Readings for Sunday, January 29, 2012Readings for Sunday, January 29, 2012

Presented by staff and friends of

Sunshine CathedralSunshine CathedralMetropolitan Community Church

affiliated with the Center for Progressive Christianity Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin

Sunshine Cathedral Chief Programming Minister

Rev. Dr. Durrell WatkinsSenior Pastor Sunshine Cathedral

Rev. Dr. Mona WestDirector, Office of Formation and Leadership DevelopmentMetropolitan Community Churches

Rev. BK HipsherVirtual Chaplain Sunshine Cathedral

Director of Sunshine Cathedral in Second Life

Rev. Tania Guzman Minister of Congregational Life

January 30: Mohandas K. Gandi (1869 – 1948)

Proponent of non-violent resistance to systems of oppression. His philosophy and activism sparked the movement for Indian independence from Great Britain. He was a Hindu but also an admirer of Jesus Christ (though he rejected the dogmatic claims of Christianity) and his example inspired U.S. Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

February 2: Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas)

Today remembers the story of Jesus’ parents taking him into the Temple, where he was blessed by Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-40). This reminds us of the Jewish law (Exodus 13:2; 22:29) that every firstborn son was to be dedicated in memory of the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. This feast has had several different names, including Candlemas. In some traditions candles are brought to the church on this day to be blessed.

February 3: St. Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)

Cistercian abbot, Aelred wrote freely of his feelings for his friends and fellow monks. While it is not known if he had any romantic relationships, it is clear that he was strongly attracted to men. He had a very positive attitude toward creation and humanity, and was comfortable embracing his own feminine side. He developed a theology of friendship, and is today the patron saint of Integrity, a lesbian and gay organization for Episcopalians. (He died on January 12, however this date is used by his order.)

February 4: Cornelius the Centurion

The story of Cornelius is told in Acts 10-11. He was an important military leader and a deeply religious person who was interested in Judaism. His story is significant in the growth of the early church because he and his family were among the first Gentile converts, thereby opening the door for the message of Jesus to spread throughout the Roman Empire. His story is significant for gay and lesbian people because of Peter’s vision, which led him to go to Caesarea and visit this Gentile home. This vision led Peter to understand that, despite the laws of Leviticus, there was a higher law of love: “God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.”

Psalm 62.5-12 (NRSV)

5For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from [God]. 6[God] alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. 8Trust in [God] at all times, O people…God is a refuge for us. 9Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11…[All] power belongs to God, 12and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.

Mark 1.14-20 (NRSV)

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Rev. BK Hipsher ~ Ponderings

Be still and know

Let Go and Let God

God's steadfast love is our treasure

Thy kingdom come

Follow me

Rev. Tania Guzman ~ Liberation Perspective

Mark 1:14-20

Galilee was a place that was looked down upon by those of higher social class in Jerusalem. As a result of colonialism, most native Galileans were poor and agriculture and fishing was the way they made a living. They were also known to be rebellious people. That is not surprising since poverty and injustice are the main cause of rebellion.

Rev. Tania Guzman ~ Liberation Perspective

It was among these people, the poor, the looked down upon, and the rebellious that Jesus movement began. These were simple people, not learned or wealthy, not the religious elite. Jesus called them to follow him and bring the “Good News” to the poor, people like them who have been forgotten and marginalized.

Rev. Tania Guzman ~ Liberation Perspective

It is very frustrating that Jesus’ call to us to be "fishers of people" has been used to control people trying to

force them into a way of thinking and living.

Jesus calls us to bring the “Good News” to the forgotten, the poor, the marginalized and the broken members of society. And by becoming “fishers of

people” we are call to attract others into an inclusive and welcoming message of God’s unconditional love for all humanity. We are call to make our churches a

safe place were people feel welcome and loved regardless of what they believe or how different they

are from us.

Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins ~ Biblical Reflection

The psalmist shows the ethical/spiritual way of achieving success is to work for it in honest ways. Such honesty and integrity undoubtedly includes being mindful of those who have been denied equal opportunity and being generous in sharing one’s own resources.

The gospel reading is even more explicit in its celebration of social justice as a model for building spiritual community.

1.Mark is probably written in 70 CE…the year that Rome destroys Jerusalem & the Temple. Mark is imagining a world where Caesar does not have the last word. His gospel is over against Caesar’s imperial rule.

2.Mark imagines an almost unimaginable hope. He says “repent” – which was the language of exile. In times of exile, to repent was to try to gain divine favor so that the community could return to their homeland. So, ‘”repent” means to go home. With the holy city and its temple in ruins it is a huge leap of imagination and hope to suggest that a home-coming would be possible.

Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins ~ Biblical Reflection3. Mark imagines Jesus saying, “Repent and believe the good news.”

To go home, to create a movement that isn’t tied to Jerusalem and the Temple or to somehow subvert Roman imperialism, the new community/movement (Followers of the Way of the Kin-dom of God as taught by Jesus) must believe good news. But what was the good news?

The Pax Romana was the good news of Caesar. Through imperial might, enemies had been defeated, countries had been conquered, the Empire’s wealth had increased, and Caesar was Lord of most of the known world. The exploits of Caesar’s victories and achievements were known as “good news” (gospel). Mark is offering a counter-gospel…not good news of Caesar’s might, but good news that Caesar’s might could somehow in someway be survived and subverted. The good news of Jesus is good news over against Caesar’s good news.

Repent and believe the good news = stop assuming that imperialism can’t be challenged and believe that Jesus’ way offers real hope against imperial oppression!

Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins ~ Biblical Reflection

4. The Empire executed Jesus (29 CE). The Empire executed Paul (64 CE). The Empire destroyed Jerusalem & the Temple (70 CE). And now Mark has Jesus declare that there is a kingdom(“basileia”) other than Caesar’s! This is a seditious, even treasonous statement. It is a revolutionary cry. The kingdom of God, however, isn’t a geographical country with a human government; it is a concept, an ideal, a profound hope. It is the belief that God would have us create a counter-kingdom, a non-empire, a kin-dom, a blessed community that would look very different than the power and privilege of empire and that would actually oppose the oppressive systems of empire.

The good news of Jesus, then, is the belief that God does not condone imperialism, colonization, and oppression but empowers and strengthens those who opposed such oppression. Caesar has power, armies, and a willingness to employ unimaginable cruelty (e.g. crucifixion), but God, as hope and courage within the human heart, calls us to resist such injustice and proclaim that God’s way is a better way of inclusion, justice, and healing. To live that faith is to be “home”…that is the repentance, the good news, and God’s realm. It is the revolutionary impulse to resist oppression as Jesus did.

Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins ~ Biblical Reflection

5. Finally, not only does the gospel offer hope to the poor and the colonized, it actually offers a something specifically to a Queer audience. Notice that Jesus is out, alone, at night and approaches strange men. But as out of the ordinary (“deviant”, “unusual”, “odd”) as that is, what is even stranger is that these men leave their jobs, families, and homes and follow this perfect stranger! Men who find a stranger so appealing that they will leave all that they know to follow him into the unknown is more than a little Queer.

Additionally, not only do we see queer behavior, we see what is necessary to succeed in a revolution. The new disciples leave the past behind and move forward to help create something new. The Followers of the Way are new. It’s anew sect within (or on the margins of) Judaism. It offers a newvision of what can be. It reinterprets traditions and scriptures and offers hope for a new experience in the future. These Queerrevolutionaries show us that to embrace what can be, we must release the past to the past and courageously move forward into the possibilities of the future.

Rev. Dr. Mona West ~ Going Deeper

"Repent" does NOT mean to feel badly or guilty. It DOES mean to change one's behaviour; to re-align it with new principles, new beliefs, new understandings, new insights, new objectives, new goals. The feelings that accompany repentance can range from sorrow over past deeds, to joy for new options; from anger over past false hopes, to confidence for now finding firm ground.

Verses 16 - 20. Fishing was done at night so that the freshly caught fish could be sold as soon as possible in the morning. Being out at night - and smelling of fish - made fishing a disreputable occupation. It seems that Jesus sees Simon and Andrew at night (or just before dawn) as they are actively fishing; and then sees James and John after dawn as they are now finished fishing and are in their boat mending their nets. The fact that Jesus is out alone at night and that the four all leave their families to follow / travel with Jesus is abnormal and deviant behaviour. In other words: Queer.

Rev. Dr. Mona West ~ Going Deeper

Literally, Jesus does not ask them "to follow" him; but "Come behind me." The word for behind (opiso) can be a spatial term, to stand or walk behind someone. It can be a temporal term, to come at a time after something else. This might be the meaning behind John's use, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me" (1:7). It can also be a status term, behind (or under?) in terms of rank or importance. Jesus' rebuke of Peter, "Get behind me Satan" (8:33), is probably concerned with Peter trying to assume too much importance -- trying to be ahead of Jesus. The command, "Come behind me," may be a way of saying, "Make Jesus the most important thing in your life." Even one's own self comes in second behind Jesus.

Rev. Dr. Mona West ~ Going Deeper

There is perhaps no expression more traditionally misunderstood than Jesus' invitation to these workers to become "fishers of men" (1:17). This metaphor, despite the grand old tradition of missionary interpretation, does not refer to the "saving of souls," as if Jesus were conferring upon these men instant evangelist status. Rather, the image is carefully chosen from Jeremiah 16:16, where it is used as a symbol of Yahweh's censure of Israel. Elsewhere the "hooking of fish" is a euphemism for judgment upon the rich (Am 4:2) and powerful (Ez 29:4). Taking this mandate for his own, Jesus is inviting common folk to join him in his struggle to overturn the existing order of power and privilege.