily get that feeling of us being a speck on planet earth.  The damage seems like envisioning the massive Temple buildings being destroyed, not one stone upon another. It does happen though and often in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, like in the middle east, it happens over years and years of dehumanizing and torturous  actions.  Once again, you seem as a speck trying to survive.

             It might be difficult on some levels to beleive God cares for just me, that one speck on planet earth in the midst of a crazy world spinning wildly, almost out of control or in the midst of natural or man made chaos. The fact is, God knows that it does happen. It is perhaps in these turbulent times that God reveals himself most to us in the love and caring of others.  After 9-11, a human cruelty and attack of epic proportions, there was witnessed great acts of love, compassion and heroism. God is fully alive in how we respond to natural disaster and manmade evils. I am also sure he weeps for the victims whom he winds up holding in his all embracing arms. 

            When I think of myself  (or you ) as  speck on planet earth, I still see that picture of Earth from space and how beautiful that blue orb is and that however small I may seem, I am a part of the majesty that it is. God chose me, gay Dan, loving man, to be a part of the thoughtful design. God loves me. God loves you. We are not specks in the shadow of greatness, we are part of the greatness, by his/her design

    

24

As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ²Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’

3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ ⁴Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. ⁵For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!”^* and they will lead many astray. ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines^* and earthquakes in various places: ⁸all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

9 ‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰Then many will fall away,^* and they will betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹²And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴And this good news^* of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

The (sexual) hypocrisy police

Matthew 23:27-39

          I know the media attention to almost any scandal makes it loom larger than life. The details and facts are immediately telegraphed to the entire world. Still, there are scandals that exist. Organized religion is not immune from it. In fact major religions seems to have a penchant for it.

          History is replete with things that many hope ( and pray ) would be forgotten. The crusades, the inquisition, the activities of many Popes, bishops and priests are the stuff legends are made of. Perhaps the word would be infamous and in fact what I just mentioned is worse than mere scandal. I am aware of some hostility I may hold in regards to the Roman church but I really don't wish to rehash that here although the lines may get blurry. Don't assume I am speaking about the Roman church right now. I will say that many of the right wingnut conservatives of religion are the ones that seem to fall the furthest ( from their respective thrones ) and from their stated positions on sexual mores.

          Whom should we name first? The list seems endless. Just recently the leader of a mega church stepped down for 'moral failings'. (read: sexual improprieties) There are too many televangelists that cheated on their spouse, had a gay liaison or had a drug problem. I would like to focus on the area of sexuality though.

          The God given gift of sexuality has been bastardized at every turn with little or no gray areas to these churches and people. Instead of dealing with sex as the gift that it is, in all its varieties, shades and diversity, it is held as a highly regulated evil. Such regulation is not from Christ. This is not from God. One only need look at God's created world to see the diversity and beauty. Why would the gift of sex be any less diverse or beautiful? Does sexual activity have to be entered into with respect, dignity and mutuality? Yes, absolutely. But isn't that true of all the gifts we are entrusted with by God? Why is sexual activity and love singled out?  Such problematic norms seem more a product of personal issues that people and institutions have with sex than anything else. Problems with sexuality come out of ignorance and a lack of current and fundamental scientific knowledge.

          Where does this come from with regards to today's passage? It is the hypocrisy of church related sexual mores that are unnatural, strict and frankly not adhered to by those that promote them the most. It is the "do as I say", not "do as I do" club. It s the elephant in the room that ( and I have to say it ) the Roman church has with regards to the gay community. Being gay is "intrinsically disordered" but half the clergy are gay and few can live up to an almost impossible rule on celibacy. Also, the notion of "saving yourself for marriage" is an almost dangerous paradigm for the lay people as well. Such incredibly hypocrisy.

          Human sexuality needs a fresh look by everyone, every person and every religion. Perhaps the public at large already has. The 'sensus fidelium' shows that people do almost universally all have sex before marriage and people do realize the concept of 'intrinsically dissordered' is completely wrong and not consistent with God's love, respect and the diversity of his created world or science.

           The hypocrisy and outdated nature of religious standards that are set on sexuality are laughable. What is more laughable and sad is the standards that religions set for themselves and ignore en masse. Sadly, this is why many people revel in the news of another preacher, priest or rabbi who fails to live up to these archaic man made standards.

             Explore healthy, respectful sexuality. Embrace who you are and enjoy the totality of who you are respectfully. Explore and educate yourself on what is normal and perhaps mediate on the great gift you have been graced with and how you enjoy it.

      

‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” ’

Social ministry

Matthew 9:32-38

          The operative word is compassion.  Jesus had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. When I think about having compassion and people in need, certain people come immediately to mind.  Harassed would certainly be a characteristic of many gay people for example. But there are so many more.

          When I was in seminary there was an opportunity for us to serve in the diocesan missions in the Dominican Republic. I jumped at the chance to help. It was quite an eye opener. We grow so accustomed to all we have in the United States. Even our poor live many levels above their poor. So we went to help but I suspect we were really there to observe how happy and faithful they were. Perhaps we would discover that it is not our easy living and wealth here in the USA that makes one happy. These people were in poverty of enormous proportions and yet they were happy, loving, welcoming and faithful.

           Back here in the States, there are myriad examples of ways we can serve and help the harassed, the marginalized and the poor.  Illegal immigrants which so many of our relatives were (that is, officially, without papers because 'papers' were not always needed). How about the the elderly poor? We had so many of those in my parish. Elderly people who worked hard all their lives but were now just getting by. We could have compassion on them, yes?

             Of course we also had a 'rent-a-Priest' in our parish. he ran a local home for  troubled youth and a shelter for homeless men.  He was a Montfort Father. He would be the first one to tell us that the wealthy sometimes are the poorest. They perhaps deserve more compassion than most. They truly are harassed and wandering trying to find happiness in things, toys and a high lifestyle. Perhaps we should have compassion on them.

          So where does this leave us? The Dominicans did not need our help. We were there to have them witness to us!  It seems no matter where we turn, we can find the harassed, the poor of spirit, people in poverty, marginalized, afraid, helpless. Perhaps the answer is for us to compassion on everyone.  We can make judgements all day long about helping migrant workers and the like, and we should help, but it involves a judgement as to who needs what. In actuality we ALL need compassion and help. We are all marginalized, all hurting, all wandering, looking for hope, love, attention, an ear to listen to us. Perhaps the answer is to be present to everyone we come into contact with. The guy at 7-11, the checkout clerk at Stop & Shop, the coworker who seems down, the patient that could use a smile and a good word. How about our familiy members? Our spouse?  Everyone is our business, we have no idea who needs and who needs what so give freely to all. Of course help all those that really seem obvious or people that actually call to us for help and need our love and compassion. But more than that, be present to everyone in our life, strangers, friends and family alike.

        This would be the broadest and best social ministry and one that emulates the broad and all encompassing love of Christ.

After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’ 

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’

God had it before the US Army

Romans 8:26-30

          Weakness is a term I was very aware of yesterday and so I am somewhat amused that in the very first sentence of today's scripture reading the word weakness appears. I was painfully aware of anger that I have been holding on to and my impatience with other drivers and how I react to them. And I hasten to add, I probably overlook my own driving faux pas and so I am feeling more than humbled.

           I believe that God loves us without reservation and wherever we are on our journey. With that in mind I do not beat myself up too much for my shortcomings because I am committed to change and growth personally, in my relationship to God and with my brother and sisters, all of which are inextricably intermingled.

           As always with translations we might bypass something very important here in this passage that follows some time after the reference to weakness. The word is saint. Most of us would think it is a term created by the Catholic church that is steeped in tradition and is for those who have attained the zenith of personal faith. Right now it is a long and highly regulated process to official sainthood.  But the reference to "saints" in the passage as they thought of it back then had very little to do with bureaucracy and a long process. The saints were the faithful. As such the saints were imperfect travellers but ones that were committed to trying to be holy and following the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.

            It's good to know at least a little about our faith from back in the day. So we may all be considered saints. I had already arrived at a similar notion myself when I noted people whom I had met that I believed had lived exemplary faithful lives but had not fallen into the spotlight or attention of Rome.  I call the late Anna C. Schuster a saint and I believe there is no doubt that God recognizes her as such even if Rome has not proclaimed it 'to make it official'.  I certainly don't believe I am even in the same class as Ms. Schuster but I do believe I am sainted by virtue of my faith, my attempts to recognize my faults and correct them and also align my actions with that of my Savour. 

            So while I may be painfully aware of my faults and my weaknesses, I like you, should be filled with the knowledge that God still loves you more than you can imagine and is your biggest fan and cheerleader in us trying to do better and be all that you can be. I think God had use of that phrase long before the United States Army laid claim to it.

      So, be all that you can be.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Lessons on marriage

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 and Song of Solomon 2:8-13

         A man I know posted on FaceBook a litany of things about himself. Music, movies, art, books he likes, sports etc. One other thing that he noted was 'turn-ons'. While this could be things that simply raise his energy level and get him motivated, it is often equated with what gets a person emotionally or sexually excited. In my mind it is part of the essence of our humanity. God created us as sexual beings and God spoke to to us about the truth in Genesis that 'it is not good for man to be alone'. While sex is an intimate part of the fabric of my marriage, it does not speak well to the essence or totality of my marriage.  I think about this and sex as a singular preoccupation when I hear people speak about marriage equality. More precisely, I think about the people who rail against marriage equality and, from whatever paradigm they are using, think that marriage equality will lead to people marrying their cars, their toasters and their pet gerbils.

         In today's passage we get two glimpses of love and marriage from Hebrew scripture. The traditional biblical representation of marriage is represented by Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for his son. Note, the son does not go out and look, it is the servant who seeks out the wife for the son. It seems like an odd arrangement to us in modern times. And while God's hand is placed into the equation by the Rebekah responding in an expected way (as if it was a clandestine spy meeting with cryptic programmed responses), it is none the less more of a business transaction and that has very little if anything to do with love. It actually has to do more with human need and desire for Abraham's son.

        Another representation is in that of the Song of Solomon. This is the stuff of Hallmark cards. It has to do with true love and attraction. This is the stuff of modern marriage. We find our own soul mates and hopefully we see God's hand in that too, just usually not by some cryptic verbal response. Love, passion and sex are all very intimate, personal things. It is so in what might be viewed as the straight world as much as it is in the so called gay world.

         While marriage certainly includes sexual intimacy ( one hopes ), it so much more than that in any marriage. More than anything it is not a business transaction and should not be. That unfortunately is the basis for a traditional biblical marriage. Today it is based on love, choice, mutual respect, commitment and intimacy. The type of intimacy does not define the marriage. So when we see the love story in Hebrew scripture of Ruth and Naomi, it has little to do with sex and all to do with love, commitment and sharing a life together.  Eve in the story of Jonathan and David, another Hebrew love story, the initial falling in love is merely a precursor to a commitment that actually transcended life.

         I am reminded of a old joke where two old folks are rocking in their chairs on the porch. Their hands gradually meet and one says, wanna 'go all the way'? The other responds, honey, at my age, hold ing hands is all the way.  As varied as our sexual appetites or lack their off is also the variety of marriages. Sex does not define the marriage so much as the love, choice, commitment and mutual respect. That speaks to God's love, our desire not to be alone and emulates and expresses the love Jesus called us to live.

So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.

And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has.

My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live;

but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.'

"I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going!

I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,"

and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also" --let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'

"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'

She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels.

Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms.

Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.

Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left."

And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will."

So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men.

And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes."

Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb.

Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming.

And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel,

and said to the servant, "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.

And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.

My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.

My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;

for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Gay love, God's love will be victorious

Matthew 22:23-40

            You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.

Don't you just love it when some arrogant, self righteous person gets put in their place?  I mean really, there are mouthpieces out there that apparently have nothing better to do than to bad mouth, condemn and tell you why you are going to hell and why you are not worthy. All the while they are hiding some deep dark secret (that eventually comes out) or they are completely wrong on the face of it. Most people know this type of person is a hate monger. Sadly, others fall prey to faulty logic, their assuredness and ease with which they quote the Bible. That's why I love this trap that Jesus blasts with the line You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 

           So it was in a similar fashion that Mama Tits blasted away some hecklers and haters at a Pride Parade the other day.  Perhaps big and brassy, but she shut the haters down. In a non verbal way, it is funny (in a sad way) that  the anti-gay Catholic Archbishop of Minnesota is under investigation for "inappropriate sexual conduct" with men. You have to chuckle a little bit, really. 

           I know that none of us is perfect so I am sure there are some gay screwballs out there, bad character and advocating Lord knows what.  But, how can you not savour some arrogant asshat getting put in their place?  Jesus did it and it needs to be done more today to the right wingnuts and the arrogant ,hypocritical religious right today.

            When the Catholic church was young and facing heretics, one of the best ways they found to counter the heretic was to know the enemy and their reasoning's, using that knowledge to shut them down. Now this is a fine line here, without becoming like the Roman Catholic church and all the circular logic and hypocrisy, it would do us well to immerse ourselves in what they use as ammunition against the LGBTQ community. In this way , we can shut them down. Of course they do a fine job of shooting themselves in the foot but we can help.

             What is truly sad is that Jesus' message of love and inclusion, of hope and forgiveness that is what we all need to hear, experience and live, is lost to so many because of their arrogance and hatefulness. This is the Roman Catholic church's biggest failing. The message they are delivering is not what Jesus proclaimed or lived. Jesus' message is lost in circular logic, burdensome tradition, hierarchy and hate.

              To all the haters out their and the Roman Catholic church is just one of many groups of haters out there, we need to make a conscious effort to divorce their hate from the true message of Christ. We in the gay community need to shut down their rhetoric and embrace them with our love and prayers. We need to embrace God's love and the knowledge of how much we are loved and spread the good news they fail so miserably at proclaiming by their actions.

                

The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses said, “If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.” Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.’

Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.’ And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’

A radical message from Jesus

Matthew 5:43-48

          I love such nebulous prescriptions as love your neighbor as yourself and love God with your whole heart. The two great commandments, the essence of what God asks of us seems somewhat easy. And then there is this passage that puts a spin on it that makes me uncomfortable.  Not so easy, eh?

           This week has seen some horrible news. Gay men being lured into meetings only to be murdered, young Israeli boys being kidnapped and murdered, a Palestinian youth being murdered in Jerusalem in retaliation, the religious right hate mongering and hijacking the supreme court over politics and bias. The country and the world seems polarized and to paraphrase a line from South Pacific, ' I hear the human race hasn't much more time'. 

            This passage quite clearly calls us to love our enemy and pray for our persecutors. Before we play mental gymnastics with this like some wing nut who tries to explain that his hate for gays is really because he loves us, know that such exercises are not what love truly is. Think about how you would like to be loved. That is how we are to love those that are our enemies. I didn't say it was easy but Jesus' message is so radical that we would have difficulty with it. 

             If we say we are followers of Jesus Christ or if we are a follower of any religion that seeks truth and the God of love, we will have to realign our thinking from standards of this world to that of God. We are called to peace, love and inclusion. We must abandon ( and fight back ) against the standards of this world which is hate, violence, war and greed.

             Something to think about.            

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” ⁴But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.