|
On YouTube, there are funny videos of people being startled by a man dressed up as a bush. Yep, I said a bush. This guy has a “bush suit” and he sits in a BIG pot on a busy sidewalk and stands up quickly as people walk by. That’s it. He just stands up (okay, once in a while he will reach out) and passersby will jump, yelp, and scream! I think some of what makes it funny is what the viewer realizes about themselves: we would jump and yelp as well. The key to the “bush guy” success is not his incredible bush suit, though that is nice; but rather the fact that the people passing by don’t see a sitting man, they see a bush. No one expects a bush to jump up or a man to inhabit a bush. Their (our) perspective excludes these possibilities, so they don’t see him.
The perspective from which we look at things has a huge influence on how we see them. Friend or foe, useful or trash, lovely or disturbing, determination of a thing is a product of our perspective. By the same token, that we can see a thing at all is also based on our perspective. Living as a Christian, how we follow Christ in today’s world is all about perspective too. It’s about the way we choose to see ourselves and the world around us. It’s about looking at the world through the lens of Christ. And while other lenses may distort or mislead us in what we see, viewing the world through the lens of Christ, corrects our natural distortions and helps us to see life more clearly as it truly is. St. Paul traveled with young Timothy on his second and third missionary journeys teaching and mentoring him in the faith. As Paul prepared to leave Ephesus after living there for three years, he appointed Timothy as overseer (bishop). No matter the distance, though, Paul would remain Timothy’s spiritual father and would write him about matters of faith. Paul wrote his second Letter to Timothy to encourage him and remind him of the reason why he (Timothy) was there: “He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began” (1:9). St. Paul was pointing out that Christ’s plan and sacrifice was in place before time even existed! Paul reminded Timothy that only with this perspective could he maintain his life and ministry. Looking at life through that lens transforms everything. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3 In this Gospel lesson, Jesus uses a blind man to give true sight to those who can already see, kind of. The man referenced in this passage was born blind. From infancy, it became clear that he didn't have the capacity for natural vision. This man did not have any perspective on the world through sight; his ability to consider and understand was severely limited by his affliction. Jesus tells us that, though we have physical eyesight, we may still be spiritually blind and unable to see his presence in our lives. Everyone everywhere sees their life through a particular lens. We all have a worldview that influences how we interpret our circumstances and surroundings. Our worldview impacts the way we value other people. Our worldview also influences the way we choose to make use of the time we've been blessed with. At one time in our lives, we lived in ignorance. We were ignorant of some of the deepest realities that we were surrounded with all the time. It's likely that we lived in ignorance to who we were really created to be. We lived in ignorance about the purpose of our experiences. We lived in ignorance toward the suffering of others. In general, we lived in ignorance to the bigger picture of God's divine plan. But Jesus came to offer us the privilege to begin to see things in a new light. Through faith in Jesus Christ, our eyes are opened to things that we didn't have the capacity to gain a full understanding of through natural means. Jesus enables us to see things differently, and as He does so, the manner in which we choose to live our lives can't help but be impacted as well. 24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” “The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” John 9:24-33 There were real consequences for this man who trusted in Christ and obeyed Him: he was excommunicated from the synagogue. But that shame was nothing compared to the joy of knowing and worshipping Christ. This man who had been blind could now see things, not only physically, but on a deeper spiritual level as well. He had come to know His Creator and Savior in a personal and permanent way. He would never see things the same again. Christ offers us the privilege to see things in a new way, even though we're continually bombarded with messages and influences in this world that try to keep our hearts and minds anchored in lesser things. We can see our sources of discomfort and trouble in a new way. We can view the time we've been given from a new perspective. We can continue to trust Jesus even if He asks us to do something out of the ordinary, and we can cooperate with Him, instead of trying to resist Him when He stretches us in new ways so we can adopt His manner of seeing things as our manner of living. He has given us spiritual sight to see Him with us as we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28 Live every moment seeing Christ and knowing you are blessed. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17 Seeing, Fr. Bill+
0 Comments
Recently, I was asked if it is moral to support the war in Ukraine or the war in Israel. Here is my short answer.
To address the topic of moral responsibility we must first define what “moral” or “morality” is. Merriam-Webster defines Morality as: 1 A: a moral discourse, statement, or lesson B: a literary or other imaginative work teaching a moral lesson 2 A: a doctrine or system of moral conduct B: moralities plural : particular moral principles or rules of conduct 3: conformity to ideals of right human conduct Discerning the nuance of the question, I believe 2 A, a doctrine or system of moral conduct; and 3, conformity to ideals of right human conduct; are the most applicable. Deeper in, as this question seeks the underlying structure from which we can make our decisions, I am going to focus my answer on 2 A, a doctrine or system of moral conduct. As we struggle to make sense of the conflicts in the world, physical, political, and philosophical, we are relying on our experiences and our understanding of right and wrong. While it is true that our experiences are “all we have” to draw from, we are aware that as extensive as they might be, they are still singularly ours. All our experiences are subjective; experienced and remembered through the lens of our lives. I am reminded of this very often as I share memories of my childhood with my sister who, often enough, has a different opinion of the same “experience.” Historically, knowing that our personal experiences are inadequate to deal with most issues that involve a greater gathering of humanity, schools were created. Schools were originally simple gatherings to share information and knowledge with the goal of establishing common ground from which topics of concern could be addressed. The value of common ground cannot be overemphasized; common ground is the foundation of dialogue and makes resolution possible. To answer the specific question above could lead us into a study of Thomas Aquinas and Just War Theory. Starting with Aquinas, we would then sample the thousands of pages discussing the application of Just War Theory in the hopes of matching it to the specifics of our conflict of concern. While this would be fun, it is well beyond what we can do here. Rather, I hope to simply provide a starting point of common ground. Politics, economics, society, discourse, conflict, ecology; all of these concerns are bolstered by schools of moral thought. The application of moral though is called ethics, and ethical considerations are always informed by the specific situation of moral discussion. In other words, Ethics is based on well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics) Every discipline has a corresponding school of ethics and moral thinking. To establish common ground, the ground of ethical consideration must be established. For people of faith, all areas of consideration, politics, economics, society, discourse, conflict, ecology, etc., should be grounded in Moral Theology. Moral Theology is, according to Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ, Doctor of Historical Theology, Professor and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of San Diego; [Christian] Moral Theology is a field of theological studies that applies central Christian beliefs to the problems of the world we live in. This approach to faith informs the day-to-day lives of the faithful, guiding their choices, decisions, actions, and reactions to events and challenges, from grand to minuscule. In short, moral theology provides principles for living in accordance with God’s word. She continues, …moral theology establishes the behaviors and attitudes that allow us to live in union with Christ. These general life principles are meant to help followers make the right decisions according to their faith — but this is by no means an easy feat. … morality addresses such complex and nuanced topics as marriage, sexuality, medicine, social justice, wealth, business, war and more. Traditionally, this standard may have been used to answer the question, “What should I do or believe?” However, [Christian] moral theology is grounded in virtue ethics, so the question becomes: “Who am I becoming as a result of this action or affection?” Since our faith journey is a wholly personal one, approaching daily decisions and choices with this question in mind helps us strengthen our relationship to our faith from within, rather than allow it to be shaped by external forces. We all formulate our opinions of the war in Ukraine or the war in Israel, the behavior of the next-door neighbor, or the decision concerning saving the rare Bowhead Whale from the ground of our own experience. But that is not Common Ground. Our moral compass is not directed by our study of political ethics, economic ethics, ecological ethics, etc. but by our devotion to God and our growing understanding Christian Moral Theology. All and every concern must first be illuminated by the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and all moral and ethical consideration must conform to the biblical witness. The standard question, What did Jesus teach? is not simply applied to the war, but to every action and issue of the war. This is the common ground on which all our decisions are made.
The study of moral theology gives us powerful tools with which to understand and share the Catholic tradition with others. Here, we explore the principles, teachings, and challenges that accompany Catholic moral theology, and provide a few helpful suggestions for living a moral life. What Is Moral Theology? Moral theology is a field of theological studies that applies central Christian beliefs to the problems of the world we live in. This approach to faith informs the day-to-day lives of the faithful, guiding their choices, decisions, actions, and reactions to events and challenges, from grand to minuscule. In short, moral theology provides principles for living in accordance with God’s word. Our ability to study and adhere to moral teachings is, in itself, a gift from God. God bestowed upon us intelligence and reason to help us understand the world of creation, while also giving us free will to choose what we consider true and good. Each of us is made in God’s image and therefore we are good. At the same time, our free will allows us to choose to do things which are fundamentally not good. Moral theology gives us a standard by which to measure truth and goodness as God sees it. Traditionally, this standard may have been used to answer the question, “What should I do or believe?” However, Catholic moral theology is grounded in virtue ethics, so the question becomes: “Who am I becoming as a result of this action or affection?” Since our faith journey is a wholly personal one, approaching daily decisions and choices with this question in mind helps us strengthen our relationship to our faith from within, rather than allow it to be shaped by external forces. Teachings of Moral Theology “Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1796 Whether in or outside of a religious context, all moral acts comprise three elements:
To be morally good, both our actions and our intentions need to align with the moral code. To that end, a morally bad intention leads to an inherently bad action, while a good intention cannot result in an objectively bad action. However, this does not give us carte blanche to act in any way we please as long as we “mean well” — there are acts that are fundamentally wrong, regardless of intention or circumstance. Examples include murder, adultery, deceit, or other destructive actions that compromise human health and well-being. Catholic moral theology is grounded in the concepts of freedom, truth, natural law, human law, and human conscience (the general ability to know what is good and right, as it is willed by God). The moral framework built upon this foundation — the way in which we interact with or respond to these concepts — is shaped by principles from divine revelation, the interpretation of Scripture, and the tradition of the Church. The principles of Christian morality are not arbitrary; they are among God’s divine gifts to humankind…Christ granted his disciples the authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, and proclaim God’s word — essentially, to keep his love alive (Matthew 10:1). Christ’s disciples have tried to live out his call to love ever since, leaning on both Scripture and tradition as the basis for additional moral guidance that addresses contemporary challenges. Peace in Christ, Fr. Bill+ In the beginning God created…and God saw that it was good.
The only meaning we can give to the constant refrain, “God saw that it was good,” is God’s approval of a work as having been fashioned in accordance with that art which is His own wisdom.” St. Augustine, City of God. Time seemed to have moved slowly as we drifted towards Christmas. The close of the “long green season” rolled into Advent as the weather slowly segued from hot towards cool days. Advent arrived without too much fanfare; we seem to have simply assumed the new season as we traded our short sleeve shirts for sweaters and windbreakers. And then there was Christmas. In the beginning God created. In the first chapter of Genesis and echoed in the first chapter of John, we relive the proclamation of divine intention and perfect will. God’s perfect will is described in detail, but we know his will through our devotion and the revelation of the Holy Spirit. God created is a reality, not simply words on a page; because not only are we in relation with the triune God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but also because we are a part the whole of creation as created beings. Even in its flawed and fallen state, creation itself resonates with the power of God as God faithfully draws us closer to spiritually reveal the divine presence in all things. Advent prepared us; Christmas revealed us; Epiphany sends us; and soon (just 4 weeks away) Lent will consume us. I know that we mostly think of church seasons as something we do, but in reality, they are something that is done to us. Living in the world, we move along with the rhythm of the physical seasons. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are words to describe the physical changes we must adapt to and they trigger physical responses. We do not question raking leaves, storing summer clothes, winterizing the lawn equipment, and getting the snow shovel out of storage. We simply do these things as the season demands. As these seasons change around us, so to the seasons of God’s presence manifest within us. Advent prepared our spirits to receive God as present in promise and person, and to receive the fulfillment of our lives in Jesus. Christmas revealed to us that Jesus came and is coming into the world, but it also revealed that He is coming again and again to our hearts, minds, and spirits. Epiphany sends us away from the self we are as people of the world and draws us to the companionship of Christ. We have little time left as we rocket through Epiphany. The changes around us propel us even as we live the seasons of the church year within us. Focus on the seasons that have passed as present within this minute. You receive, are revealed, and are sent not outward, but inward. These next four weeks of focus will serve you well as we anticipate what comes next and is already here: Lent, in which we are consumed. …and God saw that it was good. Making sense of it all, Fr. Bill+ What is the purpose of Church? Thinking of the physical Church, what is it?
A club? A feel-good place? A change of scenery? A respite from the world? A place where everyone agrees with me? Or perhaps a place of transformation? Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. (Matthew 3:13-15) When Jesus came to John, he knew that everything was about to change. He knew the time had arrived to repent (turn away) from the life he was living, as a carpenter in Nazareth, and embrace his call as Savior. Jesus went to John to be baptized to show us the way of Baptism. It is important to remember that the Baptism by John is not the Baptism you and I have had. We have been Baptised into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and it is through this truth that we are called to live our lives. Jesus’ Baptism is filled with symbolism. First, when Jesus was baptized it symbolized his own death and resurrection. For in Luke 12:50, Jesus said, But I have a Baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Luke 12:50 Then later Matthew 20:17–22 and Luke 18:31–34 reveal that He referred to His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins. This why we say as we bless the water of Baptism, In it your Son Jesus received the Baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life. (BCP pg. 306) Second, Jesus symbolically identified Himself with every sinner when He was baptized. For He would bear our sins in His own body (1 Peter 2:24; 3;18). John’s Baptism symbolized a man’s or woman’s sorrow over his or her sins and the desire to be cleansed from sin. But it did not actually cleanse or forgive sins. The cleansing of sins is not accomplished by immersion into water, the pouring of water over a person, or sprinkling with water; it is accomplished by the sacrifice of Christ and our participation in his sacrifice. Third, by being baptized, Jesus established the pattern that every believer should be baptized as a symbolic act that they have died to self and became a new person (Romans 6:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). As St. Paul wrote to the Romans, Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through Baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4) And Jesus commanded us to continue this practice: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). Baptism symbolizes the doctrinal reality. The Holy Spirit regenerated us (Titus 3:5). We are no longer slaves to sin, and we are now slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:7, 18, 20). Believers are new creatures in Christ. Fourth, Jesus also affirmed John’s Baptism was a symbol of preparation for the coming of the messianic kingdom over which He would rule as king. John was the forerunner for the coming Messiah, or Christ (Luke 1:17). This affirmed as the fulfillment of the prophesy in the book of Isaiah is restated in Mathews Gospel, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 By submitting to John’s Baptism, Jesus symbolized His coming ministry as the suffering servant (Isaiah 53) who would die for the sins of the world so that others could become righteous. Thus He “fulfills all righteousness.” He follows the call of the Father and witnesses to perfect obedience for us to follow. Fifth, Jesus is Baptized as a witness to the Divine Trinity. Christ’s Baptism remarkably shows all three Persons of the Trinity at the same time: the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from the heavens. In this event, the Father and the Holy Spirit confirm the deity of Christ, and Jesus submits to his Father’s will. So, how do we live out our Baptism in the light of Jesus’ own witness? We understand the significance and purpose of Christ's Baptism. We must accept our Baptism as the gift it was. Buried with Christ and rising to new life here in this earthly plane, we can we understand the significance and purpose of a believer's Baptism. We have been transformed and are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. The Church is our spiritual home where we are called to grow and draw closer to our Savior. We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the Baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life. We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (BCP pg. 306-307) Celebrant and People We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood. (BCP pg. 308) Peace in Christ, Fr. Bill+ The days after Christmas can be a letdown. For weeks, sometimes months in advance, we prepare for the coming of this single day. We write Christmas lists, gather lists from others, go shopping for gifts, put up decorations, listen to seasonal music, plan elaborate meals, arrange travel plans, light candles on the Advent wreath, and then the day comes and goes in 24 hours just like any other day. Then what?
All of that build-up for a brief few moments that swiftly join the stream of ordinary time leaves us with a sense of both fatigue and bewilderment. What comes next? Christian theologian and mystic, Howard Thurman**, viewed the days after Christmas from a spiritual perspective. He wrote a poem, “The Work of Christmas Begins,” to express his sentiments. Properly understood, our work is only just beginning after Christmas. Followers of Christ have been commissioned to walk the path he did: to bind up the broken-hearted; to preach good news to the poor; and to proclaim liberty to the captives. With the incarnation and the Godmade flesh, we have a deeply-altered and imperative “to-do list” far outlasting our greenings, merriment, and gift-giving. Christmas brings the incarnate God, the Prince of Peace, to humanity. In this prince’s kingdom mercy, justice, and love reign. As citizens of this heavenly kingdom and members of this royal household, Christ’s followers serve as ambassadors of this kingdom ethic. Now, in the days after Christmas, our work is only just beginning. From The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations by Howard Thurman: When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart. So much of the Christmas season is shaped by commercialism, hedonism, and sentimentalism. But the true significance of Christmas is more than a sweet story of the miraculous birth of a baby who was immediately worshipped by shepherds and, eventually, by the magi. As Thurman suggests, we have not properly celebrated Christmas unless we have committed ourselves afresh as the hands and feet of Christ, Jesus' ambassadors to a world in need. Led by the example of Christ, reflecting on his commission by the Prophet Isaiah 58:6-8, inspired by the great commission in Matthew 26, let us get to work. This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Now that Advent has been observed and Christmas has been celebrated, in both secular and religious ways for most of us, let’s get on with the work and blessing of Christmas. Then, we will have truly celebrated the birth of Jesus. Doing the work of Christ, Fr. Bill+ ** Howard Thurman (November 18, 1899 – April 10, 1981) was an influential African American theologian, author, philosopher, educator, and civil rights leader. He spent more than two decades as a Dean of Chapel, first at Howard University and then at Boston University (where he was the first African American to hold this position at a majority-white U.S. university), wrote more than twenty books, and in 1944 co-founded San Francisco’s Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples: the first integrated, interfaith religious congregation in the United States. |
AuthorFather Bill Burk† Archives
March 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly