Fully Alive in God

M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Deut. 18:15–20; S./Ps. 111; 1 Cor. 8:1–13; S. Mar. 1:21–28) “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.  El conocimiento hincha de orgullo, en tanto que el amor edifica la comunidad.” In the recent film “Rustin” (Netflix, 2023), we learn about the civil rights organizer Bayard Rustin. A good friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rustin was a controversial figure because he was gay. Bayard Rustin no fue popular con todos en el movimiento para derechos civiles porque fue homosexual, pero fue muy comprometido al movimiento para cambio entre los Afro-Americanos en los EEUU. Yet he was a committed and immensely talented organizer who was also very valued by many in the civil rights organizing community, not only for his gifts but also for his personal charm and charisma. Throughout the film, we learn not only how he pulled together the March on Washington in record time, but also about how he did so while facing those who wanted to discredit an...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Jonah 3:1–5, 10; Psalm 62:6–14; 1 Corinthians 7:29–31; Mark 1:14–20) “Revenge?” I heard this word several times earlier this week as Alene and I caught up on the last few episodes of the show “The Crown” (Netflix, 2023). It came up whenever a pair of the royals finished a game of cards or chess, and it was funny to me. A small vestige of their past as the tyrannical kings and queens who would literally kill or maim or steal a throne in revenge. Now just revenge amongst themselves as a form of play. Revenge is fairly baked into human nature. The human sense of a leader is often one who will uphold that which is right, if necessary, avenging one who has been wronged. One who will show might and power in the face of oppression. Sometimes this is a very good thing. But then, sometimes, God shows us a totally different way. Let us look at Jonah. To give you some background, Nineveh was the worst. Think of the most oppressive regime, fi...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Jonás 3:1–5, 10; Salmo 62:6–14; 1 Corintios 7:29–31; San Marcos 1:14–20) "Revenge? / ¿Venganza?" Escuché esta palabra varias veces a principios de esta semana cuando Alene y yo nos pusimos al día con los últimos episodios del programa “The Crown” (Netflix, 2023). Surgía cada vez que una pareja de la realeza terminaba una partida de cartas o de ajedrez, y era algo interesante para mí. Un pequeño vestigio de su pasado como reyes y reinas tiránicos que literalmente mataban, mutilaban o robaban un trono en venganza. Ahora la venganza solo existe entre ellos como una forma de juego. La venganza está bastante integrada en la naturaleza humana. El sentido humano de un líder es a menudo el de defender lo que es correcto, si es necesario, vengando a quien ha sido agraviado. Alguien que mostrará fuerza y poder frente a la opresión. We humans expect a leader to show force if necessary, in the face of oppression or wrong. A veces esto es...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11–20); Ps. 139:1–5, 12–17; 1 Cor. 6:12–20; John 1:43–51)   Do you hear what I hear? Do you see what I see? We heard our youth reflecting on “do you see what I see” during the pageant this year just a few weeks ago. And today we have Nathaniel “seeing” Jesus in his call. Several times in this passage, Jesus and Nathaniel speak about seeing. “Come and See”, says Phillip. And Jesus says to Nathaniel “I saw you under the fig tree.” Similarly, rather than seeing, we read about Samuel hearing God’s call to him. “Samuel! Samuel!” First, he says “Here I am!” thinking it is Eli summoning him. Then Eli directs him to say: “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Seeing and hearing are important aspects of today’s texts, but they also form part of the theme for this Epiphany season. It is a season that began last week with the revelation of Jesus to the whole world ...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11–20); Salmo 139:1–5, 12–17; 1 Corintios 6:12–20; San Juan 1:43–51) Do you hear what I hear? Do you see what I see? Hace tres semanas en Nochebuena, escuchamos a nuestros jóvenes reflejando en esta canción que habla de cómo vemos y escuchamos a Dios en el mundo. Hoy día tenemos a Natanael, viendo Jesús en su llamado a ser un discípulo. “Ven y compruébalo” le dice Felipe a Natanael, y luego Jesús le dice a Natanael “Te vi antes que Felipe te llamara, debajo del higo.” Y en la lectura sobre Samuel escuchamos que el escucha la voz del Señor. “Samuel!” dice Dios y el responde, “Aquí estoy,” pensando que le llama Eli. Luego, Eli le dice que debe decir: “Habla, que tu siervo escucha.” Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Ver y escuchar son aspectos importantes no solo de las lecturas de hoy, pero también forman parte del tema para este tiempo de Epifanía. Empezando la semana pasada con la revelación de Jes...