Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Seismic Shift; Smart Guy
I recently picked up N.T. Wright's latest, Surprised by Hope. Tom Wright, the Bishop of Durham (U.K.), is an erudite New Testament scholar who has the ability to publish incredible amounts of work in short periods of time. His latest, frankly, has had the greatest impact on me than any other theological work in recent memory. Not because what he said was necessarily new - but that he synthesized resurrection, death, and hope in such a profound way that it causes one to really rethink everything.
There is little doubt that the overwhelming majority (say 98%?) of bible reading, church attending, faithful Christians believe that when we die - our souls leave our broken/diseased bodies and find themselves eternally in heaven with God. That same majority may even say that the whole point of being Christian is to enjoy that eternal life in heaven. But is that view biblical? Is is consonant with the early church? Is is orthodox?
N.T. Wright says absolutely not. He challenges the statements we sometimes make in passing; 'this body is temporary,' 'we are just passing through,' 'the body is but a shell,' etc., that not only promote a theology of escapism or evacuation but also promote a Platonic view of an evil material world and a holy spiritual world. If, at our death, our disembodied souls ascend to heaven and live forever with God, as wonderful as that is, is that really victory of death, Wright asks. If our resurrection is mainly concerned with the soul (as popular theology suggests), why did the gospel writers so strongly state that Christ's tomb was empty?
Wright's main point is that Christian hope is not life after death - rather it is 'life after life after death.' Christ's resurrection is victory over death. His resurrection is the prototype of our resurrection. His spirit did not escape the confines of the material world - the resurrection redeemed it - recreated it, and by doing so - defeated the power of death.
When we die, our souls go to paradise, heaven. We rest, we are at peace, we are with God. But that is not the end. It is not our final destination. We wait for the resurrection when the redeemed body and soul and made new and the heavens and the earth are recreated and joined together.
I can't summarize 300 pages of Wright's theology here, but let me add a couple of quick things. Not only does the resurrection give hope in the recreation of our own bodies - with body and soul - but the whole earth is to be redeemed, recreated. It makes sense doesn't it? If God created the heavens and the earth and it was good - it was perfect - wouldn't God's victory involve redeeming that creation and not just destroying it? Wright asks us to read Romans 8 and Revelation 21 in this light.
But furthermore, if in our baptism we die and are raised with Christ and we are already experiencing a foretaste of the resurrection as we are new creations (as St Paul said), then we are charged with changing the world - by being people of resurrection - new creations - we are called and charged to invite all of creation to participate in resurrection. Instead of escapism and evacuation, we are responsible (see the previous post) for the world and all that is in it. This deals with the environment and with social problems and everything in between.
I highly encourage the reading of Surprised by Hope. I highly encourage a seismic shift in theology.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
St Joe
Today at the convent, we celebrated the Feast of St Joseph. Many calendars had this transferred feast yesterday and the Annunciation today, but when in the convent - do what the sisters tell you! I always find preaching to the sisters a challenge. It's not as if the usual congregational needs are reflected in the convent. I don't think I can get away preaching about the need to 'give our lives more to our faith.' For crying out loud - they have taken vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity and perhaps even more difficult - they live in community and work on a consensus-based government style. But it is nice to preach to a different community and they seem (nuns wouldn't lie would they?) to enjoy/appreciate my preaching.
Today for St Joseph, I found myself thinking about our parish hall. There's a nasty little habit we (and I mean all of us) have that is demonstrated in schools, homes, and churches. In the parish hall - not every one pushes back the chairs when they leave a table. Not everyone puts their coffee cup in the dishwasher. In the church, not everyone takes their bulletin home, and just leaves it in the seat. In the bathrooms, not everyone can make the difficult shot of putting paper towels in the trash can (I have a similar problem of putting clothes in the clothes hamper). We believe - or in many cases we know - that someone else will take care of it. Don't we pay someone to do this for us? Isn't there someone who's job this is? It'll get done.
Ours is a society of passing responsibility or assuming that others will pick up where we leave off. "If I don't help - someone else will." Name the societal ill - name your issue - and we can find large masses just knowing that someone is taking care of the problem. And if anyone had the chance to say - this is not my job...this is not my responsibility - was it not Joseph?
The child inside Mary's womb was not his. I think he was pretty sure of that. He had every societal right to dismiss her quietly as he planned and he had every societal right to dismiss her loudly! It wasn't his responsibility. But if Mary is the patron of the church in saying "yes" to God - then Joseph is the patron of the church for assuming responsibility - for stepping up.
I am responsible for you. You are responsible for me. Every child (or adult) we baptize - we take vows in that effect - I am responsible for YOU. The homeless person is our responsibility. The addict is our responsibility. The lost executive is our responsibility. The trouble makers are our responsibility. The earth and that is in it - is our responsibility. Even if it's not our job. Even if it's not our business - wait a minute - God's business is our business, right? Our business should be God's business, right?
It is. It is.
Today for St Joseph, I found myself thinking about our parish hall. There's a nasty little habit we (and I mean all of us) have that is demonstrated in schools, homes, and churches. In the parish hall - not every one pushes back the chairs when they leave a table. Not everyone puts their coffee cup in the dishwasher. In the church, not everyone takes their bulletin home, and just leaves it in the seat. In the bathrooms, not everyone can make the difficult shot of putting paper towels in the trash can (I have a similar problem of putting clothes in the clothes hamper). We believe - or in many cases we know - that someone else will take care of it. Don't we pay someone to do this for us? Isn't there someone who's job this is? It'll get done.
Ours is a society of passing responsibility or assuming that others will pick up where we leave off. "If I don't help - someone else will." Name the societal ill - name your issue - and we can find large masses just knowing that someone is taking care of the problem. And if anyone had the chance to say - this is not my job...this is not my responsibility - was it not Joseph?
The child inside Mary's womb was not his. I think he was pretty sure of that. He had every societal right to dismiss her quietly as he planned and he had every societal right to dismiss her loudly! It wasn't his responsibility. But if Mary is the patron of the church in saying "yes" to God - then Joseph is the patron of the church for assuming responsibility - for stepping up.
I am responsible for you. You are responsible for me. Every child (or adult) we baptize - we take vows in that effect - I am responsible for YOU. The homeless person is our responsibility. The addict is our responsibility. The lost executive is our responsibility. The trouble makers are our responsibility. The earth and that is in it - is our responsibility. Even if it's not our job. Even if it's not our business - wait a minute - God's business is our business, right? Our business should be God's business, right?
It is. It is.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Meditation for Thomas Sunday
I never proof what I write (so disregard spelling errors!)
There is a most amazing thing in today’s Gospel reading. In fact, the more I think about it and the more I read the text, the more amazing I think it is.
Let me see if I can set the stage. On Easter morning, according to John, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. I’m not really sure what she was going to do there. I don’t think she would be able to see Jesus in the tomb – there was, after all, a very large stone rolled in front to seal it. Maybe she thought she could squeeze in a crack or maybe she thought she could wedge it open – I don’t know.
Maybe she was going to do like so many of us when a loved one dies – she was going to sit by the tomb. Not really sure why we do that – but there is a compulsion to go and sit; to be with the body of the one whose died.
So Mary went and when she arrived she saw the stone had been rolled back. We don’t know if she even looked inside or if she just assumed that since the stone was rolled by that someone had removed his body – a lot like coming home and seeing your front door missing – you don’t have to go inside to have an idea as to what has happened.
She went to tell Peter and John and they went to see the tomb and they saw the same thing – the stone was rolled back. John got to the tomb first but did not go in – instead he just peaked. But Peter inside the tomb.
Don’t you think it’s interesting that Mary didn’t get close to the tomb, John got close to the tomb but didn’t go in and finally Peter went inside?
Anyway, Peter and John go back to their homes. Not only has their teacher and leader been brutally executed – but to add insult to injury, someone has robbed his grave.
Mary stays at the tomb. She arrived to mourn and she was going to stay and mourn. This time, she actually looks inside the tomb. And when she does – she sees two angels. I don’t know if she knew they were angels and they asked her what was wrong.
“They’ve taken my Lord.”
She turns around and sees Jesus – but does not recognize him. She thinks he’s the gardener. I wonder why she thought he was the gardener and not someone else? At any rate – she asks the supposed gardener where he has put Jesus – and Jesus responds to her in a way that she recognizes him for who he is. And she sees her Lord risen.
Jesus tells her to go and tell the disciples that he is risen – that the tomb is empty not because robbers stole the body but because Jesus has conquered death. And she does. She runs and tells the disciples with every bit of gusto and enthusiasm that a human being can muster.
And we instantly assume that the disciples believed her. I don’t think so. I bet they thought she was crazy. I bet they thought she was just an emotional woman that was so sad Jesus had died that she was willing to believe anything to assuage her grief.
I bet they were nice to her, after all, they were grieving too. But I bet they rolled their eyes and avoided contact with her.
You know she kept after them, telling them time and time again what she had seen – desperately trying to plead her case that she was not crazy – she was not seeing things – that Jesus was alive. He was really alive.
And it wasn’t until that night that the disciples – the men –saw Jesus as Mary had. That night Jesus appeared – he came right through locked doors. St John has a little gift for understatement and doesn’t really record the reaction of the disciples.
If I had been in that room, the first thing I would have done would have been to do everything in my power to get out of that room. I would be looking for windows or doors or staircases – because I man I knew to be dead – was now standing before me.
St John does tell us that Jesus was patient. He knew they were terrified – in fact the first thing he says to them is Peace be with you. In other words – it’s okay guys.
And then he lets them look at him. He stands patiently while they try to process what their eyes are seeing. A man – who died – they saw him die. They knew this body was in the tomb – was now standing before them – right there. He wasn’t a ghost because they could touch him – and I’ve often wondered if they did. But he wasn’t exactly flesh and bone because he appeared in a room with locked doors.
It was this moment – I’m convinced – that stayed with the disciples for the rest of their lives. It was this moment that gave them the courage to give up their lives for their faith. They could die because they experienced Christ alive.
So you know they could not contain their enthusiasm. You know words could not describe the euphoria – the joy – the hope that now breathed within them.
And you know they shared all of this with Thomas.
Thomas wasn’t there when the disciples saw the Risen Christ. He wasn’t there. And when they told him what they had experienced – he, naturally, understandably, thought they had lost their mind.
You want him to be alive, he might have said. You will see anything to pull you out of your depression. He is not alive. He is dead. If his tomb is empty, it’s because someone took his body. And to completely hammer home his point he said – unless I touch the wounds made by the nails and spear – I will not believe.
And I understand this. I bet you understand this. I bet we all have talked with people that were in a very fragile state who were convinced they saw something, heard something felt something. And in the backs of our minds we might have left open the possibility – maybe they did. Maybe they did see something, hear something, or feel something. But more than likely, more than likely they didn’t. They wanted to. They so desperately wanted to that they would interpret anything to be contact from the beyond.
Thomas thought the same thing. But they wouldn’t stop. And they were all in agreement. Every one of the 11 remaining disciples except for Thomas – saw Jesus alive. There was no disagreement. Mass delusion – Thomas thought.
But here is the amazing part of this story. At least I think it’s amazing. Thomas stayed with the group. He didn’t leave. Even though the point of their cohesion was gone – at least Thomas thought so. What brought them together was the call of Jesus and he had died – so there was no reason to stay together.
But they did. He did. He stayed with them for an entire week. St John doesn’t address this – because he doesn’t have time. In fact St John even writes that there were so many things that happened that were not written down. But I think the fact that Thomas stayed with the disciples is significant.
It means he was able to live in tension. He was able to live in disagreement. The 10 disciples were completely, totally, and absolutely convinced that they had seen the Risen Christ. Thomas thought they were all mad. But they were able to stay together.
I think that is an incredible witness for us – that 11 men were able to remain together. Even though they completely and totally disagreed on major issues – in fact the issue that defined their relationship – they were able to remain together.
If there is a major sin in the life of the church today – I don’t think it has anything to do with doctrinal impurity of sexual orientation or anything of the like. I think the major sin is that fact that Christians from bishops down to lay folk have a very difficult time staying together.
I read a letter from the Bishop of Ft Worth telling why he no longer attends the House of Bishops meetings. Over the past nine years of parish ministry, I’ve heard story after story and reason after reason as to why people in the church do not get along and can’t even sit in the same church together.
I think one the most amazing parts of the story of Thomas is not only that Jesus appeared to the disciples and they believed – but that they stayed together long enough for Christ to appear to all of them. They had enough love for each other to live together in tension and conflict until Christ was present for all of them.
Heaven knows there are people and groups of people with whom we disagree. We might even disagree on the most fundamental issues of faith and life. But Jesus promised his presence when two or three are gathered in his name. If we can’t come together – we may not have a quorum for Christ’s presence!
The challenge for the people of God is staying together. I don’t think the issue matters. I don’t think whose right or wrong necessarily matters. I think what matters is our ability to love one another. Our ability to stay together. Our ability to wait patiently until Christ is made manifest in our midst.
And when that happens – when we all see Christ in the midst of our conflict – all will be well. All will be well.
Amen.
There is a most amazing thing in today’s Gospel reading. In fact, the more I think about it and the more I read the text, the more amazing I think it is.
Let me see if I can set the stage. On Easter morning, according to John, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. I’m not really sure what she was going to do there. I don’t think she would be able to see Jesus in the tomb – there was, after all, a very large stone rolled in front to seal it. Maybe she thought she could squeeze in a crack or maybe she thought she could wedge it open – I don’t know.
Maybe she was going to do like so many of us when a loved one dies – she was going to sit by the tomb. Not really sure why we do that – but there is a compulsion to go and sit; to be with the body of the one whose died.
So Mary went and when she arrived she saw the stone had been rolled back. We don’t know if she even looked inside or if she just assumed that since the stone was rolled by that someone had removed his body – a lot like coming home and seeing your front door missing – you don’t have to go inside to have an idea as to what has happened.
She went to tell Peter and John and they went to see the tomb and they saw the same thing – the stone was rolled back. John got to the tomb first but did not go in – instead he just peaked. But Peter inside the tomb.
Don’t you think it’s interesting that Mary didn’t get close to the tomb, John got close to the tomb but didn’t go in and finally Peter went inside?
Anyway, Peter and John go back to their homes. Not only has their teacher and leader been brutally executed – but to add insult to injury, someone has robbed his grave.
Mary stays at the tomb. She arrived to mourn and she was going to stay and mourn. This time, she actually looks inside the tomb. And when she does – she sees two angels. I don’t know if she knew they were angels and they asked her what was wrong.
“They’ve taken my Lord.”
She turns around and sees Jesus – but does not recognize him. She thinks he’s the gardener. I wonder why she thought he was the gardener and not someone else? At any rate – she asks the supposed gardener where he has put Jesus – and Jesus responds to her in a way that she recognizes him for who he is. And she sees her Lord risen.
Jesus tells her to go and tell the disciples that he is risen – that the tomb is empty not because robbers stole the body but because Jesus has conquered death. And she does. She runs and tells the disciples with every bit of gusto and enthusiasm that a human being can muster.
And we instantly assume that the disciples believed her. I don’t think so. I bet they thought she was crazy. I bet they thought she was just an emotional woman that was so sad Jesus had died that she was willing to believe anything to assuage her grief.
I bet they were nice to her, after all, they were grieving too. But I bet they rolled their eyes and avoided contact with her.
You know she kept after them, telling them time and time again what she had seen – desperately trying to plead her case that she was not crazy – she was not seeing things – that Jesus was alive. He was really alive.
And it wasn’t until that night that the disciples – the men –saw Jesus as Mary had. That night Jesus appeared – he came right through locked doors. St John has a little gift for understatement and doesn’t really record the reaction of the disciples.
If I had been in that room, the first thing I would have done would have been to do everything in my power to get out of that room. I would be looking for windows or doors or staircases – because I man I knew to be dead – was now standing before me.
St John does tell us that Jesus was patient. He knew they were terrified – in fact the first thing he says to them is Peace be with you. In other words – it’s okay guys.
And then he lets them look at him. He stands patiently while they try to process what their eyes are seeing. A man – who died – they saw him die. They knew this body was in the tomb – was now standing before them – right there. He wasn’t a ghost because they could touch him – and I’ve often wondered if they did. But he wasn’t exactly flesh and bone because he appeared in a room with locked doors.
It was this moment – I’m convinced – that stayed with the disciples for the rest of their lives. It was this moment that gave them the courage to give up their lives for their faith. They could die because they experienced Christ alive.
So you know they could not contain their enthusiasm. You know words could not describe the euphoria – the joy – the hope that now breathed within them.
And you know they shared all of this with Thomas.
Thomas wasn’t there when the disciples saw the Risen Christ. He wasn’t there. And when they told him what they had experienced – he, naturally, understandably, thought they had lost their mind.
You want him to be alive, he might have said. You will see anything to pull you out of your depression. He is not alive. He is dead. If his tomb is empty, it’s because someone took his body. And to completely hammer home his point he said – unless I touch the wounds made by the nails and spear – I will not believe.
And I understand this. I bet you understand this. I bet we all have talked with people that were in a very fragile state who were convinced they saw something, heard something felt something. And in the backs of our minds we might have left open the possibility – maybe they did. Maybe they did see something, hear something, or feel something. But more than likely, more than likely they didn’t. They wanted to. They so desperately wanted to that they would interpret anything to be contact from the beyond.
Thomas thought the same thing. But they wouldn’t stop. And they were all in agreement. Every one of the 11 remaining disciples except for Thomas – saw Jesus alive. There was no disagreement. Mass delusion – Thomas thought.
But here is the amazing part of this story. At least I think it’s amazing. Thomas stayed with the group. He didn’t leave. Even though the point of their cohesion was gone – at least Thomas thought so. What brought them together was the call of Jesus and he had died – so there was no reason to stay together.
But they did. He did. He stayed with them for an entire week. St John doesn’t address this – because he doesn’t have time. In fact St John even writes that there were so many things that happened that were not written down. But I think the fact that Thomas stayed with the disciples is significant.
It means he was able to live in tension. He was able to live in disagreement. The 10 disciples were completely, totally, and absolutely convinced that they had seen the Risen Christ. Thomas thought they were all mad. But they were able to stay together.
I think that is an incredible witness for us – that 11 men were able to remain together. Even though they completely and totally disagreed on major issues – in fact the issue that defined their relationship – they were able to remain together.
If there is a major sin in the life of the church today – I don’t think it has anything to do with doctrinal impurity of sexual orientation or anything of the like. I think the major sin is that fact that Christians from bishops down to lay folk have a very difficult time staying together.
I read a letter from the Bishop of Ft Worth telling why he no longer attends the House of Bishops meetings. Over the past nine years of parish ministry, I’ve heard story after story and reason after reason as to why people in the church do not get along and can’t even sit in the same church together.
I think one the most amazing parts of the story of Thomas is not only that Jesus appeared to the disciples and they believed – but that they stayed together long enough for Christ to appear to all of them. They had enough love for each other to live together in tension and conflict until Christ was present for all of them.
Heaven knows there are people and groups of people with whom we disagree. We might even disagree on the most fundamental issues of faith and life. But Jesus promised his presence when two or three are gathered in his name. If we can’t come together – we may not have a quorum for Christ’s presence!
The challenge for the people of God is staying together. I don’t think the issue matters. I don’t think whose right or wrong necessarily matters. I think what matters is our ability to love one another. Our ability to stay together. Our ability to wait patiently until Christ is made manifest in our midst.
And when that happens – when we all see Christ in the midst of our conflict – all will be well. All will be well.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Facebook for Episcopalians
While the site's server is currently down for maintenance, Episcopalians now have their own social networking site a la Facebook - www.episcopalchurch.ning.com.
Take a look. Join if you like. Spread the word. It would be interesting to see what could come from a diverse Anglican community online - the via media.
Take a look. Join if you like. Spread the word. It would be interesting to see what could come from a diverse Anglican community online - the via media.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The Race of the King in the Cake
This picture is of the infant Jesus commonly placed in king cakes (a Mardi Gras tradition). Every year I order two king cakes from Publix and every year I'm asked the same question - white Jesus or black Jesus? (My 3 year old daughter calls them a yellow Jesus and a brown Jesus). I can find no justification ordering two white babies. Even though the overwhelming majority of St Michael's is white, I am not comfortable picking the white baby over the black baby. So I order both. Yes, there are usually some odd looks when one cake produces a white baby and the other, an unexpected black baby - but I think the looks are worth the point made that Jesus wasn't Scandinavian. And for that matter, Jesus wasn't African. As a man, Jesus was a Jew - a man living in Palestine. As a Savior - Jesus isn't white or black - he's plaid. He's every color. He's all colors. He's no color.
As a son of the south, I've seen racism and reverse racism since day 1. I think every year brings more healing, but I still wonder if things will not change until a couple of generations (perhaps mine) are long gone. I wish we could be at a point in which we did not have to choose between a white Jesus and a black Jesus. Why not just - Jesus?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
A Heart Strangely Warmed
An article in the Augusta Chronicle highlights conversions from one faith to another or one tradition to another. Yours truly was included in those who have had their heart 'strangely warmed' to move to another expression of Christ's Body.
Have you been warmed? Have you moved?
Why?
Have you been warmed? Have you moved?
Why?
Friday, February 1, 2008
The Mountaintop
The mountaintop seems to be the place to be. If you are looking for God. We can find God anywhere, even deep down in the pits of the earth, the furthest away from a mountain summit. But if you desire to see God, if you want to see God face to face, it seems the mountain is where you have to go. Abraham encountered God on Mt Moriah. Moses heard God through the bush on Mt Horeb. Moses saw God on Mt Sinai. Peter, James, and John saw Christ transfigured - they saw God - on a mountain (traditionally Mt. Hermon). Why must a person ascend a mountain to see God?
On January 11, Sir Edmund Hillary died. Most remember Sir Edmund as being the first person to summit Mt. Everest - the highest point on earth. If you ever see pictures of Base Camp, the last habitable place climbers rest before climbing the mountain, you will see dozens and dozens of flags, like bunting on the 4th of July. These flags are offered as prayers to Miyo Lungsangma, the mother goddess of earth. The locals believed Miyo Lungsangma lives on the top of Everest. Even though the Sherpas, the local people whose bodies have amazingly adapted to the high altitude, have long had the ability to summit Everest, they were afraid to upset the goddess. When Hillary reached the top, his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay offered chocolates to the goddess and left them in the snow. Hillary left a cross. Even though Hillary did not believe Miyo Lungsangma lived on the mountain, he did respect the summit as a place to encounter the divine - like Abraham, Moses, Peter, James, and John.
What is it about climbing mountains? What is it about being above and higher than everything else? Is it possible that the reason the Bible records people having theophanies on mountains is because when a person stands in a place where they can have a perspective to see the world as God sees it - they see God?
What is our vantage point? What is our perspective?
It's not that God only resides on mountains - it is when we go to mountains and look around - we see that the world is bigger than our own experience. It's bigger than our assumptions and ideas. It's when we move to a place to see things in their entirety and comprehensively - we are humbled to a point that we can recognize God.
Climbing takes effort. It takes practice and patience and knowledge. It also takes the guidance. To see God we don't always need to elevate our altitude - just our perspective.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
These Are Someone's Sons
Tuesday night at St Michael's Men's Club, Mr. John Brady, director of the Augusta Youth Development Campus, gave a riveting presentation. The YDC is the state prison for mentally troubled youth. Mr. Brady has 103 residents ranging in ages from 11-20 with offenses ranging from grand theft auto to child molestation to rape. Mr. Brady's presentation was blunt - and the men assembled responded.
What we need to remember, Mr. Brady said, is that these boys are someone's sons. Somebody loves them. But in those cases when they have no one to love them - they NEED someone to love them. Can we love them? Can we love those who have hurt others, especially the very innocent and defenseless? Mr. Brady said it's hard for him, but as someone who is a Christian - we have to work through it.
These boys are in the position they are in because of neglect, abuse, and so many other things that are repulsive and immoral. We must break this cycle. We can start by showing the unloved and unlovable - our love.
Monday, January 28, 2008
You Are Forgiven
On my way to the hospital at Fort Gordon (a large Army base in Augusta), I passed by the Church of the Atonement, an Episcopal mission near the base. The sign that is usually reserved for worship times had the following message that I snapped with my cell phone:
If you are having trouble reading the sign it says:
We forgive you. Please return the grill.
So many times I would prefer forgiveness and restitution that is not "messy." That is - I would rather be forgiven without having to do anything about it. But that's not how forgiveness works, at least not exactly. In the Old Testament, especially in the Book of Leviticus, whenever a person sins, they are required to make restitution. Eugene Peterson's The Message records this from the sixth chapter of Leviticus:
God spoke to Moses: "When anyone sins by betraying trust with God by deceiving his neighbor regarding something entrusted to him, or by robbing or cheating or threatening him; or if he has found something lost and lies about it and swears falsely regarding any of these sins that people commonly commit—when he sins and is found guilty, he must return what he stole or extorted, restore what was entrusted to him, return the lost thing he found, or anything else about which he swore falsely. He must make full compensation, add twenty percent to it, and hand it over to the owner on the same day he brings his Compensation-Offering. He must present to God as his Compensation-Offering a ram without any defect from the flock, assessed at the value of a Compensation-Offering.
In other words, if you sin against someone, make amends with them and God. Forgiveness is freely given to us, but it is not cheap. Jesus, in his prayer that we repeat each week, asks the Father to forgive us our trespasses and we forgive those who trespass against us. Is our forgiveness conditional on our forgiveness of others?
When we sin, God will forgive us. But God wants us to clean up the mess we've made. God has forgiven us - but we need to return the grill.
If you are having trouble reading the sign it says:
We forgive you. Please return the grill.
So many times I would prefer forgiveness and restitution that is not "messy." That is - I would rather be forgiven without having to do anything about it. But that's not how forgiveness works, at least not exactly. In the Old Testament, especially in the Book of Leviticus, whenever a person sins, they are required to make restitution. Eugene Peterson's The Message records this from the sixth chapter of Leviticus:
God spoke to Moses: "When anyone sins by betraying trust with God by deceiving his neighbor regarding something entrusted to him, or by robbing or cheating or threatening him; or if he has found something lost and lies about it and swears falsely regarding any of these sins that people commonly commit—when he sins and is found guilty, he must return what he stole or extorted, restore what was entrusted to him, return the lost thing he found, or anything else about which he swore falsely. He must make full compensation, add twenty percent to it, and hand it over to the owner on the same day he brings his Compensation-Offering. He must present to God as his Compensation-Offering a ram without any defect from the flock, assessed at the value of a Compensation-Offering.
In other words, if you sin against someone, make amends with them and God. Forgiveness is freely given to us, but it is not cheap. Jesus, in his prayer that we repeat each week, asks the Father to forgive us our trespasses and we forgive those who trespass against us. Is our forgiveness conditional on our forgiveness of others?
When we sin, God will forgive us. But God wants us to clean up the mess we've made. God has forgiven us - but we need to return the grill.
Benediction and Cake
Last night I had the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do for a long time - assist at a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Benediction is a service in which a large host is placed in a monstrance and the priest blesses the congregation with the host housed in the monstrance. Typically you only see this in Roman Catholic Churches or Anglo-Catholic Churches. There is a lot of incense and other things you don't see every day (humeral veil, monstrance, etc.). This Benediction was on the Silver Jubilee of The Very Reverend William Willougby's ordination to the priesthood.
If it is proper to say that solemn liturgies are fun - this was fun. The vestments felt old and kneeling over a thurible of incense induced an ethereal mood. I was quite nervous putting the host in the monstrance and was constantly worried I would fall down the steps of the altar while holding Fr. William's cope (he doesn't move slowly). But, alas, all was well - no one fell, the monstrance was in its place, we prayed, sang, celebrated, and afterward - we ate cake.
Bishop Shipps, the VIII Bishop of Georgia participated as did the Monsignor of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Savannah. I met a Greek Orthodox Priest and the mayor of Savannah was present. Quite ecumenical. Cake will do that.
If it is proper to say that solemn liturgies are fun - this was fun. The vestments felt old and kneeling over a thurible of incense induced an ethereal mood. I was quite nervous putting the host in the monstrance and was constantly worried I would fall down the steps of the altar while holding Fr. William's cope (he doesn't move slowly). But, alas, all was well - no one fell, the monstrance was in its place, we prayed, sang, celebrated, and afterward - we ate cake.
Bishop Shipps, the VIII Bishop of Georgia participated as did the Monsignor of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Savannah. I met a Greek Orthodox Priest and the mayor of Savannah was present. Quite ecumenical. Cake will do that.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
There's more
It completely takes us off guard when we hear of the death of young people. Our reaction is compounded when the young are talented, liked, and/or wealthy. What's even more bewildering is when these young, talented, liked, and wealthy people engage in behavior that results in their death. Heath Ledger, 28, was young, talented, liked and wealthy. He had all the things I wish I had, but will never have. Yet he, by many accounts, was looking to fill a void deep within. He looked for peace.
Britney Spears makes headlines every night. She is out late with this guy. She is in Mexico with that guy. On one hand, who cares? But on the other hand, it is sad when the whole world watches in slow motion the decline of a young, talented, liked, and wealthy person. The Associated Press has even written her obituary in preparation for her young death. Would you be surprised? She, too, is looking for something. There is a void.
How many names can we come up with - celebrity or not - that had everything...they had it all by so many standards and yet they lived life searching for anything that would fill the void so gaping in their soul. Money doesn't do it. Things are insufficient. People, while nice, ultimately fail. Fame, prestige, influence...they all fade. It's not enough.
Yet there are simple, poor, unknown, uneducated, and unattractive people that wake up each morning and close their eyes each night with peace. For they know, as the chorus of our faith sings, that there is only one thing that will truly fill us with what we desire. God.
As our world spends so much time and effort trying to acquire more - we discover time and time again that all the things are irrelevant. It's the giving of everything - ourselves, our time, our resources, our hearts - to God - that we find ourselves rejoicing in abundance.
There is so much more out there. But it's not what most people think.
It's true.
Britney Spears makes headlines every night. She is out late with this guy. She is in Mexico with that guy. On one hand, who cares? But on the other hand, it is sad when the whole world watches in slow motion the decline of a young, talented, liked, and wealthy person. The Associated Press has even written her obituary in preparation for her young death. Would you be surprised? She, too, is looking for something. There is a void.
How many names can we come up with - celebrity or not - that had everything...they had it all by so many standards and yet they lived life searching for anything that would fill the void so gaping in their soul. Money doesn't do it. Things are insufficient. People, while nice, ultimately fail. Fame, prestige, influence...they all fade. It's not enough.
Yet there are simple, poor, unknown, uneducated, and unattractive people that wake up each morning and close their eyes each night with peace. For they know, as the chorus of our faith sings, that there is only one thing that will truly fill us with what we desire. God.
As our world spends so much time and effort trying to acquire more - we discover time and time again that all the things are irrelevant. It's the giving of everything - ourselves, our time, our resources, our hearts - to God - that we find ourselves rejoicing in abundance.
There is so much more out there. But it's not what most people think.
It's true.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
New Year's Resolution
The Baptismal Covenant
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God’s help.
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