Vineyard Work - 11/30

Daily Lectionary for Wednesday in the 1st Week of Advent:
(click the link to read the passage)
AM  Psalm 119:1-24     PM  Psalm 12, 13, 14
Amos 3:12--4:5
2 Peter 3:1-10
Matthew 21:23-32

23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"  24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.  25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'  26 But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet."  27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.  28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'  29 He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went.  30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go.  31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.  32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

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"By what authority are you doing these things?"   This question was asked of Jesus after he "occupied" the temple, throwing out the moneychangers.  But I don't believe it was a question just concerning his actions in the temple.  If you read through the verses before this, it becomes clear that it was also about his healings and teachings.  It was about him allowing the children (the most powerless) to have a voice within the temple, as they cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David." 

Then Jesus basically questioned the authority of "the authorities" through his parable.  Did what they do and how they live show them to be acting under the authority of the kingdom of God?

The question of authority seems to be one of those critical ones these days.  'By what authority are you in this park?'  And on the other side: 'By what authority do you (the 1%) make decisions that hurt us (the 99%)?'

And how do we spot authority?  Is it just by laws and systems which (in Amos' words) "oppress the poor, and crush the needy"?  What do we do when those with power (economic and political) are not doing 'kingdom vineyard work'?  How will we know if the Occupy movement is about kingdom vineyard work? 

And, maybe even more important, what do I do with the power I have in this world?  What do my actions this very day say about my response to God's call - - go and work in the vineyard today? 

Week of Advent 1, Tuesday - OWS, Jesus and the Church

Daily Lectionary Readings for Tuesday, November 29:
AM  Psalm 5, 6      PM  Psalm 10, 11
Amos 3:1-11
2 Peter 1:12-21
Matthew 21:12-22

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On November 18, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, preached at the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.

Here's some of what she said:
"I am profoundly struck by the parallels between the Occupy movement and Jesus' band of homeless wanderers ...

Most of our cities have become far more economically segregated than they were just a couple of decades ago.  The most scandalous divisions in our Church are probably economic ones.  . . .

The covenant renewal possibilities around here are mostly about breaking down dividing walls - dividing walls between ourselves and God, between us and all sorts and conditions of fellow human beings, and between ourselves and the rest of creation. Once again live in right relationship, well fed, healed, and at peace, the reign of God will indeed be here in its fullness.

The harvest is plentiful.  Pray that God will send laborers out into that harvest – to leave the shelter of the places we settle in, whether they are in parks, tents, or beautiful buildings.  It’s time to break up any movement called Occupy the Pews."

You can read the whole sermon here:  on the website of the Diocese of Missouri

Community Resource for Sunday, November 27

This is today's portion of the community resource for theological reflection, put together by Bill Cruse.  PLEASE see the full manual for help in structuring a session that is respectful and inviting to all taking part.   The full manual can be found HERE (a Word document) or HERE (a .pdf).

 

Advent I       Mark 13:24-37

Jesus said to his disciples, "In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see `the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake-- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

1st Reading:

Capture a Word, Phrase or Image (refrain from explaining your response)

2nd Reading:

What aspects of Christ’s message do you see reflected in the Occupy Wall Street (et al) movement?

3rd Reading:

            What does God invite you to do, be or change through this passage?

Close with the Circle Prayer sharing “I thank God…” and “I ask God…” ending with the Lord’s prayer.

Resource for Community Reflection

A resource for theological reflection in community, using the Gospel readings for each Sunday in Advent, was prepared by Bill Cruse to assist parishes in the diocese to engage in a grace-filled and respectful way on how we should or should not respond as Christians to the Occupy movement that is sweeping our nation and the world.

Bill is a postulant of the Diocese of New Hampshire from Christ Church, North Conway. He works full-time as  an Associate & East Coast Program Coordinator with the Kaleidoscope Institute.  In this capacity as a consultant for Congregational Development and Intercultural Competency, Bill has planned and facilitated workshops all across the country for seminaries and various denominational jurisdictions and congregations including Princeton Theological Seminary, Virginia Theological Seminary, Episcopal Dioceses of NY, PA, MA, OH, United Methodist Church Annual Conferences of NY, Upstate NY, Washington DC, MN, and with the United Church of Canada.

You can find the 14 page document HERE as a Word document, and HERE as a .pdf.  Each Sunday's portion will also be entered into this blog on the appropriate Sunday.

Why this Blog?

Resolution passed at the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, on October 29, 2011, in response to the Bishop's Address of that day:

BE IT RESOLVED, that this Diocese and its parishes shall dedicate ourselves this Advent to prayer and discernment that we might, in our local communities, hear our individual and communal call as Christians and children of God, heed God’s prophets and healers, Jesus’ teaching and example and fearlessly follow the Holy Spirit’s guiding movement in our broken world.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Diocese and its parishes and people listen and discover with the oppressed and the powerless a vision of transformation and give voice to the voiceless, seeking to find God in our support and work with the Occupy Wall Street movement.