The One Who Has Promised Is Faithful

March 21, 2008

The scriptural lessons for Good Friday and long and rich and they tell the story pretty well.  The first reading from the 53rd chapter of Isaiah reminds us that the prophets, at their best, always knew that the Messiah would not just be an earthly king seeking to wield power and control, but would be a “suffering servant” willing to give himself up for his people.

The familiar Psalm 22 provides the words that Messiah used when he did indeed give himself up for us on the Cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me…” He was that desolate in his suffering. 

The Passion Gospel according to St. John tells the story of the last hours of Jesus’ life when he crossed the Kidron valley (not far from here), was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (not far from here), was betrayed and denied by his best friends (in this holy city), and died on a cross on Golgotha between two thieves.

But one line from Hebrews (10:23) says what it all means for us: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our faith without wavering, for the one who has promised is faithful!”

God sent the suffering servant to this holy land – after all the centuries of preparation – because “the one who has promised is faithful.” What does that mean for us?

It means that we can be confident of our Christian faith even when we find ourselves a tiny minority – because the one who has promised is faithful!

It means that, not matter how bad things may look, God will one day establish a kingdom of justice and of peace…because the one who has promised is faithful!

It means that when you and I experience suffering and pain in our own lives, our families, our churches, our communities, healing and wholeness are possible…because the one who has promised is faithful!

And it means that when we finally close our eyes in death and whisper with Jesus “It is finished” we know that new life has really just begun…because the one who has promised is faithful!

I can’t tell you what it has meant for my colleagues and me to have been in this land during this season, and be reminded here – in a special way – that the one who has promised is faithful.

We see that promise in your faces and in your eyes. We see it in your churches. Most of all, we see it in the faithfulness of your many ministries.

We will always pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Please pray for us as well…      

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Holy Week Processions…

March 21, 2008
Last evening, after washing feet, stripping the altar, and placing the sacrament upon the altar of repose here at St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem, we processed in silence 3 kilometers up the hill to the Garden of Gethsemane. There, we stood in silent meditation under a full moon overlooking the olive trees…we prayed…we sang Taize chants and other hymns. Truly, the holiest “holy Thursday” I have ever experienced.
This morning (Good Friday) at 6 a.m. the congregation processed out of the gates of St. George’s College, through the streets to the Old City of Jerusalem, and walked the Way of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa itself. Again, prayers, contemporary meditations about the suffering of God’s people in all the world, and hymns sung walking through the ancient narrow streets near where “it all happened.” Some people joined us in devotion…a few spat in the street as we passed by…most ignored us — just as they would have Jesus all those years ago.
Our final devotions were held just outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. To share in these devotions with these people in the “Land of the Holy One” is an enormous blessing to me…and to all who are here!   

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Violence and Strife in the City

March 20, 2008
The Psalmist once wrote that he had seen “violence and strife in the city.” Surely that lament is still valid today in this Land of the Holy One.
The recent tragedy of Jewish students slaughtered in their yeshiva was followed by targeted assassinations of Palestinians in Gaza which was followed, on Tuesday (while we were in the Old City), by the stabbing of a right wing rabbi near the Damascus gate.
Violence begets violence in a never-ending cycle of retaliation.
And yet here we are, about to begin our celebration of the Triduum and Easter in the land where it all happened.
Where God’s Son absorbed the violence, sin, and hatred of the ages into himself and took it down with him through his death on the Cross.
Why will God’s people not imitate his prayers?
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
“Be one as the Father and I are one.”
For…”It is accomplished!”   

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Weeping Over Jerusalem

March 18, 2008
We are, of course, reading Lamentations during Morning Prayer in Holy Week. The prophet is weeping over the state of Jerusalem, saying among other things “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?”
We traditionally apply that to those who “pass by” without recognizing Jesus’ suffering for us on the cross and that is, of course, a fruitful meditation. But we don’t really have to stretch it quite that far as we experience the suffering of Jerusalem today.
It just gets worse everytime I come.  Despair about the so-called peace process, more and more Jewish settlements built on Arab land, an increasing matrix of walls and tunnels and bridges which separate families and people from their work, fear of suicide bombers, and factionalism within both the Jewish and Palestinian communities. And, of course, alarmingly decreasing numbers of Christians in this Holy Land.
Yet, as we met with Bet Selem (a Jewish human rights organization documenting, cataloging and prosecuting instances of violence done to innocent people in the name of “homeland security”) and Sabeel (an ecumenical advocacy group committed to non-violent resistence to the Israeli occupation) it was amazing to see the deep faith, commitment, and even hope engendered by such efforts.
Perhaps even more amazing was visiting Bethlehem and getting re-acquainted with Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran pastor who has led his people to build an amazing development center out of “Christmas Lutheran Church” including a clinic, a two-year college focusing on the arts, and leadership development for Palestinian people. He is very worried about the future and viability of the “two state” solution, but continues to make a real difference in the lives of his people.
As we stooped to enter the Church of the Nativity and the Presiding Bishop led us in prayers at the site of the manger, I could not help but remember that the baby who was born in this vicinity grew up to “weep over Jerusalem.”
I think he is still weeping. 

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Pray…and Work…for the Peace of Jerusalem…2

March 16, 2008
What an amazing Palm Sunday in Jerusalem! We blessed the palms in the garden of St. George’s Cathedral and processed into a packed church to (what else?) “Glory, Laud and Honor” — sung equally in English and Arabic. The congregation was made up of people from here, London, Mississippi, Ghana, and many other places around the world!. I guess every Sunday  here is like Pentecost — (Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia…etc.)
The liturgy was almost equally divided between Arabic and English (even the Presiding Bishop’s fine sermon which was translated on the spot by the interim Dean of St. George’s). 
After lunch we joined a procession of perhaps 8-10,000 people winding their way down from the Mount of Olives through the Garden of Gethsemane toward the gates of the Old City. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants of all kinds. Hymns and chants and banners and crosses — general pandamonium. Maybe like the first Palm Sunday! 
I thought it was very cool for our Moslem sisters and brothers, standing on every balcony and every street corner, to see (as they obviously do on several occasions each year) Christians actually marching together and witnessing publicly to our faith in ways that they do so much more regularly.  They respect us most when we are clear about what we believe and why we believe it.
Later, we met with a new community organizing group made up of Israeli citizens — Jews and Arabs — who are working on the very practical issues of “life in Jerusalem.” They do community organizing and education in an attempt to prepare actual residents here for the reality of what must come in the future — a  two state solution and therefore a “two Jerusalem” future in which both peoples can live together in dignity and respect.
Truly, a day to “pray and work for the peace of Jerusalem!   

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Pray…and Work…for the Peace of Jerusalem

March 15, 2008
After a long overnight flight to Tel Aviv, the Presiding Bishop, her husband and I were welcomed at the airport by Bishop Suheil Dawani’s Special Assistant, several clergy from St. George’s Cathedral and driven to Jerusalem.
Stangely, it always seems like “coming home” to me even though this is only my fourth visit to the Holy Land. There is just something about being here…so close to where it all happened! All of it, really…
After lunch we were briefed on our new bishop’s initiatives for peace and reconciliation in this troubled land including an expansion of the wonderful Kids4Peace program which brings together equal numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim 10 and 11 year olds for an experience of summer camp in the USA or Canada. Amazing results which Bishop Dawani wants to duplicate here locally, and more and more in the schools.
Tomorrow, we begin the holiest of weeks in the holiest of places. Bishop Katharine will preach at Palm Sunday services here at our Cathedral of St. George and in the afternoon we will join the Latin Palm Sunday Procession from the Mount of Olives down to the Holy City intself. I’ve made this procession before…but never “on the day.” It should be wonderful!
Mainly, we are here on pilgrimage…but also to show solidarity with the brave but dwindling number of Palestinian Christians who try to exercise a moderating influence in the region and pray…and work…for the peace of Jerusalem.      

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Ups and Downs in the House of Bishops

March 12, 2008
So, we approach our last day at the House of Bishops’ meeting. It will undoubtedly be a difficult one in which, presumably, we will depose our brother John David Schofield for abandoning the communion of The Episcopal Church.
It’s been an up and down meeting. Wonderful worship with our “Bishops’ Choir” doing its usual splendid work (they are taping a CD for charity at this meeting). Good work on becoming “reconcilers” if not completely “reconciled.” We heard a report from Canon Philip Groves on the communion-wide “listening process” designed to hear stories of gay and lesbian Christians around the world. And we worked on “Millenium Development Goal 3” on Gender Equality and the protection of women and children.
The most painful session was learning that our brother Gene Robinson’s (and our) request for him to be included in the Lambeth Conference in some official way has been rejected by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Even his request simply to pray with his brother and sister bishops during the retreat and during Bible studies. Unbelievable! We will surely make a statement expressing our dismay and sadness at this decision. And we will find ways to stay connected with him during the Conference.  
Heard reports on theological education, a proposed new medical insurance program, reorganization at the Church Center, and work on the Title IV disciplinary canons for clergy.  Last night we spent some time discussing the new draft of a “Proposed Anglican Covenant.”
There are the usual concerns about the constitutional and legal implications of signing on to an international set of “canons” which might jeopardize our ability to say legitimately that we are “autonomous” (make our own laws/canons). And concerns about “power to the Primates” on doctrinal and other issues. Concerns about too much emphasis on “Church of England formularies” (i.e. 1662 Prayer Book, 39 Articles, their Ordinal) rather than referring more broadly to “Anglican formularies.”
Personally, I think we can deal with all those matters. Draft 2 is clearly moving in the right direction. We are to work with it more at Lambeth, the writing team will then prepare a 3rd Draft which will go to the Anglican Consultative Council. If they reject it, it will go back for more work. If they accept it, we will begin the process of having it voted on in the 38 Provinces.
I think there is time for us to improve the document still further. It is clear to me that some kind of Anglican Covenant will be put forth and ultimately signed. The only question is…will we be part of it?       

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Reconciliation and the Transformation of Human Hearts

March 9, 2008
Our Spring meeting of the House of Bishops here at Camp Allen near Houston began with presentations on plans for the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops to be held this summer in England. The emphasis will be on relationship-building and mission. There will be more time in small groups, little legislation, and opportunity for self-selected seminars on various aspects of mission and ministry. Certainly important topics like human sexuality and the developing Anglican Covenant will be addressed. We will begin with a three-day retreat led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
We are in the midst of a “reconciliation retreat” now led by Canon Brian Cox (an evangelical Anglican from the Diocese of Los Angeles) and The Hon. Joanne O’Donnell (a judge and partnered lesbian woman from the same diocese). Together they run the Reconciliation Institute in Santa Barbara and have worked together across the country.  
The purpose of their movement “is not to resolve any particular conflict such as ones over human sexuality or The Episcopal Church’s response to the Windsor Report, but to transform the culture of our church to one of faith-based reconciliation and to spread this vision to the world-wide Anglican Communion. By a combination of presentations and small group exercises to explain the core values of faith-based reconciliation, we hope to learn peacebuilding skills in a climate conducive to the divine work of transforming human hearts.” 
Seems like appropriate work for bishops during Lent! 

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This World…and the Next…

March 3, 2008
“Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” (John 4:49) Such a poignant, human cry from deep in the heart of the royal official in today’s Gospel as – in desperation – he asks the local healer, Jesus, for help. It’s a strange thing to me how Christianity is so often misunderstood as an “other worldly” religion, primarily concerned with heaven and hell, and the concept of everlasting life!
 

Now, it’s certainly true that, from time to time, people do ask Jesus about such things in the Gospels. I think of the rich young ruler who asks what he has to do to inherit eternal life. Yet, even here, “eternal life” can mean “life lived from an eternal perspective,” “life in relationship with the Eternal One – the God of heaven and earth.”

 

And most of the time, people just ask Jesus for very practical, bread-and-butter assistance. Healing from disease, deliverance from evil, forgiveness, explanation of his teaching or about the Law, why he and his disciples live like they do, when the Kingdom of God is going to come in its fullness. Even his preaching about the Kingdom of God is primarily about this world – about the Reign and Sovereignty of God in this life…not just the life to come!

 

In that, Jesus is very consistent with the whole message of the Law and the Prophets he came to fulfill.  After all, what did Isaiah promise in our first Reading today? “New heavens” yes, but also “a new earth!” What does God promise his people?

“Jerusalem a joy, without weeping or the cry of distress…” in other words, Peace in the Middle East!

“No more…infant(s) that live but a few days…” in other words, An end to infant mortality!

“No old people who do not live out a lifetime…” in other words, Adequate health care and the eradication of disease!

“They shall build houses and inhabit them…” No more homelessness!

“They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit…”Agricultural reform, clean air and water!

“They shall not build and another inhabit…” No colonial expansion and invading other people’s land!

“They shall not labor in vain…” A living wage, and fair return for one’s work!

And finally, “the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox…” Even the natural order will find a new harmony! 

 

Those who think our emphasis on the Millennium Development Goals is too “secular” should spend some time with the 65th Chapter of Isaiah…and with the life and teaching of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Of course, the Christian hope also includes our vision of heaven (which the Catechism describes as “eternal life in our enjoyment of God” BCP 862), but it primarily defines that even that hope as “living with confidence in the newness and fullness of life, and awaiting the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God’s purposes for the world.”

 

Surely those purposes include peace, and the end of killing…justice, and the end of suffering…and the healing of a little boy!   

      

Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living.

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Perspective from Rome

February 24, 2008

An extremely productive trip to Rome last week. The Presiding Bishop’s Canon and I spent some time with the clergy of the Convocation of North American Churches in Europe at a conference/retreat center called the “Palazzola” across the lake from the Pope’s summer residence and overlooking the Vatican in the distance.

They are a great group of clergy, spread out from Paris to Geneva to Munich to Rome and beyond. And I was once again convinced that, in spite of the fact that we have two Anglican jurisdictions in Europe (the Church of England and us) there is a real need for the American-based Episcopal Church to have a witness there. We need to cooperate with our Church of England colleagues (and with the Old Catholics, Lutherans and ecumenical partners there) but our perspective is an important one, I think.

Meetings at the Vatican were warm (if clear and direct) and we found once again that the Roman Catholic Church deeply cares about the Anglican Communion and wants us to find a way through our current difficulties. We heard this from Cardinal Kasper from Bishop Farrell from Fr. Don Boland and others.

The presenting issue may be human sexuality, but what they are most concerned about is ecclesiology — what does it mean to be “church” and what kind of global ecumenical partner do they really have? That’s the question we need to be wrestling with.

They know that the Lambeth Conference cannot “fix” all our problems, but they await it with great anticipation for some sense of where we are headed. For my part, I hope as many bishops as possible will be present, that we can avoid divisive legislation, but that we can spend extensive time in prayer and discussion and sustained work on the Anglican Covenant.

I believe that is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s desire as well. Now, if we can just keep the crazies (on all sides) from sabotaging it…!   

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