A comprehended god is no god.

A comprehended god is no god.

A wise saying by saintly John Chrysostom

Monday, September 28, 2015

Holy Trinity Church in the News!

Feast of St. Michael & All Angels
Patron of Police Officers

Celebrating First Responders - Holy Trinity Church, Covina

There was a nice write up about Holy Trinity Church in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune this Sunday after our special service honoring First Responders. Thank you Dave Erikson from brining this to my attention.

So very proud of our First Responders and the congregation of Holy Trinity Church for reaching out to them in word and deed.

Well done!

http://www.sgvtribune.com/social-affairs/20150927/covina-church-honors-prays-for-first-responders

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

“Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”


Sermon for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Year B 2015     


In the name of the X Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The word tradition has a complicated past. Originally the word meant surrender or betrayal. When used as a legal term the word tradition has to do with the act of delivering something into the hands of another person. For Jews tradition usually refers to the laws and teachings (the Torah) that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai and handed down to the people of Israel.

The Jews were also given a series of precepts to rule their moral and social lives. This included what has come to be called the Holiness Code. The Holiness Code is a term used by Biblical scholars to refer to chapters 17-26 of the book of Leviticus. The name comes from the repeated use of the word ‘Holy’ throughout the text. For scholars who follow the documentary hypothesis, the Holiness Code represents an earlier text that was edited and inserted by the priests who served the Temple in Jerusalem. It is thought that the priests included these regulations because they wanted to extend the practice of holiness to the laity.
Perhaps a better name for this section is ‘The Holiness Collection’. This is because the collection is not really a coherent code, but includes numerous repetitions and a few contradictions. It contains rules for slaughtering animals. It forbids breeding two different animals, wearing clothes woven from two different fabrics, eating shellfish, and warns against sexual immorality. It also gives rules for the washing of hands and for bathing the body.

Nonetheless, Christians have a complex relationship with Old Testament traditions. By the time of Jesus, the great moral principles God had given to Moses in the Ten Commandments had been turned into hundreds of ceremonial rules. People who obeyed the rules thought they were living holy lives. Jesus told his disciples that he did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17–18)

Christians have struggled to understand exactly what Jesus meant. At first reading, this seems to say that all the Old Testament rules and rituals must still be observed. But Jesus and His disciples did not observe many of those rules and rituals, so it could not mean that. There are some who believe we must follow the entire Purity Code. There are others who appear to pick and choose from the list what suits their prejudice. They appear fixated on sexual immorality and pointing out other people’s sins.

Our church celebrates many beautiful rituals and traditions. They can enhance our worship and enrich our lives. Others have been dropped from our liturgies because they reflect the prejudice of another time. For example, our Holy Week and Easter liturgies no longer refer to ‘those perfidious Jews’ because the language was anti-Semitic and had been used to condone violence. Rituals and traditions are passed along to us, not always with clear understanding of their meanings and context.

I remember the story of how one church would always begin their procession into the church by turning to the right and bowing towards the empty wall. The new priest could not figure out why this was done. Finally an old parishioner told him that there used to be an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the wall. It had been taken down years ago, but the people still observed the tradition.

Sometimes it is necessary to question what we do in God’s name. Sometimes it is important to review our patterns of worship and rituals to see how well they serve us now, what their meaning is for us now. Sometimes it is enough to ask the questions. Sometimes we need to temporarily set something aside or leave it all together.
In Saint Matthew’s Gospel Jesus teaches us that both old and new traditions are important. “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13:51-52) Whenever our traditions alienate and demean another’s humanity we are betrayed by them.

The measuring stick for all of our traditions is the law of love. The overriding message of Jesus was love. Jesus modeled love, Jesus preached love, and Jesus was love. As Christians who desire to do and live the will of Jesus we are morally obligated to always err on the side of love. This should lead us as to the most obvious, and most important of all Christian traditions, captured so beautifully by the words of Saint Paul:  
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.  For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;  but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.  And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:8-13) Amen.

¿Por qué tus discípulos no siguen la tradición de nuestros antepasados, sino que comen con las manos impuras?



En el nombre del Padre X, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo. Amén.

La palabra tradición tiene un pasado complicado. Originalmente la palabra significaba la rendición o la traición. Cuando se utiliza como un término legal la palabra tradición tiene que ver con el acto de entrega de algo en las manos de otra persona. Para Judíos tradición generalmente se refiere a las leyes y enseñanzas (la Torá) que se les dio a Moisés en el Monte Sinaí y se la entregó a los hijos de Israel.

Los Judíos también se les dio una serie de preceptos para gobernar sus vidas morales y sociales. Esto incluye lo que ha dado en llamarse el Código de Santidad. El Código de Santidad es un término usado por los estudiosos de la Biblia para referirse a los capítulos 17-26 del libro de Levítico. El nombre proviene del uso repetido de la palabra "Santo" en todo el texto. Para los estudiosos que siguen la hipótesis documental, el Código de Santidad representa un texto anterior que fue editado y se inserta por los sacerdotes que servían al templo de Jerusalén. Se cree que los sacerdotes incluyen estas regulaciones porque querían extender la práctica de la santidad de los laicos.

 Tal vez un mejor nombre para esta sección es "La Colección Santidad”. Esto es porque la colección no es un código de verdad, sino que incluye numerosas repeticiones y unas pocas contradicciones. Contiene reglas para el sacrificio de animales. Se prohíbe la cría de dos animales diferentes, vestir ropas tejidas con dos tejidos diferentes, comer mariscos, y advierte contra la inmoralidad sexual. También da las reglas para el lavado de manos y para bañar el cuerpo.

Sin embargo, los cristianos tienen una relación compleja con las tradiciones del Antiguo Testamento. En la época de Jesús, los grandes principios morales que Dios había dado a Moisés en los Diez Mandamientos se habían convertido en cientos de reglas ceremoniales. Las personas que obedecían las reglas pensaban que estaban viviendo vidas santas. Jesús dijo a sus discípulos que él no vino a abolir la ley o los profetas sino a dar cumplimiento. (Mateo 5: 17-18)

Los cristianos han luchado para entender exactamente lo que Jesús quería decir. En la primera lectura, parece que decir que todavía se deben observar todas las reglas y rituales del Antiguo Testamento. Pero Jesús y sus discípulos no observan muchas de esas reglas y rituales, así que no podría significar eso. Hay algunos que creen que debemos seguir todo el Código de Santidad. Hay otros que parecen escoger y elegir de la lista de lo que conviene a sus prejuicios. Aparecen obsesionado con la inmoralidad sexual y señalando los pecados de los demás.

 Nuestra iglesia celebra muchos rituales y tradiciones hermosas. Pueden mejorar nuestra adoración y enriquecer nuestras vidas. Otros se han caído de nuestras liturgias porque reflejan el perjuicio de otro tiempo. Por ejemplo, nuestras liturgias de Semana Santa y de Pascua ya no se refieren a "los Judíos pérfidos' porque el lenguaje era antisemita y que había sido utilizado para condonar la violencia. Rituales y tradiciones se pasan junto a nosotros, no siempre con clara comprensión de su significado y contexto.

Recuerdo la historia de cómo una iglesia siempre comenzaría su procesión en la iglesia, girando hacia la derecha e inclinándose hacia la pared vacía. El nuevo sacerdote no podía entender por qué esto se hizo. Finalmente un viejo parroquiano le dijo que solía haber una imagen de la Santísima Virgen María en la pared. Se había bajado hace años, pero la gente todavía sigue la tradición.

A veces es necesario cuestionar lo que hacemos en nombre de Dios. A veces es importante revisar nuestros patrones de culto y rituales para ver lo bien que nos sirven ahora, cuál es su significado para nosotros ahora. A veces es suficiente para hacer las preguntas. A veces tenemos que establecer temporalmente algo de lado o salir todos juntos.

En el Evangelio de San Mateo Jesús nos enseña que las antiguas y nuevas tradiciones son importantes, "Cuando un maestro de la ley se instruye acerca del reino de los cielos, se parece al dueño de una casa, que de lo que tiene guardado sabe sacar cosas nuevas y cosas viejas." (Mateo 13: 51-52) Cuando nuestras tradiciones rechazan y degradan la humanidad de otros somos traicionados por ellas.

La vara de medir para todos de nuestras tradiciones es la ley del amor. El mensaje principal de Jesús era el amor. Jesús modeló amor, Jesús predicó el amor, y Jesús era el amor. Como cristianos que desean hacer y vivir la voluntad de Jesús estamos moralmente obligados a errar siempre del lado del amor. Esto nos debe llevar en cuanto a la más obvia, y más importante de todas las tradiciones cristianas, capturado tan bien por las palabras de San Pablo:

El amor jamás dejará de existir. Un día el don de profecía terminará, y ya no se hablará en lenguas, ni serán necesarios los conocimientos. Porque los conocimientos y la profecía son cosas imperfectas, que llegarán a su fin cuando venga lo que es perfecto. Cuando yo era niño, hablaba, pensaba y razonaba como un niño; pero al hacerme hombre, dejé atrás lo que era propio de un niño. Ahora vemos de manera indirecta, como en un espejo, y borrosamente; pero un día veremos cara a cara. Mi conocimiento es ahora imperfecto, pero un día conoceré a Dios como él me ha conocido siempre a mí. Tres cosas hay que son permanentes: la fe, la esperanza y el amor; pero la más importante de las tres es el amor. (1 Corintios 13: 8-13) Amén.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Celebrating our third anniversary of ministry together at Holy Trinity Church and La Capilla

Thanks to everyone who made Sunday's celebration of Bolivian culture such a success. What a pleasure to experience Bolivian music and dances while enjoying a traditional feast. Such generosity of spirit!
One of the most moving moments for me was after the Morenada (an Afro-Bolivian dance) when the entire company knelt in prayer before the Virgen de Urkupiña.
Our diversity and hospitality in Christ's name enriches our worship, our mission and our lives.
...

"¿Cómo puede éste darnos a comer su propia carne?"

En el nombre de la X Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo. Amén.

Seamos honestos. Hay algunas partes de la Biblia que son difíciles de oír. Cuando Jesús dijo a sus seguidores que si no comen su carne y beben su sangre no tienen vida en sí mismos quedaron confusos. Los judíos discutieron entre sí, diciendo: "¿Cómo puede éste darnos a comer su propia carne?" Hasta este momento Jesús se estaba comparando a sí mismo con el Pan del Cielo, pero ahora incluía su sangre como ser necesario para la vida. Este fue problemático a su audiencia judía. El consumo de su sangre se considera un pecado de Israel. ¿Qué estaba Jesús tratando de decir?

Los eruditos bíblicos se apresuran a señalar que cuando Jesús habla acerca de dar su carne para la vida del mundo que está apuntando a su muerte en la cruz. El comer su carne y beber su sangre es impensable si no se entiende a la luz de su sangrienta crucifixión. A través de su cuerpo y la sangre se forja un nuevo pacto y a través de ella nos encontramos con nuestra salvación.

Todo esto es cierto, pero tal vez Jesús dijo lo que dijo porque tenía la intención de ser literal e indignante, contundente y metafórico. Estas palabras fuertes hacen claramente referencia a la Cena del Señor, nuestra comida sacramental, donde, según el Libro de Oración Común, se hace presente el sacrificio de Cristo.

En él estamos unidos con Cristo. Nos convertimos en uno con Dios y entre sí. Un lazo místico se forma... una conexión intemporal y hereditaria. Nos alimentamos y el empuje hacia el mundo para difundir el Reino de Dios. Alexander Schmemann, en su libro Para la Vida del Mundo: Sacramentos y la Ortodoxia, escribió que "La liturgia de la Eucaristía se entiende mejor como un viaje o una procesión. Es el camino de la Iglesia en la dimensión del Reino".

Hace solo tres años esta capilla fue re dedicada en oración solemne y con la  esperanza que se convertiría en un lugar de acogida y refugio. Dedicada a Dios en nombre de su amada madre, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, dando la bienvenida a todas las personas de cerca y de lejos para unirse a la procesión. Viajamos al corazón de Dios. Tenemos el placer de servir a nuestro Señor donde quiera que lo encontremos. Muchas veces lo encuentran en el extranjero, en los pobres y desamparados, en los enfermos y dolientes, en los marginados y temerosos. Nuestro viaje nos ha llevado a través de las Estaciones de la Cruz en la Ciudad, hemos apoyado a los hombres y mujeres que nos sirven como oficiales de policía y los equipos de rescate durante la Fiesta de San Miguel y Todos los Ángeles, y hemos caminado con María y José durante Los Posadas, y se enteró de lo que significa ser desplazadas y sin hogar. Pronto la procesión nos llevará a Covina Park, donde tenemos la intención de hacer lo que podamos para ayudar a alimentar a los hambrientos.

Por qué hacemos esto? Porque una vez que haya festejado en el cuerpo y sangre de Cristo, una vez que permanecéis en Cristo, nos permite estar rotos; él nos concede el privilegio de dejar su vida y amar y fluir a través de nosotros. Hemos aprendido a decir humildemente junto con Cristo: "Yo soy el Pan de vida. El que viene a mí no tendrá hambre. El que cree en mí no tendrá sed." Si usted está buscando un hogar espiritual, en la necesidad de alimento que lleva a la vida, y están dispuestos a caminar con nosotros un tiempo, son muy bienvenidos aquí.  Amén.

“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”


Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost – Year B 2015 

 

In the name of the X Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let’s be honest. There are some parts of the Bible that are difficult to hear. When Jesus told his followers that unless they eat his flesh and drink his blood they have no life in themselves they were confused. The Jews argued among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Up to this point Jesus was comparing himself to the Bread from Heaven, but now he included his blood as necessary for life. This was troublesome to his Jewish audience. The consumption of blood was considered a sin to Israel. What was Jesus trying to say?

Biblical scholars are quick to point out that when Jesus speaks about giving his flesh for the life of the world he is pointing to his death on the cross. The eating of his flesh and the drinking of his blood is unthinkable unless it is understood in light of his bloody passion and crucifixion. Through his body and blood a new covenant is forged and through it we find our salvation.  

This is all true but perhaps Jesus said what he said because he intended to be literal and outrageous, blunt and metaphorical. These strong words clearly make reference to the Lord’s Supper, our sacramental meal, where, according to the Book of Common Prayer, the sacrifice of Christ is made present.

In it we are united with Christ. We become one with God and one with one another. A mystical bond is formed… a timeless connection and heritage. We are nourished and thrust out into the world to spread the Kingdom of God. Alexander Schmemann, in his book For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy, wrote that “The liturgy of the Eucharist is best understood as a journey or procession. It is the journey of the Church into the dimension of the Kingdom.” 

Three short years ago this chapel was rededicated in solemn prayer and hope that it would become a place of welcome and refuge. Dedicated to God and named for his beloved mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, we welcome all people from near and far to join the procession. We journey to the heart of God. We take great pleasure in serving our Lord where ever we find him. Many times we find him in the stranger, in the poor and marginalized, in the sick and suffering, in the outcast and fearful. Our journey has taken us through our now annual Stations of the Cross in the City, we have stood by the men and women who serve us as Police Officers and First Responders during the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, we regularly collect food for our local food bank (A.C.T.I.O.N. Food Pantry) and we have walked with Mary and Joseph during Los Posadas, and learned what it means to be displaced and homeless. Soon the procession will lead us to Covina Park where we plan to do what we can to help feed the hungry.

 Why do we do this? Because once you have feasted on the body and blood of Christ, once you abide in Christ, he allows us to be broken; he grants us the privilege of letting his life and love pour through our own. We have learned to humbly say along with Christ, “I am the Bread of life, you who come to me shall not hunger; and who believe in me shall not thirst.” If you are looking for a spiritual home, in need of nourishment that leads to life, and are willing to walk with us a while, you are most welcome. Amen.

Friday, August 14, 2015

New Dreams


Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Advent                                        22 December 2013
 

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

            Some people dream of becoming an actor, a fireman, an astronaut, or president.  I dreamed about becoming a singer. My Dad told me I sang too loud. I felt like the ugly duckling. My voice did not fit the songs everyone sang around the piano. Popular songs required a voice that is mostly flat and without vibrato.  I sang in choir, school musicals, I worked at a theater during the Summer months and once sang in a professional production of Cabaret. Nonetheless, I did not feel comfortable with my voice and I could not afford a voice teacher. It was not until college that I found my way. I was taking music classes at Santa Monica City College at night and working during the day. One night as I walked down the hall towards my music theory class I saw an advertisement for a Music Scholarship in the Arts. From that moment on I could think of nothing else but winning that scholarship. I thought I might have a better chance of winning the scholarship if the music faculty knew me. So I signed up for classes in Piano, Voice, Music History, and Composition. I worked hard. After a year went by I finally auditioned for the scholarship. Over a hundred gifted students auditioned.
           
It is important to dream. In the Proverbs of Solomon it says that “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Prov. 29:18) Athletes are taught to imagine what it feels like to win the race and hear the crowd cheer. To have a dream is to have hope. Your dreams may change. Some may fall away. Yet it is important to live with hope. It is important to work hard towards worthy goals. It is important to develop a vision for life that takes into account the gifts God has given us. We need a plan or a vision in order to keep our hope active and alive.

Joseph came from a long line of dreamers. He dreamed that his family was in danger. If he told anyone in Bethlehem that King Herod wanted to kill his newborn son they would have laughed at him. He left for Egypt before any soldier knocked on the door and saved the lives of his son and his wife. What did it feel like to believe in something that could not be seen or proven?

I believe God plants dreams in our hearts, whispers his will for us when we are receptive, and helps us to achieve his will for us in time. The dreams may not make sense initially. They can take years to mature. The dreams may appear to die only to return unexpectedly. 

 I once dreamed of becoming a priest. This was strange because I was raised Lutheran and Lutherans have pastors not priests. Still I have always taken my dreams seriously even when they do not make sense. In my case the dream of becoming a priest was put on a shelf while I tested out other dreams.

 I won the music scholarship. I was awarded a mentor who became a trusted friend. I learned how to sing. I learned how to perform and how to deal with my nerves before going on stage. Even though I did not continue to pursue a music career the things I learned helped me in unexpected ways. I became a Corporate Trainer. Performing and preparing to perform are similar tasks to teaching. The experience of equipping men and women for success, and the lessons learned in marketing & communications and new technologies as a Corporate Trainer will come in handy in helping our congregation grow. As the Apostle Paul said, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.” (Romans 8:28-39) We are a family.

I pray that God will plant new dreams in our hearts this year and that we will be receptive to God’s voice. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Amen.