Thoughts

 

January 4, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

       Some of the Holy Eucharist readings appointed for the weekdays of Christmas are from the Gospel according to John, as well as from the letters of John.  I had to preach a brief homily on one of those weekdays so I was thinking about what John’s community might have been like.  One thing we know from reading between the lines in the Gospel is that the community was being persecuted, possibly even being put to death by the Jews surrounding them.  We also believe, again reading between the lines, that there was a part of the larger community that believed John the Baptist was the Messiah.  So it seems likely John’s community was being persecuted from two sides.  It also seems, simply from reading the three letters by John, that their response was to love one another very deeply within their own community.  It is not apparent what they did beyond their own community.  Perhaps they were under so much pressure from two sides they could only protect themselves by loving each other.  We suffer no persecution for being Christians in Hot Springs.  But what a wonderful example of community John presents and models for us.  What if we loved one another like that community did?  Wow.  Absent the need to protect ourselves we could take that love we have for each other and let it emanate out from us to the larger community.   And don’t you think others would want to be a part of a community like ours if we did indeed live like that?

       Well Pat Robertson is at it again.  This time the Lord has spoken to him and told him that millions of people are going to die in 2007 from some major catastrophe.  He said the Lord was not specific about this thing being nuclear, but Pat thinks it will be.  The man is pathetic.  It seems that from time to time he has to make rash statements just to grab headlines and keep his face before the cameras.  I wish he would go away.

       Speaking off keeping one’s face before the cameras, how about the Rev Al Sharpton?  Please tell me why he had to stand at the head of James Brown’s casket as he lay in state at the Apollo Theater.  Let me answer that for myself; to be on TV!   

       Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson have lost much of their moral appeal for me because they show up every where, all of the time.  They seem to want to make every issue their issue.  They do love the cameras don’t they?

       Ok, the Democrats are in power now.  Are we going to get ourselves out of Iraq?  Their present dilemma is to be true to their anti-war position yet not be seen as the party that does not support the troops with the money to prosecute the war as safely as possible.  Tough place to be, no?  I’ll bet we end up sending 30-40,000 more troops into Iraq in the very near future.  What a quagmire.  It does remind me more and more of Vietnam.

       The clergy and lay leadership of the Diocese of Arkansas are meeting with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori on Friday January 5 prior to the consecration of Larry Benfield the next day.  I have met her already, in Chicago back in November.  She is, as one might expect, very dynamic.  I’ll report next time how the conversation in Little Rock went.

       At the above mentioned conversation I’m sure the happenings in the Diocese of Virginia will come up.  Things are beginning to change in the Episcopal Church.  How it will affect those of us who intend to stay remains to be seen.

       Here at St. Luke’s we intend to love the Lord and spread the Good News to our community no matter what congregations leave the Episcopal Church.  While keeping abreast of the situation and doing what I can to be a reconciling presence in the larger church, I intend to continue doing ministry in Arkansas as I believe God has called me to do.

       I was recently in touch with Dr. Henry Carse in Jerusalem.  Henry has had to delay his trip from the Holy Land to Hot Springs until March.  He will be with us March 24 & 25.  He will preach and teach with us.  He is a good man.  I look forward to his being with us.