A Message given at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA
https://www.youtube.com/live/FSwy3sctDsY?feature=share&t=1350
Good Morning! /Evening!
Our scripture
today in Isaiah begins with rejoicing. Our gospel ends with rejoicing. This is
a celebratory weekend for some people, and there may be some rejoicing in parts
of our nation.
Yet – Not
everyone celebrates the Fourth of July the same.
-
Not
everyone feels or experiences the idea of freedom the same.
However, our
church history is part of this holiday – so it is at least a cause for
remembrance – in this perhaps we can celebrate and rejoice.
“Independence
Day” - what exactly does that mean? What does it mean to you? I made my first
move into my first apartment as a teenager in college on Independence Day many
years ago. I was feeling very independent at that moment.
We as a nation
declared our independence from Great Britain and the Crown. We established
ourselves as a new nation and new church. We declared our freedom – and
freedoms – the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However,
not everyone was free, and not everyone agreed then nor do they agree now on
what freedom means – for you, for me, for women, for LGBTQIA and especially
trans people, Black people, white people, Asian people, and First Nation
Peoples. We are still arguing and sorting out our freedoms.
Because the
founding of our church, the Episcopal Church, has its history tied to the
founding of the United States, our roots seem to be in the politics of this
nation. It seems to be part of our core. Eleven of our presidents have been
Episcopalian.
Independence
Day is really a paradox for the Church. We are independent of one entity but
find ourselves intricately intertwined in the life of another. If we look at
ourselves carefully, we might realize we are not independent at all. Nor are we
“free.” As the body of Christ, we are connected spiritually especially in the
mystery of communion. As the church body in Christ, we are connected to each
other and the larger body of Christ.
A body by
nature has many parts, as scripture tells us, but it must operate together to
function. If the hand believes it is independent of the foot and tries to – say
– play tennis, the face may become intimate with the cement court.
At the core of
our commitment to the church and the church body is our baptismal covenant. We
agreed to support each other in our walk with Christ. It is impossible to
experience “complete freedom” and fulfill our baptismal covenant unless we
understand what true freedom in Christ means.
“Will you who
witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life
in Christ.”
We say: “We
will.”
We all
experience various levels of commitment through our lifetime. Sometimes it is
just enough to get out of bed and get to church or get the kids ready.
Sometimes our call is to be at the church every time the doors are open. Just
as Christ commissioned the seventy, we all have a call to some level of sharing
the good news, and we all are called to support each other in this walk.
This does not
sound like independence.
This does not
sound like freedom.
This sounds
like a commitment to a more beautiful existence that independence and freedom
could never achieve.
While we may be
disappointed in the current politics, the current Supreme Court rulings and
actions, dismayed by a changing environment with warming air and oceans, let’s
remember the words of Christ that we should rejoice that our names are written
in heaven, rejoice in our relationships with each other, and the communion that
we share – the mystery of the body of Christ that we all belong to as brothers
and sisters and joint heirs with Jesus in the Kingdom of God and this Universal
Church.
Pause
Can you do
that?
When the Lord
Jesus Christ appointed seventy to go ahead of him to preach the good news that
the kingdom of God was near, they came back with their eyes on all that they
had accomplished.
“Even the
demons submit to us.”
It is so easy
to experience power even in the name of Christ and focus on that power.
The power of
politics has the same lure.
The message of
Christ is bigger than the decisions of the Supreme Court. Jesus gave a message
of hope to the people while they were occupied by a foreign power. He gave all
authority and power over the enemy to his disciples. You, yourselves, by taking
a covenant of baptism have already renounced all evil.
Your God is so
much bigger than our American politics or the Supreme Court –
Jesus says
Rejoice! Why!?
Your names are
written in heaven!
Your actions in
the name of Christ will bring many people to the knowledge of Christ. Your
continued commitment to the poor and marginalized will bring more joy, and
love, and godly sustenance to the people you serve.
The politics of
this nation can only resemble dust beneath your feet. Put it into perspective.
Your God and
Your commission are bigger than the laws of man.
The law is
designed to remind you of sin. If you live by the two greatest commandments in
the power of the Holy Spirit, if you share the love of God with your neighbors
loving them like yourself, the law melts before God. The law has no power over
love.
But do you love
yourself?
Do you love
your neighbor?
Do you walk
into this house and wonder about his or her of their political views? Is your
love so small that your politics supersedes your commitment to the people here?
And you – and
you- and you!
God’s love does
not change with every election. If you could but for a moment grasp the expanse
of God’s love for you, you would be so filled with joy and gratitude and hope
that you could not sit still here long enough to take communion – even if you
are a cradle Episcopalian.
God is not
moved by our politics – God is moved by our love for each other.
If you want to
fight global warming, love your neighbor.
If you want to
fight for the Ukrainians, love your neighbor.
If you want to
fight for racial justice – love your neighbor.
Love is not
talk. Love is action.
A genuine
heartfelt explosion of goodwill for your fellow man.
Raise your
vibration to an explosion of love.
Be the
fireworks this fourth of July – let us celebrate something really important.
Your names are
written in heaven – God loves you – and you and you and you.
This is true
freedom – freedom in Christ to love without reservation.
To love God
To love your
neighbor
To love
yourself.
This is the
only true freedom.
When you gain
the capacity to love unconditionally, you will experience the freedom Christ
intends for all of us.
Turn your eyes
upon Jesus
Look full in
his wonderful face
And the things
of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of
his Glory and Grace.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment