I want to take a moment to address something that concerns, no bothers, me. One of the most common things I hear is, "aren't you awfully young to be an Archbishop?". I respond with "no younger then John, Peter, Paul, or Jesus." I usually get a strange look at that point.
People tend to forget that Jesus was only 33 at most when crucified. Peter was the first Pope while being somewhere between 26-30 years of age. John was baptizing in the River Jordan before turning 30 years old. Paul was 34 when he converted to Christianity and in his early 40's when he began telling others what makes a good minister and bishop. Where does the old men come into play? Where did the women go that Jesus had appointed through Mary to lead? Jesus taught to rebel against the Jewish temple laws and to live a life devoted to God the Father.
Today, it has all been thrown to confusion with old men sitting on thrones telling younger men what to do. Women banned from standing at the pulpit or leading others like Mary once did. Forgiveness has become confused with a blind eye. And most importantly LOVE has been transformed to "not my problem, not my life". We are not practicing the true Christianity that Jesus taught some 2000 years ago. We are teaching a twisted form that has benefited those in power to remain and those without to be subservient to those who have.
We need to have that radical aspect back in our lives today to truly live a life that was taught to us. It isn't easy to love everyone. It isn't easy to be concerned for those around you in their times of need. We have generations of mistakes to correct but I'm confident that if we try others will try and that will be a great start for our children. Stand strong. Stand united. Mostly, stand with faith in what you believe.
Yours in Faith,
Archbishop Isaac L Kramer
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
Season of Family
The air begins to fill with the wonderful aroma of spiced cranberry, cookies baking in the oven, and the crackling sounds of a fire going. As we sit on our favorite spot admiring the music of our favorite holiday tone while relaxing to a cup of hot chocolate. This of course only happens in a perfect world, unless you are Martha Stewart. Today we have the bustling sounds of horns and sirens as we drive like maniacs from one shopping center to another stopping for a quick bite to eat before dashing off to another year end sale. We begin to think about our to do list of presents to purchase and how many more shopping days are left until the dreaded morning of the paper shredding ceremony aka Christmas Day. Let us not forget about the real reason behind this time of year, family.
December always leaves my heart full of compassion and joy for those around me, including my family. Most of us consider family as blood relatives, but let us not forget about those whom we have adopted into our lives. The purpose behind every story related to all religions is always overlooked. When we look at the oil lamps of Hanukkah we think of the miracle of it lasting and the greatness of Elohim. Regarding the birth of Jesus for the Christians we are focused on Mary and the virgin birth. Last we are left with the rebirth of the Great God who left us at Samhain. All of these have a theme of God, but there is another theme overlooked, family.
Each story tells about the struggle of a family who stuck together through difficult times in their lives. Family of not only blood, but of close friends who chose in that moment to be a part of magnificent changes in history, without ever knowing the effect they would have. As we approach the Feast of Togetherness this month, let us not forget the main ingredient in our holiday meal, family. Take a moment and spend time together with those who you consider to yours and have a wonderfully blessed season together.
In the fullness of Faith,
Most Rev. Dr. Isaac L. Kramer, Ph.D. Meta.
Presiding Archbishop
December always leaves my heart full of compassion and joy for those around me, including my family. Most of us consider family as blood relatives, but let us not forget about those whom we have adopted into our lives. The purpose behind every story related to all religions is always overlooked. When we look at the oil lamps of Hanukkah we think of the miracle of it lasting and the greatness of Elohim. Regarding the birth of Jesus for the Christians we are focused on Mary and the virgin birth. Last we are left with the rebirth of the Great God who left us at Samhain. All of these have a theme of God, but there is another theme overlooked, family.
Each story tells about the struggle of a family who stuck together through difficult times in their lives. Family of not only blood, but of close friends who chose in that moment to be a part of magnificent changes in history, without ever knowing the effect they would have. As we approach the Feast of Togetherness this month, let us not forget the main ingredient in our holiday meal, family. Take a moment and spend time together with those who you consider to yours and have a wonderfully blessed season together.
In the fullness of Faith,
Most Rev. Dr. Isaac L. Kramer, Ph.D. Meta.
Presiding Archbishop
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Good Friday/Black Friday
It seems that I have taken up being a Bishop of controversial topics and this one will be no different. But at the same time, it should be enlightening for most.
I referred to Good Friday as also Black Friday. Black Friday is one of the other names for that day. I find myself often saying Black Friday instead of Good Friday. There is a reason. Not all good came from Jesus's crucifixion. According to most Christian traditions, Jesus died for the sins of humanity, but let's say for a moment he didn't.
What if he was actually showing us through his Crucifixion our sins. After all, his first of seven sayings on the cross was "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34. Is that not saying to God that we have sinned by crucifying an innocent man? Some would come back with the fact that Jesus prophesied that his death was essential for the salvation of humanity. Did we possible misinterpret that though? We assumed that it was because he took our sins. This will help support my cause even more. Luke 23:28 "At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children.'"
"Cry for yourselves", interesting statement for someone who died for our sins. The passage goes on to state that they who do not have children should be lucky. Why would they be lucky to not have children if we were coming into a day of "salvation" of our sins?
Let's backtrack a little here for a quick moment. Jesus was preaching God's love for everyone. What made him deserve any less? Now some people will be quick to point fingers and blame the Jewish community. "Oh, they are the one's who crucified him", and so forth. However, others had a say and chose to let a murderer go free instead. Not all of them were Jewish who "voted" by cheering for his Jesus's crucifixion.
So now we get to "place blame" onto those outside the Jewish community, but we still aren't done yet. If those who lined the streets weren't all Jewish why didn't they rally to support Jesus? Instead they spat on him, cursed him, laughed at him, and wouldn't help him. Wait, there is one person who did help, Simon from Cyrene. He was ordered to carry the cross, but he didn't refuse or fuss. For a moment, Simon bore the weight of the fate of humanity. He carried the cross out of love and compassion for Jesus all the way to Skull Hill. This is loving your neighbor. The cross was too heavy for Jesus to carry and Simon "loved his neighbor" and carried it all the way.
Now they reached Skull Hill and the Romans began the actual art of crucifying. With each nail driven into the body was the fate of human sins. They no longer loved, they longed for a show. They stood around the cross taunting Jesus, "Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then!" Matthew 27:42. Even the "criminals" who were crucified beside him mocked him. Wow. At this point why save anyone from their sins?
What we seem to forget is what happens next. Jesus "died" on the cross and the sun went black in the sky, the earth quaked, the Temple curtain ripped top to bottom, and tombs opened. Does this sound like our sins were redeemed? It sounds like justice to me. God was getting vengeance for crucifying a messenger. Everyone was scared to death. I always pictured "salvation" to be a little more peaceful and calm, didn't you?
Perhaps it is because Jesus didn't actually die for our sins. He died because of our sins to show us how we are wrong in our actions. It is not okay to take pleasure in others sorrow. It is not okay to accuse the innocent. It is not okay to bare false witness against your neighbor. Mostly it is not okay to hate/dislike/mistreat others, including your God.
These are the sins that are brought to light when you really look at Black Friday. We should be remembering his crucifixion as our own towards one another and ourselves. It should be a day of love, respect, and compassion. Once we start following and believing that, Black Friday will once again be Good Friday.
In Faith,
+Isaac
I referred to Good Friday as also Black Friday. Black Friday is one of the other names for that day. I find myself often saying Black Friday instead of Good Friday. There is a reason. Not all good came from Jesus's crucifixion. According to most Christian traditions, Jesus died for the sins of humanity, but let's say for a moment he didn't.
What if he was actually showing us through his Crucifixion our sins. After all, his first of seven sayings on the cross was "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34. Is that not saying to God that we have sinned by crucifying an innocent man? Some would come back with the fact that Jesus prophesied that his death was essential for the salvation of humanity. Did we possible misinterpret that though? We assumed that it was because he took our sins. This will help support my cause even more. Luke 23:28 "At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children.'"
"Cry for yourselves", interesting statement for someone who died for our sins. The passage goes on to state that they who do not have children should be lucky. Why would they be lucky to not have children if we were coming into a day of "salvation" of our sins?
Let's backtrack a little here for a quick moment. Jesus was preaching God's love for everyone. What made him deserve any less? Now some people will be quick to point fingers and blame the Jewish community. "Oh, they are the one's who crucified him", and so forth. However, others had a say and chose to let a murderer go free instead. Not all of them were Jewish who "voted" by cheering for his Jesus's crucifixion.
So now we get to "place blame" onto those outside the Jewish community, but we still aren't done yet. If those who lined the streets weren't all Jewish why didn't they rally to support Jesus? Instead they spat on him, cursed him, laughed at him, and wouldn't help him. Wait, there is one person who did help, Simon from Cyrene. He was ordered to carry the cross, but he didn't refuse or fuss. For a moment, Simon bore the weight of the fate of humanity. He carried the cross out of love and compassion for Jesus all the way to Skull Hill. This is loving your neighbor. The cross was too heavy for Jesus to carry and Simon "loved his neighbor" and carried it all the way.
Now they reached Skull Hill and the Romans began the actual art of crucifying. With each nail driven into the body was the fate of human sins. They no longer loved, they longed for a show. They stood around the cross taunting Jesus, "Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then!" Matthew 27:42. Even the "criminals" who were crucified beside him mocked him. Wow. At this point why save anyone from their sins?
What we seem to forget is what happens next. Jesus "died" on the cross and the sun went black in the sky, the earth quaked, the Temple curtain ripped top to bottom, and tombs opened. Does this sound like our sins were redeemed? It sounds like justice to me. God was getting vengeance for crucifying a messenger. Everyone was scared to death. I always pictured "salvation" to be a little more peaceful and calm, didn't you?
Perhaps it is because Jesus didn't actually die for our sins. He died because of our sins to show us how we are wrong in our actions. It is not okay to take pleasure in others sorrow. It is not okay to accuse the innocent. It is not okay to bare false witness against your neighbor. Mostly it is not okay to hate/dislike/mistreat others, including your God.
These are the sins that are brought to light when you really look at Black Friday. We should be remembering his crucifixion as our own towards one another and ourselves. It should be a day of love, respect, and compassion. Once we start following and believing that, Black Friday will once again be Good Friday.
In Faith,
+Isaac
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