“Connectedness”

Visitation of Mary Lk. 1:39-47 We need visit each other often-spend personal time with each other–to offer a safe place with each other. In this age of the internet and facebook we have thrown away the one on one visitation, and have lost our interconnectedness. I see that in the kids I meet each day, and I feel that personally in my own life–we are so busy, we miss our on the incarnation in our midst.

“A New Revival”

“When the day of Pentecost had come. .and suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. . .” Acts. 2:1-2. 

 

We talk about differentg cultures in our  country. We all are involved in various cultures and some dominate our lives.  The culture of war seems to dominate our country, the culture of violence dominates our streets. I believe that there is another culture that if we let  it will domninte our lives will transform them and the world–the culture of Pentecost. The early Christians were brought together in unity and love with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  For the calling of Penetecost is that of love–for it is by God’s grace that we are saved. When we claim that culture, when we experience and own it we stand up to the lie that God will fail, we stand up to the lie that God is a divider of people, but proclaim and live out that God is a God who loves diversity, who reveles in diversity–in all of the colors by which we were created, in our sexual diversity–gay/straight, bisexual, transgender, and in all of the religious expressions of belief in God–Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Brahmin and so many more. Pentecost calls us to the commitment of the transformation of the world in his grace. There can only be unity within diversity, and God in Jesus is asking us to bring this diversity and it will onoly make us richer.

 

And it starts with each one of us in our lives–to make a decision in our own little space in the universe  to change everything that keeps us from taking the next step.  The next step in bringing diversity, the next step in bringing unity.  Recenlty an individual asked me why I lived like I do–simply, sparingly–and my response is that it is my way of bringing unity in diveristy, in changing the culture around us. By living simply I signal to the world that I do not buy into the ethics of money and power, and that we all should live equally so that all may have enough; by lving simplyI signal that I give of my access to those who need it, and that if we all did that there would be no hunger, no homelessness, no lack of health care.  We are called to begin a revival of the Spirit in our lives, and in so doing God will transform the world. Each of us are called to a new revival of the Spirit in our lives.

“Giving Yourself Away”

www.temenos.org  Jn. 14:15-18: Jesus speaks about being alive after his death–he is visible in our love for others. We hang on to life at all costs, rather then giving it away, giving ourselves, our money, our time, and in not giving ourselves away we die ever so slowly.  On my wall are pictures of young men who have died–and as long as there are young people suffering, I will continue to give myself away–to the very last drop of my breath

“Giving One’s Life”

www.temenos.org Jn. 15:18-21 People often wonder why I am criticized, even condemned by some because I “feed people”, and “take care of them”. I have learned that goodness offends people, evil can seem for awhile to be stronger then love, but love will conquer all.  Yesterdays Gospel telling us to love one another and to lay down our lives for our friends speak to me as well. For that is what I am doing, giving my life for others, again people do not understand, simply do not understand. But I am  happy, and I know that God is present

“Peace”

www.temenos.org Jn. 14:21-26, Acts 14:19-28  Many people pray for God to remove all their problems, but the peace of Christ is a peace that exists at all times, in illness, out of illness, in hardship, in joy, it is the peace of knowing what we do is our calling.  That is the way I do my work, I persevere knowing that life is not easy, not to expect much from people, but to trust in God’s peace.  Last night I spent time with 17 year old “”Wolf” who travels, and he was simply needing a friend on the lonely road–that is the joy of the work we do.

Home

www.temenos.org N. 14:21-26 The image of “home” is strong in the gospel–he makes a home within us.  “John” 17 commented to me last night that when he is around me he feels at “home” because I accept him for who he is.  Home is not a place–but a way of beng, of accepting people into your life, and treating them as family. That is the call of the Gospel–to treat all like family, to make all feel at home.

“Love God and Neighbor”

www.temenos.org Jn. 14:1-7  For me Jesus is the centre of my faith–, it cannot be unhinged It is a deeply personal relationship.  We are known by name by Jesus, and that relationship  calls me to respect people for their religious beliefe race, sexual orientation, gender, culture–without judgment.  For the Jesus I know brings no division or judgment to human relationship accept in tthe way we treat God and our neighbor. Spent the day protesting the sit lie/ law and will do outreach tonight.

“Prayer is Touching People in the Heart”

www.temenos.org Jn. 14:1-4: Prayer is spending time in God’s home–God’s home is the heart of each person.  Rather then push ourselves away from people, we need to spend time with people.  Last night I listened to “Henry” as he struggled with his drug use and homelessness, “Deeth” as she was cold and not feeling well, and homeless. That for me is prayer–spending time with people, giving them my time, my heart.

Being Servants

www.temenos.org Jn. 13:16-20  In the washing of the disicples feet Jesus is teaching us that real leadership comes in service, in idenification with the one’s we serve, and in equality.  If we all would choose to walk this path of Jesus there would be so much less suffering in the world from hunger, war, inequality.  That is the reason i live simply, and give away most that I have. That is weird to a lot of people, but that is what I feel our call is.  Went to Pride meeting last night, spent afternoon with a priest I am working with.

“Jesus”

www.temenos.org Jn. 12:44-50 This is a summary of the message of Jesus–he argues with no one–u can either accept him,reject him==he speaks of faith in God and that he is the light of the world.  He does not argue.  I get tired of arguing with people about the way I live, and my beliefs, and I finally tell them to simply accept me or reject me. I had a child hood friend who died two days ago–for me it is accepting Jesus as the Truth and the Life, and the Resurrection