Today’s readings confront us with the reality that the call to discipleship means service and sacrifice. In Isaiah, the “suffering servant” of Israel, though innocent, takes on the sin, sorrow, pain and oppression of God’s people. According to Hebrews, Jesus, the full embodiment of the “suffering servant,” identifies with humanity and offers himself as final high priest and ultimate sacrifice.

In the gospel, Jesus reverses our understanding of greatness: those who would lead must serve. One reason we are so disgusted by John and James may be that we recognize a shred of their ambition lurking within ourselves. We have probably all had the experience of launching a project with confident enthusiasm (and utter naivete). Whether it’s a food drive for the hungry, a new family budget or a vow to get shipshape organized, we plunge ahead with dreams of glory.

Like James and John, we gloss over any possible difficulties. Reality hits with a clunk. And then we appreciate the enormous difference between the apostles pre- and post-resurrection. When they rely on themselves, they are a sorry lot: self-seeking, argumentative, downright stupid. Yet Jesus can see beyond all that and can assure them of fellowship with himself. How? Perhaps he sees them as they would become, filled with the Spirit after Pentecost: transformed into courageous witnesses whose dreams of greatness had been replaced by the humble goal of serving the lord they love and others

The Gospel: Speaking to the Soul: The Next Level

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

From the Episcopal Cafe

Mark 10:35-45

"We are two-thirds of the way through Mark’s gospel, and James and John have gotten the message…well, they’ve gotten part of the message, anyway. They have seen the miracles. They have travelled with Jesus and heard him preach the new covenant. And that’s where they get lost. They have seen Jesus in the glory of the Transfiguration. They have come to believe he truly is the Messiah. And they think they deserve a share of his glory. They want the best seats in the house of the Lord… and they’re not shy about asking for them.

"Jesus listens. He sees how far they have come and how far they have yet to go. He knows it’s time to take them to the next level. And it’s not the level they were planning on. They are angling for positions of prestige and power. Jesus is committed to a life of selfless love and sacrificial service.

"Patiently, he explains to them: You don’t understand what you are asking for. Jesus knows the suffering that awaits him. He asks if James and John are ready to share his fate… if they are prepared to drink of the cup that I drink of. In posing the question this way, Jesus is being very forthright with them. This was a common metaphor of the day, used to warn of great peril. But in their enthusiasm and ambition, James and John are blind to the danger. Jesus, knowing the martyrdom waiting for them all, cautions that they will share his fate. And ever in obedience to the will of the Father, he tells them that the honors they seek are not his to give.

"Overhearing this talk of honors and rewards, the other apostles want to get in on the action. They start to grumble that James and John are getting too big for their britches. Then Jesus shuts down the whole brouhaha, telling them that they’ve got it all wrong. The disciples accept Jesus as the Messiah, but they still don’t have a clue about what that really means. Jesus wants to take them up to the next level, to have them fully understand what it means to follow him. He tells them that to be a Christian means to serve, not to lord it over people. It did then and it does now.

Psalm 91 – Blessing and Protection

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

From “VCS the Visual Commentary on Scripture – The One Who Dwells

“Psalm 91 is among the most frequently cited passages of Scripture in the Jewish and Christian traditions. It features frequently in liturgies, sacred music, and devotional writings. Visual artists throughout history have responded to its vivid metaphorical language. But the psalm also appears in other, often surprising places: etched into pendants, printed on camouflage bandanas to wear into military combat, and, during the Covid-19 pandemic, emblazoned on masks. Satan himself quotes the psalm when he tempts Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4:5; Luke 4:9–11). These various uses suggest the enduring attraction of the psalm’s expansive promises of protection.

The Epistle: Hebrews 5:1-10 in today’s world – Magdalene

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

by Rev. Mihee Kim-Kort for OnScripture

"Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people." – Hebrews 5:1-3

"Hebrews 5:1-10 invites us to consider an alternative vision of leadership in Christ, the High Priest. Instead of power, the writer describes Jesus’ service in terms of compassion and mercy, even citing weakness as the source of his efficacy as high priest. Even though he was a Son, "he learned obedience through what he suffered."

The video from OnScripture describes the story of Magdalene . Magdalene is a residential program in Nashville that helps women who have survived lives of violence and prostitution. Through a related organization Thistle Farms they provide a 2 year residential program and advocacy services for up to 700 women year. The women are employed in diverse enterprises- cafe, paper and sewing studio, and global marketplace. An excerpt of the article with a video following:

"The emotional, physical, and spiritual violence that we inflict on one other is a sign that something is amiss in our world. The statistics from the World Health Organization on sex work and disease , paint the terrible truth that sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse are on the rise across the globe. The sex and drug industry “will tear up women and use them ‘til they throw them out” as Rev. Rebecca Stevens, Executive Director of Magdalene Ministries. Magdalene is a recovery program in Nashville, Tennessee for women who have histories of substance abuse and prostitution. Stevens has helped countless women get off the streets and put their lives back together. Yet there are so many more in need. It is clear that something is persistently bent on the annihilation of our bodies and souls. What can we say or do?"

Baking as Prayer

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

By Kendall Vanderslice
Excerpted from Build Faith

“After years of early mornings, late nights, and low pay in the restaurant industry, I needed work that was physically, spiritually, and financially sustainable. I accepted a job helping a nearby church run a small bread bakery, selling loaves at the local farmer’s market as a way to get to know the community. Meanwhile, I began teaching workshops on bread baking as a form of prayer, helping others to experience God’s nearness through the feel of dough too.

“Over the next few years, I honed this method by teaching in churches and colleges across the country.

“I believe that all of our time in the kitchen can be a form of embodied prayer, a time to meet with God through the movements of our hands. Too often we imagine prayer to be the words that we say to God, whether those written so carefully in our prayer books or expressed extemporaneously in the quiet of our hearts. But God longs for us to simply rest in God’s presence, whether or not we have words to encompass our need. In a cultural moment of loneliness, isolation, and increasing polarization, this tactile method of being present with God is the balm we need. As is the practice of sharing the fruits of our labor with friends and family, strangers and neighbors—a way of extending the love of God to everyone in our lives.

“The idea of baking as prayer can feel a bit strange at first. The simple liturgy below is my favorite way to help newcomers dip their toes into the practice.

A Liturgy for Baking

1. Mise en Place (A Time of Preparation)

Prepare your workspace and yourself for the dish you are about to make. Read through your recipe from beginning to end so that you know what to expect and where you will end up. Gather up all the ingredients you will need.

As you do, pray these words through the rhythms of your breath:
Inhale: My soul finds rest
Exhale: in God alone.

2. Mix Follow the instructions for the recipe you are using to mix up your batter or your dough. As you do, continue your meditative breathing. Pay attention to the feel and smell of each ingredient. Watch with wonder as the ingredients transform in your hands.

3. Rest When the time comes to set your bake aside—whether to let the yeast rise or the cookie dough relax or the fruits macerate—then allow yourself to rest as well. Begin this time of respite with this prayer: God, help me to trust that you are at work while my hands and my heart are at rest.

4. Bake When your dish is ready for baking, slide it into the oven. If your oven allows you to see inside, watch the dough rise, burp, and relax into place. Pay attention to the smells that fill your kitchen. Find joy in the creativity of God who made these ingredients to work together in this way and gave humans the idea to combine them.

5. Eat As you prepare to eat the fruits of your labor, close your eyes and breathe in deeply. Enjoy each and every crumb, allowing your delight to be a prayer of its own, a sign of your gratitude to God and God’s good gift to you.

Fall, 2013

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

October

BY ROBERT FROST

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

(full size gallery)

Luke, Oct. 18

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

Luke was a Greek and a Gentile. He is the only Gentile to author any of the Books of the New Testament. Hence, he translates Hebrew words into Greek or gives their Greek equivalent.

Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the presumed author of the Book of Acts. He was also witness to the growth of the first century church and carried the Good News to the Gentiles. He wrote in the 80’s and wrote approximately 24% of the New Testament more than any other writer including Paul.

He was a Syrian from Antioch and more reflective of Middle Eastern Culture than the Jewish writers in the rest of the Gospels. He was a passionate story teller, emotional, similar to today’s Arab culture.

He records virtually nothing about himself, but his fellow apostles do reveal some information about him. We may also discern some things about him based on the manner in which he presents information, his background and the times.

Legend has it that Luke was an artist and painted as well as wrote. He was said to have interviewed eyewitnesses to the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In this sense, he was a journalist. Some traditions say that Luke not only met and interviewed Jesus’ mother Mary, but he also painted her portrait. This portrait is known as “The Black Madonna,” and it is Poland’s most treasured sacred relic.

Paul records in Colossians 4:14 that Luke is a physician – “Luke, the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). . This would make him an educated man. Luke’s inspiration and information for his Gospel and Acts came from his close association with Paul and his companions as he explains in his introduction to the Gospel.

Luke uses the most sophisticated Greek found in the New Testament. He was clearly the most learned among the New Testament writers. On several occasions he uses precise and unusual medical terms, offering evidence of his training in medicine.

St. James of Jerusalem, Oct. 23

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

We celebrate James day on Oct. 23. He is known as St. James of Jerusalem (or “James the Just”). James was so respected by all, including even unbelieving Jews, that he was nicknamed “the Just”.

He is referred to by Paul as “the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19) and the equal of the other disciples. Matthew provides some clues in Matthew 13:55 on his identity. “Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?” with the story of Jesus less than enthusiastic reaction in Nazareth.

40 Old Testament Stories that every Christian Should know – #2 The Fall

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

Pastor Vicki Zust was the rector of St. Paul’s, Clarence, NY. Having completed a 2 year cycle of reading the entire Bible she decided to try something different. As she writes, “So I went through the Old Testament and wrote down the stories that a lot of our theology and history depends on. It turns out there are 40 of them.”

Here is #2 The Fall. Read it here.

"Most of us know about the snake and the apple and the fig leaf. Some of us know about the angel with the burning sword and God walking in the cool of the day. Most of us don’t remember that the clothes that God gave Adam and Eve were leather – which raises all kinds of questions.

"In brief, God has placed Adam and Eve in the garden. They have been given all the trees except one. The tree that they are not supposed to touch is called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now, you have to think that staying away from something called "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" would be a good idea without the commandment from God, but there we are.

"There are a few things about this story that make me either smile or think.

"The first is that the incarnation of evil is a snake. I can think of no better animal to be the personification of evil then a snake.

"I love that God takes a walk in the garden in the cool of the day, it feels like God was just out for his evening constitutional.

"But my favorite part of the whole thing is the conversation between Adam, Eve and God. God wants to know what happens and Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the snake. It’s like listening to five year olds say "not me".

"The reason that this story is one of the ones we should know, is that for most of Christian history this is the story that was told about how sin entered the world. It was cited as the reason that women have pain in childbirth (and thus why pain killers shouldn’t be used). It was cited as the cause for many other things that today we find to be ridiculous or wrong.

"So the question for us about this story is: What does it teach us about evil, the nature of evil and our part in evil?

The Episcopal Lingo, Part 9, Death, 1 of 2

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

Parish Church

We have covered rites of passage marked by colonial churches—birth, initiation and marriage. The last one is death and there is more written on it so we will cover half of it this week.

Colonial Virginians encountered death regularly. For people who survived to age 20, life expectancy in Virginia and Maryland was between 23 and 29 additional years, so average age at death was mid-to late 40s which is half our own. Women died at a more frequent rate than men (due to malaria) between the ages of 15-40, which are consequently the typical childbearing years. People died at home and were often buried there in contrast with today.

Epidemic diseases often ran rampant among the settlers. Yellow fever, small pox, measles and even the bubonic plague were diseases feared by the settlers. Infant mortality was high among the colonists and there were few trained doctors for those needing medical attention. All too often, a young wife would die when complications occurred during childbirth.

Due to this trend, the laws allowed people to get an earlier start in creating wills. Any male aged 14 or more, or unmarried females aged 12 or more, could make a will to bequeath personal property. However, only persons over 21 could devise land in a will. Married women could not make wills.

Wills tell us about attitudes toward death in this period. Death was constantly described in theological language. They characteristically opened with a statement like that penned by William Byrd I: "First I bequeath my soul to God that gave it hopeing thro the merits & mediation of my ever blessed saviour & redeemer Jesus Christ to obtain pardon and remission of all my sins and to inherit life everlasting. I bequeath my body to the ground to be decently buryed."

The Anglicans in Va. consciously distinguished her or his "spiritual goods or inward estate" from "the material goods or outward estate," thus enabling "the dutiful to cross the boundary between the everyday material world and the transcendental spiritual world of the Christian afterlife." Death was the great demarcation between the material and spiritual worlds, returning the soul to God. Sermons were preached that preparation for death was a lifelong process.

In statements of death, there was the key notion of divine providence and confident hope about the resurrection which provided solace. The death of her husband Mary Bland Lee told her brother, "is so great an affliction to me, that I han’t words to express it." Nevertheless, she did find words: "I know it is my duty as a christian, to bear patiently whatever happens to me, by the alotment of divine providence, and I humbly beseech Almighty God, to grant me his grace, that I may be enabled to submit patiently, to whatever trialls it may please him to lay on me…but that I may bear them as a good christian, with courage and resolution, with calmness and resignation, and that I may resign this life with joy and comfort, when it pleaseth God to remove me, and may have a well-grounded hope in his mercy through the merits and interseshun of our dear Saviour and merciful Redeemer”

Statements dealing with spouses were also based on a relationship with God. In her account of Mr. Fletcher’s death Mary Fletcher spends almost the entire time speaking about their relationship with each other in respect to God. She shows how great of an impact the church has on life in general (Fletcher). She demonstrated this by writing the following: “For some time before this last illness, his precious Soul (always alive to God) was particularly penetrated with the nearness of eternity; there was scarce an hour in which he was not calling upon me to drop every thought and every care, that we might attend nothing but drinking deeper into God”