11th Sunday After Pentecost: Those Right Things

Isaiah 1:1,10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16, Luke 12: 32-40

Preached @ St. Barnabas’ Church, Temple Hills MD, 8/8/10

Our Collect for today sums up today’s Scriptural readings in a very concise manner. Listen to the Collect again: Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will…… These readings we have today can strike at a very soft spot within our human psyches. Our Scripture readings are meant to remind us of a need to be ever vigilant about some of our base-human-propensities.

In our Gospel, Jesus is teaching his disciples something challenging, threatening almost. When we are threatened, we as humans want to hold tight-to whatever it is that we have. Jesus is telling his disciples not to have fear: fear of death nor fear and anxiety about possessions. These two seemingly disparate ideas are actually quite tied together. Jesus says that we should not fear either of these, death or the loss of possessions because God’s treasure is what we should be focused on. Jesus is talking about an expectation of living into the kingdom that he is announcing. As part of our Christian existence, our lives should be centered on this expectation of living into the kingdom, being ever watchful and attentive.

This redirection of our efforts that Jesus points us toward can make us anxious. This call by Jesus for us to sell our possessions and give alms is very provocative. Think about this directive by Jesus…take a moment and think about selling all we have…provocative to say the least. This call by Jesus to rid ourselves of possessions and give generously in almsgiving is something deeply rooted in rabbinic teaching and literature and would have been very familiar to his disciples: perhaps not so much to us. And being provocative can make it something we chose to ignore. But just because something is provocative, or makes us squirm a bit, does not mean it should be ignored.

Like so many things Jesus says, perhaps taking this statement metaphorically as opposed to literally would be helpful. Most of us have possessions we do not need and yet we still hold on to them. Jesus is instructing his disciples, and us, as the Body of Christ in the world today, to actually live into the values and precepts of our faith by ridding ourselves of things unnecessary.

There is an ancient Roman proverb, which says that money, and possessions are like seawater, the more you drink the thirstier you become. For many people, the more possessions we have the harder it is to let go of any of them. In particular in these very difficult economic times, hoarding, holding on to what we have, is a basic human instinct….more than an instinct, there is and can be a real need too. We are called today to seek the balance between what we need, really need, and what is superfluous.

This Gospel we have has two distinct tracks, one clear, one less so. The Gospel clearly has to do with being ready for Jesus’ second coming and our being ready for his arrival. The second, and less clear is how our actions can make us God centered, ready to accept God as intimately a part of our individual lives. This Gospel has to do with finishing tasks yet to be completed….the Gospel is directing us to do those things that are right and not letting “other things”, possessions for example, get in our way of the creation of the kingdom Jesus is proclaiming.

But how do we know what is the right thing to do? We are gifted with a possible answer in our reading from Isaiah today. The prophet Isaiah is quite clear, in fact always doing what is right is defined for us in these verses. Isaiah begins by condemning the ritualistic public worship being practiced by God’s people: the sacrifice of animals, the burning of the blood and fat of rams and bulls and lambs and goats. Now Isaiah is not condemning public and communal worship: he is saying that if that is all there is, if that is all we as a people do, well that is not enough. Isaiah than clearly says: Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean…cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Think about our Collect: grant us the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, and our asking God to enable us to do them. Jesus recognized how hard this is for us. Isaiah recognizes how difficult this can be. The writers of our ancient Collect also recognize this basic fact about our humanness. This is hard. But think about those simple instructions Isaiah gives: seeking justice, rescuing the oppressed, defending the orphan, pleading for the widow…..pretty straightforward instructions for us to follow… to guide us in doing that which is right.

The billionaires, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have founded an organization called “The Giving Pledge” where 59 billionaires so far, have publically pledged to give at least 50% of their wealth to charities. Warren Buffet has gone further, with a pledge that by the time he dies he will have given away 99% of his wealth. In a letter to the public Buffet says some things that tie directly to what we hear in Scripture today. He says:

Some material things make my life more enjoyable; many, however, do not. I like having an expensive private plane, but owning a half-dozen homes would be a burden. Too often, a vast collection of possessions ends up possessing its owner …. The reaction of my family and me to our extraordinary good fortune is not guilt, but rather gratitude. Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others. (Now that is a different definition of tithing!)

This is a great public start by industry leaders who have made substantive amounts of money in their lives, and is an attempt to improve and alleviate the suffering in our society and world. This is a good model for us in thinking about possessions, almsgiving and doing that which is right. God recognizes that we are human with all our human abilities of procrastination and rationalization. Jesus’ life on earth proves to us God understands these proclivities of ours, but that does not stop us from being pushed and urged to continue to try to live into these instructions Jesus gives us in furthering the kingdom’s creation. Perhaps we may feel it is too late, that there isn’t time, or perhaps we mistakenly believe we do not deserve God’s all embracing love. Think about the ending of our reading from Isaiah: even though the prophet has been hollering at his audience about their own sinfulness he reminds them:

though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

By these words we are reminded that there is always a way back, a way into the kingdom. We are reminded that seeking justice, rescuing the oppressed, defending the orphan, pleading for the widow should be used as exemplars for our doing that which is right…. and that it is never, ever too late to start. That is our challenge today….to take our collective worship here and that love that we know through our faith that God has for all us… take that out into the unknown future and be enabled to always do those things that are right. We cannot change everything that is wrong in the world around us, but we can and we must act, to make this kingdom God has gifted to us a reality. We need to, without anxiety or worry, rid ourselves of those things in life that get in our way of calmly reaching out to help those we encounter on our journey and make a difference to those individuals. That is making the kingdom a reality, here and now. A provocative challenge we are given today. And one we are all capable of effectuating….God’s speed.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Zeal and Sacrifice

Psalms 87, 90 * 136; Judges 9:22-25,50-57; Acts 4:32-5:11; John 2:13-25

The Gospel writer John moves the cleansing of the Temple by Jesus to the very beginning of his telling of the life and ministry of Jesus. It is an interesting and important placement of this account of Jesus showing deep emotion and love for God's house and what transpires therein.

To briefly set the scene: in the forecourt of the Temple money-changers made their living (who charged for their service of moving money from one currency to another). Also in that courtyard area were people selling "sacrifices": cattle, sheep and doves we are told. These sacrifices would then be given to the priests by the purchasers as an offering to God in the inner sanctuary. (This is a rough telling of how this worked - it was more involved with more money changing hands than actual praying going on.) So Jesus walked into this market place of commerce and greed and reacted very strongly.

You see, people were supposed to be offering sacrifices, something meaningful and from their personal selves and wealth and heart. The act was meant to mean something and to not be easy. What Jesus witnessed was pro-forma acts of worship surrounded by an economic system taking advantage of those rituals, all cheapening the idea of sacrifice. And in John's Gospel, Jesus knows from the get-go where he is headed and the sacrifice demanded of his humanity: in fact Jesus references his death and resurrection right after his chasing the blasphemers from the Temple.

Jesus acted with a sense of righteousness and zeal, trying to wake the people up. Jesus is saying God doesn't want pro-forma, unmeaningful acts. God wants our sacrifice to be just that, something meaningful and true and hard. I think this is why this is one of my favorite Gospel accounts, for it is a tangible reminder of what we, as the Body of Christ in the world today, should be trying to emulate. We won't make many friends, but we will be assisting in the making of the kingdom.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Come and See

Psalms 119:97-120 * 81, 82; Judges 7:19-8:12; Acts 3:12-26; John 1:29-41

John's Gospel is structured so differently than the other three. It is different theologically, in how it is organized and structured and it has a different sense of spirituality. As an example, we are told today about Jesus' baptism, but second hand, through John's recollection.

Jesus passes by John twice in today's Gospel with John pointing out the Lamb of God is walking by: look! Two of John's disciples do look and see something, and high-tail it after Jesus who turns to ask them What are you looking for? Instead of answering Jesus, probably because the didn't know what to say, they asked him where he was staying and Jesus invites them to Come and see. They do follow along and know what they have found and then introduce Simon (Peter) to Jesus.

I believe that these folks knew something deep within themselves when they met Jesus. Many of us have met someone who we know, deep down within that they are something special, something different. They possess something we want. A calmness, a sureness that we want to encompass into our being. There is a centeredness and confidence that does not come off as arrogance or condescension. How do we find that? Where does that peace come from? There is no silver bullet that can provide a magical answer....for it is not magical....it is a gift from God which we all can attain....all in our own unique and different ways. Prayer is a starting place. Volunteering to help the needy is another. Being a part of an intentional community is a third. Being present, truly present for someone who needs that gift is a fourth. Just being our true and holy selves, honestly accepting those around us and taking them into our lives with love and gentleness is a fifth. Can you think of one to add?

Jesus' invitation to Come and See is meant for us too. It is meant for everyone. And from our affirmative response to that invitation that centeredness we yearn for begins.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Giving Credit

Psalms 78:1-39 * 78:40-72; Judges 7:1-18; Acts 31-11; John 1:19-28

The three readings set out for us today have a common theme among them: knowing to whom credit should be given. (For the liturgical nazis out there I know there is a fourth, but it is not conveniently set forth in my Contemporary Office Book, {what I utilize each morning to read Morning Prayer} so you'll just have to get over yourselves.)

In Judges we have "the Lord" reducing the size of Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300. The reason given for this action is Israel would only take the credit away from me (the Lord) saying 'My own hand has delivered me'. The battle is just about to start at the end of today's reading. We need to stay tuned for the conclusion. Notice that by reducing the number of Gideon's army makes the task ahead look impossible, and certainly much harder, and yet Gideon believes and pursues the objective.

In Acts we have Peter and John walking along, this is right after Peter's long speech about the life and work of Jesus being the fulfillment of the prophets, and they come across a man unable to walk because of ankle and feet problems who was begging for alms at the Beautiful Gate. And Peter heals him with these words: I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk. And the man does so. This is done in Jesus' name, not Peter's or John's. And in the Gospel of John, which we started reading yesterday, John points elsewhere, not to himself, not only for the authority he claims in baptizing but also for who is coming.

These three accounts remind us that although we each have many and varying gifts to share, they are not for our glory. We do the work, using those gifts and talents as we may and can, always knowing that the glory in the result needs to lie elsewhere. These stories remind us that "it is not all about us", but is about pointing to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Sure we can enjoy and revel in our successes and victories, like Gideon will do, like the man who was lame and made whole did. In that merriment and joy, we need to remember to not only give thanks to the One to whom credit needs to be given, but to remind others that the picture is bigger than the narrow lens we may be looking through. Achievement after hard work should be reveled in, but always in that reveling we need to point to the One who made it possible.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: I Am With You Always.....

Psalms 75, 76 * 23, 27; Judges 5:19-31; Acts 2:22-36; Matthew 28:11-20

We come to the end of Matthew's Gospel today where Jesus sends the disciples out to make more disciples of all nations, telling them to (and how to) baptize those new members and to always remember..... always remember I am with you always, to the end of the age.

In times of duress and difficulty and uncertainty, it is always challenging to remember these last words Matthew provides us. When we are alone with our grief, with our sadness, if there is no one with us to physically walk along side of us, that feeling of aloneness can be remarkably palpable. That sharp pang can dangerously become the center of our world. It does not have to be the center because something else truly is at the center, and that is God's presence.

That hurt, those sharp edges of despair won't completely disappear because of our realization of who is at the center of us, but those edges will become less pointy. Knowing that love is a part of us, knowing it takes the loneliness to a different place and makes us stronger and more able to take those next steps. Because those next steps are never done alone for we remember I am with you always......

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Do Not Be Afraid

Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 * 73; Judges 5:1-18; Acts 2:1-21; Matthew 28:1-10

We hear twice, in ten verses, "Do not be afraid". First it is the earthquake producing, lightning-like angel of God who tells Mary Magdalene and the other Mary these four simple words. And then the resurrected Jesus says those same words to them as they run to tell the disciples what it is that they have witnessed....Do not be afraid.

Being afraid is part of being human: it is an instinctual response, one of self-preservation. There are things we should, with good cause, be afraid of in this world. Being cautious around things that make us afraid is not something about which we should be embarrassed. I don't think the lightning-clad angel, or Jesus, are talking about that with this four word phrase. I don't think we are supposed to throw all caution to the wind at all times. I believe we are being nudged in the direction of not letting fear get in the way of faith. We cannot allow being afraid to block us from being open to God's presence in our lives. Fear can shut us down, but we need to move beyond the blocking out reflex and, perhaps, allow the fear to be just one component of our journey, keeping us cautious but not shut down. Perhaps utilizing that fear as a heightened awareness allowing us to better perceive how God is immersed in our lives and always and lovingly with us is a way to turn that natural reflex into an asset that can make us better vessels for God's work in the world.

The fear can be there, so long as it doesn't block us from doing what we must.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Friendship's Love

Psalms (70), 71 * 74; Judges 4:4-23; Acts 1:15-26; Matthew 27:55-66

In Holy Women, Holy Men (HWHM) today we remember Mary, Martha and Lazarus. A week ago it was Mary Magdalene's day. HWHM reminds us of the various Gospel accounts in Luke and John about the very deep-seated friendship and love that existed between those four people. Certainly there was an equal affection and dedication shown by Mary Magdalene to and reciprocated by Jesus.

When we are blessed with the gift of having friends in our lives with whom we have a deep connection, there is a special bond, a special love that is unlike any other. It is in both good times and uncertain and hard times that we come to really count on those folks who are bound to our heart in friendship's love. In our Gospel account today, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sit adjacent to the tomb in which Jesus' wrapped body lays quiet. We don't know who this other Mary is, but I like to think it is Martha and Lazarus' sister. Friends-to-the-end, there to mourn, remember, still love, support one another. HWHM says: Mary, Martha and Lazuras' (I'm going to add Mary Magdalene too).....hospitality and kindness, and Jesus' enjoyment of their company, show us the beauty of human friendship and love at its best.

The beauty of human friendship and love at its best.... even onto the end....... a good thing to chew on today.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daly Office Reflection: Into the Whirlwind of Change

Psalm 72 * 119:73-96; Judges 3:12-30; Acts 1:1-14; Matthew 27:45-54

Our readings today feel like they are all over the place. We are at the beginning of the downward spiral that the Book of Judges takes us on. We are at the very beginning of the Book of Acts, with Jesus telling the Apostles to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them, and Jesus ascends. And in Matthew, we are close to the end of the Gospel, with Jesus dead on the cross, and the temple curtain ripping and earthquakes happening......Geez, all over the place. And to add to the confusion, in Holy Women and Holy Men we celebrate and remember Bach, Handel and Purcell.

I think we struggle to put order to chaos, to bring some structure to times of insecurity and uncertainty. These readings in today's Daily Office certainly are emblematic of that effort. There are times in life when all we can do is something little, do something that seems innocuous at the time, but do it well. Being able to find a place of centering in that whirlwind can be challenging, but it is not impossible. That centering moment might be only that, a moment, but we shouldn't discount the importance and the wondrousness of that moment. For God is in those moments, as well as in the crappy ones. It is just harder to recognize that fact at times.

Jesus stood in the middle of a whirlwind and was able to stay focused. A good model to strive for, even if we can only manage that calmness in the face of the whirlwind for a moment.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Saint Mary Magdalene

MP: Psalm 116, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Mark 15:47-16:7

EP: Psalms 30, 149, Exodus 15:19-21, 2Cor 1:3-7

We know very little about Mary Magdalene. There is wide speculation about her, most of which has grown, unsupported, through the centuries. Nevertheless, I have always been attracted to those snippets of this person that the four Gospel writers provide for us. I think the Eastern Church got it right so very long ago when they gave Mary Magdalene equal status to that of an apostle. Her dedication, her love of Jesus, her faithfulness in "being there" in the good times and in the horrifying times not only inspire me but also make me pause. Jesus not only healed her but made her the first vessel of the Good News of the resurrection. A faithful and devoted love being repaid with love and compassion and joyful news.

Waiting patiently and yet being active and involved....quietly observing and yet acting where others would or could not are elements of Mary of Magdala that bring me strength and offer me guidance. The Collect for today is a beautiful one:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities, and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Uncertainty

Psalms 45 * 47, 48; Joshua 8:1-22; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 26:47-56

I have been struck with writer's block lately. I don't think this block is because I find our Daily office readings uninteresting, or un-provoking, as they are the exact opposite of those those two words. I am, simply put, in a transition period of my life in regard to employment and am on a personal roller coaster ride emotionally, and am trying to be circumspect in regard to allowing those emotions to seep into my writings here.

We are immersed in Joshua's story of the conquest of the promised land, today with the second try of conquering the town of Ai. The first failed because of betrayal by a few people, to which Joshua lay prone before the ark of the covenant begging forgiveness and guidance. In Matthew today, we have Judas' betrayal of Jesus. This act follows yesterday's account of Jesus praying to God for relief and than for strength to face whatever may come his way.

Centering ourselves in prayer in times of loss and betrayal, asking God's help to deal with raging emotions, is an important aspect of remaining faithful. Asking for help is another. I ask for prayers to give me strength to face what is coming and to be cognizant enough to discern an appropriate way forward.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Waiting

Psalms: 31 * 35; Joshua 4:19-5:1,10-15; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:17-25

Waiting can be so very hard. Allowing ourselves to be present in what is going on around us and not exhaustively focus on what "may be" takes some effort for many of us. When something is about to happen, when a decision is being awaited, angst, sadness, anger, erratic attention all can plague us.

Joshua has successfully guided the people he is leading to cross the Jordan River in today's Hebrew Testament reading. They observe the holy day and wait. They are waiting for the time to strike their adversaries to continue in their conquest of the land God promised to their ancestors. Joshua is scouting and comes upon a soldier of God, a clear sign that their waiting is coming to an end.

Jesus has been waiting for the betrayal that he has known was coming, had predicted was coming. In our Gospel from Matthew today we have the beginning of the end story, the beginning of the Passion narrative. Matthew has described in the 25 preceding chapters Jesus' journey to this point: a waiting-of-a-kind until the time was right for his own conquest.

Being distracted is a natural part of our existence when we are waiting for something big to happen: a decision to be made that effects our life's journey or the results from a medical examination are two examples of angst producing waits. Notice that in both the Joshua account and in Matthew's Gospel, not only did those folks involved keep active during their waiting period, but they worshipped, celebrated and gave thanks to God, centering their existence around prayer. Prayer won't take away all those feelings that can come upon us in times of anxious waiting, but prayer can help us deal with those feelings appropriately. Those feelings help us know that we are alive.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Surprises

Psalms 26, 28 * 36, 39; Joshua 2:15-24; Romans 11:13-24; Matthew 25:14-30

Yesterday we began the story of Joshua's conquest of Jericho, a story in which Rahab plays a major role. We are told (yesterday) that Rahab was a prostitute, and the story implies that she was a successful one as she owned a house which was part of the wall of the city. She hides the two spies Joshua sent from the king's men and then helps them escape, telling them where and how long to hide outside of the city. They in turn promise to protect Rahab and all her family when they return to conquer the land, provided she keeps their secret and that she ties a crimson rope to the window from which they escaped. The story continues in tomorrow's reading.

In our selection from Matthew today Jesus tells the story of the talents used wisely juxtaposed against the talent that was buried, and thus taken away. Jesus is demanding that his disciples, and through them all of us, be daring and adventurous, to use the gifts we are given and those that we earn, in ways that benefit the development of the kingdom.

There is a swash-buckling-ness to these two stories. They are surprising too. I think both indicate that God will always act in surprising ways, through unexpected people and that we are called not to be judgmental, but open to God's work in the world all around us. We can be surprised and delighted by the generosity of a person who society and our culture has rejected. We must be risk-takers to embolden and enliven this kingdom we are called upon to make palpably present to the world. Surprises are a good thing for us to keep our eyes attuned to, always wondering what God has in store for us next.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Metaphorically Speaking

Psalms 18:1-20 * 18:21-50; Deuteronomy 3:18-28; Romans 9:19-33; Matthew 24:1-14

Jesus talks about the "end times" today. His discussion is spurred on by a question about his response to the disciples exclamations about the beauty of the temple buildings. Jesus foretells the fall of the temple and then his disciples ask him when this will happen, and off Jesus goes describing some pretty terrible events that will signal those "end times".

So many people read these verses with a literal lens, taking them out of context. They see an earthquake, or the start of a war, or famine, or religious persecution, and say Aha, we are at the end: Jesus is a'comin soon! So much damage has been done by these literal minded zealots. Such dangerous and deadly actions have been perpetrated throughout history. We don't have to look far back to find examples, nor is it hard to look around the world and find very recent examples of the things Jesus warns about as telling signs of the change coming.

What we are gifted with today from Matthew is the start of a long descriptive speech by Jesus. It continues in tomorrow's reading and into Saturday's, where we will find one of the metaphoric keys to understanding what Jesus is doing here. All ya'll have to wait until Saturday for my thoughts on that. In regard to today, one of the take aways from this Gospel reading is that Jesus is telling us that to be his disciple, to be his follower, will not be easy, will not make us the most popular kid in the class. And that is okay. Today's reading helps us remember, amidst "all the love stuff" (about which I write constantly!), that our journey can and will be difficult, and yet our reading clearly shows us we are not alone on that journey, nor is it a fruitless walk. There is good news in these rather difficult readings we are in the midst of right now.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Keeping Sacred Things Sacred

Psalms 5, 6 *10, 11; Numbers 35:1-5,9-15,30-34; Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 23:13-26

Jesus just lambasts the scribes and Pharisees today: he just lights into them. He has been in an extended conversation with them throughout his ministry in Matthew's Gospel. But it appears that he has just "had it up to here" with them in today's selection.

Jesus begins his chastisement of these leaders of the community saying how dare they lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. How can they twist Scripture to exclude rather than welcome? How can they miss the importance of what is sacred and place that blessing of sacredness, and give importance to things that are not sacred in and of themselves? Jesus condemns them by saying they "have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith." These leaders have become so consumed with who can be "in" and who shouldn't be, that they have lost themselves in the minutiae.

Jesus is making clear, yet again, that all are welcome into this kingdom he was sent to proclaim. All of us.... I cannot emphasis those three little words enough....all of us are welcome. Such good news this morning.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: God of the Living

Psalms 137:1-6(7-9), 144 * 104; Numbers 24:12-23; Romans 8:18-25; Matthew 22:23-40

Jesus flummoxes the Sadducees today with his response to their question about the childless widow marrying seven brothers and whose wife she would be in the resurrection. The Pharisees than give their shot at besting him and are likewise unsuccessful.

I believe that Jesus' response to the Sadducees not only serves up a mortal blow to their arguments, but also undermine any attempt by people of faith to be literalists: or in current parlance, "original intenters". Jesus is saying with his response that God is alive and with us, that God is not frozen on the page of Scripture and the laws and rules that emanate from those sacred texts. God is speaking to us in Scripture, wanting us to question, to learn, to grow: to be in conversation with each other and with God. And I think Jesus proves that purpose with his response to the Pharisees that the greatest commandment is to love God and, like unto that, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is not a frozen-in-time doctrine, but a living, breathing commandment to be actively engaged with the world, loving God, loving our neighbor.

God, Jesus is saying, is among us, with us, a part of our lives. God is not some distant figure to be feared and worshipped. But this loving God is the God of the living, and that statement and belief alone defeats any literalist, strict constructionist, narrow-minded attempts to box-in and define God in human terms. And that makes me smile this morning.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Myopia

Psalms 119:145-176 * 128, 129, 130; Numbers 22:41-23:12; Romans 7:13-25; Matthew 21:33-46

I got a wonderful surprise walking out the door at 6:00 this morning taking Allie for her morning constitution. The temperature has dropped at least 2o degrees, with a beautiful and refreshing wind out of the west. The humidity and heat that has been sitting over the former swamp that is Washington DC for the last two weeks has broken. I have all my windows open, and the air and breeze feels so refreshing this morning.

I am not usually bothered by heat and humidity, and much prefer it to cold and freezing temperatures, but I have noticed that I was a bit crankier these past few weeks, a bit more on edge. Now I recognize that this isn't only a weather induced state, as my employment situation has provided me with some reasons for being a bit off-balance. But I have noticed how the weather not only had an effect on me, but also on the intentional Christian community with whom I serve, as well as the residents of this city. Everyone was a bit on edge, more narrowly focused on themselves and allowing those feelings to control how they live in the world: closed down, unseeing, self-centered.

I think those reactions to heat and humidity we have been living through in this area are analogous to the Balaam saga we have been reading in Numbers and to the parable Jesus tells the chief priests and the elders in today's reading from Matthew. The Balaam - donkey story (which we read yesterday) is partly about being so self-absorbed as to miss God's voice and actions and our opportunities to respond that are all around us. Jesus' parable about the fenced in vineyard and the workers' reaction to the owners' managers and son is similar in point.

This glorious breeze I am enjoying this morning is a tangible reminder about how closed-down we can become when we let ourselves be distracted from being open to the Holy Spirit's work in the world around us. This wind that has wiped away the humidity can be a palpable example of God always reminding us that, although we may make mistakes, we may get myopic and selfish, it is never too late to step out and do our part in building the kingdom, here and now.

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: St. Peter and St. Paul

MP: Psalm 66; Ezekiel 2:1-7; Acts 11:1-18

EP: Psalms 97, 138; Isaiah 49:1-6; Galatians 2:1-9

This is a wonderful feast day with readings for The Daily Office which are critical under-pinnings of our faith and of our mission as a Church. Throughout history the members of the Church universal have argued about mighty things and petty ones. Our EP reading from Galatians provide an example of an argument amongst the early leaders of this Church. Our MP reading from Acts also exhibits this mindset of argument. Both resolve though in ways that are faithful to the prophetic words we hear in Isaiah: I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

As humans, many of us like to argue. Many of us like to win, to be right, and we utilize those wins and that right-seemingness as proof that our lives matter, that we are making a difference. Those ambitions and drivers can blind us and mis-direct us. Peter was dead-set against moving beyond the mission to the circumcised until his vision we hear about in our Acts reading today which ends with Who was I that I could hinder God? Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, tells of his argument with the leaders in Jerusalem about his continuing mission to those outside the 12 tribes of Israel and how some of those leaders rejected him, yet others reached out the right hand of fellowship, agreeing to missions focused on different groups, but all with the same underlining mission.

God made us as we are, with many of us contentious and unruly and (at times) tiresome. Our reading from Ezekiel points out to us that God does not get tired of reminding us of our primary agenda when we get contentious and rebellious. And although it is alluring at times of exhaustion to give up, close down, that is not what we are called upon to do. What we are called to do, unrelentingly, is to offer God's loving embrace to all we encounter, to reach out to those in need, whoever they are, wherever they are, and provide them with food, and shelter, and clothing, and companionship, and a community to which they are invited to be a part, and we are to offer them love. Not an easy assignment. Nor a quick one to accomplish. But together we can walk that path and do what we can.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Through the Noise

Psalms 102 * 107:1-32; Numbers 20:1-13; Romans 5:12-21; Matthew 20:29-34

There are times, when I am in a large crowd of people out on the street, and I get overwhelmed by the noise, the sounds, the constant distractions of so many different things going on at the same time. I can find it hard to focus on one individual, or stay a-tuned to the thing I am supposed to be doing. So today's Gospel account of Jesus hearing two blind individuals on the side of the road yelling out to him for help, while he is surrounded by "a large crowd", resounds with me. I marvel at the fact that Jesus could actually hear and notice their pleas for mercy and aid, as well as reach out to them, show his great compassion and heal them, all amidst the noise and tumult around him.

I do not know if I will ever have the ability to not become overwhelmed at times. I do know, however, that today's Gospel reading brings me great comfort. This Gospel explicitly shows me that I don't have to worry about that inability because we have a loving God who does not get overwhelmed and will reach out and help those who yearn for that loving embrace and healing. That is a great thought to carry through the day!

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Holy Women, Holy Men

The Nativity of John the Baptist

MP: Psalms 82, 98; Malachi 3:1-5; John 3:22-30

EP: Psalm 80; Malachi 4:1-6; Matthew 11:2-19

The readings set forth above are, as usual, The Daily Office readings assigned for today, which is the feast of John the Baptist's birth. Instead of reflecting on one or all of those readings today, I am taken this morning with the new book Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints, which was waiting for me on my arrival home from church yesterday evening.

This is the General Convention 2009 sanctioned revision o Lesser Feasts and Fasts. Holy Women, Holy Men contains a bit over 100 additional individuals whose lives have shown the movement of the Holy Spirit. whose impact changed these people and the world and time in which they lived. I am very excited about this updated addition to our lectionary cycle and will continue my habit of incorporating the prayers for these individuals in my Rule of Life and in the weekday Eucharist.

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, retired Presiding Bishop, wrote a Foreword, part of which states: "Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints seeks to expand the worshiping community's awareness of the communion of saints, and to give increased expression to the many and diverse was in which Christ, through the agency of the Holy Sprit, has been present in the lives of men and women across the ages, just as Christ continues to be present in our own day. Faced with circumstances most often very different from our own, these courageous souls bore witness to Christ's death-defying love, in service, in holiness of life, and in challenge to existing practices and perspectives within both the Church and society.....The men and women commemorated in the Calendar are not simply examples of faithfulness to inspire us: they are active in their love and prayer. They are companions to the Spirit able to support and encourage us as we seek to be faithful in our own day."

I commend this book to you.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Human Fairness vs. God's Generosity

Psalms 101,109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144; Numbers 16:36-50; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 20:1-16

Our Gospel reading for today ALWAYS gets to me. I have heard and read this description of the Kingdom of Heaven un-countable times and I am invariably brought up short by it.

A part of my living in this world is looking for fairness and treating people fairly. And Jesus' tale of the landowner hiring workers for the vineyard throughout the day, yet paying the one who worked only one hour the same as one who toiled all day just causes me to squirm. How, in God's Name, I want to ask Jesus, is THAT fair! When I get to the part of the story where those who had worked all day in the scorching heat are talking amongst themselves and complaining, I always find myself agreeing with them....and then those words that stop me short: I chose to give to this last the same as I give to you......are you envious because I am generous?

Jesus tells us over and over again that God's ways, God's time, is not the same as our human petty greed. Jesus says over and over again the Kingdom of God/Heaven is something different. And that God's generosity, God's love, is far beyond our ability to love....so many preachers focus on vengeance and sinfulness - but Jesus points us to a loving God who is so generous as to astound and confound us. Perhaps Jesus, by describing the Kingdom of Heaven with this generous-landowning-winemaker is instructing us to re-think our priorities and understandings of fairness. Perhaps I should be happy that those who find God's love later than I are equally welcome in that generous and loving embrace God holds open for all of us. Perhaps it is not such a bad thing to be brought up short early in the morning.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Defining the Kingdom

Psalms 97, 99, (100) * 94 (95); Numbers 16:20-35; Romans 4:3-12; Matthew 19:23-30

Our Gospel reading for today may seem to pop out of thin air, if we haven't been reading what has been transpiring just prior. For if we just look at today's reading, Jesus appears to have a real problem with people of means, of wealth. But if we take today's reading in conjunction with yesterday's reading (and Saturday's as well), we will see Jesus painting a picture of what the Kingdom of God is like.

Today we hear the oft heard 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. And then he goes on to explain about people being appropriately focused on things that are important, and not transient things that fade. Yesterday, the first part of Chapter 19, Jesus points out the innocence of little children and how their approach to life is what we must mimic to be a part of the kingdom of God, followed by a conversation with a righteous and rich man who has followed all the laws and rules and yet wants to know how to ensure eternal life for himself. And Jesus tells him he should sell all that he owns and give it to the poor and then follow him. It is following this man's sad walk away that Jesus talks about the difficulty of wealth and the kingdom. In Saturday's reading Jesus berates the nit-picking Pharisees about Moses' permission concerning divorce. Jesus talks about the importance of fidelity and commitment and being focused, once again, on that which is important.

I honestly believe that Jesus did not "have it in for" people with wealth. He points to the truth that those of us of means can be at great risk for losing our way because of that wealth: being consumed by our humanness of wanting more, caring for our possessions more than we care for those who need our help. These last few days of readings have all been about being focused in the correct direction, and not getting lost: in the weeds of minutiae; in the caring of things over people; in the intolerance of difference. Scripture is directing us to evaluate what grabs our focus and attention and determine whether we are building the kingdom or undermining it.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Who Are Our Pharisees and Sadducees?

Psalms: 72 *119:73-96; Ecclesiastes 9:11-18; Galatians 5:1-15; Matthew 16:1-12

The disciples are their dim selves in our Gospel reading from Matthew, and Jesus is more than a little exasperated by that dimness. He is very clear with them about what he means when he says Beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.....it is about their teaching and their closed-mindedness and their strict adherence to rules and their inability to change.

It is our human condition to look for comfort and familiarity. That understanding of life can infect the church and inhibit the church's ability to grow and respond to God's voice in the world. We have the biggest change agent in history, Jesus, as the leader of of our church, and whose name we bear when we say we are Christian. And yet one of the most constant refrains we hear in church is We don't do things that way because we have always done them this way. Who are the Pharisees and Sadducees today? Is it us?

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Persistence in the Face of Not-So-Niceness

Psalms 56, 57 (58) * 64, 65; Ecclesiastes 7:1-14; Galatians 4:12-20; Matthew 15:21-28

We have a pretty unfriendly Jesus this morning, and cranky disciples too boot. He and the disciples have just left Gennesaret where they were, rather unpolitely, requested to leave the district after healing the naked demoniac who lived in the cemetery. These folks did not welcome Jesus, nor respond to his curing of one of their own, which may have set him a bit on edge, and certainly would have done so to his disciples. So, perhaps this was the mood they were in when another individual from "outside the fold" comes a-hollerin for help.

She was persistent. Jesus ignored her but she kept on following and yelling at him to help, so much so that the disciples ask him to do something about her. He turns to her and is pretty insulting, comparing her and all non-Jews to dogs. She remains undeterred and says "well even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table!" That retort seems to bring Jesus up short and he grants this woman's wish, to heal her daughter.

There are so many times in life when things can seem not to be going our way.I think one of the beauties of today's rather difficult Gospel reading is the reminder that we cannot, nor should we ever consider giving up. Prayer is an integral part of not giving up. Being unafraid to ask for help from those who can give us that help is another part of not giving up. Being proactive about finding that help we may need is also a part of not giving up. We may hope for and pray that we don't have to expend that energy and that the help will appear magically. The reality is we need to be persistent in the face of difficulty. We may not get the exact thing we want, but we will get what we need.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Sharing a Meal

Psalms 50 * (59), 60 or 8, 84; Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3; Galatians 3:1-14; Matthew 14:13-21

When I was growing up, a priest gave a sermon on this particular miracle event we have in our Gospel reading today. The gist of that sermon was that the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 was not some abbra-cadabbra moment but something for more important. The miracle was that Jesus got all those people to sit down in small groups and share. This priest talked about how it was customary for people, in that time and place, to have little pouches (in today's parlance a fanny-pack) in which they carried pieces of dried fish and dried bread. By having all those people sit down in small groups and open up their fanny-packs and pull out their food and offer it to their neighbors, who they did not know, this the priest said was the miracle. An opening of their hearts, one to the other, recognizing the need of your neighbor sitting right next them. Not only recognizing that need but doing something about it.

This burst my child's imaginative understanding of this story, and I remember leaving somewhat disillusioned and ill-at-ease (although as a child I probably would have said "I was feeling yucky".) Yet that sermon and explanation of this miracle story has always stayed with me, has always come back to me whenever I read one of the versions of the feeding of the 5000.

Aren't Jesus' parables supposed to make us uneasy? Aren't they supposed to put us on edge? Aren't they supposed to make us feel like we are perilously balancing ourselves on the abyss of self-understanding and responsibility, not only for our own actions but for those around us? Are we ready to trust what will happen if we allow that abyss to be our world?

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: To Whom We Listen

Psalms 45 * 47, 48; Ecclesiastes 2:16-26; Galatians 1:18-2:10; Matthew 13:53-58

We reach the end of Jesus visiting his hometown today, where just prior we heard about healings giving way to arguments with the Pharisees, leading to Jesus talking to his disciples about what "the kingdom of God is like". Jesus tries to teach in his hometown synagogue but the folks there took offense at him. After all, they knew him from a child - who was he to teach them?

So often in life that trite phrase "familiarity breeds contempt" proves true. We see that phrase play out in today's Gospel reading. So often in life we are looking for that "new thing" to follow, to lead us someplace exciting and new. Having a fresh set of eyes on something has great value, many times. But, what about those whom we get to know well, do we listen to them still? I think what happens today in our Gospel exemplifies the need for being able to be balanced in our consideration of ideas: are we high-tailing it after a new fad simply because we bored with the old? Are we discounting what someone has to say because we think we know them and what they are going to say? Are we able to listen and not be reactive? Can we see the gifts that are right in front of us?

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Tiny Gestures

Psalms 31 * 35; Proverbs 23>19-21,29-24:2; 1 Timothy 5:17-22(23-25); Matthew 13:31-35

We have the mustard seed parable and the yeast mixed with flour metaphor in today's Gospel selection from Matthew. The last few days in our Daily Office readings Jesus has been throwing out a whole bunch of these very short "parables" of "the kingdom is like...." sayings. These are so familiar to so many people that they are almost hard to hear, or decipher something new from, or remind us of something we perhaps have forgotten.

One of the points Jesus is driving home today is the truth that our smallest seeming action can have enormous consequences in the creation of the kingdom he is announcing. These actions can be corporate and public or private and personal. An example from my Rule of Life, is that in the last year I have incorporated various "free form" prayers while I say Morning Prayer. One is "Gracious and loving God, guide me to be an effective Episcopal priest today." Another is "Lord Jesus, and through you to our gracious and loving God, help me to be open to your next call and help that parish to be open to discerning me as their next rector." Rather simple prayers yet I find them centering and a "turning over to God" things that are out of my control. I find these (and other intercessory prayers) help me to focus and be more focused, and they do buttress me in doing the work I am, at present, called to do.

Simple, yes I know, but effective for me and I think are examples of that yeast and that mustard seed that can and does change form and substance and create and inspire new things.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: A New World

Psalms: 38* 119:25-48; 1 Timothy 3:1-16; Matthew 12:43-50

Jesus insults two groups of people today in our Gospel reading from Matthew. First we have Jesus concluding his back and forth with his hometown Pharisees by saying they are lost to the kingdom because of their actions and disbelief. And then he diss-es his mother and brothers who are standing outside of where he is teaching.

His family knew Jesus was different, and certainly his mother had first hand knowledge and experience at just how different he was. This must have been harsh to hear from a member of their family they probably thought had come to visit them. But Jesus has a different purpose. He is talking about a the founding of a changed community, a community where people unrelated by blood are treated as family, loved as family, honored as family....no matter how different they may be from one another.

What we have today is Jesus laying the ground work for us, the Body of Christ in the world today. Jesus is saying (in part) that our intentionality in living in a church community needs to not only model the love of a daughter/son for her/his parents and siblings, but actually be that family unit. This is a radical concept that, over 2000 years later, we are still struggling to figure out. Figuring it out is, I think, part of our mission.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: The Kingdom of God Has Come To You

Psalms: 25 * 9, 15; Proverbs 10:1-12; 1 Timothy 1:1-17; Matthew 12:11-32

Jesus is having a pointed discussion, yet again, with the Pharisees today. They claim his authority to heal comes from the leader of the demon world. Jesus says that the Pharisees own exorcists claim to be able to cast out demons, even though they have no authority as his, which was granted to Jesus by God. Jesus not only makes clear to the Pharisees who he is, and from whom he has been granted the gifts of healing he has been exercising, but also announces to the world that God's kingdom is among them and available to them.

How can and does this reading from Matthew be relevant to us in our 21st Century lives? Perhaps if we think about what drives us, what is important to us, we can make something out of this lesson. Where do we find our center of being in the world? Do we act out of an understanding of Jesus' teachings or from a more secular and culturally driven perspective?

Jesus calls each of us into this Kingdom he announces today, to assist in the furtherance of its manifestation. Jesus calls each and every one of us to be in the world, working within it, but not to be of this world, not to be a product driven by the changes and chances of culture. Jesus is asking us to be different, to stand apart. He knows how hard this will be for us, but shoves us in this direction nonetheless, for this kingdom of God is what he came to be human among us to announce, open and invite us to live.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Faith and Wellness

MP: Psalms 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); Ezekiel 36:22-27; Ephesians 6:10-24; Matthew 9:18-26

EP: Psalm 33; Exodus 19:3-8a,16-20; 1Peter 2:4-10

We are on the cusp of Pentecost today and a switch in our liturgical seasons. This week is a "red" week, next Sunday, for Trinity Sunday, we wear white one last time, and then we enter the long green season. The church calendar crams so much into this first half of the year: following Christmas we have the short Christmas season, then a few weeks of Epiphany, followed by 40 days of Lent, Holy Week, Easter, the 50 days of Easter, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and then.... that long green season, the Season after Pentecost, where we must focus on faith as opposed to liturgical events to keep our interest tweaked.

And I think our Gospel for this morning's reading is a perfect vehicle to reflect on this point. An individual who was part of the group that opposed Jesus, his actions and teachings, falls in front of Jesus begging him to save his daughter. On the walk to the synagogue leader's home, we hear Matthew's version of the hemorrhagic woman's faith leading her to being healed by simply touching Jesus' cloak. Their faith brought wellness: a rebirth of sorts for all three of them, the daughter (as a by-product of the father's faith), the leader and the healed woman.

That hemorrhagic woman had been living with her condition for 12 years we are told, incurable, being cast-aside as unclean. The leader of the synagogue's beloved daughter was dead and he was lost. Faith brought them healing specific to their needs.

There are occasions in life when we have dramatic healings as exemplified in today's Gospel reading. I think more often in life we have little healings along the way, that may be dramatic for us but not so public as the two heard about today. I think this long green season we are on the cusp of entering is very much like that: normal life with personal growth, step by step. Inch by inch, as we plod through this green season, our faith deepens, we are changed, we are slowly healed and we grow: so slow at times that we don't even recognize it until we look back and see the difference. A holistic wellness provided by our ever deepening faith.

A Happy Pentecost.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Who We Associate With

Psalms 102 * 107:1-32; Jeremiah 31:27-34; Ephesians 5:1-20; Matthew 9:9-17

An old adage that floats around our culture is "be careful with whom you associate." And there is some truth to that adage for if we are not sure of ourselves, and strong in our convictions and beliefs, we can lose focus and direction. But if we are centered strongly in not only who we are, but what we believe (and who we follow) than that adage is an impediment to our assisting in the creation of the kingdom.

The reverse is likewise true: if we are so certain in our beliefs and set in our ways, we will miss God's voice coming to us from unimagined places.

Jesus calls the tax collector Matthew today, and then sits with other "tax collectors and sinners" and shares a meal. The Pharisees object, thinking those people are unfit to associate with people of Jesus' pedigree. But Jesus says "hold on now....I am strong enough in myself to not get lost being with these people." I can imagine Jesus saying, After all, they are just that, people, needing to see that there is another way to be, to exist in the world. They are created in God's image, and perhaps they don't fit our understanding of how the world is to work, but what is God saying to us, if anything, if w associate with them?

We are challenged by today's Gospel to ask ourselves: How centered and strong are we? Are we capable of being with those who might challenge us and our beliefs? Are we open to hear God's voice in those challenges?

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Frozen

Psalms 105:1-22 * 105:23-45; Zechariah 4:1-14; Ephesians 4:17-32; Matthew 9:1-8

Many things can "freeze us up," make us stay in place. Fear can do that to us. Self doubt can make roots grow down into the ground around us inhibiting our progress. Remembrance of things we have done and, perhaps, left undone can cause us to become immoveable.

I wonder if we can understand the miracle story in our Gospel reading today with that understanding of the paralytic individual Jesus heals. What if it wasn't a physical issue causing this person to be frozen but instead caused by the individual's own self doubt, fear and remembrance of transgressions left unresolved, unforgiven? What if the miracle we are presented with today is to remind us that no matter how great a sin we may be guilty of, there is forgiveness readily available to us. That forgiveness can serve to unfreeze us, allowing us to live into and be a part of this kingdom Jesus creates.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: When We Are Afraid

Psalms 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144; Isaiah 4:2-6; Ephesians 4:1-16; Matthew 8:28-34

In our Gospel from Matthew today, Jesus heals the two demoniacs who were living in a cemetery. These two are described as "fierce" making all afraid to go near the place. Jesus cures them sending the demons into a herd of swine, who run wildly over a cliff (or down a steep incline) and drown. The folks charged with minding and caring for those swine run into town, tell those present who come out and ask Jesus, actually beg Jesus to leave.

Here Jesus does a good thing (maybe not so much for the swine or their handlers), but certainly for the two individuals who were cast out from society because of their difference and illness. And perhaps the handlers and the townsfolk were pissed off at Jesus for hurting the livelihood of folks in their town. Or perhaps they were frightened at seeing those two healed individuals, who had been so fierce-some and now were "normal".

How do we react when we are afraid? When we are in the midst of something new and unexplained, how do we handle those times? It is much easier to be reactionary and fling away the new, clinging to the old and familiar. It is much harder to trust in the newness that is God's work in creation: to live into that newness with a sense of wonder and delight and joyful enthusiasm. Jesus did something new today: he gave new life to two individuals. How accepting would each of us be to meeting someone who no longer fits into the locked and defined box we have assigned to them? Could we accept their new life with us?

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Seeing

Psalms 89:1-18 * 89:19-52; Joshua 1:1-9; Ephesians 3:1-13; Matthew 8:5-17

I think we have a peeved Jesus in today's Gospel reading. He reacts with appreciation to the centurion who sees him for the authority that he is, while he strongly condemns those for whom he thought he had come. This latter group refused to see him and recognize him for who he was. From their point of view I suppose Jesus was this young upstart, from a nobody family, even though he was "part" of their community. Those folks couldn't see past their own prejudices.

So often in life we need to have an outsider's eyes to see something new and fresh. Many times, we have to force ourselves to try and see something familiar as new, to see something that we have grown accustomed to as needing some repair.

This is one of the messages from today's Gospel reading - a reminder that we need to look and see, and ask what are we overlooking? What are we judging too quickly? What would a new set of eyes see that ours just skims over? Are we missing God' presence in our lives by not seeing?

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Choosing

Psalms: 87, 90 * 136; Numbers 11:16-17,24-29; Ephesians 2:11-22; Matthew 7:28-8:4

It is a beautiful morning here in DC. The sun is rising, the sky is that soft, light blue, there is a cool and light wind from the west blowing over the Potomac and the birds are singing mightily. Walking Allie along the waterfront I was thinking about the leper and Jesus' encounter and wondering about choice.

God gifted us free will. Many times in life we may feel like we do not have a choice, but we do. We may do something and use the "I didn't have a choice" excuse to try and cover for a bad choice. Making mistakes is human. Owning up to them is being adult. Blaming God for the predicaments we are in is a choice, but not a good one.

Jesus did choose to heal the leper today, after the leper chose to approach Jesus and ask for his merciful healing. Perhaps it was a choice made out of desperation by this leper. Perhaps it was a brave and daring choice for someone deemed "unclean" and "cast-out" to approach an individual of such apparent authority as Jesus and ask for help.

For what can we choose to ask God? What deep healing do we require that only that unexplainable love of God can touch, heal and make new? The choice is ours to make.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Ascension Day

Psalms 8, 47 * 24, 96; Daniel 7:9-14; Hebrews 2:5-18; Matthew 28:16-20

So many people I know "draw the line" at Ascension Day.... well just before Ascension Day. They say they believe other parts of the Gospel story but not this particular piece of Jesus' story. This bodily ascension of our resurrected Jesus into heaven is just too outrageous for them to accept. When I run up against this kind of argument, I find myself being saddened, because by putting tight parameters around what we will or will not, or can and cannot believe, we are limiting God's presence in our lives. By doing this limiting, we are looking out a window, observing, but not participating.

Doubts are one thing, disbelief another. By falling into the latter we miss Jesus' final instructions to his disciples which we have in Matthew's last chapter today: Go and make disciples of all nations.....I am with you always......

Just as the whole of Jesus ascended into heaven, so all are invited into this kingdom he has opened for us. Perhaps that symbolism of Jesus' whole being ascending into heaven is a linchpin upon which we can understand the fullness of God's love for each one of us....a completeness to the invitation that all are welcome, all invited.

I think we are invited to take down those barriers we erect around ourselves this Ascension Day and allow the completeness that is God's love for us to envelope us.

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Phases

Psalms 78:1-39 * 78:40-72; Leviticus 26:1-20; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; Matthew 13:18-23

Today we have Jesus' explanation to his disciples of the parable of the sown seed. He gives four examples of how the word can be received by the people who hear it: 1) path - it is not understood and rejected out of hand; 2) rocky ground - misunderstands it by accepting it with joy and then when things get tough, rejects it; 3) thorns - the word is heard but the cares of the world get in the way of truly understanding it; and 4) good soil - the word is heard, understood and bears much fruit.

At first glance this seems like an un-hopeful parable. It has certainly been used through the centuries to cast aside whole swaths of people by categorizing them and giving up on them. But Jesus was not known for giving up. What if that initial reading of the parable is to narrow a reading of it? What if Jesus is talking about how people really are: that we develop our understanding over time, or at least most of us do. If we are honest with ourselves I think all of us believers have probably fallen into categories 1, 2 and 3 more often than 4. What if Jesus is saying there is a path, a journey, that there are phases of faith development and that upon reaching 4, we are ready to keep questioning but at the same time helping bring along those in earlier phases of spiritual growth and development. That is a much more hopeful understanding of Jesus' parable and one to be quite joyful about!

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Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.

Daily Office Reflection: Eyes & Ears

Psalms: 80 * 77 (79); Leviticus 25:35-55; Colossians 1:9-14; Matthew 13:1-16

We are gifted part one of the parable of the sown seeds (we have to tune in tomorrow to get the "explanation" of the parable to the disciples). But even without that explanation by Jesus of what this parable means, we have a goodly amount of ideas to chew on.

Jesus says he speaks in parables because the folks he has come to save have closed their eyes and ears to him, and therefore will "never understand" the miracle standing before them. I find this a very sad thing to contemplate, that missed opportunity to know God-taken-human-form in an up close and personal way. Jesus says their "hearts have grown dull". How very condemning that statement is!

But I wonder how many of our hearts have grown dull? How many of us have built up walls around ourselves, sure of what is right, confident in what we are doing? I think the problem with that kind of confidence is that we can become self-delusional and then not really use our eyes and ears and really see and hear. I think that is the dire warning and the good news of today's part one lesson. Stay tuned!

jfd+

Copyright 2010, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.