For those with selective memories!

Paul's List..........yours?

Romans 12.9-21

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NRSV)

Tell me a story and you'll have my complete and undivided attention. Give me a list of do's and don't's and well you just lost me. In the passage above, we have a list composed by St. Paul for those who followed his understanding of the Gospel of Jesus in the city of Rome. While as I've stated that I have an aversion to anyone telling me what I should and shouldn't do, I must confess I find Paul's list absolutely beautiful. I'm no theologian, but it seems to me his summary of the way a follower of Jesus should live is spot on.

One might legitimately ask whether Paul lived up to his own list of mandates, and I think the answer is a resounding NO! Paul could be stubborn, condescending, insulting, judgemental, boastful, dismissive and unforgiving to list a few of his less than admirable traits. Just read his letters and "The Act's of the Apostles" in the New Testament and you'll see what I mean. In other words, Paul, like the rest of us, was very human.

This said, his list provides an ideal vision of life as we should live it, and of how we should treat one another. Will we get a perfect score in following Paul's advice.....naw, but oh the beauty of a life-lived trying!

Here's a sobering thought......

Matthew 16. 13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.


While full of imagery, and meaning about such things as Jesus as the Messiah, faith and insight (Peter's), spiritual authority and the stature of the church, the one aspect of this passage that struck me harder than any other is the "question posed". 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ My next thought after reading this was 'Who do people say that I am?' A sobering thought indeed! While Peter's answer to Jesus' question was quite singular and emphatic, I realized that if I ask the same question the answer would depend on the person asked.

I began to compose a list such as, man, gay man, brother, social worker and so on. I have to confess that I wasn't always happy with the answers I imagined some would come up with if asked who I am(John is). Would I be seen as a person of faith? Would the answers given reflect the impact of my faith on how I live and how I treat others. I confess the jury in my head is still "out" considering it's verdict. Will I be pleased or surprised by it's finding? Sobering thought indeed! Who do people say you are?

O the faith of women!

Matthew 15.21-28

The Canaanite Woman’s Faith

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.


In my life of spiritual and religious development, women have most often been my teachers and guides. Starting with my Italian grandmother who tolled her beads over and over and whose life was light and grace to all she met. I can't count the number of wise and righteous nuns who gifted me with their wisdom. Lately, priests of the Episcopal Church such as Rev. Elizabeth Keaton, and Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori have continued as my instructors in faith and the quest for justice for all peoples. I can but echo the words and sentiment of Psalm 68:11 "The Lord giveth the word: the women that publish the tidings are a great host." (English Revised Version)

In today's gospel, the Canaanite woman astounds with the surety and boldness of her faith. Lets face it, Jesus calls her a dog (a common term for Gentiles in Jesus' day), and she persists in her request for Jesus to heal her daughter. After being dealt this insult, she comes back with such an eloquent reply, that Jesus is surprised and pays her a great compliment "Woman, great is your faith!" Best of all, her persistence is rewarded and her daughter is healed.

While much can and has been said about the rewards of persistence in faith and prayer this story exemplifies, I simply want to bask in this woman's amazing faith and courage. Her example will no doubt speak more eloquently than any preacher who sermonizes this text today. Her example leaves me without words except to say "Let us praise amazing women!"

I see myself......

......so often in stories of Peter. Jesus says "Come", Peter gets out of the boat, his faith falters and he begins to sink and calls out for help. Immediately, Jesus is there, taking him by the hand they get into the boat. Impetuous and often bumbling Peter gives me reason to hope I can "get it together".


Matthew 14.22-33


Jesus Walks on the Water

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,* for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind,* he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’


"I believe Lord, help my unbelief!"
Mark 9:24

“I know, Lord, that there is no suffering, no pain, no agony which You do not share with me; I worship Your love, I bow down before Your crucifixion, I accept the horror of Your sharing all my suffering, and, because I believe in Your compassion so profoundly, so entirely, grant me to share in Your wholeness”. Amen.
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

Hmmmmm I know a few preachers.....

....who ought to hear their names called loud and clear!(see bellow) Of course, they see themselves as most righteous. Perhaps instead of judging others they should join the rest of us in saying the prayer of the publican “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”


Matthew 9:9-13

The Calling of Matthew

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner* in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting* with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’