Mary van Balen

In his book, "Dictionary of Biblical Theology," Xavier Leon-Dufour points out that in the OT, the Israelite understanding of divine kingship differed from that of other ancient Eastern kingdoms in an essential way: Yahweh has a covenant with his people. He desires his reign to be recognized by obedience to the Law. His reign is of the heart, a moral code, not a political one. (p 292)

In today's gospel, after his baptism, Jesus has moved to Capernaum, on the Sea of Galliee and beings his public ministry by declaring the "Kingdom of heaven is at hand." Then he began teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and curing people. A sign, it seems, that the kingdom had indeed come in the person of Jesus. It has broken into history, into time and space.

People came from all over to see and hear Jesus. They brought the sick, the mentally ill, the suffering, and he cured them. They may have been simply curious. They may have been desperate, unable to find relief from suffering and giving this guy a chance. I doubt many believed he was the Christ at that moment. Maybe after a cure. Maybe not. Maybe they thought he was a wonderworker or magician. Read More 

Maybe it's because I just had a conversation with my sister about the Roman Catholic church's secrecy around its position paper on transsexuality. (Even enlisting the help of members of the hierarchy, I could not access the Vatican's position document on transsexuality issued "sub secretum" in 2000 and later sent to presidents of bishops' conferences.)

Maybe it's because I have written and talked to political representatives about passing laws to provide job and housing protection for transsexuals to no avail.

Maybe it's because I have a transsexual daughter.

Maybe it's because I have admired the Episcopalian's willingness to discuss difficult moral issues openly and to include in the conversation everyone from the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to the person in the pew. (Saint Benedict would be proud. See Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 3

Maybe it's because, like so many others, I grow tired of waiting.

Maybe it's all of the above. No matter. I am heartened by the Episcopalian decision to officially welcome and include transgender people in the ranks of clergy as well as adding transgender people to the non-discrimination canons. I agree with Rev. Susan Russell who said in her column, Episcopal Church Makes Landmark Decision for Transgender Inclusion, July 9, 2012 was a good day to be an Episcopalian.

A good day to be someone who trusts that the Spirit is dynamically present in the people of God, and that includes me and you and the two ladies down the street, and the young child who is afraid to say anything about how she is feeling about the wrongness of her body. A good day to be someone who trusts that the Spirit has something to say to the rest of us through the experience of their lives.

 Read More 

IMAGE:Our Lady of Gudalupe

The Mother of Heaven was standing in the very same place where he had first seen her. He knelt before her and said:
"Lady, my Child, tiniest of my children, I went to fulfill thy command. I saw the prelate and related to him thy message. By his reply I realised he did not think it to be thy order. Send, Lady, a person of mark that he may believe it. My lady, I am a paltry fellow, a man of straw, a bumpkin, a commoner and Thou my child, my lady, didst send me to a place I go not, where I stay me not. Forgive me the great grief I cause thee, lady and mistress mine."

"Listen, my son, least of my sons," the Most Holy Virgin answered him, "Many are my servants whom I can charge with my message; yet I wish it to be thou to make my petition, to help by thy mediation my will to be accomplished. I charge thee, go again to the bishop, tell him again that the Holy Mary, Virgin Eternal, Mother of God, sends thee."
from Nican Mopohua 1545 by by Don Antonio Valeriano

The small parish church I attend has a large number of Mexican members. For a few Sundays over the past month they have held a food sale featuring a wide variety of homemade Mexican dishes from tamales to tres leche. Everything is $1 and I never go away hungry. The sale raises money for the procession and celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The feast commemorates the apparitions of Mary to a poor Indian, Juan Diego, in 1531. She requested that a church be built at the top of the hill where they stood and instructed Juan Diego to carry her message to the bishop. He did, but the bishop did not believe him. Juan Diego returned to the hill and spoke with Mary, who sent him back to the bishop with her request.

On his fourth visit with Mary, she instructed him to gather roses growing on the snowy hill. She arranged them in his cloak and sent him back to the bishop with a sign he had requested. When Juan was admitted to see the bishop and opened his cloak to show him the flowers, the blooms tumbled onto the floor revealing an image on the inside of the cloak of Mary as Juan had seen her. The bishop fell to his knees and soon the church project was underway.

Over the years, the validity of this story has been questioned, as all miraculous events are. Scrutinized by unbelievers or others curious about such things, the cloak is preserved and displayed at the church on the hill of Tepeyacac near Mexico City. Juan Diego was canonized a saint in the Catholic Church in 2002.

Whether or not one believes that the image appeared miraculously on Diego's tilma or not, the story has something to teach us. Read More 

PHOTO: Mary van Balen
"On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food...And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples...Then the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces...Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation for the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain." Is 25:6a,7a,8a9b.10 (from today;s Mass readings)

Both the first reading and the gospel from today's Mass present a warm and compelling picture of our God. Everything about the two accounts pulls us toward the Lord who is generous beyond anything we have experienced. I read these passages and think: "I want to be there." This God is irresistible. Read More