God's Idea of Fairness Is Not Ours

The reading today from Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 20:1-16) tells us something about God’s justice, His infinite capacity for mercy, and His idea of fairness. His justice is not our justice:

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

God is generous indeed, and He is radical! Even if someone turns to God on his or her death bed after a life time of sin, God’s infinite love and mercy will treat that person just the same as if that person lived an entire life time committed to Jesus and the spreading of the Gospel. That can be difficult for us to accept and to comprehend; Jesus tells us that that is the way His Father is. For my part, I am thankful.

What Do We Put Our Faith and Trust In?

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.” (Mt. 19:23).

Although we are studying Mark’s Gospel in our Adult Christian Education, the topic of today’s Daily Office Lectionary reading came up. As one person, Chris, noted, Jesus had a great deal to say about wealth. What is he saying to us?

It is a question about our priorities, faith and trust. What are our priorities in life? Do we place our faith in God or in do we believe that money will save us? Do we trust in God, or do we place our trust that wealth will keep us safe. Jesus tells us that we must place all of our faith and trust in God. For those of us who place our faith and trust in wealth to save us rather than in God, it indeed would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Our help is in God alone, the maker of heaven and earth! Amen.

"Come, Follow Me."

In today’s reading from Luke Jesus tells us:

“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

When I read this Gospel passage I can’t help but think to myself: “What happened to the kind, meek and mild Jesus, the Prince of Peace? This is not the Jesus that we are used to hearing about, the one we picture carrying a lamb on his shoulders, the one who says “let the little children come to me.” This Jesus even makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable, and dare I say, even offends my Episcopalian sensibilities. What is Jesus saying here? What are we to make of this?

Following Jesus is not easy! Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a young Lutheran pastor who was a prisoner of the Nazi regime during World War II who was executed because he dared to speak against the evils of Nazism. In his book The Cost of Discipleship, he wrote that “cheap grace was grace without cost; it is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace, on the other hand, in Bonhoeffer’s words is “the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: ‘ye were bought at a price,’ and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

Seventy Times Seven

In today’s reading, we hear Jesus talking about one of the most difficult things in life, forgiveness. Matthew’s Gospel recalls the exchange:

Then Peter came and said to him, “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 times seven.”

In the Jewish world of Jesus’ day, the number "seven" was symbolic for perfection or wholeness. Imagine what seventy times perfection or wholeness is! Peter is really asking, “If someone in the faith community sins against me, should I forgive that person perfectly or wholly?” Jesus responds, not just perfectly or wholly, but in the same way that God forgives, that is with mercy and compassion. God forgives us not just perfectly or wholly, that is a forgiveness is equal to the offense, but God’s forgiveness goes infinitely beyond the one single offense, God forgives us for what we have done, what we have failed to do and what we will do or fail to do in to in the future. God showers us with mercy and compassion. Jesus calls us to deal with those in the church community in the same manner. He would have us treat everyone as God does, with mercy and compassion. That is a tall order to be sure, but, in the words of St. Paul, with God we can do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine.

Become Like Little Children

In today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel we hear the familiar story of Jesus and the children:

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.”

The wonderful thing about children, and sometimes one of the most frightening things, is that they are so willing to trust. In our relationship with God, Jesus invites us to be as trusting as little children are. Jesus asks us to trust in God and not in our own devices. For some of us that can be very difficult because if we let go and trust God, we feel that we are out of control. However, placing our trust in God is liberating. Try it. Be like a little child, and trust God. He will take care of you.

I Know Not The State of My Neighbor's Soul

In today’s reading from the first chapter of the Letter to the Romans, Paul writes:

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

How often have we found ourselves passing judgment on someone we may disagree with or consider ourselves to be “better” than? I know that in my life it has been all too often. Sometimes we can find ourselves smugly saying to ourselves, “Thank goodness I’m not like that person!” Or, “He’s poor because he’s just lazy.” Or, “That person is weak, otherwise he would stop drinking.”

Paul reminds us that it is not our place to pass judgment. We do not know the state of our neighbor’s soul; only God does. What’s more, we do not realize the greatness of God’s mercy and goodness. If we did, we would find ourselves saying, “Thank you Jesus for your death and resurrection; thank you for forgiving me for my sins.”

Are You Embarrased?

Sometimes in the work-a-day world, we are embarrassed of our Christianity. Sometimes we are afraid to stand up for Jesus Christ. Paul knows how we are and in his Letter to the Romans he reminds us what our attitude should be:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

I don’t know about you, but I know that I need to hear these words. How can I be embarrassed about my faith in Jesus Christ, my belief in the one who saved me from my sinfulness even though I do not deserve it? And what’s more, that salvation is open to everyone. If we live by faith, we are right with God.

The next time I have the opportunity, remembering Paul’s words to us, I will gladly proclaim, “Yes, I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ.” I hope you will too.

That We May Be Mutually Encouraged

In today’s reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, he describes the essence of life in the church community, the parish:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Life in our church family is about sharing: sharing our faith in Jesus Christ, our lives with one another and the transforming power of Jesus in our lives and in the world. Church is a place where we get “re-fueled” for the journey. It is a place where we are strengthened and mutually encouraged when things are not easy, and a place where we share our joy with each other when things are good. It is a place where we live out our lives in prayer and service to Jesus Christ.

See you at church!

What Does It Profit a Person...

Jesus has a distinctive way of turning things upside down, and today’s reading from chapter 16 of Matthew’s Gospel taken from the Daily Office is such an example:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?”

Jesus tells his disciples that following him will not be easy. Being a Christian, especially in today’s world, can be “tough duty.” The world promises us that we will be happy and complete if we live in the most prestigious neighborhood, wear designer clothes, drive the right car, have the latest electronic gadget, have that “beautiful” look, and the list goes on and on.

Jesus tells us quite the opposite. What he says seems counterintuitive, “if we lose, we will find.” In order to follow Jesus, we are called to give of ourselves to others in the name of Jesus. “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Just ask St. Francis of Assisi who lived a life of poverty but was free, or Mother Teresa who gave her life in service to the poorest of the poor.

To paraphrase Jesus, “What will it profit me if I sell my soul for a designer suit as I drive my new Porshe Boxter while talking on my I-phone G3 as I pull into the driveway of my newly constructed mansion.” All of these things become old, break and are thrown away. A life time of a devoted relationship to Christ and living in his service, however, lasts an eternity.

"Who do you say that I am?"

Today’s reading comes from Matthew’s Gospel:

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Today some people say that Jesus was a moral teacher, a philosopher. Some say that he was an enlightened person who went around doing good works. Some people today might even say that Jesus was crazy.

But today, Jesus asks you and me: “Who do you say that I am?”

The response of the Christian is radical and unequivocal: “Jesus is the Son of the living God, and true man.” Just think about it. It boggles the mind! God becomes one of us to share life with us, our pains, our struggles, our sorrows and our joys. Moreover, God comes to restore our broken relationship. He comes to bring us back to Himself when we, left to our our devices, have strayed and wandered away from His love. Who do we say that Jesus is? Boldy proclaim: “The Son of God and our Redeemer!”

Please remember in your prayers the families of the Boy Scouts who lost their lives in Iowa.

The Only Thing That Counts

Today’s reading is from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. He writes:

You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

How many times have you heard yourself saying this: “It all depends on me, but that’s okay. I can do it all on my own; I don’t need anyone’s help!” ? I have heard that refrain all too often in my life.

Paul reminds the Galatians and us that we cannot do it on our own. We cannot save ourselves by the mere following of the law, that is, by what we do. We cannot work ourselves into heaven. The only thing that counts, according to Paul, “is faith working through love.”

God, the giver of all good things and sustainer of life, always takes the first step through the gift of grace. He loves us when we are unlovable. He carries us even if we think we can do it on our own. He saves us when we are powerless to do so.

Ephrem of Edessa, Deacon and Hymnist (10 June 373)

Today in the Lesser Feasts and Fasts, we remember Ephrem of Edessa (modern day Urfa, Turkey) who was a teacher, poet, orator, and defender of the Christian faith.

Edessa was an early center for the spread of Christian teaching in the East. In 325, Ephrem accompanied his bishop, James of Nisibis, to the Council of Nicea. Ephrem’s writings are an eloquent defense of the Nicene Creed which affirms that Jesus Christ is both true God and true man.

After the Council of Nicea, Ephrem lived in a cave outside Edessa. There he lived in simplicity and devoted himself to writing, and Ephrem frequently went into the city to preach.

During a famine in 372, Ephrem worked distributing food to the hungry, and organizing an ambulance service for the sick. However, he worked so hard at this that he became exhausted and sick and died.

Here is one of Ephrem’s prayers:

O Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of laziness, meddling, self-importance and idle talk.

Instead, grace me, Your servant, with the spirit of modesty, humility, patience, and love.

Indeed, my Lord and King, grant that I may see my own faults, and not condemn my brothers and sisters, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. O God, be gracious to me, a sinner. Amen.

How Great Is Our Faith?

The Gospel reading appointed for today in the Daily Office is taken from chapter 15 of Matthew’s Gospel, and it reads:

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters” table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

The Canaanites were not Jewish, but they were Gentiles. What is amazing about this Canaanite woman is that she recognizes Jesus as the Messiah even though she is not Jewish. She personally accepts Jesus’ message, not because she has been born into a particular group, but because Jesus has touched her life in a personal way.

Jesus tests her faith in Him by telling her that the Messiah was to come to the people of Israel, and clearly she was not. She persists in her faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and her daughter is made whole.

How many of us who claim the title “Christian” are as willing to cry out “Lord, help me” as the Canaanite woman did and to accept the personal lordship of Jesus in our lives?

Take His Hand

Today’s reading comes from Matthew’s Gospel:

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

How many of us are like Peter? We are eager at first, but then at the first sign of trouble, we loose faith, become scared and panic! But Jesus is always there. He stretches out his hand to save us. All we have to do is to reach out and take it.

Where Is Hope in the Face of Hopelessness?

Last night as I was watching the evening news, there was a story about a man who was shot in a drug related incident in Southeast Houston. One of the images was that of a 10 to 12 year old girl who was crying uncontrollably. She was not related to the man; she just happened to live in that apartment complex and witnessed the life of a man ebbing away in front of her. I cannot express the sorrow that I felt for that young lady being exposed to the wickedness of this world.

Then this morning I read the readings assigned for today in the Daily Office. The Old Testament reading is from Ecclesiates 3:16:"I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well."

It was a summary of last night's news. In the face of such tragedy, where is the hope? It comes from the second reading for today, Galatians: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

In the end, our help is in the name of Christ alone who faced hopelessness when he died for us and restored hope when he rose for us. Our task in this world is to work with the Holy Spirit to bring hope in the face of hopelessness.

King Herod the Coward

Today's reading is the familiar story of John the Baptist taken from Matthew's Gospel. When Herod gets news of Jesus' activities, he has a flashback to his encounter with John the Baptist. Matthew writes:

At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.’ The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus. (Matthew 14:1-12)

John the Baptist had the courage to tell King Herod that what he was doing was wrong. John the Baptist had the conviction to put himself on the line for standing up for what was right. He paid for it with his life, but in union with God.

Herod is a classic coward who has no integrity; he is a person who lives in fear. He does not have the courage to tell Herodias and her daughter that he will not give them John's head on a platter. When he gets word of Jesus' activities, he is reminded of what he did to John the Baptist. To be sure, he is ashamed of his activities. What could be an opportunity for repentance and reconciliation by inviting Jesus into his life, is thrown away out of fear. When we are tempted to live in fear, let's remember Herod.

On the Road Again

In today's reading from Galatians (1:18-2:1), Paul tells us about his travels. Today, I can empathize with Paul.

I am on the road again, this time in San Antonio, Texas.

Before I left this afternoon, my wife, Mary, and I had lunch. During lunch I thought to myself, "I really don't want to go. I'd rather be at home this evening. I really don't relish spending the evening away from home." But here I am, doing what needs to be done.

All of us go through this. We all do what needs to be done. Even though we may not want to do some of the things that we are called to do, we must muster the courage and the discipline do it while remembering that we are not alone in our work. Jesus is right along side with us. When we submit to doing what we are called to do, then the blessing of life begins. I can truly say that I am blessed, and I am not alone.

St. Blandina and Her Companions

In Lesser Feasts and Fasts, this day, 2 June, commemorates Blandina and her companions who were martyred (derived from the Greek word meaning “to witness”) in Lyon in 177.

Very little is known about her, but what we do know comes from Eusebius who wrote A History of the Church (Historia Ecclesiastica). He reports that Blandina was a slave who died for her faith in Christ. She was bound to a stake and her torturers set wild beasts on her, but the animals did not harm her. After a few days of this, Blandina was led into the arena to witness her companions’ sufferings. Finally, she was scourged, placed on a red-hot grate, enclosed in a net and thrown before a wild steer.

It is doubtful that any of us will be roasted and then tossed before a wild steer, but we are called to be witnesses to our faith in Christ as well. How do we witness to Jesus in our daily lives? Do we give a kind word or a smile to someone who needs it? Do we listen to the lonely? Do we impart Christ’s love to a hurting world?

“God’s salvation is open to everyone who has faith.”

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

In today’s Epistle, Paul reminds the Romans that God’s salvation is open to everyone. We are called to believe in God’s goodness and mercy. We cannot save ourselves by our own doing.

Many in today’s world think that they can save themselves. Some think if they only make enough money to acquire things they would be free, never to worry about happiness again. Others think that if they only moved in the right social circles they would be happy. Still others believe that if they could look a certain way, then they too would be happy. Others strive for power.

Show me what you put first in your life, and I’ll show you what you believe in. “God’s salvation is open to everyone who has faith.” That faith is not in things, power, money or looks, but in God’s infinite goodness and mercy.