Blessed are the Persecuted

 The last two of the beatitudes are warnings about what may happen when you strive to offer mercy, bring peace, find relationship to God, and confront wrong. Jesus states, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He goes on to add, Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. As Shane Claiborne (see last week) and Presiding Bishop Curry both note we are part of a revolution. That’s not going to make everyone happy.

Being a revolutionary and becoming what the Episcopal Church names “a church that looks and acts like Jesus” is counter cultural. Jesus asks us to reimagine the world as one in which the downtrodden, the grief-stricken, the vulnerable, and merciful are just as valued as the powerful or wealthy. That means that we could be misunderstood, or ignored, or scoffed at, or even persecuted. This is where ‘the rubber hits the road’ and reality sets in. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be liked than persecuted or reviled. Standing up to wrong, however, can bring repercussions.

Right relationship with God requires real action. It may be changing the way we do business, or the products we buy so that we have greater care for creation and cause less pollution. It may be acknowledging that the refugee or prisoner are just as loved by God as the pastor or businessperson. It may be taking action to confront injustice.

There is so much need, that it can feel overwhelming. We can get stymied about what to do or how to act. Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909) is quoted as saying “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” That is similar to the motto of the Daughters of the King, an Order for women: I am but one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do. Lord, what will you have me do?

The core is that we CAN each do something. We have God given gifts that CAN be used to make a difference. We can bear fruit as Jesus promises in John 15:16. Revelation 22:2-3 adds “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-3) Our daily fruit can be part of that healing, even if it’s just in smiling and saying hello to our neighbor.

What Mark Roberts of the DuPree Institute stated in 2016 is still valid today, “I find this aspect of John’s vision to be especially encouraging in a day when the nations of this world are desperately in need of divine healing, of being ordered according to God’s justice and peace…Revelation shows us that national healing will come in God’s glorious future. In the meanwhile, those of us who know and serve him can, in some small but significant measure, extend the healing of God into our world. We can act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8) in the place to which God has sent us as his royal agents. We can also share with others the confident hope that, one day, God will heal the nations and his kingdom will fill the earth.”

What fruit might you provide for the healing of your spot in the world?

Is there something God is asking you to do or be that will show that you are part of the revolution of the Love of God?

On Wednesday we enter Lent. This season can be a time to consider how God is working in and through us. On this blog, and in a Thursday Zoom (if there is interest), I’ll be exploring how the Lord’s Prayer can be the framework for living in a way that “looks and acts like Jesus.”  

All Glorious Within

This weekend I am at the Daughters of the King Assembly in El Paso, TX. Daughters of the King is an Order for women and girls devoted to prayer, service and evangelism. An Order is a bit different from a regular club or organization in that lifetime vows are taken. Often when we think of ‘Orders’, we think of monks, nuns, and clergy but there are many orders for ‘regular’, lay men and women. Daughters of the King and the Third Order of Franciscans are just 2 of them.

Way back when I joined the Order as a senior in High School, the Order had a Psalm, as well as Hymn, for the Order. We no longer do, but Psalm 45 remains a favorite of mine. It is labeled as an “Ode for a Royal Wedding” and as such is fitting to all who aspire to live into their Baptismal vows as the Bride(s) of Christ. The first 8 verses are about the King. In verse 9, the focus shifts to the Bride, the Betrothed One, the Queen. The Psalm ends with promises of a rich heritage and many sons, as is fitting for a wedding.

My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

You are the most handsome of men; grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you for ever.
³ Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your glory and majesty.

In your majesty ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds.
⁵ Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.

Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
⁷ you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
⁸your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
⁹daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father’s house,
¹¹and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
¹²the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people ¹³with all kinds of wealth.

The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
¹⁴in many-colored robes she is led to the king;
behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
¹⁵ With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.

In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
¹⁷ I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.

This translation (RSV) says, “The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes”. The KJV says “The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.” I like the idea of being ‘all glorious within’. Isn’t that what we should believe about ourselves as chosen brides of the Lord? The symbolism of royalty and wedding is what we should all aspire to as Daughters (and Sons) of our King.

Recently I watched the good old Disney animated film, Sleeping Beauty, because I have always been struck by the imagery in that movie of good vs. evil. Aurora is betrothed to Philip as a child and the good fairies work to keep her safe until it is time for her wedding. Evil is not to be stopped, or so it seems because she pricks her finger and falls into an endless sleep while Malificent captures the Prince. However, in the end, the three fairies free Philip, who triumphs over the Dragon with the help of the Sword of Truth. Then he awakens the Princess from her sleep. Certainly Malificent is the complete opposite of a Princess who is 'all glorious within'.

Similarly, we are already safely betrothed to our Prince of Peace. but the world we live in makes it appear sometimes that Evil is in control. We know, though that the war is over and it’s just the final battles that we are engaged in. With the help of the Sword of Truth and the Prince, we too will triumph! "True Love Conquers All" is the closing line and that is true for us as well. We are more Truly Loved than Aurora and her Prince because our Holy Lover is Love Incarnate!

Fall Meditations-Ember Day Letter

Four times a year, the Church sets aside three days to focus on God. These are "Ember Days," or Quatuor Tempora, in Latin. These dates fall close to the changes of the seasons and are meant to help us focus on God in our lives and in all creation. Ember Days are traditionally observed on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the First Sunday in Lent (February or March), the Day of Pentecost (May or June), Holy Cross Day (September 14) and December 13. 

In the Episcopal Church (and probably some other denominations), Postulants and Candidates for the diaconate or priesthood are required by canon law to report to their Bishop in writing at each of these seasons. Guidelines for these letters say, “It is not enough to say that you read a book or took a course, but how did it affect you? Did you learn something that you didn’t know before? Was it helpful or challenging? Are you struggling with long held beliefs that no longer seem tenable? If you are like most of us, your spiritual journey has ups and downs. Where are you today? What works? What is hard and why?”

During the sermon on Holy Cross Day, everyone at St. John's was challenged to write an Ember Day letter outlining our ministry or calling and how well we feel we are following it. We were encouraged to look at our lives in terms of that ministry or calling to see what works and what is not so joyful about it. (You can hear the sermon itself here: http://stjohnsabq.org/sermon_archive.php, scroll down to Sept. 13)

So, why is it important to look at our lives in terms of our ministry or calling? Putting your Rule of Life down on paper is a time honored discipline of monastic and lay orders. Most of us don’t live in monasteries and the majority are not members of lay orders, either. As the Ember Day guidelines point out, “It is important for you to know and to explain your own spiritual journey for it is in that way we begin to understand and empathetically respond to another’s journey.”

In taking up the challenge to write an Ember Day letter, I discovered that my own life is rather like a braided rope with three interconnected strands of ministry that use my gifts in different ways. There are at least 3 ways I use the gifts from God to proclaim the Kingdom of God.

One is in my work-a-day world as an administrative assistant, using gifts of organization and administration to keep the behind the scenes tasks of the Cathedral running smoothly.

Then there are the various named ministries I am involved in, such as Daughters of the King. Being chapter president involves similar gifts of administration and teaching as well as a servant’s heart to carry out the Rule of Life of the Order: Prayer and Service and Evangelism to women and girls.
My writing is another strand of the rope of ministry. The process involves being open to the ‘whispers of the Eternal’ and discovering the link between the lives of our spiritual ancestors and our faith journeys today. The gift of teaching is also involved, not only in my books, but in the studies, retreats, and even these blog postings I write.

It was an interesting process to undertake an Ember Day Letter and actually take time to look at the ministry I am involved in and how I feel about each part of that ministry. I would encourage you to take some time over the next week to evaluate your life and ministry in terms of your gifts and calling. A place to start is with the three questions used weekly by men and women who have attended Cursillo. These questions help you look at the important parts of your Christian Walk.
With what spiritual aids have you nourished your vital union with Christ? (piety)

What have you done to understand the gift of God and form your mind after the mind of Christ? (study)

What apostolic success did the Lord accomplish through you? (evangelism/action)

If you are like me, you will probably find it easiest to write these down and look at while mulling over your answers. However, some may find it more beneficial to think 'outside the box' and make a collage or draw your feelings about these topics. Maybe it will involve making something like the braided rug above. It is for your benefit, so you can do it any way that fits you.
See you next week for another Fall Meditation.