Advent One

December 1, 2019 ADVENT 1 YEAR A

Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Matthew 24:36-44

                                                    Mary Letter Day One

Dear Aunt Elizabeth,

I do not know what to say or do. I could only think of you in your confinement and complicated situation. You might just understand what I have to say. Clearly, I am not able to talk to Mamma or Papa. They would be so angry and probably banish me from home. I am not ready to live on my own. I hope you will send me advice, carefully worded so as not to alarm them.

I have done nothing wrong, yet I feel like a criminal. I have had a very powerful and strange dream, a visit by an angel. It was so real and so frightening that I have kept it to myself. An angel told me I would get pregnant, bear a son, the Savior of the world. Can you believe it? I cannot tell Mamma about my dreams. I can barely think on it myself. I am not worthy, not holy, not a special girl at all. The boys don't come around here, and I only have a few girl friends. I am not particularly pretty or bright. 

To top it off, my monthly visitor has not appeared. I am so terrified. I have barely been out of the house, let alone been on a date with anyone. Our agreement, me and Joseph, was that we would marry some day. But right now he's too busy, doing building work down in the city. I haven't seen him in months. Oh, he will hate me! I m sure he will turn his back on me. I've done nothing, but I am in terrible trouble! 

I'm sorry, Auntie, for dumping all of this on your lap. You have enough worries, but I do so need your advice.

love always,

Mary

Collect

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O Coastlands!

Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the LORD, and my reward with my God.” And now the LORD says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:1-6 

Today is the last day of the church year, the end of the long season of Pentecost. We are on the edge between known and unknown, between completing to starting over. We are hovering on the coast of a new beginning. It is liminal space, despite the fact that the world around us has become fully on fire for Christmas. Folks ate their Thanksgiving turkeys and went outside and decorated. There was no caution, the world went full on without a care. Yet this is a moment to take care. We are on the verge of new life.

My prayer for today is that we will all be mindful of the portent and the hope that surrounds us. This edge of known and unknown, of mystery, danger and possibility is the germ of a whole new way of being. It is the invitation to listen more deeply, to dwell longer in discomfort, to stand in those awkward moments and places. God invites us to stillness and anticipation as we awat a new season of hope and love.

Servant of All

While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:17-28 

The view from the servant's place is so much different. Whether sitting or standing, slaving over a hot stove or scrubbing floors, they must be ready to respond. Very few of us has had to live our lives in constant servitude. We might choose to serve meals to the homeless on holidays. We then ignore them the rest of our days. Responding, when called, and being interrupted is the part of being a servant which can be the hardest. In service, means to live for others, the worst and the best.

Jesus is confronted by a mother who wants the best for her sons. She has watched them walk away from home and tradition. She wants only the assurance of their safety. Jesus responds to her, and afterwards to the angry disciples, that being first means being last. They are to be servants, caring for the least they encounter. Noone was satisfied by his responce, nor are we, if we are reallt honest. Yet, we are called to serve. And in serving, we are promised the blessings and honor of the greatest.

Today I ask God to help me be a servant. May we all joyfully serve, knowing in doing so we will find the heart of God.

Thanksgiving 2019

Pueblo Feast Day David Bradley, Ojibwe

When the crowd found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:25-35

On this Thanksgiving day, I have a great deal to be thankful for. God has blessed us with a wonderful family and friends. In this month, when we "celebrate" Native American Heritage month, I often wonder what people really understand about the past and present. Every where we walk, drive and gaze upon on this continent was occupied and revered by sophisticated people, who were industrious, organized and fully human. Yet, our people were seen as less than human, savage and expendable. And our people are not at the table today, even. We are wanted as decoration and insight, still, not as what we are - the very heartbeat of this beloved land, the keepers of the stories, and the ones who know medicine for restoration and healing.

Jesus was questioned by the very people whom he had fed in abundance. They wanted more signs, yet he wanted them to believe and live just and compassionate lives. Throughout the history of our faith, belief clashing with greed, giving clashing with selfishness, the ache for miracles confronted by the daily work of healing. On this Thanksgiving, we are invited to move away from our endless desire and wants to a place of inclusion and compassion. 

Today, I ask God to help me make room at the table for everyone. May we honor our ancestors by letting go of outdated ideals and embracing the true gift of life, interdependent and always humbling.

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Last Will Be First

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Matthew 19:23-30 

The Last Will Be First

Be careful who you cut in front of
thinking you're more important now
the face you slam the door into might
just be the person heading the line.

They may not look like you
 covered in cosmetics and gold
their hearts more than diamonds
their love deeper than the ocean.

Be careful who you do not see today
for they will one day be your master
they will walk as regally as they do now
then, you will see them out front.

The ones who will procedd us all
are the one shut out, locked up
the feeble and the lame derided now
will sit beside the throne of Grace.

Two Become One

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.

Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” He said to them, “It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.”

His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” Matthew 19:1-12

Two Become One

There is no simple, easy way
to become one save working
daily and diligently to love
forgive, renew, listen, engage
marveling at the gift given.

Things break, people are fragile
often without the needed glue
to bind and remake the bond
which heaven made, human undone.

We lean in on the good days
hold tighter on the rough ones
sing softly in the darkest nights
sing loudly on the good days.

The cracks of our joint humanity
are riddled throughout our lives
the parting and joining again
had given us new sacred visions.

Today in Paradise

Last Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 29

Christ the King

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:33-43

This Sunday, we end the long season of Pentecost and begin the four weeks of Advent. The church year begins next Sunday as we walk the road of preparation to Christmas. The world is already very focused on Christmas and the ads we receive through print, TV and social media are overwhelming. Today, we Christians focus on why we are here and why we gather to worship. God in the flesh came among us, walked the walk of humans and died cruelly and painfully crucified among the worst of sinners. But that was not the end, he rose again and took the worst sinners to eternal paradise. For this, Christ is king of all.

We hear the story of Jesus on the cross as the world around prepares for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We remind ourselves of the shame, humility and pain of the cross. We remind ourselves that God came among us so that we might live. We are invited, as this long season of Pentecost ends, to renew our faith as those who follow the one who made room in paradise for the miserable offenders, the worst among us, the least worthy and the hardened perpetrators.

Today, as the new church year begins, I ask God to help me prepare my heart anew for the coming of Jesus. May we all welcome the honesty of our failures and frailty, knowing that God with Us, is redeeming even these.

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Seventy-seven Times

Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35 

I'm not the best at math, but I can do small figures in my head, and still make change quickly despite not working in retail in a very long time. We humans can figure out quickly what someone else owes us, but are slower at adding up what we owe. Can we really repay our parents for all they did for us? Are our teachers really compensated properly for all they do for our children? Do we even see or acknowledge the people who serve us and earn s little for their service? We all might be good at some math, but very forgetful when it comes to what we owe.

Peter comes to Jesus about forgiveness. We all want to know how many times we need to forgive before we can act on our hurt and anger. We all want to be justified when hurt. Yet Jesus suggests that we are to forgive and keep forgiving. Our hearts are not open when we hold on to anger and seek retribution. The key to opening our hearts is forgiveness. Forgiveness opens the streams of mercy, flowing from us, and coming to us.

Today, I ask God to help me forgive every one in every moment today. May we exercise our forgiveness muscles, over and over, so that love and mercy might flow all around.

Lost Sheep

Jesus said, “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:10-20

Lost Sheep

We all want to be found
sought out and embraced
too many go wandering
no one to seek them out
no shepherd, no herd.

We are so isolated now
connected by wireless
falling asleep at night
our own private space
now community around
no people to bind us in.

We are lost sheep wandering
thinking we are profound
during the daylight hours
realizing our need at night
as the cold dark settles in.

We want to control all
and so we push away
from the warmth of neighbor
the intensity of the crowd
the truth that love bares to all.

One Such Child

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!

“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.” Matthew 18:1-9 

For many years, from the the late 19th century through the 20th century, Native children were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools. Their hair was cur, their language silenced and their way of life denegrated. Their names were often changed and many never returned home. Captain Pratt, who founded Carlisle, which was a model for many more off-reservation boarding schools, had a motto. "Kill the Indian, save the man."

Today we read about Jesus calling a child among the disciples and declaring that they become childlike. I don't know why this question came up, but it seems as if the disciples often argued about greatest, status, and their own importance. Jesus counters that the smallest, the most vulnerable, the innocent must be welcomed and cared for. He reminds us that we welcome them as we welcome him. We are invited to be those who live humbly like children, and who welcome the most vulnerable with open arms.

Today, I ask God to help me be childlike and protective of the most vulnerable. May we all lift up the children, so that the generations after us might know the love of God.

The Children are Free

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they were greatly distressed. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.” Matthew 17:22-27


The Children Are Free

Taxes and tariffs burden the poor
while the rich little children
dance on the floors others cleaned
they eat meals others have cooked
paying no mind to those who serve.

Grace abounds for the least
despite the weight of their work
God draws the harrassed close
shelters the broken ones
seeking out the least of us.

There was a fish with a coin
bursting from its mouth for Peter
for us today if we would be
there are communities ready
arms open wide to embrace.

Can you hear the calling voice
crying still in the dark night
there is abundance if we share
comfort if we embrace
freedom is we unlocks the gates.