Ezekiel- BCP

So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them.

I was speaking with a friend at school two days ago. We were discussing the fact that Heresy does not simply go away but keeps re-emerging. I asked him how he felt about our church with the growing acceptance of what constitutes truth. I asked him how that may effect his ministry. Without blinking an eye he made the causual but profound reply. The mission field begins in the pews.

Ezekiel is called to prophesy against the shepherds. In their gorging themselves on the fruits coming from the sheep themselves (fat, wool) they lost sight of the task at hand. Shepherds are not to cull the heard but shepherd. The judgement is not that shepherds are not supposed to eat but that in their eating and feasting they have lost sight of the sheep and now the sheep are wandering becoming food for all type of wild animals.

How large is the sex trade in the world? How seductive its claims? How easy is it to get lost in the seduction of gratification? How easy to lose sight of the fact that millions are dying of Aids or the other host of other sexually transmitted diseases or the fact that sex often trumps relationship so children are abandoned in the pursuit of greater and greater gratification.

How large is the corporate ladder? How important the paycheck? By making the right moves now a person could make the salary and find himself or herself at the top. By saving every dime and investing it in the market you can protect yourself for a self indulgent retirment. So what if you need to work 80-90 hours a week. So what if persons around you are not making it . So what if communities are being compromised for profits. So what if individual success calls us to lose sight that others (our families, our neighbors, our communities)

Libertarianism, Democracy, Socialism, Communism, Maoists, Republians, federalists, Jihadists, all have their claims. They all if followed will help us be better people. They will help us become the community that will overcome corruption, greed, envy, hate, war, and oppression. Each has its claim the idea that it will bring people to a better life. By following its tenets these human systems will enrich and deliver.

And so the sheep have become scattered. They walk through high mountains and become pray for wild animals. Lost and with out guidance they will seek strange places to lay their heads. They will seek comfort, solace, salvation in lands that willingly offer to take them in. They will be bathed and gloried for entering these lands. Yet will what our scattered sheep find be enough. Will sex and work and politics be enough to sustain the sheep. Will it comfort the sheep in times of crises. Will it lift up the sheep for who they are? Will it love them without seeking anything in return? Will it save?

Yet the shepherds eat losing sight of the sheep. The collar and the stole becoming the very thing that judges us.

even truth (BCP)

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.

My sister, 4, and I, 6, had the following fight on a trip from Lancaster, PA to Chicago, IL.

Lisa - Say the sky is green
Steve - the sky is green
Lisa - NO! the sky is blue!
Steve - NO! the sky is green!
and so on...

I feel like this is the fight that goes on each and every day within churches mainline and otherwise.
Theologian - Say the resurrection was a metaphor
Other Theologian - the resurrection was a metaphor
T - NO! It is an historic event!
OT - NO! It was a metaphor!
and so on...

We spend so much time an effort holding on to our possessions, not the least of which is (T/t)ruth these days, but to what avail? We ignore so much fighting over the color of the sky, fighting over stuff we're not even sure we believe, fighting over possessions. What would it look like if everything we owned was held in common? As a good capitalist I realize this would be a mess, but bear with me for a second. what would it look like if instead of holding tightly onto my Truth I opened my eyes and saw the bit of truth you hold? Seeing your truth, I might share with you mine, and we both walk away with a bigger piece of the truth pie than we had before. Eventually through conversation after conversation my truth piece will be enormous, so big that I cannot comprehend the depth of it, but a mere kernal in comparison with the Truth of the godhead.

What do you know that you might share with me?

Hard, hard words- Ezekiel

Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals.

I am this. These words strike deeply. These are words of challenge to be sure. They challenge in that shepherds are called to act as servants of others and not servants of self. How often do I find myself worried, consumed even, with ideas of taking care of self. What will my salary be? Will I be able to afford a large house? Will the church stay together that I may be eligible for the pension? Me, me, me

And Ezekiel comes slamming through in judgment: You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost...They were scattered

They were scattered. The sheep are scattered and God's judgment weighs down, "Do you love me? Yes Lord "Feed my sheep", Do you love me? Yes Lord, "Take care of my lambs", Do you love me? Yes Lord. "Feed my sheep"

Who would of thought that Jesus was speaking judgment to Peter?

the gift of sickness

Strangely, I have learned a bit about the gift of sickness over the last day or so. My son came down with a stomach bug a few days ago and gave it to me. I found myself laid up for much of yesterday afternoon and today, while lying restlessly, I found myself saying a shortened form of the Jesus prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy On Me". I found myself able to pray even in the midst of some agony, and all my overly intellectualized faith became nothing but a murmur on my lips, it was an experiential parable for me.

I second Steve's to do list comment, I am far too busy; did Jesus die for me to have to do so much work?

my idol (the to-do list) is back

I've set up the readings for the week, but will excuse myself ahead of time due to way too much stuff on my to-do list. I'll be praying for you, please pray for me.