Quiz of the Day, July 2018

Quiz of the Day, July 31, 2018

The "Spiritual Exercises" which derived from Ignatius Loyola might best be characterized as which of the following?

a. achieving no mind
b. devotional reading of the Bible
c. visualization of one's participation in Gospel events
d. fasting, solitude and repetition of mantras

Quiz of the Day, July 30, 2018

Where did the sibling trio of Mary, Martha and Lazarus live?

a. Bethphage
b. Emmaus
c. Jerusalem
d. Bethany

Quiz of the Day, July 29, 2018

Who did God ordain as the immediate successor of Joshua after his death?

a. Caleb
b. Judah
c. a series of Judges
d. high priests
e. no one in particular

Quiz of the Day, July 28, 2018

Whom of the following was the most prolific composer?

a. J.S. Bach
b. G.F. Handel
c. H. Purcell
d. G.P. Telemann

Quiz of the Day, July 27, 2018

Which leader of Israel commanded the sun and the moon to "stand still" so that a battle could be prolonged?

a. Moses
b. David
c. Gideon
d. Deborah
e. Joshua

Quiz of the Day, July 26, 2018

The government of which dictator was responsible for the martyrdom of Charles Raymond Barnes?

a. Duvalier
b. Trujillo
c. Castro
d. Somoza 

Quiz of the Day, July 25, 2018

Which of the following is not true about James the Apostle?

a. first martyred apostle
b. one of the sons of Thunder
c. son of Zebedee
d. present at the Transfiguration
e. challenged Judas for his mismanagement of money

Quiz of the Day, July 24, 2018

Which Thomas wrote "The Imitation of Christ?"

a. Becket
b. Aquinas
c.  à Kempis
d. the Apostle

Quiz of the Day, July 23, 2018

In Dan Brown's novel, "The Da Vinci Code," which of the following is not presented as true of Mary Magdalene?

a. she was the wife of Jesus
b. she bore a child by Jesus
c. she was the beloved disciple in the Gospel of John
d. she was a member of the priestly tribe of Levi

Quiz of the Day, July 22, 2018

When Paul went on trial before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, he was able to divide the Sadducees and Pharisees over what?

a. belief in angels
b. belief in the resurrection
c. belief in spirit
d. all of the above

Quiz of the Day, July 21, 2018

Which of the following was not part of the battle plan to take the fortified city of Jericho?

a. archers raining down arrows
b. marching around the city led by the ark of the covenant
c. blowing rams' horns
d. making a loud sustain shout

Quiz of the Day, July 20, 2018

Stanton, Bloomer, Truth and Tubman are famous women associated with which of the following?

a. women's right
b. abolition
c. temperance
d. women's under clothing
e. all of the above

Quiz of the Day, July 19, 2018

Of the following, which might be the best appellation of Macrina the Elder and Macrina the Younger?

a. Syrian women saints
b. Founders of convents
c. Cappadocian Mothers
d. Anchoress saints

Quiz of the Day, July 18, 2018

When did the waters of the Jordan part for the people of Israel to cross over?

a. when Joshua gave the command
b. when Moses gave the command
c. when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant stepped into the water
d. when the ram's horn was blown

Quiz of the Day, July 17, 2018

Which American bishop was responsible for crafting the polity of the young Episcopal Church in the former British Colonies, to mimic the bicameral democratic process of the American government?

a. Samuel Seabury
b. Philander Chase
c. William White
d. James Madison
e. Samuel Provoost

Quiz of the Day, July 16, 2018

Which of the following is not true about Rahab?

a. she was resident of Jericho
b. she was a prostitute
c. she predicted the defeat of Jericho by Israel
d. she died when Joshua led the attack on Jericho
e. she harbored two spies of Israel in Jericho

Quiz of the Day, July 15, 2018

What was the last barrier for the Israelites to enter the "Promised Land?"

a.  the warring Moabites
b. Mount Nebo
c. the Jordan River
d. the Red Sea

Quiz of the Day, July 14, 2018

How did Moses die?

a. of old age
b. a battle wound
c. at the command of the Lord
d. his heart was broken for not being allowed to enter the Promise Land

Quiz of the Day, July 13, 2018

Who was the young girl who danced for King Herod and was coaxed by her mother to ask for the head of John the Baptist?

a. Salome
b. Herodias
c. daughter of Herodias
d. wife of Philip 
e. all of the above

Quiz of the Day, July 12, 2018

Moses was not permitted to go into the Promise Land for what reason?

a. Joshua was the chosen one to do that
b. God punished Moses because he struck the Rock to get water instead of speaking to it
c. Moses died before reaching the Promised Land
d. Aaron the High Priest prophesied that Moses would not reach the Promised Land

Quiz of the Day, July 11, 2018

What saint is credited with "The Rule?"

a. St. Francis
b. St. Bernard
c. St. Benedict
d. St. Ignatius Loyola

Quiz of the Day, July 10, 2018

What was a city of refuge designated for in the book of Numbers?

a. a sanctuary city for the poor
b. a place for one who killed to be protected until proper trial
c. a place for the provision of food
d. a place for aliens to be integrated

Quiz of the Day, July 9, 2018

Why did the Gadites and the Reubenites have a disagreement with Moses?

a. they did not want to go into the Promised Land
b. they wanted to remain on the east side of the Jordon to graze their herds
c. they were in a disagreement with the tribe of Dan
d. they did not want Joshua as their new leader

Quiz of the Day, July 8, 2018

How was the successor to Moses chosen?

a. the High Priest Aaron received the message from God in the Holiest of Holies of the tabernacle
b. the people voted
c. God told Noah to make Joshua his successor
d. Joshua became the heir apparent when Caleb withdrew

Quiz of the Day, July 7, 2018

Who said that in heaven we will not marry but that we will be like angels?

a. Paul
b. John the Baptist
c. Jesus
d. Solomon

Quiz of the Day, July 6, 2018

Which Church Council decided to put to death the reformer preacher, John Hus?

a. Lyon
b. Trent
c. Constance
d. Vatican I

Quiz of the Day, July 5, 2018

In a parable of Jesus, a King saw a man without proper wedding dress at the feast.  What did the King do?

a. he provided a wedding garment
b. he made him leave the room
c. he had him sit next to him 
d. he had him bound and cast into outer darkness

Quiz of the Day, July 4, 2018

Which of the following is not true about the life of faith of first President, George Washington?

a. he was baptized into the Church of England
b. he serve on the vestry of his parish
c. he paid for pews at several churches
d. from his diaries he indicates that he went to church 14 or 16 times in a year
e. he would leave church before communion
f.  he did not have a Masonic rite burial

Quiz of the Day, July 3, 2018

Why did Balaam's donkey refuse to continue on the road forward?

a. the donkey was busying talking to Balaam
b. Balaam's donkey saw an angel blocking passage
c. Balaam's donkey was resisting Balaam's beating
d. the King of Moab brought mad dogs to stop him

Quiz of the Day, July 2, 2018

Which of the following is not true about the prophet Balaam?

a. he took a bribe from the King of Moab
b. he heard a donkey speak to him
c. he refused a bribe to issue a curse
d. the King of Moab wanted him to issue a curse against Israel

Quiz of the Day, July 1, 2018

Whom of the following made connections with the Greek poets by stating that we live and move and have our being in God and that we are God's offspring?

a. Peter
b. Ben Sirach
c. Paul
d. Timothy

A Little Boy Began the Domino Effect

10 Pentecost cycle b proper 12     July 29, 2018

2 Kings 4:42-44  Psalm 145: 10-19

Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6:1-21

 Lectionary Link

Catherine: Today we have read about the feeding of a large crowd by Jesus in the wilderness.

Caroline: Today, a large multitude of people are being fed garlic products in the Gilroy garlic festival.  Some of our friends are working at this garlic festival at booths for their organizations.

Catherine: We are not here to eat garlic though we can smell it in the air.

Caroline: Jesus fed the multitude with bread and fish and the multitude who were crowded together for this great picnic are probably glad that garlic was not served.  Can you imagine the garlic smog breath in such a large crowd?

Catherine: Since it is youth Sunday, I would like to suggest to you that the Gospel story that we have read is about the youth and the youth contribution to the church, the family, schools and many other places.

Caroline: You mean by being experts in texting, gaming and downloading itunes?

Catherine: No, I mean that when we do something, it can be discounted as something small but something small can really start something big.

Caroline: Like what?

Catherine: It is what is called the domino effect.  You know when you line up dominoes and when you push the first domino, it begins a chain reaction and soon, one by one, all the dominoes fall.  And it is spectacular to watch.

Caroline: But what is the domino effect in our Gospel story?

Catherine: Well, I believe that a little boy and his lunch started everything happening.

Caroline: How so?

Catherine: Jesus saw the crowd and wanted to feed them since they had come out into the wilderness and so he presented the problem to his disciples.

Caroline: The disciples surveyed the situation and said, "We can't feed this large crowd.  We took an inventory and the only food we have is the lunch that has been offered by a young man."

Catherine: And what did Jesus say?  “That's enough.”   And then he made the miracle happen.

Caroline: It is kind of like the parish picnic and the parish brunch.  We look at the list of people who signed up to bring food and it's only a few people.  But when we arrive at the picnic and the brunch we find tons of food and more than enough to eat.

Catherine: It is like the little boy primed the generosity pump.  When he gave his lunch that his mom had packed for him, he became the example for everyone.

Caroline: How so?

Catherine: Well this is what I imagined happened.  I imagine Jesus knew about the crowd.  He knew that the all of the crowd was not without food.  He knew that many people were just like the little boy; they had packed a lunch for themselves, but they kept it hidden.

Caroline: He also knew about kosher laws.  He knew that people would not share food or eating together if they did not know how the food was prepared.  This is why everyone kept food for themselves.

Catherine: The little boy was not concerned about kosher rules; he was ready to share his food with others.

Caroline: So, I can imagine Jesus taking the food given by the little boy.  And he told all  the people to close their eyes because he was going to offer a prayer and blessing.  He raised the boy's lunch up and said, "I thank you Father for the kind heart of this young boy.  He did not just think about his own hunger; he was willing to share all of his lunch with everyone.  Let this be an example to us.  And now Father, when I open my eyes, I would like to see how much food we have for everyone.  Amen."

Catherine: And so what happened when his prayer was finished?

Caroline: When he finished praying, he opened his eyes and suddenly out of those large cloaks with big hidden pockets and from bags that had been carried, there suddenly appeared lots and lots of food.  And there was enough for everyone to eat and even left overs to gather to hand out to the hungry on the way home.

Catherine: And the little boy started it all.  How?

Caroline: He simply offered his lunch.  He shared a little and the result was abundance.  His example of sharing inspired the entire crowd.

Catherine: And this is an important lesson.

Caroline: What's that?

Catherine: It is a stewardship lesson.  When we share a little and invite others to share, we can gather an abundance for our own needs and also have plenty left over to help those in need.

Caroline: The church works in the same way.  We need people to start the domino effect.  It can be young people or older people; anyone with generosity can start the domino effect and see abundance happen.

Catherine: We are young, and we offer our time and talent to the parish and we hope that it will inspire you to offer your time, talent and treasure to our parish for our mission to proclaim and live the Gospel here in Morgan Hill.

Caroline: If we hide and hoard, then abundance cannot happen.  Remember the small giving of the young boy started the experience of abundance for all.

Catherine: At St. John's, we need the generosity of lots of people to become the abundance to sustain our community and also help those in our community who have greater needs than we do.

Caroline: So, just as the little boy who shared his lunch began the work of Christ to make abundance happen, let each of us ask what we need to do to make abundance happen in our parish and for the needs people of our world.

Catherine: The little boys first thought was to share his lunch with all.  And Jesus blessed his sharing with abundance.

Caroline: Let our first thought be sharing our gifts with all too.  And Jesus will bless our sharing with abundance too.  Amen.

Jesus: Bread Man, Water Man

10 Pentecost cycle b proper 12     July 29, 2018

2 Kings 4:42-44  Psalm 145: 10-19

Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6:1-21

Lectionary Link
When we read the Gospel of John, it is easy to just access the story aspect of the Gospel presentation of a narrative of the life of Jesus.  We treat the Gospel text as an eye-witness direct report even though we know that such a text involves massive time-lapsing; three years of ministry collapsed into 21 chapters of writing.  Time-lapsing involves editing, re-editing and further redactions as words of and about Jesus get handed on from person to person in eight decades after Jesus and then some "final" editor finally puts together what survives to be found in the various earliest codices that we have.

What we forget is that the writer or writing editors of the Gospel of John's are theologians who are presenting the significance of the life of Jesus to various groups of people who gathered in the Jesus Movement communities.  The people who gathered came from increasingly heterogenous demographic groups.  Such persons would have included those who came from the synagogue traditions with influences from the various rabbinical "schools."  They would have come from those who had been devoted to the liturgical tradition found in the Temple of Jerusalem which had the priestly caste as presiding authorities until the destruction in the year 70.  Christian congregants would have been former followers of John the Baptist; they would have come from the class of what today we call the "unchurched," or to coin new words, "the un-synagogued" or "un-templed."  By this I would mean a group of Jews in Palestine who were not observant of the purity codes and thus because of their "sinner" classification or their "designated sickness" could not but be outsiders to the gatherings which frequented the synagogue and the Temple.  Jews who interacted in compromising ways the Roman authorities were called publicans and sinners and for their livelihood they were regarded to be in sinful state of assimilation to the foreigners who were a part of the great class of sinners:  Defiled and Impure.  The Christian congregants in the communities of the Gospel of John would have been Gentiles, soldiers and those who did not find adequate spiritual or social identity in the cult of the Temples for the various gods and goddesses in the Greco-Roman Mystery Religion traditions.  Christian congregants would have been part of the urbanization movement in Roman society; the house churches would have been a welcoming community for nomads to the city neighborhoods as they explored a new identity in a new place.  From the letters of Paul, it would seem that the Christians by dispensing with the purity codes of Judaism, made the Christian message more conducive to participation by Roman citizenry and Christians could pretend that Caesar was a "fake god" who was good for peaceful social order even while Christians believed in a higher kingdom of God which could co-exist in a parallel manner with the Roman Empire.

It would be naïve to believe that the writer of the Gospel of John was not aware of the demographic diversity of the Johannine communities.  The writer of the Gospel of John also was aware of the liturgical practices of the community; the regularity of baptism and Eucharist.   The writer would not have been blatantly anachronistic; the writer would not have assumed that the liturgical practices of the Johannine communities were fully developed in the time of Jesus, who would have regarded himself to be an observant Jew who visited both Temple and synagogue, not withstanding the reforming words of his "rabbinical" school.

The writer of John's Gospel would present Jesus as the seed origin of the spiritual and liturgical practices which came to prevail in the Johannine communities.

Baptism and Eucharist were the conscious practice of the Johannine communities.  The Gospel of John presents Jesus as the who originates the shape of the practice of both baptism and Eucharist.  The discourses of Jesus in John's Gospel were first instantiated in teaching story events.

Jesus was a water man and a bread man.  The Johannine writers showed how Jesus was in continuity with famous water men and bread men found recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Moses and Elisha were bread men.  Through their intercession people were fed in marvelous ways.  Moses interceded before the appearance of the famous "manna" or heavenly bread to fed the people of Israel.  Jesus, too, was one who fed the multitude.  The Eucharist was the practice of feeding the church with the heavenly bread that was identified with the Real Presence of Jesus being within the life of each Christian communicant.  The Eucharist was the social reality of a continuous feeding of the multitude.  The feeding of the multitude in John's Gospel is the story recounted to present the extended discourse of Jesus on how he was the manna which had come down from heaven.  Hint.  Hint.  He was Eucharistic bread which perpetually fed the church as people ritually realized the presence of Christ to be renewed into the most prominent identity of their spiritual and social lives.  That the Eucharist, the breaking of the bread, was continuing to gather the Johannine communities more than 8 decades after Jesus was proof that multiplication of loaves was a continuing miracles that originated with Jesus.

Moses was a water man; his intercession resulted in the parting of the Red Sea.  He brought water out of Rocks.  Elijah and Elisha were water men, floating ax heads on the water and parting waters of the Jordan by striking it with their mantle.  Noah was the water man of the flood.  New Testament writer presented baptismal waters as waters of death and waters of cleansing.  Coming out of the water of baptism was regarded to be a symbolic rising from the death of being buried with Christ.  When the story of Jesus walking on the stormy waters was told, it was a reaffirmation of rising above the death of water and triumphing because of the miracle of knowing an identity with resurrection of Christ.

The writer of John's Gospel goes to great pain to translate Hebrew words and Judaic concepts because the writer was aware of those who did not share any of the Hebraic tradition from which Jesus derived.

Let us appreciate the functions of the narrative of Jesus in John's Gospel.  The writer was so encouraged and surprised by the success of the Christo-mysticism in the Johannine community, the writer preached about the special origin of the living identity with the Risen Christ, in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

We today are still a part of this living tradition of baptism and Holy Eucharist which derived from Jesus and which has been enriched and transmitted through the Gospel of John and through many other Christian communities in the past 2000 years.

Today again in our Eucharist, we celebrate that the Eucharist was regarded to be the miraculous identity rite of the community that wrote the Gospel of John.  And it is our identity today as well.  Like the young boy who gave his packed lunch to prime the pump of generosity which comes from the blessing of Christ, we offer our gifts at hand in our lives in the Eucharistic offering on the altar.  We seek the miraculous blessing of Jesus to return to us in our service the gifts of being renewed in the presence of Christ.  The writer of the Gospel of John believed that the Risen Christ was relevant to the world in the eight decades after Jesus.  You and I are many more decades away from Jesus of Nazareth, but we still can be renewed in our identity with Christ, the eternal Word in profound ways.  Let us seek our renewed identity  with Christ today.  Amen.