Lord over All

"I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?" (Psalm 121:1)
I have to thank God for my mom.  She helps me through everything.  She was my strongest supporter for my coming out, and she remains my strongest supporter.  As such, she also offers to help me out in every way possible.  However, many times, I refuse her help.  I feel like by turning away from my resources I will become a better person.  However, she insists.  In the same way, Jesus is always willing to help us.  When approached by a messenger from a centurion, a very powerful member of Jewish society at the time, Jesus did not hesitate.  Jesus just went to help.  When He arrived at the house, the centurion declared Jesus' sovereignty.  In the end, Jesus healed the centurion's ailing slave.  Sometimes we all put on a mask of strength before God, despite the fact that there will never be any help from anywhere or anyone else.  We'd prefer to stumble and fall, yet Jesus is always there, ready to pick us back up, for He is the sovereign Lord over all.

Construction

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)
Love your enemies.  Seek first the Kingdom of God.  Give to the poor.  Throw out all you have, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.  The list can go on!
Jesus is the only one with the 20/20 vision.  He is the only one with the sober eyes versus our own, drunk with our minutia.  He is the fountain of all that is good.  He is love.
The only way we can keep Jesus is by doing what He tells us.  Imagine the parable of the two men: one who built his house on a stone foundation; one, on a sand foundation.  Not only do we need the foundation.  We have to build up the house! Even with the Chinese and their skyscrapers built in six months, building takes time.  How about we build our house on the stone foundation? How about we give others the open permission to build on that same foundation with us? How about we take each stone and brick and dry wall sheet and sheet metal and lumber and mortar to build up the Kingdom of God?

Killing Prophets

Today's gospel was Jesus's parable of the vineyard owner and the workers.  All of the people the owner sent were rejected in various ways by the workers.  As my bishop preached this morning: is Jesus talking about us?  While we have something as authoritative as the Bible, God's word, why do we treat others with hate and contempt? While we have theologians, why do we not listen to their teachings? While we have God right at our side, why do we act as if God is distant? Why don't we accept the gifts that God has given to us?

The Judge

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you will get back." (Luke 6:37-38)
God is the ultimate judge in our lives.  We can go around, pointing fingers and cursing everyone around us, but God will determine who is in the right and who is in the wrong.  After presenting a method for living a meek and humble life, Jesus reminds us that when we point a finger, three point back.  This also reminds me of another verse where Jesus reminds His followers that a house divided will fall (Mark 3:25).  Thus, let's stop pointing our fingers of blame to one another.  Let's not divide ourselves among our looks and our feelings.  Instead, let us love one another.  Let us love our LGBT family.  Let us stand as a mighty house built on God, our sturdy stone foundation!

God Is Unfailing

"But you are always the same, and your years will never end."
(Psalm 102:27)
Today's readings concern the times of trials.  Jesus reassures us of God's mercy and grace with the beatitudes.  Paul stands up against the authorities and speaks out to the Jews with a sermon that is nothing more than a summary of his life: a living testimony.  People escorted Paul around like a wild cow: always wandering but never belonging.  However, Paul preached without wavering.  I believe that that is how we should be as well.  We must live our lives in Christ at all times, regardless of what is going on around us.  Jesus always teaches us to give our lives to God, for God will use us how we need to be used.  Our will becomes God's.  So in the face of a test, remember that God is there with us (1 Corinthians 10:13).  When your LGBT family asks why God, simply remind them that you are of the same family, and live your life as a testimony to the goodness of God!

The Lord's Day

Today's gospel talks about Jesus and about the Sabbath.  In the end, we learn that God is Lord of the Sabbath, and that our human ways impede on God's will.  The Pharisees had the Jewish thing down to a science: eat this, not that; talk to this person, not that; say this prayer, not that.  Of course their ways were highly questionable, as Jesus pointed out.  Now look at us today.  Look at our community! A gay man must weigh this much.  A lesbian must dress with these clothes.  How about we let God into our lives so that we can have everything sorted out? How about we let the Lord rule over us on today, the days after we have witnessed Jesus Christ, the days we have witnessed the Holy Spirit?

Radical Faith

What is radical faith?
It is leaving your pages scattered, coins strewn, time card blank, and following your savior (Luke 5:28).  It is saying a prayer before your meal while wearing a rainbow bracelet and holding the hands of your partner.  It is inviting your fellow LGBT friends to church, worship nights, bible studies, fellowships.  It is reading the Bible and contemplating God from your bedroom.  It is asking God for guidance when no other "pastor," "priest," "bishop," "minister," or "pope," would or will.
Radical faith is just a relationship with God.