Feed Them

Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he tried to see him. On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. Luke 9:1-17

Jesus never failed to feed the hungry who gathered around him. He never failed to heal those who asked for healing. We often fail to admit to our hunger and our real need. Church folks are reluctant to ask for the prayer they ache for, as it makes them feel more vulnerable than they want to be. Yet, the hungry flocked to Jesus and were never disappointed, the hurting found their way to him, and never were refused. May we who carry the love of Jesus in our hearts, always be ready to ask for what we need and always be praying and actively serving those who ache to be healed, fed and surrounded with love.

Wondrous Creator, there is need the wide world round

and there is so much abundance and so much suffering

Jesus came and fed the throngs and healed everyone

there are no limits to the abundance of your sacred love.

We pride ourselves as independent, self-starting folks

forgetting the ancestors, the family and neighbors

that have held us, fed us, took us to holy healing

and we forget to bring every need every day to Jesus.

Lord, give us humility so we might see the needs

those within us, those on the margins and those silenced

and help us to offer all that we have asking your blessing

so that all our days might be filled with loving service. Amen.

Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:40-56

I am always touched by Jesus' word to the woman who touched him in the crowd and to Jairus' family. I am so moved because in Jesus' time, and often even in our time, women's illnesses and physical challenges were discounted and not as important as their male relatives. Yet Jesus is always healing women, men, children and strangers alike. The rules of society did not come into his way of being. Love was and is always the driving force. Love given equally, love at all times, love more powerful than class, clan, culture and station.

Gracious Creator, you are the source of healing

you shower all your creation with your love

you do not go by human conventions and rules

instead, you offer renewal and peace to everyone.

Jesus, you came to walk with us and heal us

yet we question you and laughed at your ways

we still bristle at the suggestions of love's power

and refuse your spirit of love and forgiveness.

Heal us dear Lord, we pray this day and always

so that we might embody your generous love

so we might share with family and strangers alike

the healing and peace you have brought to the world. Amen.

Indigenous Peoples' Day

A Litany for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Creator, you made us all in your beautiful diversity 

us in all four corners of your sacred earth 

And you call us together now on the four winds 

Inviting us to be renewed and healed by your spirit. 

Creator, author of all goodness, water us with your tears and bind us all as one. 

Your people have been scattered, abused and broken 

Yet always you sang to us by the light of sister moon 

You spoke to us through the radiance of brother sun 

Through the very ground you remind us we are loved. 

Creator, source of compassion, you bear our pain and hear our silent screams. 

They took our land and then they took our little ones 

You heard our moaning and our cries in the night

 Sending comfort and vision for a new generation of hope 

To the seventh generation you have promised healing. 

Creator, you know our hearts, help us to pray as our ancestors did. 

You placed us on lush, green and fertile lands 

Draped with golden mountains and deep rivers 

You taught us how to care for every living thing 

But strangers came and did not see your beauty. 

Creator, you bring sight to the blind, help our people to see again. 

Loving Creator, use our wounds for the healing of our circle

 Use our voices so the songs of the silenced are heard again 

Use the threads of our anger and shame for the mending of this hoop 

Use our homes and our ancient lands as places of sacred promise. 

Creator, make us whole again, so our mother is renewed for all. Amen.

Sunday, October 13, 2024 Proper 23

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Mark 10:17-31

Jesus was always straight forward with folks, and especially this rich young man. Yes, the man was faithful in his practices, yet his level of comfort and privilege kept him for heart of compassion and a life of sacrifice. The young man wanted an easy life of faith. We too, want an easy faith life. We don't want to be challenged about our privilege and our selfish ways. We don't like it when we have to share our abundance. And we don't like it when we are asked to humble ourselves and suffer for the sake of the Gospel. Yet, this is what our lives of faith truly demand. Among clergy, we sometimes get the notion that we are called to elevated positions because of our authority and training. Jesus speaks right to all of our overblown egos and our underwhelming humility. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle." The eye of the needle may be a small gate into Jerusalem, but not matter. We all have things, to shed so that we might really follow Jesus.

A Sunday Litany

Gracious Creator, you make room for us all

whether we are poor and desperate for food

whether are lost, broken and truly overwhelmed

and even if we are comfortably and wealthy.

Lord Jesus, help us to always humbly serve the world in your name.

Yet we want to be a part of your kingdom

even when we oppress others with attitude

even when we do not share your abundance

and we selfishly think we should have it easy.

Lord Jesus, help us to always humbly serve the world in your name.

Help us to humble ourselves in this season

as the world turns cold let us provide warmth

when society turns the alien and different away

help us to open our arms to embrace the outcast.

Lord Jesus, help us to always humbly serve the world in your name.

You called the rich young man to sell his treasures

help us to share the treasure you have given us.

Lord Jesus, help us to always humbly serve the world in your name.

Despite all of our foolish failings and cruelties

you call us to return and welcome us again.

Lord Jesus, help us to always humbly serve the world in your name.

Make us your people as we serve the least

give us your love and joy as we give love away.

Lord Jesus, help us to always humbly serve the world in your name. Amen.

Good Soil

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that “looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.” ‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. Luke 8:1-15

It is easy for us humans to have the best of intentions and then forget or get distracted. When I was a child, we would tease my mother for occasionally leaving the dish rag in the refrigerator and the milk in the sink. She had five very active children, so it is now wonder she got distracted. She remained a faithful Christian all of her life. Despite all of the work and care in her life she was honest, had a good heart and bore fruit with patient endurance. Traditionally, Cherokee and other peoples on this continent, grew their corn, squash and beans together and called them the three sisters. The three different crops provided strength and for each other. Too often we forget that there will be thorns, weeds and rocks in all our lives. When we lean on one another and hold each other through the storms, we can and will bear the fruit of God's love.

Loving Creator, you plant us in rich soil

we are fed by the wisdom of many generations

we are watered by the tears of our ancestors

and held securely by all who walk with us.

We often turn to bitterness when the rocks hit

and when the thorns tear at us we harden our hearts

we are resistant to patience and understanding

yet you are healing us and helping us grow.

Give us all honest and good hearts today

imbue us with deep roots and a deeper faith

may your love provide for our needs here

and may we bear the fruit of your heavenly love. Amen.

Faith in Action

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’ Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ ‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’ Luke 7:36-50

A woman, who is called a sinner and often branded a prostitute, comes and cares so lovingly for Jesus. The host, and all of his guests had done nothing. Too often, those who have received healing and forgiveness are those who are ready to care for others, to put their faith in action. And too often, those who have been richly blessed, move too quickly to judgement and criticism. Her love and gratitude for God's love, known in Jesus, knows no bounds. May we, like her, put our faith into action, caring for those who need healing, anointing and care.

O loving Creator, whose blessings are unnumbered

your boundless love forgives and heals all who ask

your endless restoration is available for everyone

and no one is outside of your healing and love.

Those of us who have been so greatly blessed

often fail to see the needs of our neighbors

we judge without knowing their circumstances

and do not put our faith in action and service.

Help us, dear Lord, to embrace your forgiveness

keep us humble so that we might see others' need

make us always ready to put our faith into action

and give us your joy as we serve our neighbors. Amen.

You Did Not Dance

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ When the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” ’ Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’ When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ (And all the people who heard this, including the tax-collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves.) ‘To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.” For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.’ Luke 7:18-35

We will be traveling back from a meeting in Delaware where I served when I was elected bishop. I think of all the times as a parish priest (and now bishop) that the times called for celebration of things big and small. There were also times for weeping and mourning and holding each other in grief. The importance of gratitude and celebration, as well as grief cannot be understated. We sometimes want to avoid these moments because they are too awkward or uncomfortable. Jesus reminds us that we are not whole without them. We cannot fully live if we are unwilling to join life's dance, to honor, grieve, sing cry and rejoice. May we, especially in these days of many transitions be always ready to dance with those who call to us, and weep with those who mourn, and in all moments, rejoice in the love that surrounds us.

Wondrous Creator, you love us in every stage

tenderly holding us when we are small ones

walking with us in our exuberant youth

and sitting with us in our twilight years.

You have brought love and healing to all

yet we are reluctant to hear your voice

we shut out the potential for rejoicing

and look away from those who are suffering.

Help us to listen to your call for dancing

help us to know when to get up and join

give us your wisdom to know each new day

as an offering of compassion and love. Amen.

Sunday, October 6th, 2024 Proper 22

    

Sunday, October 6th - Let the Little Children Come to Me

Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘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.” Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:2-16

There was a time when the government and many of our churches thought the way to "fix" the "Indian problem" was to take our children from their communities and put them in boarding schools. Some believed they were doing as Jesus commanded his disciples when he said, "let the little children come to me." Families, tribes and communities were destroyed by their blindness and misunderstanding. Too often, we hear these words and forget the next sentence which explains that, unless we are childlike, we can never empty the kingdom of heaven. Too often we try to fix others, our children or other peoples', and forget to daily examine our own hearts. Are we loving and accepting as a child? Are we willing to explore, to learn and to open our hearts, or, do we need to be in control every moment? Jesus invites us to dwell in love, which is vulnerable, open, fearless and without shame like a child. May we have the courage to receive and share God's love as a child.

A Litany for Sunday October 6th, 2024

Gracious Creator, source of all that is good

you shower us your love and teach us your ways

you have made yourself available to all peoples

and hear us when we pray in every language.

Lord, make us children again so we might know your joy.

We are uncomfortable around different ways

withdrawing and judging in our ignorance

you call us to be childlike ready to learn

yet we close our eyes, our ears and our hearts.

Lord, make us children again so we might know your joy.

Set our feet on the path of welcoming love

let us see and delight in your loving kingdom

take away our need to control and possess

and replace all our jealousy with compassion.

Lord, make us children again so we might know your joy.

We are too often afraid and isolated

open our eyes to the beauty around us.

Lord, make us children again so we might know your joy.

We think shutting others out will help us

when we are truly shutting you out as well.

Lord, make us children again so we might know your joy.

Make our hearts childlike and tender again

so we might see your beauty around us today. 

Lord, make us children again so we might know your joy. Amen.

Stretch Out Your Hand

One sabbath while Jesus was going through the cornfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing what is not lawful* on the sabbath?’ Jesus answered, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?’ Then he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.’ On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come and stand here.’ He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?’ After looking around at all of them, he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. Luke 6:1-11

To be fed and restored we have to reach out. Whether we need healing and food, or whether we are acting for a community, it always requires reaching beyond where we are comfortable. We humans often don't like to admit our need and turn away from those who ask for our help. Yet the gift of God's love is an abundance of healing and an abundance to be shared. The religious leaders of the day were angry with Jesus' boldness and barrier breaking, so much so they sought to have him killed. He fed the people and healed their wounds, and we are called to do likewise, in the most uncomfortable and unlikely places. May we have the boldness of love which always reaches out.

Loving Creator, source of fullness and healing

you seek us out when we won't be found

you feed us when we are empty and afraid

and you heal the wounds we are hid from others.

Too often we are afraid to reach out in need

too often we shy away from those who need help

we shut down your compassion and love here

because we are afraid of our weakness and humanity.

Help us today to be bold in our reaching out

may we use your love to reach out to others

may your love empower us to admit our need

and in all moments may we love as you love us. Amen.

Extraordinary Love

Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, ‘Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the one who was paralyzed— ‘I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’ Luke 5:12-26

Love is an extraordinary thing. It makes grown folks tear through a neighbor's roof and lower a friend to see Jesus. Love doesn't let barriers of time and space get in the way.  I am sure those who lower the man down came back and repaired the roof, willingly taking on the consequences of their actions. But first and foremost, love moves to action so that healing and restoration can happen. May we remember today all those who have demonstrated extraordinary love on our behalf. Those mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors who saw our need and broke through barriers on our behalf. When we were weak and unable love found a way. And so it is with Jesus, when we cannot find our way through, we are found by him.

Gracious Creator, you plant us in community

with family, friends and neighbors who love us

who are willing to help when we are broken

and not afraid to break through so we might thrive.

Too often we see only our limitations and frailty

we believe there is nothing anyone can do for us

yet you are always acting on behalf of the hurting

and seeking us out when we are far away from you.

Help us today to trust in your extraordinary love

love which breaks down barriers and opens hearts

love that is there is sorrows and all our joys

love that always acts to restore and heal our world. Amen.