Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

First Coming

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

Madeleine L’Engle, from The Ordering of Love: The New and Collected Poems of Madeleine L’Engle.

What shall we do with the Christmas presents?

We stare and stare through the tears
at the presents hidden away for children
who will never open their gifts again

Only silence responds
the terrible silence

There are no words
to ease the pain
that will burn
every time
we set the table
for 5 where only 4 will sit

How will we live now?
Will our center hold?
Or shall we all fly off
into our own corners
of unanswerable grief?

Are we a brood of vipers?

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"

In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. -Luke 3:7-18

"You brood of vipers" - John says this to all present and yet to come, to me. I may claim in my own way that "I have Abraham as my ancestor" - that is, I could never do the worst imaginable crimes. I say - I am not kin to the violent murderers of this world. But John calls me out on that and I know in my heart that I do participate in the killing. Wherever people die before attaining the fullness of life - I am complicit. I would not go into a classroom and kill children but what do I do about war, greed, hunger, poverty, lack of health care? All kill every day. It is impossible not to be complicit.

Still I go out to the desert to ask where is the hope? John gives me a simple answer. Turn away from the path of violence by receiving a message of "enough" - I do not need to have more than enough. Be satisfied with having just enough. That is his message of hope.

The Holy One IS coming with burn away the chaff that overloads us. We will be tossed about by life and in the process winnowed down to what we hope is good grain. Join the One who suffers and dies and comes again with the eternal hope of God in humankind's ability to make this a world of life for all.



And some realism from Digby

And more from Anne Lamott

Women as priests in early Christianity and now

Evidence of women as priests and bishops is strong in archeology and writings of the early days of Christianity. Victoria Rue's story of becoming a priest in our day.

Man in the moon

Neil Armstrong 1930-2012

From his family:
For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.

From stardust we come and to stardust we shall return

Sally Ride died peacefully on July 23rd, 2012 after a courageous 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Sally lived her life to the fullest, with boundless energy, curiosity, intelligence, passion, joy, and love. Her integrity was absolute; her spirit was immeasurable; her approach to life was fearless.

Sally was a physicist, the first American woman to fly in space, a science writer, and the president and CEO of Sally Ride Science. She had the rare ability to understand the essence of things and to inspire those around her to join her pursuits.

Sally’s historic flight into space captured the nation’s imagination and made her a household name. She became a symbol of the ability of women to break barriers and a hero to generations of adventurous young girls. After retiring from NASA, Sally used her high profile to champion a cause she believed in passionately—inspiring young people, especially girls, to stick with their interest in science, to become scientifically literate, and to consider pursuing careers in science and engineering.

In addition to Tam O’Shaughnessy, her partner of 27 years, Sally is survived by her mother, Joyce; her sister, Bear; her niece, Caitlin, and nephew, Whitney; her staff of 40 at Sally Ride Science; and many friends and colleagues around the country.

Ride on in glory - Sally Ride - you inspired us all to become seekers.

VII Pentecost

Readings are here.

Prospective Immigrants Please Note

Either you will go through this door
Or you will not go through.

If you go through
There is always the risk
Of remembering your name.

Things look at you doubly
And you must look back
And let them happen.

If you do not go through
It is possible to live worthily,

To maintain your attitudes,
To hold your position,
To die bravely.

But much will blind you,
Much will evade you,
At what cost who knows?

The door itself makes no promises.
It is only a door.

-Adrienne Rich 1929-2012
from Suzanne Guthrie's Edge of Enclosure


Blessing by Jan Richardson

May your life be a river.
May you flow with the purpose
of the One who created
and called you,
who directs your course
and turns you ever
toward home.

May your way shimmer
with the light of Christ
who goes with you
who bears you up
who calls you by name.

May you move
with the grace of the Spirit
who brooded over
the face of the waters
at the beginning
and who will gather you in
at the end.

5 Pentecost

Readings are here.

A reflection I wrote on the Gospel:

Isolated and alone
Woman of blood
pours herself towards
the fabric of life.

Dewdrop of hope
slips down the thread
to the woman
with outstretched hands

From Edge of Enclosure.

Image from the catacombs.

4 Pentecost

Readings are here.

Mark 4:35-41
When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Jesus asks, "Have you no faith?" -- maybe it is faith in ourselves that makes us afraid? The disciples were mostly fishermen - they knew the sea, they knew storms. Jesus trusts them to sail the boat and he rests in the peace of their skill and trust that God is with us through storm and calm. Below is my painting of the scene:

2 Pentecost

Readings are here.

The readings today seem very appropriate to this stage in our journey of faith here at St. Catherine's. After the end of this month I will no longer be your Interim Vicar. The new vicar, Laurie McKim, will come into our circle as priest among us. Next week is my last sermon as your vicar though I may supply if needed. Following that service I will catch a plane in Portland at 3 p.m. to go to the University of the South, Sewanee, TN for continuing education as a Trainer for the Education for Ministry program offered from the School of Theology. Then if all goes according to plan I will fly to Wyoming to help Jim close on the house. (a big "if" as we won't know for sure until the ink is on the contract).

In our lesson from Samuel, the people of Israel are facing changes. Samuel warns them to be careful what they wish for. In 2 Corinthians Paul tells the people not to lose heart when things look bad and in our Gospel Jesus preaches on the nature of this new community of faith.

In times of changes in leadership we often hope that this new person will save us from ourselves - will make everything work to our satisfaction. I see it over and over in elections. The latest winner is going to fix everything - we will be happy - we will have it all. In churches - the hope is that we will grow, we will have a new future, we will attract new members, we will all grow and deepen our faith and more.

One time I was consulting with a church and I asked - tell me about a time when you thought to yourself - YES! this is why I love being a member of St. Swithin's in the Swamp! A specific time. What were the circumstances? Who was there? What did you do to make it happen? What are the core values you se in this incident? Maybe you might like to think about those questions about your history at St Catherine's for a few moments, right now.

...

For St. Swithin's most of the incidents occurred when they did not have a priest in residence. Times when they pulled together to start something or carry on. Their core values were around the community's own strength and the power of God in their midst. What it told me was that while the priest is an important member of the circle of community-- nothing will happen unless the community wishes it to happen. Oh - I have seen churches swell temporarily with a very charismatic preacher -but when that person goes away or fails in some way - the church goes back to it's norm. Building on the foundation of our communal gifts is the way that churches have solid long lasting communities.

I went to Clergy Conference a couple of weeks ago - the speaker is the rector of a church in Seattle that had fallen on hard times. Her presence in their midst has shown them their own strengths of worship, community and vision. She has not "done it for them" - but was a person who could support and nurture what was already there. She said the key was that they had a kindliness of spirit toward one another. When they had disagreements they remained friends and cared for one another. They built worship on being the best of who they are. This church is a "high church" - Anglo-catholic - smells, bells, chanting - so they worked on doing the best of this style of liturgy. Other churches have different styles on which to become the best of whatever is the ethos of the congregation. It does not matter what style - what matters is doing it well and helping those who visit to relax into whatever is happening. Their vision included having a Sunday School and though they had no children in the church - some members became trained in Godly play and for a year - waited for children every Sunday no matter that no one showed up - they were ready. And now they have 30 kids most Sundays.

What I see in the Scriptures are these same lessons. A new "king" or "queen" will not save us from ourselves. The new vicar will join us and see things in us and help us to see those things for ourselves. If we are divided - a new vicar will listen but will not be able to force us to learn to live with our differences and become reconciled. Only we can do that for ourselves. If we lose heart we need to remember that God is with us and wants this church to be here in this time and this place doing the ministry that God wishes done. Only we can discern what that is - and carry it out - -one vicar cannot do this alone. Jesus asks who are his brothers and sisters and mothers?

The answer is whoever does the will of God. Only you know if we are doing the will of God -but I believe if we are - St. Catherine's will flourish and become the place where all feel called to sit at the table as brothers and sisters in Christ and return to the world refreshed and ready to live as God's people.

Pentecost

Readings are here.

The disciples are behind locked doors, moving around the city as needed but mostly hiding for fear of the Roman authorities and the religious leaders. Gathered together, 120 of them now, women and men, remembering their time with Jesus, studying the Scriptures (what we call the Old Testament), praying, breaking bread (Eucharist) with one another. Mary, the mother of Jesus, with the newly re-formed 12 and others who had journeyed with Jesus. Jesus told them to wait - so they are waiting. Suddenly fire and wind rush through their midst, blowing them out the doors. Like Moses on the mountain receiving the law with fire and storm - but instead of fire on the mountain - fire rests on each of the gathered followers, hearts aflame, minds aflame - they run out into the street. Galileans - looked down upon by city folk of Jerusalem - unstoppable words pour forth.

"They must be drunk" the people laugh derisively. But no, what's this each can understand the words in their own language. Many voices - much like the cacophony we heard with all of us speaking at once in the Acts reading - but making sense - the words of call - call to become whole, to find fullness of life, to draw close to the Holy One. Both terrifying and fascinating. 3000 responded to the call.

Pentecost was a high holy day in Israel - a spring harvest festival and celebration of the giving of the Law. People were coming into the city to the Temple to make their offering and give thanks for the guidance and support that the Law gives them. Though all are Jews or those who worshipped in the Jewish traditions, proselytes, lovers of God and God's law, they come from many countries and speak a variety of languages. The followers of Jesus were also Jews - mostly Galileans - which meant not particularly educated. Most spoke street Greek (which we find in the New Testament) or Aramaic but not the individual languages of the pilgrims that day. Yet the pilgrims testify that they heard their own languages - that long list we heard in the reading.

How great is it it be heard? To be really listened to? To know that the person hearing you is receiving what you are saying? Not the chaos of unintelligible languages but the one on one connection. Listening one another into fullness of life? A miracle not of the tongue but of the ears (as someone has said).

The disciples were hiding in fear. How often to we hide in fear - fear of others who differ from us? Do we avoid those we perceive as different, somehow scary? How do they overcome their fears? First they gather with those who are similar - who have the same sort of life as they have had, they pray, they remember how Jesus went through the world - how he welcomed all who came into his presence. Jews and gentiles, rich and poor, Roman soldiers and bleeding women, old people and children, angry people, those with illnesses, all saints and all sorts. They are nourished by word and sacrament. And one day - they walk out - undefended, open, vulnerable, to speak of what they know - regardless of the consequences. To me the best proof of the power of the Holy Spirit - that this little band of followers could go forth to witness to God's presence in spite of their totally realistic fears.

Now the "other" becomes brother and sister. Seeing all people as children of God. Differences do not go away - but difference is appreciated and not feared.

William Johnston in 
The Inner Eye of Love calls it Unrestricted Love --

...when I say unrestricted love I do not mean perfect love. I simply mean a love that goes on and on and on, just as man's knowledge and questioning go on and on and on. but, I repeat, it is never perfect in this life: authenticity is never fully achieved. The person with this unrestricted love has his conflicts and struggles, his imperfection and anguish, his neurosis and fear. He has his moments of betrayal and failure and sin. All this is part of that human adventure which is a love affair with the infinite. It is part of the experience of being in love.*

Jesus speaks of this coming of the Holy Spirit in his last words to the disciples – that feminine aspect of God – Ruach, Sofia, Holy Spirit – as she is known in the books of Genesis and Proverbs. The Spirit, who was present at creation, is that which leads us into all truth – the one who reveals more and more to us – Jesus says – the Spirit/Advocate will reveal more than he had been able to tell them. More and more we learn the full extent of God’s amazing inclusive love.

When we know that love from God and begin to return it to the world we enter into a relationship with God and God's people that can heal the world around us.

Mychal Judge, chaplain to the Fire Department in NYC, who died on 9/11 prayed:

Lord, Take me where you want me to go.
Let me meet who you want me to meet.
Tell me what you want me to say,
and keep me out of your way.*

Let us make this our prayer this day.


**Thanks to Edge of Enclosure.
Image from Hermanoleon

Alzheimers and laughter

From Scott Fisher:

Scott Fisher
‎& his Mother sit
in the back
of the Unit's Dining Room
laughing & laughing.
It all goes away,
you understand,
all the memories - of family sunday dinners
& Midwest childhoods
& a young girl's dance,
and more.
It ALL goes away,
memories & stories
taking flight like birds
that have stayed too long in the Fall,
and felt a North Wind.
Awayyyyyyyyyyyy it all goes,
even Dignity, of course......
until all that is left is laughter & companionship.
What else really matters?
The flock of memories
will wait for us the far side of The Green Hill,
like children excited at our Return.