Confessions of a Pewster

I believe that we are born with discriminating eyes. We first see our mother's face, and research has shown that when males pick a mate, that person tends to have similar facial features to his mother.

I guess that makes all males racists.

The definition of "racist" has been changing lately. If you or anyone you have been in association with committed a macro or microaggression against any group you are now called a "racist". Even if you criticize Islamist terrorists, you will be called a racist despite the fact that there is no "Islamic race".

I must now confess that I must be a racist too.

My best school friend in second grade was a boy named Emile. I didn't pay much attention to his skin color at the time. I was more struck by the way he dressed. It was different from the other kids. He wore the same khaki uniform that was required at the Catholic school. He may have attended a Catholic school before joining my public school. I believe he was the second dark skinned kid in our school, the first being my friend and neighbor Michael Diaz.

When it came time to invite kids over for my birthday, I wanted to invite Emile. I was quite upset when my mother told me that Emile could not come, that it would be uncomfortable for him and for his parents. We could not be friends outside of school because that was "just not done".  Not so for Michael Diaz who was welcome to come.

To this day the hurt persists.

My parents took me out of public school the next year, and I never saw Emile again. Full on integration was beginning to change the public school system in my historically ethnically diverse Southern city .

My older brother stayed in public school for two more years until he was assaulted in the restroom over a nickel, and a teacher was assaulted in the hall by a student.

We were both placed in a lily white Episcopal school and received a first class education with the exception of Bible studies of which there were none. There was a course in High School called "Comparative World Religions", but that was more of an apologetic for Islam, Hinduism, etc. My advanced classes prevented me from fulfilling all of my religion requirements, so in order to graduate, I had to do an independent research study relating to Ethics. I chose as my subject "The Ethics of Thermonuclear War" because I had a lot of material left over from a Physics project on "Surviving Nuclear War". My foray into Ethics must have impressed the priest who was supervising me because I got an A.

As far as racial diversity in my Episcopal school, we had one girl of Japanese descent, and any other interactions with different races came on the athletic field.

It wasn't until college and post graduate work that I would make friends with members of other races, but I knew better than to invite them to my parents' house for dinner.

My parents attitudes improved as they got older, but repentance doesn't count for much in the cancel culture in which we currently live.

By today's definition, I think I would be classified as a racist.

But by today's definition, I can be whatever or whomever I self-identify as on any given day.

I self-identify as a non-racist.

So there!

The Kingdom of Heaven is like...

This Sunday's reading from Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Jesus talks in similes to teach us about the kingdom of Heaven,

"He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.' 

He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’ 

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 

 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, 

‘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.'"

Again this week Jesus puts the fear of  the final judgement to us quite graphically. Let us pray that pewsitters hear a proper exposition from the pulpit.

I find the last simile a bit puzzling. I have to think that it is an endorsement of the work of the Gospel writers

Register to Watch Martin Luther on Trial

I invite everyone to watch this play "Martin Luther on Trial" on August 2 from 4-7 pm. I saw it on stage and enjoyed it very much. This company put on "The Screwtape Letters" as well which I saw off Broadway.

Here is the blurb for Martin Luther on Trial,

A virtual presentation of this acclaimed production featuring the original cast erupts in an afterlife trial for the soul of Martin Luther…at Lucifer’s request.
This fantastical courtroom drama features Hitler, Freud, MLK Jr and Pope Francis as witnesses, a reenactment of Satan’s rebellion and his failed attempt to enlist Michael the Archangel!
All this along with a thorough examination of Luther’s life and his loving relationship with Katie Von Bora. And did we mention how funny it is?
No FPA production has generated more audience excitement than Martin Luther on Trial. Plus, a live talkback with Max McLean follows the event.
For for information visit www.fpatheatre.com.

You have to register to watch.

To register click here.

Don't Fear The Reaper

This Sunday's reading from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 should put the fear of hellfire and damnation into everyone with the exception of your average revisionist preacher and his/her/its congregation.

He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Once again, this week Jesus provides a clear explanation of his parable. How can anyone mess this up?

I am afraid that all too often I have heard the "weeds" referred to as our "cares and worries that slow our spiritual development" and how wonderful it will be when we meet our maker and all of those weeds are removed from us. There is no mention of "evil doers" because there is no such thing as evil in the revisionist's dictionary as everything these days is relative making it impossible to distinguish between good and evil.

According to the parable, the angels are to be our reapers. Is this something to be feared?

As a Christian, you should not fear the reaper. He will embrace you lovingly when the end comes.

Listen to the classic Blue Oyster Cult hit, "Don't Fear the Reaper", a song that was often misinterpreted as being about suicide due to an unfortunate reference to Romeo and Juliette, but it is a song which the songwriter claimed is about love surviving beyond death, and when you listen, imagine an angel rather than a grim reaper, and I think you might have a new appreciation of the song.

On Women's Ordination

While there is a lot that I don't buy in Constance T. Hull's argument against women's ordination (in the Roman Catholic Church), I do agree with much the following,

If a woman’s primary objective is having a place of authority within the hierarchy when she argues for equality, then she is misunderstanding both the nature of the priesthood and her call to serve Christ as a woman in the Church. Any movement on the part of men or women in the Church that is predicated on power in relation to the priesthood becomes unmoored from the priesthood Christ instituted at the Last Supper.

When Our Lord instituted His priesthood, He did so by showing His apostles that to be one of His priests is to be a man of service and radical self-emptying. It is to abandon the desire for power, honor, and status in the world in order to take the lowest place on the cross. They are not to lord over the world, or even the Church. Instead, they’re to follow the path of the Suffering Servant who pours Himself out in kenotic love to the Father for the salvation of the world. This means any argument for equality between the sexes that focuses on women’s ordination and greater power for women within the Church is the antithesis of what and Whom the priesthood represents.

Women's ordination is a polarizing subject. I don't think it should be since the Bible speaks of women playing important roles in the early Church, but not as part of the apostolic succession. Bishops are clearly required to be men of good virtue and married only once as are Deacons (1 Timothy 3).

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

In the United States, most local churches are probably run by women whether women's ordination is permitted or not. Some denominations stick to 1 Timothy 3, others have chosen to ignore it.

What else do they choose to ignore?

Where Have All The Sowers Gone?

This Sunday's lesson from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 contains the parable of the sower. I have included the missing verses in red letters because they fit in perfectly with the theme of evangelism and the difficulties that even the Lord himself faces in planting the good seeds of his message,

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  Let anyone with ears listen!’

 (Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:“You will indeed listen, but never understand,   and you will indeed look, but never perceive.For this people’s heart has grown dull,   and their ears are hard of hearing,     and they have shut their eyes;     so that they might not look with their eyes,   and listen with their ears,and understand with their heart and turn—   and I would heal them.”But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 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.)

‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

This passage does not need much in the way of clarification since Jesus provides it to all those who have ears and will listen.

In thinking about the present, a question comes to mind, "Do we not have enough sowers of the good seed, or do we have too many sowers of bad seed, or is the problem that of the sower in the parable in which the root of the difficulty lies within us?

The answer in probably "all of the above".

We need more good sowers, fewer bad ones, more receptive ground, and less worldly concern.

The weeds will always be with us as will drought.

Pray for seasonal rain, fertile ground, and good sowers of the Gospel of Jesus.

Polyamory Legalized in Massachusetts City, Polygamy: In Through the Back Door

 Polygamy has taken its first baby steps towards legalization. We all knew it was going to happen once same-sex marriages were given the okay.

As reported by the Catholic News Agency the liberal northeast opens a back door for polygamists to enter,

 The city of Somerville, Massachusetts, has broadened its definition of domestic partnership to give polyamorous relationships the same rights as a married couple.

City councilor J.T. Scott, quoted in the New York Times, said that he believes this to be the first ordinance of its kind in the United States...

“'People have been living in families that include more than two adults forever,' said Scott..." 

"Scott was quoted as saying that the new ordinance would legally recognize someone as having more than one domestic partner, regardless of the nature of that relationship..."

“'I don’t think it’s the place of the government to tell people what is or is not a family,' said city councilor Lance Davis, who drafted the domestic partnership ordinance.
'Defining families is something that historically we’ve gotten quite wrong as a society, and we ought not to continue to try and undertake to do so,' said Davis."

I heard the same arguments from the LGBT crowd with the exception that the Somerville Council was not quoted as saying anything about not standing in the way of "love".

Somerville is a city located directly to the northwest of Boston, and north of Cambridge. As of 2019, the United States Census estimated the city to have a total population of 81,360 people.

Somerville has a single tiny Episcopal parish,

St James Episcopal Church (Somerville, MA) 

Attendance: 17 

Membership: 21

I don't expect them to put up a fight against this. In fact, they might even be first in line to bless the poly's. A brief look at their web pages finds that they appear to practice communion of the unbaptized, and their "bridge priest" is a social justice warrior who writes,

" I continue to stand weekly, silently and with face-covering in Watertown Square, in solidarity with others residing in Watertown who work, publicly and privately, to eradicate social injustice wherever that societal illness seeks to destroy our common humanity."

I doubt that he will be standing in Watertown Square to protest the societal illness of polyamory.

People of Somerville, your nearest Anglican Church is in Boston. Get thee hence.

Pasteurized Jesus

This Sunday's reading from Matthew 11:16-19,25-30 contains a curious deletion: verses 20-24. 

16 ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,17 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;   we wailed, and you did not mourn.”18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’ 

25 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

So why did most sleepy eyed Sunday morning churchgoers miss verses 20-24? Let's read them and see,

20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. 21‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?   No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.’ 

Did Jesus really say that? How you answer that will define your brand of Christianity. 

The real Jesus is tough. He comes down hard on those who reject him.

The pasteurized version of Jesus that most churchgoers heard about this Sunday morning is far more dangerous to the world than the real Jesus. 

Love Your Enemy: If Only They Would Listen to Jesus

There is a Gospel reading for Independence Day, and it is from Matthew 5:43-48,

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

America obtained its independence from the enemies of liberty only after a long and bloody revolutionary war which begs the question: "How do we love our enemy as Jesus commands us when that enemy is out to kill us, is out to deprive us of freedom, or is out of his mind crazy?"

In today's society, loving your enemy appears to mean that you let them continue on whatever path of self destruction they have chosen, and sometimes it means allowing them to destroy other persons, places or things either by their actions or by their words.

Sometimes loving your enemy means locking him up or even putting him down.

That is the only way for a free people to remain free. 

Prayer Request

This past Sunday, my neighbor was hospitalized with the corona virus. He is elderly and has a serious comorbidity affecting multiple organ systems. Pewsterspouse and I were in his house briefly on Friday. We shared some watermelon with his spouse on the porch while he stayed inside. So far, we are fine. Please pray for him and his family who were in closer contact than with him than us. His name is Jim.

Lord, watch over Jim and his family. Give them the strength to get through this illness. Hear our prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.